Youngstown Ursuline vs. Coldwater preview

Courtesy of OHSAA, December 02, 2009 4:10 p.m.

Youngstown Ursuline

Head Coach: Dan Reardon
Nickname: Fighting Irish
2009 Record: 10-3
2009 Seed: 3
Wins in 2009 Tournament:
Semifinal: 6 West Lafayette Ridgewood (48-6)
Regional: 1 Cuyahoga Heights (47-28), 2 Columbiana Crestview (48-14), 6 Garfield Heights Trinity (28-0)
State Championships: 2000, 2008
State Final Appearance: 4th
All Time Tournament Record: 37-12

Coldwater

Head Coach: John Reed
Nickname: Cavaliers
2009 Record: 13-1
2009 Seed: 2
Wins in 2009 Tournament:
Semifinal: 1 Hamler Patrick Henry (35-24)
Regional: 8 St. Henry (47-41, 4OT), 6 Anna (28-21, OT), 7 Hamilton Badin (41-0)
State Championships: 2005, 2007
State Final Appearance: 5th
All-Time Tournament Record: 37-12

The 2009 State Final game between Youngstown Ursuline and Coldwater will not be the first time these teams face off for the state title. The two played for the 2000 Division IV state title with Ursuline coming out on top 49-37. That game featured a total of 11 OHSAA State Championship records as the Usuline rushing offense and the Coldwater passing offense were on display. Ursuline picked up 502 yards on the ground while Coldwater’s offense found success through the air with 439 yards passing. The combined total of 1,045 yards is the most ever in a Division IV State Championship game and second most among all divisions.

Both teams knocked off an undefeated No. 1 seed en route to their championship berth with Ursuline defeating Cuyahoga Heights in the regional final while Coldwater beat Hamler Patrick Henry last weekend.

Coldwater’s road to the finals was longer than most as they played a total of five overtime periods during the tournament, including four to beat St. Henry in the regional finals. Coldwater is no stranger to overtime in the playoffs after playing three overtimes to beat Kettering Archbishop Alter in a 2007 regional semifinal game.

Youngstown Ursuline is making its third straight appereance in the state finals after starting the season 1-2. Coldwater returns to the state championship game after losing in the regional finals in 2008.

Both teams have faced state finalists from other divisions during conference play and came out on the losing end. Coldwater suffered its only loss of the season against Division V state finalist Delphos St. John’s, while Divsion III state finalist Youngstown Cardinal Mooney defeated Ursuline 27-22.