It wasn't a pretty game for either team, but don't try telling that to the Warren G. Harding Raiders, who rode all the emotion in the end by rallying for 14 points in the final eight minutes.
The Freshmen Wildcats, who lost for the first time in their five games this season, will travel to Erie (Pa.) next Wednesday evening to face the freshman team from McDowell in a 5:30 PM kickoff.
Warren, Ohio - Saint Ignatius head freshman football coach Rodney Gallaway described Wednesday evening's 14-7 setback at Warren Harding as being emotional with a lot going on.
Through most of the first three quarters, what went on wasn't something either program would like to duplicate, as mistakes by both the Wildcats and the Raiders and the inability by Saint Ignatius to take advantage of great field position took the early center stage in tradition-rich Mollenkopf Stadium.
The teams were exchanging turnovers under a bright blue sky in Trumbull County faster than the chain crew could move the sticks.
Saint Ignatius, which misfired on a 30-yard field goal attempt and also fumbled the ball away deep in Raiders territory in the first half, got its offense on track in the final minutes of the second quarter.
A strong punt return by Alex Ringfield and clutch receptions by Michael Spear and James Leyden helped the 'Cats to the game's first points - a leaping 2-yard reception in the right corner of the scoreboard end zone by Michael Lehto with 4 seconds remaining in the first half.
Saint Ignatius' defense kept a 7-0 lead intact throughout a physical third quarter. But again, the Wildcats' offense couldn't sustain any consistency.
"We had injuries here and there (throughout the game) and we weren't ready to play, certainly in the first half," Coach Gallaway said. "We had opportunities there in the first half and we didn't capitalize. We were inside their 10 two or three times."
Warren Harding, which time and again found a way to stay in the game, brought its fans to life early in the fourth quarter when defensive end/linebacker Nazar Diggs made a leaping one-handed interception near midfield and rambled down the right or home-stands sideline of Mollenkopf Stadium for a touchdown.
The Raiders elected to try a two-point conversion after Diggs' crowd-pleaser, but Saint Ignatius defensive back Jefferey Chonko, who played a solid game all night, broke up the pass with a perfectly timed deflection in the end zone. Jefferey is a relative of one of the greatest high school football players ever to come out of Greater Cleveland - Parma Redmen legend and former Ohio State standout Arnie Chonko.
With Mr. Momentum making himself comfortable on the Warren Harding bench, the Raiders raised their emotional bar to another level when running back/linebacker Thadeus Alexander broke two tackles, bounced outside and went 65 yards down that same comfortable right sideline for the go-ahead touchdown with 5:15 remaining to be played.
Again, Warren Harding's coaches elected to go for a two-point conversion and Diggs and receiver Javar King pulled off a Houdini act in pushing the Raiders' lead to 14-7.
Diggs took the pitch and started to sweep the left side, where he was greeted by a host of Wildcats. However, with three 'Cats wrapped around him, Diggs, before he was downed, shot-putted the pigskin into the left corner of the end zone where King's soft hands were waiting.
A defensive force for most of the game, Diggs came up with two huge sacks down the stretch as Saint Ignatius was trying to make a late comeback.
"Disappointing loss for sure, because I think this is a special group that had the potential to go undefeated," Coach Gallaway said. "Like I told the guys, it's a learning process and we're going to respond and get ready for McDowell. That's whose next on the challenge board, sort of speak."