By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit November 2016
Coach Chuck Kyle's offense and defense made the clutch plays in defeating the previously unbeaten Patriots from Olentangy Liberty, as the Wildcats held off a strong second-half charge by Coach Steve Hale's Patriots.
Liberty closed its memorable season at 13-1.
Saint Ignatius, winner of an OHSAA record 11 big-school state football championships, will look to add another gold trophy to that list when it faces Jesuit School rival Cincinnati St. Xavier on Friday, Dec. 2 at 8 PM in Ohio Stadium at The Ohio State University.
The Wildcats, now 13-1 and winners of 10 consecutive games, defeated the 9-5 Bombers, 31-14, in a Week 9 regular-season matchup on Tom Ballaban Field in St. Xavier Stadium. St. Xavier, under the direction of veteran Head Coach Steve Specht, advanced to the title matchup with the 'Cats by rallying past Pickerington Central, 29-27, in Friday night's other Division I Semifinal. The Tigers of Pickerington Central closed their season at 12-2.
Next Friday will mark the third time the tradition-rich Jesuit Schools are meeting in the Division I State Championship Football Game, with Saint Ignatius winning both of the previous state-title matchups with the Bombers, 37-6 at then Canton's Fawcett Stadium in 2001 and 24-14 on a frigid Saturday afternoon at Fawcett Stadium in 1992. St. Xavier leads the all-time gridiron series with the Wildcats, 12-11.
Here is a look at what was another tension-packed postseason challenge for the gifted and resilient Wildcats, who were coming off a 38-31 overtime victory over West Side rival St. Edward in last weekend's Region 1 Final.
Mansfield, Ohio - As a few light snow flakes swirled around football-rich Arlin Stadium late Friday night, Saint Ignatius' hard-nosed senior linebacker/captain Johnny Velotta referred to the inspiring words of Father Jack Murphy, the Wildcats' Team Chaplin and a Math Tutor at Cleveland's Jesuit Preparatory School.
"Father said we had to be relentless, and we were able to do that tonight," said Johnny in reference to Father Murphy's message during Friday's pre-game Mass in St. Mary of the Assumption Chapel on the campus of Saint Ignatius. "We swarmed to the ball. We were playing 11 hats to the ball, which is our Saint Ignatius defensive way. It's an unbelievable feeling, this one is really special."
The Wildcats' offense was also special as veteran Offensive Coordinator Nick Restifo watched his big-hearted, savvy and multi-skilled senior quarterback Patrick Ryan throw a picture-perfect, 44-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline and into the sure hands of senior wide receiver Travis Pot, who never broke stride while pulling away from the Olentangy Liberty defensive back. Junior Matthew Trickett kicked the extra point and Saint Ignatius led, 7-0, with 11 minutes and 34 seconds remaining in the first half.
Ryan Franzinger '02, the Wildcats' Defensive Coordinator and a standout defensive end/linebacker/running back/ captain on the 2001 State Championship Team, watched his "Linebacker Legion" of Velotta and first-team All-Northeast Lakes District senior selections Adam Shibley and James Leyden, along with second-team All-District senior lineman Joe Gibbons, make things uncomfortable for the Patriots throughout most of the first half.
After Shibley and Leyden combined on a sack that forced Liberty to punt from deep in its territory, Wildcats outstanding junior tailback Mark Bobinski retuned the punt 23 yards to the Patriots' 44-yard line.
Following a 27-yard, second-and third-effort run by senior tailback Dean "The Dream" Stowers and an elusive scramble by Ryan to the 1-yard, Bobinski fought his way over the right side for the touchdown and Trickett's PAT made it a 14-0 game with 8:17 to go in the first half.
Liberty, which advanced to the state-semifinal matchup with Saint Ignatius by rallying past Lorain, 24-20, in the Region 2 Final, rode a big-time reception by its senior Mr. Everything, Ohio State recruit Brendon White, to a first-and-goal at the Wildcats' 10-yard line.
It was at that point, however, Saint Ignatius' defense came up big and two penalties on the Patriots, including one on White for offensive pass interference in the end zone, had the team from Olentangy heading in the wrong direction.
After a huge momentum-swinging pursuit sack by Gibbons for an 11-yard loss, Liberty went from first-and-goal at the 10 to fourth and goal at the 42.
The Patriots' first half-woes went from bad to worse when starting sophomore quarterback Mitchell Okuley had to be helped off the field from a knee injury he suffered with just over five minutes left in the second quarter.
Coach Hale's team, making what was the first state-semifinal appearance in the Patriots' gridiron history, rallied around White's multiple skills in the second half.
A 27-yard touchdown pass from White to junior wide receiver/defensive back Johnny Wiseman and the ensuing extra point by senior AJ Smith cut the deficit to 14-7 with 9:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Just when Mr. Momentum appeared to be headed to the other side of Arlin Field, the 'Cats' defense, keyed by the "Linebacker Legion" and the play of first-team All-District senior lineman Mike Chime and ever-present junior cornerback Cameron Toppin, rose to the occasion and put Coach Kyle's team in position for what turned out to be the offensive play of the game.
Ryan, who was under a heavy pass rush from the Patriots throughout most of the second half, used his legs to pull off a highlight-reel, 69-yard touchdown run down the home sideline with 4:34 left in the fourth quarter.
Capped by another PAT by Trickett, Patrick's effort saw him flash his trademark second gear, balance and vision, and outrun the pursuit along the Saint Ignatius bench area.
Liberty had another charge left, as a 7-yard TD pass from White to sophomore wide receiver Casey Kauf and a Smith extra point again made it a seven-point deficit with 3:29 remaining.
Saint Ignatius was determined to advance to the state championship game for the first time since 2011, however, and it did so behind a kiss the sky, 54-yard punt by first-team All-District senior punter/kicker Colin Goodfellow, key defensive stops by Gibbons, Shibley and Leyden, and a 39-yard field goal from Trickett.
Coach Kyle and most of his staff were no strangers to Arlin Field. In the 'Cats' state title season of 2011 they defeated Toledo Whitmer in a Division I State Semifinal on Mansfield's storied gridiron.
FROM JAMES LEYDEN: "They (the Patriots) came out and made some big plays in the second half. But we fought back and got the win. They had some real good athletes that gave us trouble. I mean, it's the playoffs, and they're a heck of a team. You knew it was going to be a close game."
FROM ADAM SHIBLEY: "It was scary there, for awhile. But we gave it everything we had. It came down to will. Everyone wants to win, but it comes down to will and I think we had more. It's just an unreal feeling right now. We brought it back in that last series, when it counted most."
FROM COACH KYLE: "Great job by the defense, an outstanding job," said the man who not only has the record 11 state championships on his resume, but three national titles (1989, 1993 and 1995), a national runner-up in 2008 and a state runner-up in 1996.
From 1991 to 1995 Coach Kyle led his Wildcats to an incredible five consecutive Division I state titles. He enters next Friday's state championship matchup with St. Xavier with an OHSAA postseason record of 70-15 and 334 career victories, all at his alma mater Saint Ignatius.
"We're going to Columbus because of their effort here tonight, that's for sure," Coach Kyle continued in reference to the defense.
Coach Kyle also praised the efforts of Ryan, especially Patrick's explosive TD run.
"Pat gives us a very interesting two-dimension idea," Coach Kyle said. "He's a very smart kid and he throws well, but if he gets a seam, he can run away from people. We blocked it well, he popped it and you think the secondary is going to catch him, and he just outran them."
NOTE: As always, the corner will preview the Saint Ignatius versus St. Xavier State Championship matchup on Tuesday night. That preview will include some comments from Coach Kyle that he gave this corner on Friday night, special comments that I am saving for the state title preview.
Have a special weekend, all of the best to Coach Urban Meyer and we will see you at practice this coming week. Ah, doesn't that sound great.