Ursuline is the defending Division V state football champions. But, a blemish on their record last season, has the Irish looking for revenge this season. "It's definitely revenge. Last year, we came out a little bit flat, we came in a little big-headed because we blew them out the year before. This year it's all about revenge." Ursuline senior Jeff Podolsky is referring to this Friday's matchup against Mentor Lake Catholic. "We're going to come in a little bit hungrier. We definitely have a bad taste in our mouth. Last year, we didn't like how that ended. We came out real flat, and we started the year 1-2. We don't want to come out with a loss this year, we want to go 15-0."
Lake Catholic also made a trip to the state tournament on '09, but fell in the Division II semifinals. This season, they return a big, experienced offensive line, and running back Richie Sanders, who ran for over 200 yards against Ursuline last year. "I think our kids, they know how critical stopping him is, to us being successful on Friday night," said Ursuline head coach Dan Reardon. "If we contain him, we're going to have a chance. On the other side of the ball, we always want to run the football first, and if we're able to do that, and win the running battle on both sides of the ball, we'll have a chance to win the game."
Irish senior center Pete Wearsh learned from the Irish mistakes in '09, and is using his previous experiences to prepare for a game he calls, the biggest in his career. "This is the biggest game, I know in my life and all the seniors' lives right now. So, we're not coming out with a loss. We got to be perfect in everything in order to beat a team like them. They're good in everything, and we have to better at everything."
Ursuline and Lake Catholic kickoff at 7:30p.m. on Friday at Youngstown State's Stambaugh Stadium.
