By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit November 2016
Mentor, Ohio - The Varsity Football Cats, behind the athleticism and field generalship of gifted and gritty senior quarterback Patrick Ryan, and another strong performance by a physical, active and rich-in-depth defense that featured some outstanding and timely efforts by junior cornerback Cameron Toppin, turned back a big-hearted Solon team, 31-17, in Friday night's OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Semifinal Playoff Game at Mentor High School's Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium.
In winning their eighth consecutive game, the record 11-time Division I State Champion Wildcats (11-1) advanced to next Friday's (November 18th) Region 1 Championship Game versus longtime rival St. Edward (9-2) at a site to be announced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
The Eagles of St. Edward, the two-time defending Division I State Champions, hung on to defeat the Stow Bulldogs, 41-35, during Friday night's other Region 1 semifinal action.
Saint Ignatius, which soundly defeated St. Edward, 34-7, in the October 29th regular-season finale at the Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium, will be facing its West Side rival for the third time in OHSAA postseason play.
In 2008, in route to their 10th State Championship, the Wildcats defeated the Eagles in consecutive weeks, 34-12 in a regular season finale and 37-0 in a first-round playoff matchup. The State Championship season of 2011, "Eleven in '11," if you will, saw Saint Ignatius defeat the Eagles twice by identical 20-17 scores - Week 10 of the regular season and a second-playoff game. Can anyone say Tim Shenk?
The Wildcats of Hall Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 currently lead the all-time gridiron series versus St. Edward, 29-24-1. Coach Kyle's record versus the Eagles is 23-12-1.
As always, the corner will preview what will be the 55th overall football encounter with St. Edward on Tuesday night.
Now, however, it is on to what took place out on Center Street in Mentor on a brisk late Autumn Friday night. A howling moon accompanied by some haze hovered over the action in Lake County.
THE RYAN EXPRESS, SOME HOMESTYLE MOVES BY "BO-BO" BOBINSKI, A STIR OF THE POT AND DEFENSE, DEFENSE!
The state's fourth-ranked Wildcats by the Associated Press, taking advantage of a bad snap off a Solon punt attempt, took possession at the Comets' 47.
Six plays later, Ryan tucked the ball away and, in a display of balance, vision and determination, scored on a 24-yard run into the left corner of the scoreboard end zone of Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium. Junior Matthew Trickett's extra-point kick was high and true, and Coach Kyle's 'Cats led, 7-0, with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter.
Trickett is an outstanding athlete who will grab a day's rest and then gear up for Sunday evening's OHSAA Division I State Championship soccer match versus St. Charles Prep. The first touch in Columbus' MAPFRE Stadium will be 7 PM.
Following an impressive return with the ensuing kickoff by Solon junior running back/linebacker Thomas Wilks, Solon was knocking on the door with a first-and-goal at the 9.
Just when Mr. Momentum appeared to be on the side of the Region 1 top-seeded and Greater Cleveland Conference Champion Comets, Saint Ignatius' defense, behind senior linebackers Adam Shibley, Johnny Velotta and James Leyden, rose to the occasion and forced Solon to settle for a 25-yard field goal by senior Andy Baek with 2:07 left in the opening quarter.
With Toppin and senior cornerback Alex Ringfield providing excellent coverage, and Toppin and junior strong safety Matthew Viancourt combining on a tackle that resulted in a loss of 3 yards, the 'Cats got the ball back in the hands of their offense.
Ryan, who made some exceptional reads, continued to frustrate Solon with his running ability while fueling a nine-play, 82-yard drive that resulted in a 14-yard touchdown run by junior tailback Mark "Bo-Bo" Bobinski that was a study in balance, vision and strength. Trickett was the ticket on the extra point and Saint Ignatius led, 14-3, with 6:22to go in the first half.
The pride of St. Mary of Mentor, Bobinski resides about 5 minutes down the street from Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium.
Saint Ignatius, which is making its 27th appearance in the OHSAA playoffs and now sports a postseason record under Coach Kyle of 68-15, took possession at its 23-yard line with just 1 minute and 9 seconds remaining in the first half.
Just play it safe and take your 11-point lead into halftime, you ask? No, that is not the makeup of a three- time National Champion (1989, 1993 and 1995) and National Runner-Up (2008).
The clutch hands of senior wide receiver Travis Pot produced a 44-yard, over-the- shoulder catch down the left sideline for a first down at the Solon 15. Two players later, Pot scored on a 6-yard run into the right corner of the end zone off a reverse with 31 seconds left before two of the best bands in the land took the field.
Pot's sweet six came off a handoff from Bobinski, who was sweeping the left side after taking the pigskin from Ryan. Trickett's third extra point made it 21-3 and fans were fast-breaking to the concession stands for coffee or hot chocolate. A little preseason basketball lingo.
After a 34-yard field goal by Trickett extended the 'Cats' lead to 24-3 with 6:13 to go in the third quarter, Solon began to display its big football heart.
Coach Jim McQuaide's Comets (10-2), who were making their 21st playoff appearance, including their fourth in a row, scored on an 80-yard, on-the-money touchdown pass from tough, talented and big-arm senior quarterback Joe Bubonics to multi-skilled senior wide receiver/defensive back Darryl Sinclair with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter. Baek's extra point cut the deficit to 24-10.
Ryan and Company had the answer again, however, as Patrick combined with sure-handed senior wide receiver Mike Lehto on an in-stride 40-yard touchdown pass that, along with another PAT by Trickett, pushed Saint Ignatius' lead to 31-10 with 7:35 left in the fourth quarter.
Solon, which now trails its all-time football series with Saint Ignatius, 4-2 (all six meetings coming in the playoffs), closed out the scoring on an impressive 75-yard catch and run by junior wide receiver/defensive back Andrew Mason that was capped by a Baek PAT with 1:22 left to be played. The Comets wrapped up another impressive season by winning eight of their final nine games.
A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE: The above mentioned efforts of Cameron Toppin included a highlight-reel leaping interception that he said his team "just had to have," and a touchdown-saving tackle in the early going. Cameron left a lasting impression on this old gridiron grinder with his two interceptions in the Wildcats' 2015 Junior Varsity victory at St. Edward.
Cameron pointed out that he has benefitted from a new ball-in-the-air practice drill instituted by Defensive Backfield Coaches Kevin Johnson '10 and Pat Hinkel '09.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH: That certainly came to the fore on Friday night as Matthew Viancourt and senior linebacker Ben Delhees stepped up big time because of some in-game injuries.
FROM PATRICK RYAN: "That's a great defense out there, and their secondary is unbelievable," Patrick said of the Comets' defenders. "They have some really, really good athletes on the edge. So the passing game wasn't in rhythm at the start. We stuck with the running game and I was the one that shoulder most of the load. I gave Bobinski a break finally after the past couple of games.
"Since Jimmy's been out (standout senior tailback Jimmy Andrews) it's been who's going to step up and I did my job tonight. When you're behind an offensive line like this, it makes my job a lot easier.
"Travis (Pot) went out there and made a play and the end around, we practice that a lot. Travis is one of our best athletes on the edge. It's a whole new game (Friday versus St. Edward). We're not looking at the score of the last game. We'll look at the film, make adjustments and go out and play."
FROM COACH KYLE: "The story of the first half was Pat running and Bubonics running," Coach Kyle said. "He (Bubonics) really runs that offense well and that would create issues. He would hold the ball, find a little seam and take off. He was getting yardage, but you looked up at halftime and they only scored three points.
"Okay, let's make some adjustments and go from there. We got the field goal and we're up by three touchdowns, but then they came up with a beautifully thrown pass and catch (Bubonics to Sinclair) heading into the wind. He put it right there. But we settled down and the offense put that late touchdown in (Ryan to Lehto).
"That was a hard-hitting game and some guys we had to pull out. We'll see how they are and then practice on Monday."