By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit November 2016
Cleveland, Ohio - Under the direction of Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69, Saint Ignatius (9-1) is making its 27th OHSAA postseason appearance since its storied run on the gridiron began in 1988.
It is a run that has not only produced an Ohio-record 11 state football championships, but three national titles (1989, 1993 and 1995) and a national runner-up (2008) as well.
In what is a mark that rivals high school football coaches throughout the nation, Coach Kyle guided his Wildcats to five consecutive Division I State Championships from 1991 to 1995. And oh yeah, the Cats were state runners-up in 1996.
Only two times since 1988 did Saint Ignatius Football not qualify for the OHSAA playoffs, 2010 and last season.
Friday night's first-round Region 1 matchup with the Polar Bears from Massillon Jackson (7-3) on Byers Field features two programs with contrasting postseason histories. Jackson, which is in the football playoffs for the first time since 2004, is 1-5 in its six OHSAA postseason games on the gridiron. The Wildcats enter Friday night's 7:30 PM kickoff with an all-time OHSAA football postseason record of 66-15.
As we reported in the corner's Where the Cats Play on Monday, Friday night's playoff encounter with Jackson will mark the first time the schools have met on the gridiron. The Wildcats and the Polar Bears are no strangers in OHSAA baseball, basketball and soccer competition, in fact there is a possibility that Jackson and Saint Ignatius could play for an OHSAA Regional Soccer Championship on Saturday. Stay tuned.
HERE IS A LOOK AT MASSILLON JACKSON'S FOOTBALL POLAR BEARS WITH COACH KYLE
"Every team in the playoffs is good, but if we bring our best, we will be just fine," said Coach Kyle to his Wildcats after Tuesday's practice on Wasmer Field.
Saint Ignatius' best has recently captured the attention of the local media, which now has the Wildcats ranked among the area's and state's best of the best.
Coach Kyle's team enters Friday night's game on Ridge Road and Day Drive ranked fourth in Ohio's Division I by the Associated Press and riding a six-game winning streak. The Cats' only setback came in Week 4 to currently 10-0 Detroit Catholic Central, a 28-21 overtime loss in Novi, Michigan. Those 11-time state champion Shamrocks can play, my friends.
Many of the area's high school football writers became true believers last weekend, when on Saturday night in the Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium Saint Ignatius dominated every facet of the game in defeating two-time defending Division I State Champion St. Edward, 34-7, in the regular season finale.
Once again, the Wildcats' offensive line, which is among the biggest and strongest O-Lines the Buckeye State has to offer, showed the way for one of the most balanced offenses in Saint Ignatius' rich history. As for the Cats' defense, its relentless pressure and pursuit up front from its veteran line and linebackers, and its athleticism and savvy in the defensive secondary, were too much for the Eagles of St. Edward.
For Coach Tim Budd's Massillon Jackson Polar Bears, the 2016 season began with great promise. After starting 6-0, the Polar Bears were ranked No. 1 in the AP State Poll.
Then came a stretch Jackson hopes it has straightened out.
The Polar Bears enter Friday's playoffs having lost three of their last four games - to Canon McKinley, Canton Central Catholic and a Week 10, 31-28 loss to North Canton Hoover that saw Jackson leading, 28-17, in the fourth quarter.
Playing significant roles in the Polar Bears' late-season draught were a minus-nine in turnover margin during the three losses, penalties and some wear and tear on their defense.
"They've been putting points up, that's not a problem," said Coach Kyle of Jackson's recent setbacks. "They have a good running attack and the quarterback has a very good arm and good vision, he's a handful. They're willing to put it up. They throw a lot of balls and have confidence in that passing attack."
Keying the Polar Bears' ground game is 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior Jack Dear, who has rushed for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns. The quarterback, 6-6, 185-pound junior Jaret Pallotta, has passed for 1,909 yards and 18 TDs. Wildcats basketball fans are probably familiar with Pallotta.
Pallotta's main target is 6-2, 195-pound senior Dillon Dingler, whose 949 receiving yards have produced 11 touchdowns.
"Offensively, they have some weapons, definitely," said Coach Kyle, who enters Friday's game with 330 career victories in what is currently his 34th season as the head of his alma mater's football program.
"Defensively, their front people are active," Coach Kyle continued. "They're willing to blitz and they give you different looks. We've faced some people who have blitzed before, and it takes work during the week to make sure all of the gaps are secured. Every team has a few different wrinkles, but they're an active defense that has some nice skilled kids doing it. Jackson has earned the right to be in it (the playoffs). They have their own personality on how to attack you, and hopefully we can respond like we have been doing."
ON THE MEND: The news was good on Wildcats All-Ohio senior punter/kicker Colin Goodfellow, who took a hit during the St. Edward game after getting off a punt on the run. The play drew an unsportsmanlike penalty.
Coach Kyle said Colin suffered a hip pointer and will not play this week.
COMPARING SCORES: The Polar Bears defeated Canton GlenOak, 35-10, in week six and a week later the Wildcats traveled to GlenOak and defeated the Golden Eagles, 34-17.
We will see at Byers Field on Friday night, the home of some memorable OHSAA playoff games, including one that included an Ohio Mr. Football named Charles Woodson.
Yes, from Fremont Ross High School to a Heisman Trophy at the University of Michigan and a perennial Al-Pro career in the NFL, the young Charles displayed his exceptional skills on Ridge Road and Day Drive.