URSULINE PUTS THE PEDAL TO THE METAL

By Tim Corso

Ursuline improved to 2-0 on the young season with an elite win over Padua Franciscan, 38-7. These two squads met up last season at Stambaugh Stadium, with the Irish rolling past the Bruins, and this time was no different.

​Ursuline scored a touchdown on its’ opening drive on a 4-yard Jack Ericson run, then capped the drive with a two-point conversion by D.C. Ferrell. Ericson passed for nearly 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Irish’s road opener.

Those eight points would end up being all Ursuline needed, as its’ stout defense surrendered just seven points, while forcing (and recovering) a pair of fumbles for the second straight game.

It all started when the defense set the tone early with a three-and-out. However, a roughing the kicker penalty gave Padua a new set of downs and a second chance. The gut check was early for the Irish, but they forced a second three-and-out on the drive and exploded with that momentum.

While the defense was a force all night, the light shined brightest on the slew of Ursuline’s skill players. While D.C. Ferrell is one of the bigger names in the greater Youngstown area, it was Devonte Taylor, Jy’Quise Liaison, Christian Lynch, and Tairan Davis helping out Farrell with the workload.

Taylor made a couple clutch grabs, while Lynch and Liason both found paydirt and racked up their yardage in a hurry.  Lynch accumulated 132 yards on the ground with two scores.

Padua’s lone score was Roderick Love, the record-setting halfback that the Bruins rely heavily on. However, the lights went out after that for the Padua, and it was all Irish the rest of the way.

Ursuline (2-0) will travel back to Youngstown to host Ashtabula Lakeside (1-1) on Friday, September 1 at 7 p.m.