By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit November 2016
Saint Ignatius and St. Edward, putting together one of the greatest games in the history of the OHSAA Division I, Region 1 finals, tested each other's will for four quarters and an overtime before the Wildcats prevailed, 38-31, behind an 8-yard touchdown run by gifted and gritty junior tailback Mark Bobinski, the ensuing extra-point kick by junior Matthew Trickett and a game-sealing defensive stand.
With the victory over their longtime West Side rival on Stewart Field in Bedford Bearcat Stadium, Saint Ignatius, now 12-1 and riding a nine-game winning streak, advances to next Friday's (Nov. 25th) 7:30 PM Division I State Semifinal matchup with 13-0 Powell Olentangy Liberty. The Patriots of Olentangy Liberty defeated Lorain, 24-20, in Fridaynight's Region 2 Final on Mansfield Madison Ram Field at StarTek Stadium.
Although the site of the Wildcats-Patriots final four matchup won't be officially announced by the OHSAA until Sunday, Saint Ignatius' outstanding Athletic Director Rory Fitzpatrick '88 said he expects the game to played on Mansfield Madison Ram Field at StarTek Stadium. The Football Wildcats of Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 will be making their first State Semifinal appearance since 2011, when they brought home the program's 11th big-school State Championship.
Coach Tom Lombardo's St. Edward Eagles, who entered what was the third postseason encounter and 55th overall gridiron meeting with Saint Ignatius as the two-time defending Division I State Champions, closed another outstanding season at 9-3.
The Wildcats are now 3-0 versus the Eagles in the OHSAA postseason playoffs and hold a 30-24-1 advantage in the all-time series. Saint Ignatius' other playoff victories over St. Edward came in the State Championship season of 2008, 37-0 in the first round, and in 2011, a 20-17 second-round triumph.
Although the 1993 triple-overtime regular season classic between the 'Cats and the Eagles, won by Saint Ignatius, 35-34, in a packed Lakewood Stadium, has always been considered the greatest game between the Catholic school powers, Friday night's Region 1 Final at Bedford just might take over the No. 1 spot in the series. Especially when you consider the importance of Friday night's matchup. I never thought I would be writing or saying the previous statement, but that's how strong of an impression the test of wills on Northfield Road Friday night left on this seasoned reporter.
Here is a corner's view of what was truly a game for the ages.
Bedford, Ohio - After going over to the Saint Ignatius Student Body and thanking them for their tremendous support, Wildcats tough and talented two-way senior mainstay James Leyden talked about the remarkable ebb and flow that had just taken place on Stewart Field in front of a standing-room crowd in Bedford Bearcat Stadium.
"The first half, we had some missed tackles," said Leyden, a first-team All-Northeast Lakes District tight end/linebacker. "You knew it was going to be a close score, a dogfight the whole time.
"They kept punching back and our defense made some big plays when we needed to."
Unlike the October 29 regular-season finale between Saint Ignatius and St. Edward, dominated by the Wildcats, 34-7 at the Browns' FirstEnergy Stadium, Friday night's Region 1 Final was a last-man standing battle.
Saint Ignatius, which also defeated the Eagles twice in the same season in 2008 and 2011, took a 7-0 lead on a 10-play, 58-yard drive that was finished off by a 2-yard TD run by the resilient Bobinski and the point after touchdown kick by Trickett with 4 minutes and 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
An exceptional athlete, Trickett was coming off Sunday night's 2-1 victory over St. Charles Prep in the OHSAA State Championship Soccer Match at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus.
Responding in a manner one associates with a two-time defending state champion, St. Edward, behind the savvy and skill of senior quarterback Kevin Kramer and big-hearted senior tailback Curtis Szelesta, marched 81 yards in 13 plays and knotted the score at 7 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Szelesta off a fourth-and-goal and the ensuing extra-point kick by junior Blaine Stencil with 6 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Szelesta, who put together a fall to recall for Coach Lombardo, is also one of the area's and state's premier ice hockey players.
Saint Ignatius, a three-time National Champion on the gridiron (1989, 1993 and 1995), appeared to be seizing the momentum after Trickett sent home a 32-yard field goal with 8:01 remaining in the second quarter and senior quarterback Patrick Ryan scored off a 7-yard run in the final two minutes of the first half.
Trickett's field goal was set up when ever-present junior safety Justin Sands stripped the ball away and the pigskin was recovered by Leyden at the St. Edward 24-yard line.
Ryan's TD jaunt came four plays after the Eagles fumbled a punt and strong and athletic Wildcats senior linebacker Ben Delhees was there to pounce on the ball at the St. Edward 18-yard line. Sandwiched between those two big turnovers was a blocked field goal by one of the 'Cats' premier all-around athletes, junior wide receiver/defensive back/special teams mainstay Connor Kennedy.
Just when Mr. Momentum was making himself comfortable on the Saint Ignatius sideline, St. Edward closed out the first-half scoring on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Kramer to senior wide receiver Kordell Hoover with 18 seconds left in the second quarter. Stencil's PAT made it a three-point game by halftime.
"The whole season, even in the off-season, we've been talking about Thanksgiving Morning practice," said Leyden. "Now it's back, and we're all pumped for it. And we can't wait to see who we play next."
Well, now Leyden and the rest of the Wildcats know who they play next. That November 25 State Semifinal date with unbeaten Olentangy Liberty didn't come without a challenging second half and overtime, however.
When Leyden said the Eagles kept counter punching it was a fitting description.
Saint Ignatius, ranked fourth in the final Associated Press Division I State Poll for 2016 and currently ranked 10th in the Midwest by USA Today, pushed its lead back to 10 points on a perfectly executed 19-yard touchdown pass and catch off the combination of Ryan to Leyden and another extra point by Trickett.
It was at that point, however, that Szelesta, the young man asked to fill the huge void left by two-time All-Ohio tailback Cole Gest (now an Indiana Hoosier), stepped up with touchdowns runs of 7 and 10 yards that were capped by PATs from Stencil and St. Edward led, 28-24, with 10:05 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Coach Kyle's Wildcats responded like a multiple state champion, however, and regained the lead on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to sure-handed senior wide receiver Mike Lehto that came off a 7-play, 80-yard march and was topped by a Trickett PAT with 7:39 left on the fourth quarter clock.
Overtime came about after St. Edward's junior field goal specialist, Mason Lawler, was good from 33 yards with 4:14to go in the fourth quarter.
Prior to Lawler's game-tying three points, the Eagles suffered a major setback when Kramer, off his smooth fake, burst up the middle and raced from the St. Edward 36 to the Saint Ignatius 22-yard line where he was pulled down to the ground.
After being examined by doctors and trainers, Kramer was taken from the field on a stretcher. Some unconfirmed reports had Kevin suffering a broken leg.
The Wildcats had possession first in the overtime and rode Bobinski's running to what eventually was Mark's 8-yard, game-winning touchdown run. All overtime possessions start at the opponent's 20-yard line.
Leyden and Saint Ignatius' first-team All-Northeast Lakes District senior linebacker/captain Adam Shibley, and Honorable Mention All-Northeast Lakes District senior linebacker/captain Johnny Velotta, came up with big stops and, after senior cornerback Alex Ringfield had the coverage on a deep pass into the left corner of the open end zone, the celebration was on.
Also turning in a big night defensively for the Wildcats was first-team All-Northeast Lakes defensive lineman Mike Chime. If there is a better D-Lineman in all of Northeast Ohio than Mike, someone is going to have to prove it to me. Mike is having an All-Ohio season, my friends.
FROM COACH KYLE: "Credit to them," Coach Kyle said of the Eagles' ability to make plays in the rematch. "It came down to overtime and they won the toss and put us on offense first. I would have done the same thing, to be honest.
"In overtime, the kids ran the ball well. We said, 'Let's go, this (the running game) is what has carried us all year.' We've been able to pound 3, 4 or 5 yards a crack. So now the pressure is on them and they tried a few long ones to their best receiver, but the kids responded.
"Playing them twice in one season, it's hard," a smiling Coach Kyle continued. "It's hard enough to play them once. You have a plan, it works and three weeks later, okay, now what do we do. I think their offensive line did a much better job than three weeks ago. They were creating some seams, which hadn't happened against us all year."
BY THE NUMBERS: St. Edward rushed for 263 yards on 42 carries and the Wildcats had 154 yards rushing on 44 carries.
The Eagles passed for 121 yards and the Wildcats had 117 yards through the air. Patrick Ryan was 9-of-16 with two touchdowns and an interception.
Total yards showed St. Edward with 384 and Saint Ignatius with 271.
Szelesta rushed for 161 yards on 23 carries and Kramer totaled 71 yards on the ground off 13 carries.
Bobinski totaled 102 yards rushing off 23 carries and junior tailback Dean Stowers raced for 52 yards off 6 carries.
Good hands: Hoover led the way for St. Edward with 94 yards off 5 receptions and Lehto totaled 50 yards off his two receptions.
COMING UP: The corner will be previewing the Wildcats' State Semifinal matchup with Olentangy Liberty on Tuesdaynight.
Have a great Saturday and Sunday and enjoy the ride.