Seamus Siefring didn’t want to place any emphasis on the many outstanding plays he made defensively and on special teams.

Instead, the savvy and spirited senior outside linebacker talked about his teammates, the reality of being able to prepare for the game they’ve dreamed about since they were little kids, and how the Saint Ignatius Wildcats again ''did it as a unit.’’

The same went for all-district senior safety/running back Pat Hinkel, who, putting his four-touchdown night aside, spoke of how special it would be ''to do it for them, all of the players from 2002 through 2007 who didn’t have this opportunity.’’

Yes, up next is the dream game, the opportunity to add another chapter to the Wildcats’ rich football history.

And Siefring, Hinkel and the rest of the ''unit’’ made it all possible by defeating North Canton Hoover, 34-7, on Saturday night in a state-semifinal encounter at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Saint Ignatius (13-1), setting the tone with a 20-point first quarter on Coach Chuck Kyle’s 58th birthday, wore down the Vikings en route to this Saturday’s Division I state championship game against Cincinnati Elder (13-1). The kickoff from Canton’s Fawcett Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised live by SportsTime Ohio.

After winning their 13th consecutive game, Coach Kyle’s Wildcats will now attempt to add to what is already an Ohio-best nine big-school state football titles. Saint Ignatius’ ninth crown came in 2001, when the Wildcats defeated another perennial Cincinnati power, Saint Xavier, 37-6 at Fawcett Stadium.

''Unbelievable, just one more game,’’ said Siefring, who helped his team to the 20-0 advantage by blocking a punt late in the first quarter that resulted in Hinkel’s 5-yard scoop and score. ''We have to scout them, have an unbelievable week of practice and execute on Saturday.’’

Saint Ignatius’ execution was flawless in the early going against Hoover, as the Wildcats put together drives of 65 yards and 55 yards on their first two possessions. Hinkel scored the game’s first points on a 1-yard run and a 39-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Andrew Holland to senior wideout and Ball State recruit Connor Ryan made the score 13-0 with 4:02 remaining in the opening quarter.

After Siefring’s block led to Hinkel’s second touchdown, Hoover (12-2) got back in the game on a 53-yard, second-effort touchdown run by standout junior tailback Erick Howard. Howard entered the game with more than 2,300 yards rushing and 30 rushing touchdowns. He finished 83 yards on 14 carries.

''I really think our defensive line won the battle up front,’’ said Siefring, who pursued sideline to sideline all night and assisted in putting pressure on Hoover’s underrated quarterback Brett Tulodzieski. ''They made openings for the linebackers to make plays.’’

With senior nose tackle Ryan Carr leading the way up front, the linebacker corps of Siefring, senior middle backer Kolin Sullivan and gifted junior outside backer Scott McVey cleaning up, and a secondary led by senior cornerback Tommy Hunt and senior safety Sean Fisher clearing the air waves, Saint Ignatius used its passing game and the running of senior tailback Mike Anter to set up Hinkel’s third and fourth TDs – runs of 2 and 5 yards.

Holland passed for 245 yards and is now third on the Wildcats’ all-time list for passing yards in a season with 2,609. Anter did his usual workman-like job on the ground by rushing for 84 yards on 13 carries, an average of better than 6 yards per carry.

In totaling more than 350 yards of offense, Saint Ignatius had four receivers with three or more receptions. The breakdown saw Ryan total five catches for 95 yards, senior Joey Parris grab five for 60 yards, senior Frank DeSico come up with four for 45 yards and junior tight end Brendan Carozzoni haul in three for 35 yards.

Saint Ignatius also got healthier Saturday night, as all-district senior safety and Notre Dame recruit Dan Fox, senior cornerback Sean Fitzgerald and junior punter and backup quarterback Mark Myers returned to action.

The night was capped off by a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ by the players and some reflection by the man who celebrated another year.

''It’s challenging the past, how’s that?’’ said Coach Kyle (’69), when asked if the 2008 Wildcats have played as good for an extended period as any of his teams have done in some time.

''You have to wait one more week to see where we rank in relationship to the past. But the progress is there.

''Yesterday, I looked them in the eye and told them, 'Right now, I’m looking at a state championship team, if you want to do it.’ I think they want to. We’ll see what happens.’’