Correspondent photograph / Michael Taylor
Poland defenders Brendan Eichert (50) and Dom Parker (6) attempt to cease Ursuline’s DeMarcus McElroy.
POLAND — Ursuline had heard so much concerning the robust, bodily model of soccer that Poland likes to inflict on its opponent going into their Division IV, Area 13 semifinal.
The Irish made certain the Bulldogs received a style of how they play soccer when the 2 met in a Mahoning Valley postseason showdown.
Ursuline scored 35 unanswered factors in a dominating 35-7 victory at Dave Pavlansky Area in Poland on Saturday.
“We simply actually wished to assault them and present them that we’re right here to play, and we’re the bodily workforce,” Irish defensive finish Luke Campbell stated. “We wished to hit them onerous, like we all know how one can play, and simply take it to them.”
The Bulldogs (7-2) received off to a powerful begin, nonetheless.
They struck first following an interception of Brady Shannon by Christian Colosimo on Ursuline’s third play. It was Colosimo who arrange the rating on offense as effectively, catching a go out of the backfield for 23 yards on fourth-and-3. Jack Fulton punched it in from 2 yards out a couple of performs later.
The momentum modified shortly after that, and the Bulldogs might by no means get it again.
Ursuline operating again Dante Walker sparked the Irish (7-2), who had nice area place after Poland needed to punt from inside its 10-yard line. Walker accounted for all 30 yards of the drive, together with a 14-yard TD run to tie the sport at 7.
The Bulldogs confronted third-and-6 on their subsequent drive, and as Colosimo was being wrapped up for a sack, he tried to throw the ball away, however he was hit and the ball tumbled out of his hand. Campbell caught it and ran in for a TD from 6 yards out for a 14-7 lead.
“I’m going to be sincere, I don’t know what precisely occurred,” Campbell stated. “(The ball) simply fell into my arms, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, let’s run and attempt to get a landing.’ I couldn’t have carried out it with out (the remainder of the line of defense). I’ve received to present them credit score.”
Ursuline stored pouring it on.
One of many greatest performs of the sport was a difficult one. The Irish confronted third-and-5 from their very own 36 when Shannon threw a lateral to Matthew Reardon. Reardon caught the backwards go and fired an ideal 41-yard bomb to operating again DeMarcus McElroy for a primary down on the 23. McElroy scored on the subsequent play for a 21-7 benefit.
The Bulldogs got here undone shortly after that. There seemed to be a miscommunication on a failed pretend punt by Poland from its personal 39. The Irish took benefit, going 42 yards on six performs, with Walker giving them a 28-7 lead on a 17-yard run.
A workforce constructed on operating the soccer and taking part in stout protection, Poland ran for simply 92 yards and was by no means capable of execute its recreation plan.
“Penalties and turnovers are devastating whenever you’re making an attempt to remain on schedule,” Bulldogs coach Ryan Williams stated. “A whole lot of what we do is run the ball and play-action go, and whenever you’re behind the sticks with penalties and turnovers, it’s robust.
“They’re a great soccer workforce, and within the playoffs, there’s a finality to it, so it’s onerous (to get the momentum again).”
Poland obtained the second-half kickoff, however issues went from dangerous to worse.
The Bulldogs fumbled, their third fumble of the sport (all of which had been recovered by Ursuline), on the primary play from scrimmage. The Irish, who host Mentor Lake Catholic subsequent week in a regional remaining, scored on the subsequent play. McElroy, who ran for 119 yards and two TDs, ran round the fitting facet for a 28-yard, game-sealing TD.
“Our children did a great of simply persevering with to play,” stated Ursuline coach Dan Reardon of capturing and conserving the momentum. “The momentum comes since you hold taking part in and doing all your job and taking part in with ardour, and our youngsters did that.”
In the present day’s breaking information and extra in your inbox
