Cook and Grbac combine for five touchdowns, quarterback Dennis Grosel hangs tough in the pocket and the offensive and defensive fronts are solid in a sound victory over the freshmen from Erie (Pa.) McDowell

By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright October 2012

You will have to excuse Kevin Cook '86 and Elvis Grbac if they walked out of Wasmer Field on Wednesday night grinning from ear to ear.

Cook, a former standout all-around athlete at Saint Ignatius, a former football mainstay for the Viriginia Cavaliers and a member of the Wildcats' prestigious Athletic Hall of Fame, and Grbac, an outstanding quarterback for St. Joseph High School and the University of Michigan, an NFL All-Pro signal-caller and currently the quarterbacks coach for Saint Ignatius' nationally acclaimed program, had every right to be wearing those proud father expressions.

Saint Ignatius' freshmen team, with Jack Cook scoring three touchdowns and Cal Grbac hauling in two touchdown passes, dominated the freshmen squad from Erie McDowell, 35-7, in front of a nice turnout at Wasmer Field.

Coach Rodney Galloway's Wildcats, who led, 21-0, at halftime, improved to 5-1 by also getting some superb blocking up front and aggressive, but contained defensive pursuit.

After being turned away at midfield on its first possession, Saint Ignatius was able to stop the Trojans 1-yard short of a first down off a fourth-and-9 from the Wildcats' 31.

Taking possession at its 23, Saint Ignatius lost a yard on first down. On the next play, however, quarterback Dennis Grosel swung the ball out to Cook, who picked up a timely block from fellow wide receiver Kyle Vilsack, raced down the right side, cut to the middle without breaking stride and outran the pursuit into the left corner of the Lorain Avenue end zone for a 78-yard scoring play. Ryan Berger's extra-point kick was good and Saint Ignatius led, 7-0, with 2 minutes and 7 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Displaying the intensity Coach Galloway asked of them before the game, the Wildcats' defense forced a three-and-out and, after Cook alertly recovered a fumble during the punt return, Saint Ignatius was in business at the Trojans' 45.

Four plays later, Cal Grbac made a nice out-stretched, two-handed grab in the left corner of the scoreboard end zone and the ensuing extra point by Berger pushed the Wildcats' lead to 14-0 with 2:35 left in the first half.

After linebacker Ben Cray, the brother of Saint Ignatius' stalwart senior offensive guard and varsity captain Mike Cray, made a nice stop against McDowell's trademark counter, the Wildcats forced a rushed punt and took over at the Trojans' 49 with just 1:11 to go in the half.

Five plays later, Cook hauled in a pass from Grosel on the run and manuvered his way down the right sideline and into the scoreboard end zone with 30 ticks on the second quarter clock. Berger's third extra point sent the 'Cats to halftime with the 21-point cushion.

Saint Ignatius, which also benefited from the strong running of tailback Ian Forkapa, took command on another touchdown reception by Grbac, an effort that saw Cal come back to the throw and outmanuever the defensive back in the left conrer of the scoreboard end zone with 4:43 left in the third quarter. Cal's second TD came off a fourth-and-10 from the Trojans' 15.

The Wildcats left no doubt when Cook capped his memorable evening by fielding a punt just over the McDowell 45 and racing down the right side for his third six pointer with 2:37 remaining in the third quarter.

A long bus ride home became a bit easier for the Trojans when they scored with 59 seconds left to be played.

*For a preview on Saturday night's varsity football game versus John Adams, see the corner's story below.

*Although our attention is focused on 2012, we just thought we would let you know that Strong Vincent and Erie McDowell have agreed to play the varsity football Wildcats again next season. Let's hear it for the Keystone State. Also, the annual Mentor vs. Saint Ignatius game will be played in Week 2 of the 2013 season at the Cardinals' Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium.

It does not appear that Warren (Mich.) De LaSalle and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney are going to play the 'Cats next year (no surprise), so again Athletic Director Rory Fitzpatrick '88 will be doing his miracle work trying to fill the 2013 varsity slate.