YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio- In one of the most anticipated games of the weekend, Ursuline and Chaney met at Rayen Stadium with a lot on the line. For Chaney, they came in looking to preserve their undefeated record (5-0), as well as their No.4 ranking in Division III. For Ursuline, they were looking to continue their rush up towards the top of the DIII Region 9 polls, and looking to move into the Top 10 in the state polls.

The game definitely lived up to its hype. Ursuline jumped on the board first with a 19-yard touchdown run by standout Christian Lynch, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion on a direct snap to lineman Michael Branch to put the Irish up 8-0. Chaney answered just before the end of the first quarter as Jason Ami-Austin took it in from 21 yards out to cut the lead to 8-7. Lynch continued his stellar night on the next drive as he capped off a long-sustained drive with his second touchdown of the night to make it 14-7 Irish. After that was when we saw our first glimpse of what Cincinnati commit Jason Hewlett could bring to the ballgame. Hewlett returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards to the house as Chaney quickly tied the game up at 14. Both defenses came up big throughout the second quarter, and both teams headed to their respective locker rooms all tied up.

Chaney started the second half off hot with an impressive drive, but an interception by Will Burney put an end to that and Ursuline was able to tack on three more points on a 16-yard field goal by James McGlone to make it 17-14 Irish with 8:03 remaining in the third quarter. Chaney was finally able to secure their first lead of the game just under four minutes later as Jawann Harmon punched it in from nine yards out, but Ursuline would block the extra point to keep the score at 20-14. Ursuline answered with yet another Christian Lynch touchdown run after he set the Irish up with a 50+ yard rush earlier in the drive to make it 23-20 Irish with under four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Another touchdown from Lynch, his fourth of the night, made it 30-20 Ursuline with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, making it seem like the Irish had delivered the knockout punch. Chaney though had other plans, as Bryson Douglas returned the ensuing kick 70 yards for a touchdown, Chaney’s second special teams’ touchdown of the night. That would be the last score though, as Ursuline’s offense was able to run off the final four minutes, and the Irish came out victorious 30-27.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

Christian Lynch had another monster night for the Irish, totaling 37 carries for 244 yards and four touchdowns. Lynch eclipsed 1,000 yards on the season during his great night.

*Contributed By YSN’s Anthony Romo.