IRISH KEEP FINDING WAYS TO WIN
The last time the Irish went into Mollenkoph and won was in 2017 with the final of 28-24. Their coach at the time was Larry Kempe, their quarterback at the time was Jared Fabry, their running back was Joe Floyd and so many others players that are now Irish Alum. Tonight, it looked like the Raiders were once again going to get a last second victory, just like last season, did that happen, or did the Irish make a comeback? This game has many memories for Coach Dan Reardon as it was once one of his first coaching spots, meanwhile, coach Steve Arnold was looking to save their season.
Last week, Harding came up short without star player Dom Foster losing to Massillon 49-46 while Ursuline got a thrilling win 48-47 against Austintown Fitch.
1st Quarter
Warren Harding opened the game strong in the first plays of action when Dalys Jett threw across to Syracuse Orange commit Dom Foster who turned up the jets and went 65-yards untouched making it 7-0.
Ursuline stepped up and came right back however as Shannon drove them down the field finding Will Burney and Marc Manning in the process and finished the drive with a DeMarcus McElroy three yard touchdown tying it all. The Irish would get the ball back and McElroy did the same before, scoring his second touchdown putting Ursuline up by seven.
Harding answered back in the end of the first however when Foster returned a James McGlone kick 79-yards once again tying it all up.
2nd Quarter
The second quarter started with a big McElroy touchdown but a failed two point conversion made it 20-14. Wouldn’t matter for the most part as the Irish got the ball back once again finding Manning 34-yards and after a Reagan Smith kick it was now 27-14.
Harding scored just before halftime when Daly’s Jett took it in himself, cutting it to six at the half.
3rd Quarter
The third quarter saw some of the defenses stepping up a bit with two teams getting two touchdowns and a field goal. McElroy scored once more and Jett found another star receiver in Tyriq Ivory 29-yards out and then again for a 78 yard bomb. The Irish also made a field goal as James McGlone put it right through from 25-yards out. It was now once again 36-34.
4th Quarter
Finally, the whole place became tense in the fourth quarter. McElroy got his fifth touchdown of the night from 30-yards out showing the shades of the Akise Teague days at Ursuline. The score was now 43-34.
Jett cut the lead once again however to two points as he ran it in himself making it now 43-41. Once the Raiders got the ball back, all hope seemed lost for the Irish as Jett broke the tackles and ran it 57-yards showing that if Lynn Bowden could do it at Harding then so can he, with the score now 49-43.
With just over two minutes, the Irish needed a prayer, and did they get it in. The Irish had their own version of the music city miracle where Jakylan Irving returned the kick and went 84-yards. Ursuline just needed an extra point to take the lead and they did exactly that thanks to Smith who made one of his biggest extra points in his career.
Harding tried to make a comeback with Jett but he just couldn’t turn up the Jets in time as on a fourth down, he was just stopped short after a nice scramble on a fourth and long, giving Ursuline another 2021 classic with the final score of 50-49.
Ursuline Stats
Brady Shannon: 21-32 327 yards one touchdown/interception. Rushed for 15 yards on 10 carries.
DeMarcus McElroy: 35 rushes for 106 yards and five touchdowns. Six receptions for 94 yards
Marc Manning five receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Dean Boyd: seven receptions for 100 yards.
Harding Stats
Dayls Jett 12 of 24, 220 yards and four touchdowns. Rushed for 98 yards on 12 attempts and two touchdowns.
Delmar McMillan four rushes for 28 yards
Tyriq Ivory had five receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
Johnnie Taylor had two receptions for 41 yards.
Up Next
Ursuline (4-1) heads back to Stambaugh Stadium next Friday to take on the Chaney Cowboys (2-3). Kickoff is at 7pm on YSN LIVE!! Warren Harding (1-4) heads to Akron to take on Akron Saint Vincent St. Mary (3-2).
*Contributed by YSN’s Ian O’Brien*
