Ohio City – The Saint Ignatius Wildcats, en route to an Ohio-best 11 state championships and three national titles, have had to face some major challenges along the way.
But then that goes hand in hand with being consistently one of the premier football programs not only in the Buckeye State, but throughout the nation.
Coming off an 11-2, regional-final season last fall, which was a remarkable 24th playoff appearance since 1988, Saint Ignatius encountered another challenge just over a week ago when gifted senior quarterback and captain Pete Mahoney suffered what appears to be a season-ending ankle injury (see this corner’s story from Sunday, August 11). Pete underwent a successful surgery at Lutheran Hospital on Thursday.
The most celebrated position in the history of Saint Ignatius football is now in the hands of gritty and strong-armed senior quarterback John Thomas. And, as always, the Wildcats are ready to stare adversity in the face.
“When we entered the season, we thought great, we had two senior quarterbacks in the program the whole time,” said Coach Chuck Kyle, who enters his 31st season as his alma mater’s head coach with a record of 301-69-1. “We felt it was a strength coming in and then sadly, the way that worked with Peter breaking his ankle. Football is football or sports are sports, and that can happen.
“JT (Thomas) and Pete have always been on the field together and they have always worked together,” Coach Kyle continued. “For JT, now there is a realization or mentality that OK, I have to step up. He has the ability to
do it. He knows that and we know that.”
Thomas, who worked alongside Mahoney as the Wildcats’ backups to Mike LaManna (now at Ashland University) last season, will be the first to tell you that his transition to the starting role will be made a lot
easier by what is one of the top receiving corps in all of Ohio.
Showing the way in that department are senior Mike Siragusa, who is probably one of the most underrated players in the state, senior captain Jack Hyland, seniors Nick Fabian and Jake Helton and junior David Shibley. Siragusa, Hyland and Fabian not only have the hands and the savvy to run precise routes, but they are also adept at the all-important yards after the catch. Fabian, who has exceptional quickness, recently accepted a baseball scholarship to West Virginia. Nick is an outstanding outfielder.
A position of great depth, the wideouts will also be bolstered by senior Jack Lavelle, who will double as a starting defensive back, seniors Bennett Kinzel and Hunter Baker and juniors Jaylin McDonald and JR Klonk, among others.
“That's where we have great experience back and quality experience,” Coach Kyle said of his receivers. “We catch the football. We like throwing the football. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a million times, if we catch the football we win the game.
“These guys are veterans, they have a clear understanding of the game,” Coach Kyle continued in reference to the receivers. “They know what is expected of the patterns and that probably makes it a lot easier for the
quarterbacks. The receivers are running the routes the way they are supposed to be done, so that makes the reads a lot easier and more defined. We’re blessed that way and JT is blessed that way in understanding the concept.”
As for his offensive line, which is under the direction of former Wildcat mainstay Adam Rini ’99 and Coach Paul Yappel, Coach Kyle said it is coming along. Leading the way up front is All-Ohio senior tackle Jim Byrne,
a three-year varsity performer who is bound for the University of Notre Dame on a scholarship next year.
Jim will be supported by two-year veteran senior tackle Ryan Dadich, senior center Frank Rolf, senior guards Thomas Stuhldreher and Chris Veras and promising sophomore guard/tackle Liam Eichenberg. Although he has yet to play in a regular-season varsity game, Eichenberg has already received a scholarship offer from The Ohio State University. Byrne, Dadich, Eichenberg and junior tackles Kevin Woidke and Jacob Ready are all around 6-foot-4 or 6-5.
Byrne, one of the Wildcats’ captains for 2013, emphasized how impressed he is with the maturity and the work ethic that Eichenberg has displayed for such a young player. Jim said he can see why Ohio State made the early offer to Liam.
“The run blocking has progressed nicely considering we’re sitting here talking at the sixth day of hitting,” Coach Kyle said. Coach Kyle emphasized how crucial pass blocking is to the Wildcats’ offense, especially
the footwork and technique, and he said that also ties into the running backs.
“Those guys run the ball and catch the ball, but they have to block too!” said Coach Kyle.
Saint Ignatius graduated one of its all-time greats in record-setting tailback Tim McVey (now at Air Force). That said, the three-headed attack of senior tailbacks Mike Vitale, Enzo Cannata and Kyle Daugenti, along with sophomore standout James Norris, will give veteran running backs coach Terry Fergus ’72 plenty to smile about.
“We have three backs that are good athletes and have good speed, and a sophomore who has amazing speed,” Coach Kyle said. “We want to keep those guys fresh and allow them to be the athletes that they are. I think that will pay dividends for us.”
As for the kicking game, Saint Ignatius’ string of excellence will continue with the return of 2012 All-Ohio selection, senior Matt Colella. Matt will also handle the punting chores and will be backed up nicely in both
areas by juniors Toby Leahy and Corey Griffith.
“Matt can kick 50-plus yard field goals and if the situation and the weather are right, we’re going to launch them,” said Coach Kyle. “And the nice thing is that most of his kickoffs go into the end zone. A kicker truly changes the flow of the game.”
When we talk about the Wildcats’ defense, the discussion begins with 2012 All-Ohio selection and current preseason All-American outside linebacker Kyle Berger.
One of the top senior recruits in the nation, Kyle is staying loyal to his early spring commitment to Coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes of The Ohio State University. Kyle has an impressive recruiting offer list that
includes the defending national champion Crimson Tide of Alabama.
“He’s stronger this year (6-3 1/2, 220 pounds) and has a chance to get even stronger,” said Coach Kyle of Berger, whose exceptional athleticism and quickness allows him to make plays that are sometimes referred
to as “freaky.”
“He loves playing linebacker and he has that experience now,” Coach Kyle said. “He’s a guy who makes plays and I think he is more physically fit than he was last year as far as strength. He will even help us at tight end if we need him to.”
Among those complementing Berger will be hard-nosed senior middle backer John Gibbons, who is coming off a strong scrimmage against Twinsburg, senior captain and outside linebacker Patrick Hopkins and senior
linebackers Michael Ferry and John Simone.
Senior Jacob Rossi and numerous other names you read about during the summer camps are members of the LB depth department.
When you look at the Wildcats' secondary, it is obvious that this is also an area of strength, an area with flexible depth.
Talented senior cornerbacks Scott Arthrell and Jack Lavelle have experience, a nose for the ball and the ability to run with the receivers. Scott is coming off a solid junior season.
Senior safety Dameon Willis Jr. is a heavily recruited playmaker who will probably also see time at linebacker and this corner puts senior safety Matt McVey in the same category with Mike Siragusa as one of Northeast Ohio’s underrated playmakers. Don’t be surprised if Matt also sees some time at linebacker.
Senior safeties Evan O’Malley and Dan Jamieson are very reliable tacklers and senior Jake Maruna is one of the more versatile players in the program. A standout in lacrosse, Jake can play in the secondary, move up
to a linebacker position or switch to offense and play as a receiver or a tight end. And he can run with the ball.
Seniors Nick Malarik, Mike Zupan, Dan Filuta and Ryan Cooper have been providing quality depth in the secondary. Malarik, said Coach Kyle, has been doing “some nice things” in the preseason.
Up front on defense Saint Ignatius has said goodbye to one of the toughest threesomes in its rich football history – Dave Katusha, Kevin Kavalec and Matt Gawlik from the recent graduating Class of 2013.
Tough and active senior Chris Keane saw plenty of quality time last season and among the others expected to bring it this year are senior defensive end Sean Luskin, who has made the switch from linebacker, senior nose
tackle Daniel Cartolin, senior ends Austin Bedinghaus and Zach Viets, and
junior ends Michael Penn, Mike Profancik and Dre’Mont Jones.
Remember the name Dre’Mont Jones my friends. “Dre,” as he is known to his teammates, has, in the words of Coach Kyle, the potential to be a very, very good player. Dre’Mont (6-4, 230) has been performing exceptionally well in camp and is expected to make his mark as both a defensive lineman and a tight end.
Kyle Berger has referred to “Dre” as the Wildcat who has made the biggest impression on him in preseason, a player, said Berger, who can dominate and disrupt on defense.
The Wildcats will close out their preseason with the annual “Jamboree” scrimmage against the Canton McKinley Bulldogs on Friday at 7 PM in legendary Fawcett Stadium.
Coach Kyle’s ‘Cats open their 2013 season on Saturday, August 31 against two-time defending Michigan Division II state champion Brother Rice at Wayne State University. Part of the Detroit Sports Commission
Prep Kickoff Classic, the game is scheduled for 1:30 PM.
This season will be the 57th and final for Brother Rice’s legendary coach Al Fracassa. A young 80 years old, Coach Fracassa is in his 54th season as a head coach (416 career victories and nine state titles). He has coached at Brother Rice for 45 years.
Coach Fracassa, who has sent 300 players to the college football ranks, with 13 of them going on to the NFL, recently told reporters from Michigan that he is losing sleep watching film on Saint Ignatius. Brother Rice, which has about 600 boys in grades 9 through 12, returns six starters on both offense and defense from last
year’s state championship team.
Paramus Catholic from New Jersey and Lawrence Central from Indianapolis, who face the ‘Cats at Byers Field in Weeks 5 and 6, respectively, are both ranked in most of the preseason national polls after winning state
championships in 2012.
And as we reported last week on the corner, St. Edward is ranked No. 1 in Ohio and 15th nationally in the Athlon Sports High School Football 2013 preview. Athlon ranks Saint Ignatius third in Ohio and Brother Rice third in Michigan.
For a complete look at Saint Ignatius’ 2013 schedule, go to ignatius.edu, click on athletics and click on football.
The corner will continue its tradition of previewing all of Saint Ignatius' football games, starting with a look at Brother Rice on Tuesday night, Aug. 27. The weekly previews will be posted every Tuesday night during the season.