EUCLID- OH; The road to state means a lot for coaches and players.  For Dan Reardon, he made fourth state appearances and won three with living legends like Akise Teague, and Paul Kempe.  The senior class led by Brady Shannon, started off their freshman season with a one and nine record and have since turned the tables.  Now, three seasons later for this senior class, 11 years later, and six years since their last trip to the state semis, the Irish have a chance to get back where the school was once.  In order to get to state however, the Irish would have to get past the Port Clinton Redskins with coach Beau Carmon and quarterback Cam Gillum who has thrown for 34 touchdowns and 2,360 yards on the season. 

First quarter for the Irish opened with two touchdowns, both from DeMarcus McElroy.  The first was a 33- yard touchdown up the middle and a two point conversion pass to Ty’Req Donlow made it 8 to 0 Irish.  The second game from eight yards out after a Brady Shannon 49-yard jump ball pass to Dean Boyd.  With McElroy’s second touchdown and a Raegan Smith extra point, it was now 15 to 0.  

Port Clinton did not go away however with two touchdowns to their favor.  One was a tip off of Donlow in the hands of Josh Hurst for a touchdown and then Gillum took it in himself from six-yards out making it 14-15 after a PAT.  The Redskins took the lead late in the third after a 20-yard field goal on the left hash by Andrew Hanson making it now 17-15 and having the pressure against the Irish once again at Euclid.  

However just like with their game winner against Glenville at Euclid, the same happened two weeks in a row and the Irish did not hesitate with three more DeMarcus McElroy touchdowns from 42, two and 74-yards to put the game out of reach by the final of 34 to 17, and give Ursuline their fifth state championship appearance in the 2000s era and their first since 2010 where they beat the Coldwater Cavaliers in the Division V State Championship.  

Stats 

Brady Shannon: 10 of 16 for 207 yards 

DeMarcus McElroy: 257 yards, five touchdowns. 

Dean Boyd: three receptions for 92 yards 

Will Burney- three receptions for 34 yards 

Jakylan Irving: two receptions for 18 yards. 

Garrett Cornell: 69 yards rushing 

Cam Gillum: 57 yards passing, 66-yards on the ground with a rushing touchdown. 

Up Next: 

Ursuline (11-3) will head to their fifth state title appearance in the 2000s, and have a chance to win their fifth championship and Coach Dan Reardon’s fourth as they face off against the Clinton Massie Falcons (13-1) who are coming off of a big 24 to 21 win against Bloom Carroll who finished their season with a 14 and one record. Kickoff is Friday 10:30am at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.  

The Redskins of Port Clinton meanwhile, end their 2021 campaign with a record of 13 and two.  Now coach Beau Carmon and the Redskins will look towards the 2022 campaign and a trip back. 

*contributed by YSNs Ian O’Brien*