The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Reds make Tribe blue in Battle of Ohio opener
Watch out area football fans — there’s another Isabella ready to make his mark at the college level.
Joey Isabella — the younger brother of Cardinals wide receiver Andy Isabella — had a successful spring campaign for FCS Duquesne as a true freshman wide receiver.
It could be just the start of a standout college career for the Mayfield graduate, who — similar to his brother Andy at UMass, where was an AllAmerican — has emerged as a slot receiver.
It might not have happened had Duquesne played football last fall.
Joey arrived at the Pittsburgh-area campus following the summer training with Andy working his way back into shape following surgery in February 2020. He suffered a torn meniscus midway through the Wildcats’ 11-1 season.
Despite the injury, Joey played on until the team was eliminated by Akron Hoban in Round 2 of the Division II state playoffs. He said it was difficult dealing with the pain, but a teammate inspired him.
“Ben Sherlock played most of the season with a torn ACL,” said Joey of his former teammate and Mayfield wide receiver. “I had to give it a go.”
Last summer was spent training with Andy, and the payoff could not have been more important for Joey.
“It was awesome. Andy was home for five months, and we trained together the whole time,” said Joey.
“One day, I want to play with my brother (in the NFL). Hoping it comes true. Working with him motivates me.” Still, when he reported to Duquesne at the end of summer, he was not quite recovered from his surgery. Then all lower levels of college football were postponed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. “I know (the pandemic) has been bad for a lot of people, but it was kind of worked out well for me,” said Joey. The Dukes continued on with football workouts and conditioning in the fall, but for Joey, learning the playbook and creating relationships with his teammates and the coaching staff proved to be a huge boost. By the spring, he was 100% and ready. In his team’s opener vs. Sacred Heart on March 7, Joey had three catches for 30 yards. The next two games, he had six for 49 yards against Wagner then two for 39 against Long Island. In a game vs. Bryant, he was shut out, but after that game Duquesne was 4-0 and earned a spot in its conference championship game with a spot in the FCS playoffs on the line. Against Sacred Heart on April 11 in a rematch for the championship of the Northeast Conference, Joey had a game that could be a springboard into next fall. It didn’t start that way. By halftime of that game, Joey said he was frustrated after being limited to one catch for 1 yard. In the second half of the Dukes’ 34-27 overtime loss, he had five catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. The last came with 4 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game from 35 yards to tie the game at 27. Joey also had a long punt return TD in the game called back because of penalty. “I just wanted to make plays,” he said. The spring was an impressive rise for Joey, who finished the five games with 17 catches for 194 yards and two TDs. He began spring camp on the scout team but eventually worked his way into a starter’s spot at the slot. He was also a mainstay on the kickoff and punt return teams. “Being on the scout team didn’t bother me,” said Joey. “I knew if I worked hard, made plays in practice, I would get my chance.” The plan going forward until late summer is to return home to the area for a few weeks in early May, then spend the summer in Arizona training with who else but his brother Andy. “I’m really lucky to have Andy to learn from,” said Joey, who’s dropped about 10 pounds to 175 after changing his diet following advice from his older brother. “I know he didn’t