IRISH DONE IN BY ST JOE’S

YOUNGSTOWN OH- Last year when they two teams met in the playoffs, the Ursuline Irish and Dan Reardon came out on top, getting their first playoff win since 2015 47-21 and it was against the Vikings of Villa Angela St Joseph who were at the time led by former Michigan and NFL Quarterback Elvis Grbac. Now in 2021 with coach Jeff Rotsky taking the helm at head coach, along with Ursuline needing an opponent for week eight since Boardman cancelled due to COVID, it was time to schedule both teams again against each other for a DIV Region 13 rematch of last season and a possible preview of a playoff game.

The first half saw both teams play lockdown defense, only being separated by five points with three total touchdowns. The first came from Villa Angela St Joseph who went down the field after a big run play by running back Ty Howard who went 51-yards to the Irish Redzone and after, They would give it to Howard again who used his feet and the pile to help him score making it 7-0.

Ursuline used their talented offense however to score right back when DeMarcus McElroy who was healthier after being banged up last week against St Vincent St Mary’s, used a shifty juke move to take it in from 30-yards out and after a successful two point conversion, Ursuline was up by one eight to seven. The Vikings struck right back however which would be the last score before the second half when Lavontae Thornton went six yards out making it 13-8 after a failed two point conversion.

However the second half would be the game changer as it was all Vikings. Even with a Brady Shannon touchdown pass to Dean Boyd, the Irish defense had a hard time taking down the three back tantrum and Jalen Minter.

The Vikings pulled away from a six and a three yard touchdown run by Howard making 26-14 heading into the fourth quarter. Howard took the backfield by himself after an injury from Joey Webb and scored two more times from 15 and 36 yards out. Shannon found Marc Manning for a touchdown as well as CJ Frasco who got his first touchdown pass of his Irish career, but it was not enough as the tour to revenge was a successful one for this new Villa Angela St Joseph team winning it 46-28.
Up Next
Ursuline (4-3, 1-0 in SVC) will head to iconic Rayen Stadium to take on the Youngstown East Golden Bears (1-5, 0-1 in SVC). Kickoff is Saturday 7pm on YSN!!

Villa Angela St Joseph (5-1, 1-1 in crown conference) goes to Lion Stadium to take on Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (4-3, 0-1 in crown). Kickoff is Friday 7pm!!

*Contributed By YSN’s Ian O’Brien