By Eddie Dwyer, June 7, 2017
From Wasmer Field on the campus of Saint Ignatius High School - It was more like a perfect fall day than an early June Wednesday afternoon as nationally acclaimed Head Coach Chuck Kyle'69 sent his Football 'Cats through their second mini camp of the 2017 preseason.
Sunshine and blue skies were accompanied by a persistent cool breeze that made it very comfortable for the Wildcats, who took another step in conditioning, learning the playbook and trying impress Coach Kyle and his outstanding staff.
One of those coaches who is very pleased so far is the man who directs Saint Ignatius' Defensive Secondary, Kevin Johnson '10.
Coach Johnson has welcomed back a big-game tested nucleus headed by senior safety Justin Sands, senior cornerback Cameron Toppin, senior safety Matt Viancourt and senior cornerback/safety/wide receiver Connor Kennedy.
With graduation taking its toll up front on defense and at the linebacker positions, the secondary will be counted on to show the way, especially in the early going, for the record 11-time Division I State Champion 'Cats. Saint Ignatius is coming off a 13-2, 2016 season that saw it finish as the big-school State Runner-Up to Cincinnati St. Xavier.
Among some of the other names expected to roam Coach Johnson's secondary are juniors Jett Elad, Chris Velotta and Danny Scelza.
THE NEW LINEBACKER LEGION?: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Ryan Franzinger '02 watched oh so promising junior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg roam the turf on Wasmer Field Wednesday afternoon and also make a nice read that resulted in an interception for Tommy. Tommy is the brother of former Wildcats All-Ohio and All-America offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg'16, who is expected to make his presence felt for the University of Notre Dame after a red-shirt season in 2016.
Look for talented and tough seniors Tommy Grosel and Logan Joyce to help solidify the linebacker corps. Both young men have returned to the Blue and Gold after a year away from the gridiron.
FOR THOSE WHO INQUIRED: Yes, Wildcats 6-foot-6, 320-pound senior offensive tackle and standout thrower for Coach Kyle's Varsity Track and Field Team, Darian Kinnard, has given a verbal commitment to Coach Mark Stoops and the football program at the University of Kentucky.
TIME PASSAGES: Saint Ignatius' gifted senior tailback and tri-captain Mark Bobinski turns 17 on Thursday and junior quarterback Patrick Delahunty also celebrates a Birthday Thursday, his 16th.
NO SHORTCUTS WILL BE TOLERATED: The Varsity Football Team cut its pre-practice lap a bit short and had to run it again.
THE JUNIOR VARSITY HAD ITS MOMENTS: Sophomore defensive back Chris Mathews turned in a solid evening in the JV mini camp, one that included an interception and another aggressive and heads-up play on the ball. Chris the brother of former Saint Ignatius defensive secondary mainstay Michael Mathews '15.
The Junior Varsity offensive line also had a sequence that drew some praise from Wildcats outstanding Varsity and JV line coach Adam Rini '99.
WILDCATS AND EAGLES ARE HOPING TO PUT TOGETHER A "B GAME" THIS SEASON: Coach Kyle and St. Edward's outstanding Head Football Coach Tom Lombardo are both in favor of adding another game to their storied yearly rivalry of Freshmen, Junior Varsity and Varity encounters, one that will not count for OHSAA Varity computer playoff points nor will be among the 10 regular season Varsity Games.
The "B Game," in essence, would allow those players who work extremely hard all season to have the opportunity for some quality playing time against their rival.
FROM THE OHSAA: As usual, the Football Cats will be competing for a postseason playoff spot in Region 1. Here is the OHSAA's Football Schedule.
Monday, July 31 – Practice begins (mandatory 5-day acclimatization period)
Monday, Aug. 21 – Regular season begins (719 schools playing football in 2017)
Tuesday, Sept. 19 – Weekly computer point releases begin
Saturday, Oct. 28 – Regular season ends
Sunday, Oct. 29 – Final computer points and playoff qualifiers announced (224 total qualifiers)
Friday, Nov. 3 – Regional quarterfinals played at higher seed, 7:30 p.m. (112 games)
Friday, Nov. 10 – Regional semifinals played at neutral sites, 7:30 p.m. (56 games)
Friday, Nov. 17 – Regional finals played at neutral sites, 7:30 p.m. (28 games)
Friday, Nov. 24 – State semifinals played at neutral sites, 7:30 p.m. (14 games)
State Championship Games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Championship game time assignments will be announced Saturday, Nov. 25
Thursday, Nov. 30 – Division I, II, V or VII, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 1 – Division I, II, V or VII, Game times at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 2 – Division III, IV or VI, Game times at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
BROWN UPDATE: Austin Brown, Detroit Catholic Central's starting quarterback the past two seasons, has transferred to his home school district. Brown, who suffered a broken leg in the Shamrocks' MHSAA Division I State Semifinal victory over Romeo last fall, has enrolled at Madison Heights High School, a small division school where Austin's father, Jimmy Brown, is the Athletic Director.
With Brown putting together a solid season, Detroit Catholic Central finished 13-1 in 2016 after losing to nationally ranked Detroit Cass Tech in the Michigan Division I State Championship Game. Brown will be entering his junior year.
Brown, who had some memorable moments during the Shamrocks' 28-21 overtime victory over Saint Ignatius in Week 4 of 2016 at Detroit Catholic Central, completed 61 percent of his passes last season with 14 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Detroit Catholic Central will be traveling to Parma's Byers Field in Week 4 of the upcoming season to face the Wildcats. It will be Saint Ignatius' home opener after starting 2017 with road games at Archbishop Hoban, Mentor and Euclid.
Brown's transfer was reported by hometownlife.com's talented reporter Brad Emons.
JUST FYI: The Wildcats' next mini camps will be held on Tuesday and Thursday of next week, June 13 and 15. It's the Varsity from3 pm until 5 pm on Wasmer Field, followed by the Junior Varsity from 5 pm until 7 PM.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend and we will see you at Wasmer Field. Temperatures in the 90s are expected to hit the Cleveland area on Sunday.