The Ursuline High School Fighting Irish football team, in Youngstown, advanced to the Region 9 finals in Division III of the Ohio High school Athletic Association’s (OHSAA) football playoffs on November 17, but lost in a closely fought match to Cleveland Chardon 31-14.
Ursuline, 13-1 for the season, had been undefeated during the regular season and advanced in the first three playoff rounds by defeating New Philadelphia 42-7, Youngstown Canfield—who had won the 2022 OHSAA Division III championship—16-13, and Cleveland Villa Angela/St. Jospeh 27-20. Cleveland Chardon, 11-3, will advance to the Division III semi-finals to face Toledo Central Catholic, 14-0.
Two other diocesan high schools—Canton Central Catholic and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in Youngstown—had earlier advanced to the OHSAA playoff in their respective regions and divisions.
The Central Catholic Crusaders, 7-5, won their initial contest in Region 21 of the Division VI playoffs against Middlefield Cardinal, 6-5, by a score of 26-10. In the next round, however, the Crusaders fell to perennial power Cleveland Kirkland, 13-1, by a 48-26 margin. Kirkland, with an additional victory the following round, is set to compete in the Division VI semi-finals.
The Cardinal Mooney Cardinals, 5-6, lost in the third first round of the Division IV Region 13 playoffs in a hard-fought game to Akron Buchtel, 6-6.
