Lake Catholic Falls To Youngstown Ursuline

The Cougars suffered their second consecutive loss of the season, falling 21-7 to Youngstown Ursuline Friday.

However, the scariest moment of the game had nothing to do with the score.

Lake Catholic Junior Sam Cicconetti, who plays cornerback and wide receiver, was wheeled from the field on a stretcher after a nasty head-to-head collision in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.

Cicconetti was taken to a hospital. Early Saturday morning, Cicconetti's brother, Vinny Cicconetti, tweeted that Sam had undergone a CAT scan and had no neck damage.

Lake Catholic Coach Mike Bell said the test results for Cicconetti from after the game were favorable and an MRI was scheduled for him later week. In the mean time, Cicconetti has some considerable pain in his left hand.

The Cougars (1-2) had looked to rebound from a tough 38-10 loss to Brunswick last week.

However, they ran into a resurgent Fighting Irish that are now 3-0 after going 4-6 last year and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

Both defenses held their opponent scoreless. Youngstown Ursuline scored first in the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown run from running Traman Thigpen.

The Cougars tied the game 13 seconds before the half with a 2-yard touchdown run from John Stepec.

Stepec -- the senior defensive end -- has been seeing time at running back this year, as well. This was his first touchdown of the season.

Though tied up in the half, the Fighting Irish tacked on one touchdown each in the third and fourth quarters while the Cougars were shut out.

Lake Catholic's next game will be against Catholic Prep on Sept. 15 at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium.