Vinnie Fecko's clutch touchdown lifts Ursuline past Steubenville

Ursuline running back Zalin Strother scores early in the game on this 1-yard touchdown. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Irish fight back for a four-point win over Steubenville, 44-40, in an exciting game decided with seconds left on the clock. 

"It was a great win that we needed," said Fecko

Vinnie Fecko came up big, scoring the go-ahead touchdown as Ursuline fought back from 11 down entering the fourth quarter. "The key was we never gave up," said Ursuline head coach Tony Stephens.  

A botched punt is what set off the comeback for Ursuline; the longsnapper snapped the ball over punter Patrick Reardon's head in their own territory and kept the ball from going into the endzone for fear of a safety, and Ursuline recovered and closed the score, still trailing 37-40 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. 

There was a big onside kick recovery for Ursuline and a late-game stop with just seconds on the clock that sealed the win for the now 5-2 Irish. "It was huge," Fecko said. "It was a play we needed; if we don't get that, we probably don't come home with the win."

"We already had the onside kick planned no matter what cause we knew we were having a hard time stopping them," Stephens said. 

He was right, as Steubenville was tough in the run game with junior Colten Henderson carrying the load for the Big Red. He scored the go-ahead touchdown in the top of the fourth quarter, and his run game gave Steubenville good chances and kept them in the game. 

It was super exciting and thrilling right up until the very end.

Vinne Fecko steps over Chevy McGee for one of his four touchdowns. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Game Breakdown

First quarter

Steubenville opens up on the ground, running the ball, losing a couple of yards on the play with starting running back Colten Henderson. Only two passes to open up the drive and three for the drive. The Big Red go for it on 4th and 10 with 5:46 on the clock, and Santino Haney is sacked for a turnover on downs.

Ursuline opens up with starting quarterback Patrick Reardon, son of former head coach Dan Reardon. Both teams are running the ball a ton in the game. Zalin Strother in for the touchdown with 3:18 on the clock for a 1-yard touchdown.

Steubenville answers back with a 71-yard touchdown reception by Stephen McShan from Santino Heney for the score and fails a 2-point conversion and trails 6-8.

Ursuline answers with a 33-yard touchdown by Vinnie Fecko to extend the lead to 15-6 with 28 seconds remaining. Ursuline 15, Big Red 6

Second quarter

Steubenville has opened up the quarter, passing the ball as the sun sets on the west side of the stadium.

Patrick Reardon (9) prepares for a snap during the game. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Big Red enters the red zone and runs the ball with James Turner, but gets flagged for helping the runner move forward. On the very next play with the same runner, the ball reaches the end zone, but because the whistle was blown by mistake and then picked back up, the 5-yard touchdown and extra point still counted, bringing the final score to 13-15.

Colten Henderson scores on a 10-yard run and a successful 2-point conversion to take the lead with 1:59 remaining in the second quarter.

Ursuline scores on a 2-yard run by Vinnie Fecko and a successful PAT to take the lead back, 22-21, with 17 seconds remaining. HALFTIME: Ursuline 22, Big Red 21

Third quarter

Ursuline receives a kick to open up the half, and they score with 8:31 remaining in the third as Vinnie Fecko scores on a 25-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 29-21.

Colton Henderson scores on an 18-yard run to get the Big Red set up for a two-point conversion that would have tied the game, but Vinnie Fecko stopped the run.

The workhorse Colton Henderson shows his excitement after scoring a touchdown. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Colton Henderson ran in the end zone on a 24-yard rushing touchdown, but after a failed attempt, it's still a one-possession game as they lead 33-29.

With 7:35 remaining, Ursuline longsnapper put the ball over Patrick Reardon's head and touched it at the one-yard line, but a Steubenville defender rolled with it in the end zone for a score and to go up 40-29. Steubenville 40, Ursuline 29. 

Fourth quarter

It was all Ursuline as an onside kick, a Vinnie Fecko touchdown, and a defensive stop in their own territory down the stretch with seconds remaining that would decide the game. FINAL: Ursuline 44, Steubenville 40. 

Ursuline will travel to Walsh Jesuit to face a team that was held scoreless against Akron Hoban; Steubenville will host Health Sciences (NY) in week eight.