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Ursuline’s Ferrell enters OHSAA record book

The sophomore QB became the 55th to rush for a 99-yard TD in Ohio high school football history

Correspondent file photo / Robert Hayes Ursuline’s DC Ferrell runs for a big gain against St. Vincent-St. Mary earlier this season.

They say records are made to be broken, but Ursuline quarterback D.C. Ferrell can rest assured knowing that he now shares a record that can only be matched.

On Friday, Ferrell and his Irish teammates faced a second-and-ten from their own one-yard-line in the early minutes of their road game against Villa Angela-St. Joseph. Ferrell engineered a read-option play to perfection and raced 99 yards to paydirt.

Ferrell’s record-tying run occurred just two plays after Ursuline’s defense stopped Villa Angela-St. Joseph on a fourth-and-goal from inside the one. At the time, the game was scoreless.

Ursuline would go on to post a 40-0 win.

“That was a huge stop for our defense, after seeing that I was excited to get out on the field, I was like, ‘Okay our D stepped up, now we have to make a big play,'” Ferrell said.

Ferrell threw an incomplete pass on first down before adding his name to the record books.

“I saw the linebacker immediately pick up our running back so I immediately headed up the middle,” Ferrell said. “I was just looking to get five yards or so, hoping to get away from the end zone and give us some breathing room.”

“About ten yards downfield I saw that I only had the safety to beat. Once I broke that I knew I had a shot to go the distance. That was a huge momentum swing. We could have been down 7-0 but our defense came up big, then we’re up 7-0. It gave us a lot of confidence the rest of the night.”

The Ohio High School Athletic Association website lists 54 players who have recorded a 99-yard rushing touchdown in state history. Prior to last Friday it most recently happened Aug. 19 when Philo’s Talon Preston accomplished the unbreakable feat against Athens.

The only other area player on the OHSAA list is Jake Robinson. The Beaver Local graduate raced 99 yards against Cadiz Harrison Central in 2001.

MARATHON FALCONS

If the Austintown Fitch Falcons find themselves facing adversity in the upcoming weeks, a look back to Friday’s win over Wadsworth should help calm the nerves.

Fitch overcame five deficits and had to endure four overtimes. When all was finally said and done – after nearly 3 ½ hours of play – the Falcons defeated the Grizzlies 42-35 in what was the longest game in Fitch history.

With the game tied at 21, Wadsworth scored a touchdown on the first possession of overtime to take a seven point lead. Fitch answered on just four plays, with a D.J. Williams five-yard run sending things into a second overtime.

Fitch’s possession in the second overtime ended with an interception. Wadsworth was poised to end the game with a 23-yard field goal, but the attempt was blocked by sophomore J’Allen Underwood.

Wadsworth scored on its first play of the third overtime. Again, Fitch answered with a 17-yard touchdown pass from DeShawn Vaughn to Dan Evans.

D.J. Williams gave Fitch a 42-35 lead on a 16-yard run in the fourth OT. The Falcons then sealed the win with a Davion Pritchard interception.

“We were down the majority of the game, and we just kept clawing our way back,” said Fitch coach T.J. Parker. “This team showed a lot of poise, they showed their true character while facing multiple pressure situations throughout the night.”

“That was a rollercoaster of a ride. You never felt like the game was over until it actually ended and we got off that field. A lot was happening so quickly that you didn’t understand the magnitude of the moment until later on. The moment didn’t feel that big as the game was playing out, but afterward you can look back and realize that was a special night for all involved.”

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

For a second straight year, the Friday night lights are not shining at Chalker Wildcat Field in Southington.

Due to a lack of numbers, Chalker hasn’t played a varsity football game since Oct. 3, 2020. After having its 2021 season canceled, Southington also put its varsity program on pause in 2022.

However, the school hasn’t been completely void of football.

Chalker currently fields a club team and has played a junior varsity schedule this fall. The Wildcats most recently played Warren John F. Kennedy this past Saturday.

Chalker’s current club team includes a roster of 21 players – including five players from neighboring, non-football districts. The team is coached by Justin Kren.

Southington athletic director Jim Wolke is hopeful that the school will field an OHSAA-sanctioned team in 2024.

“We know that we would definitely be on the bubble next year in terms of numbers, and we don’t want to put possible opponents in a position where we have to cancel games and they have to scramble to try and find last-minute games,” Wolke said. “We’re very hopeful that we can realistically revive the program in 2024.

“Right now we’re giving kids who love the game the opportunity to stay involved. We’re also giving kids who might be interested the opportunity to give it a try. Hopefully this will be an enjoyable experience and they’ll stick with the program.”

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