URSULINE DOMINATES GRIT CITY BATTLE

YOUNGSTOWN OH- Rayen Stadium was founded in 1924. It was the spot for the Rayen Tigers until their closure in 2005 as the last game was against Akron East. In 2012, a remergence came in the stadium and it’s been home to the East Golden Bears ever since. The first ever game back that year was against the Ursuline Irish who were led by Chris Durkin at quarterback with the Irish winning 41-24. Fast forward to 2021 and Dan Reardon’s Irish (4-3) we’re looking to get the ball rolling again after two straight losses to Akron St Vincent St Marys and Villa Angela St Joseph as they faced off against the East Golden Bears and new head coach Mark Assion.

Some storylines that were looked at during pregame was quarterback and UCF baseball commit Brady Shannon who was only 50 yards away from becoming Ursulines all time leading passer, passing Daryll Clark II who after graduating Ursuline, became a star quarterback for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 2005 to 2009.

The Game
With the Golden Bears first drive being a turnover on downs, the Irish immediately went down the field when Shannon found Marc Manning for a 25-yard touchdown making it 7-0. He was only now 13 yards away.

The Irish then blocked an Alex Biering punt while Shannon and DeMarcus McElroy would get a pair of touchdowns making it 21-0. Shannon would also break the record around this time, officially becoming Ursulines all time leading passer with 4,732 yards now in his career. Ursuline continued to score with McElroy making it 42-0 at the end of the half. The Irish would then make history on the special teams side once again as senior kicker Kayelyn Crofford became the second female kicker in Ursuline history to score a point on the football team (first was Taylor Tomlinson in 2019).

Freshman Jy’Quise Liason also got a touchdown, his first as an Ursuline Irish later in the game from a yard out.

The Golden Bears would score once after a big 43-yard pass by Luther Bell to Nick Grier. Bell, who replaced quarterback Andrew Blackmon in the second half, took it in from a yard out but it was too little too late as Ursuline, bounced back in a big way after two losses winning against the Golden Bears 48-6.

Stats
Brady Shannon: 5-11 for 91 yards and a touchdown. Seven carries for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Marc Manning: one reception for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Jy’Quise Liason: one carry, one yard and one touchdown

DeMarcus McElroy: six carries for 40 yards and three touchdowns.

Andrew Blackmon: five carries for 21 yards, one of eight for 17 yards passing

Luther Bell: one of two for 43 yards passing, one rushing touchdown with three carries for 13 yards.

Up Next:
Ursuline (5-3, 2-0 in SVC) plays a familiar foe in new territory as its the Holy War against Cardinal Mooney (1-8, 0-2 in SVC) at Mineral Ridge Saturday October 23rd at 7pm. The first time these two teams have played outside of Stambaugh Stadium in decades.

East (1-6, 0-2 in SVC) plays their big rival Chaney
Cowboys (3-5, 1-1 in SVC) in the City classic Battle of Youngstown. Kickoff is Friday October 22nd at 7pm!!

*Contributed by YSN’s Ian O’Brien*