ITS ALL IRISH IN THIS EDITION OF THE HOLY WAR

MINERAL RIDGE OH- The Holy War is one of the biggest rivalries in all of NorthEast Ohio and high school football. In their first game in 1958, it was Mooney taking the shillelagh. Since then, it has been back and forth with noticeable alumni playing in this game. Alumni like Daryll Clark, John Simon, Jeff Marx and Alex Zordich, the Stoops and the Pelinis, just to name a few who have made it far in the collegiate and some to the professional level.

Tonight, it was the 68th edition of the Holy War between the five and three Ursuline irish who were looking for a boost heading into the postseason led by head coach Dan Reardon against Cardinal Mooney who came in with a record of one and eight and looked to end strong by beating rival Ursuline under head coach Carl Pelini. This was also the first time since the early 1980s where both teams did not play at Stambaugh Stadium (The Ice Castle) The last two seasons were all Ursuline (2020: 28-23, 2019: 20-13) and Mooney was hoping to beat the Irish for the first time since 2018 (47-14).

The Irish opened strong after DeMarcus McElroy found a hole rushing all the way to the 15yard line. Two plays later, it was quarterback Brady Shannon taking it in 10-yards out along with a two-point conversion made it 8-0. Ursuline got the ball back and scored again off of an 18-yard touchdown reception by Dean Boyd who was tightly covered. McElroy capped off the first half for the Irish with a four yard and one yard touchdown making it 36-0.

The Cardinals finally got on the board with a little momentum themselves as first year starter and sophomore Ashton O’Brien went to Junior wide receiver Nolan Radinsky 10-yards out making it 36-6 at the half with Ursuline looking to keep pounding and Mooney looking to make the biggest comeback in Holy War History in the locker room at the half. However, that would not happen as McElroy scored once more putting the game on ice. Mooney scored once more but it was not enough as Ursuline, with the new uniforms too make it three in a row in the Holy War beating rival Cardinal Mooney 43-12 and the first blowout victory since 2010 for the Irish (44-7 win in 2010) against rival Mooney.

Stats
Ashton O’Brien- One passing touchdown

Brady Shannon- 14-14 for 168 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 39 yards and one touchdown.

DeMarcus McElroy: 128 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Daqua Douglas: one rushing touchdown.

Up Next
Ursuline (6-3, 3-0 in SVC) will await to see who they play first in the OHSAA Division IV playoff bracket in Division IV Region 13. Mooney finishes their season one and nine and 0 and three in the Steel Valley Conference and will await their 2022 campaign.

*Contributed by YSN’s Ian O’Brien*