The championship game of the tournament at Ursuline High School featured the matchup that MAHONING VALLEY quarterback Mike Lucyk asked for, as it squared off with JOE’S PROS. However, if Lucyk knew the trouble JOE’S PROS would be, I’m sure he would take back his wish.
MAHONING VALLEY had gone through the tournament fairly easily before the championship round, but the defense of JOE’S PROS seemed to know exactly what MAHONING VALLEY wanted to do. JOE’S PROS would have to win back-to-back games in order to be crowned champions.
MAHONINGVALLEY scored just one offensive touchdown in the first game, and was stopped without getting a first down on three different drives. The team that had dominated every team it played, fell to JOE’S PROS, 13-12, in game one of the championship round.
Finally in the second game, MAHONING VALLEY got a lead when Lucyk through a pass to Sean Kennedy, who tipped the ball in the air and fell into the arms of Andy Hippley for the touchdown.
The play sparked argument and controversy, but stood as a touchdown.
JOE’S PROS tied the game on the first drive of the second half, but failed to convert on the extra point, making the game, 6-6.
On the very next drive, Lucky found Hippley once again for the touchdown, but MAHONING VALLEY also failed to convert on the extra point, giving the team a, 12-6, lead.
JOE’S PROS quarterback, Henry Hall, found Jay Martin on its next drive for the touchdown. This time however, JOE’S PROS converted the extra point, leaving MAHONING VALLEY down by one point.
With just under one minute remaining in the game, Lucyk found his favorite target of the day, Kevin Bachner for the touchdown. MAHONING VALLEY converted the extra point, and only had to stop JOE’S PROS one last time to win the championship.
MAHONING VALLEY was able to stop the veteran JOE’S PROS squad to win the championship of the tournament at Ursuline High School. The game wasn’t as easy as Lucyk would’ve liked, but it was the outcome his team had hoped for.
