Wildcats will look to put their depth on display and give some rest and recovery time to the first units.
Saint Ignatius, the top-ranked team in the area, the No. 1 football program in the Associated Press Division I state poll and the leader in the all-important Region 1 computer playoff ratings, will take a 6-0 record into its third meeting against the Rebels. John Adams enters the game with a record of 3-3. The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 2-0.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright October 2012
Saint Ignatius’ 30-year head football coach Chuck Kyle ’69 has always been in favor of playing a full slate of games during the regular season. He believes strongly that his players deserve that opportunity and that is why he and Athletic Director Rory Fitzpatrick ’88 make an all-out effort to see to it that the Wildcats have a 10-game schedule every year.
There are those who snicker and say “Why John Adams?” in reference to Saint Ignatius’ Week 7 opponent on Saturday night at Parma’s Byers Field. The kickoff will be at 7 and the Saint Ignatius Student Broadcasting Network will have live audio and video, with seniors John Fanta and Greg Ziton delivering the play by play and commentary, respectively.
Well, if we can shoot from the hip, let’s just say that are not many programs – nationally, locally or state wide – who are willing to step to the plate and schedule the record 11-time state champion Wildcats. And of course compatible open dates also play a major factor.
“It was a situation where we didn’t have a game and we played John Adams last year,” said Coach Kyle, who will take a career record of 296-67-1 into Week 7. “Everybody got along really well and we had some fun playing football. Everybody (on both sides) played. We talked it over and said we needed a game, they needed a game, so let’s play it and have fun doing it.”
Saint Ignatius’ faithful have certainly been enjoying themselves, as the nationally acclaimed Wildcats are displaying a balanced offense that features the left arm of senior quarterback Mike LaManna and the power, balance, speed, and vision of gritty senior tailback Tim McVey. LaManna has thrown for 14 touchdowns and has surpassed the 1,400-yard passing mark for the season. McVey, an All-Ohio selection in 2011, has produced 16 TDs.
Led by junior Mike Siragusa, seniors Rocky Zingale and Conor Hennessey and junior Jack Hyland, the ‘Cats also have one of the top receiving corps in Ohio. Junior kicker Matt Colella has been nothing less than impressive and anyone who has read the corner at any point this season knows how much respect I have for the most underrated offensive line in Northeast Ohio – senior center Steve Franko, senior guards Mike Cray and Ian McDonald, senior tackle Mike Bigach, highly recruited junior tackle Jim Byrne and versatile junior Ryan Dadich.
On the other side of the ball, Saint Ignatius has been as advertised and more. The all-senior front three of ends Kevin Kavalec and Matt Gawlik and nose tackle Dave Katusha has been imposing, linebackers C.J. Haag, Nick Chapek and Kyle Berger have been active and aggressive, and the secondary of veteran cornerback Tommy Fanning, junior corner Scott Arthrell, fly-to-the-ball senior free safety Bryan Fisher, hard-nosed senior safety Mike Gibbons, pad-rattling junior safety Dameon Willis Jr. and senior safety/linebacker Zak Baker have not backed down against a variety of offensive attacks. Seniors Ian Riley and Josh Baker are among those who have contributed to the punt- and kick-return teams.
Saint Ignatius fans and others in attendance on Saturday night will get a look at just how deep the 2012 Wildcats are.
Because of a few minor injuries, some of Coach Kyle’s second-team players will be called on to either start or enter the lineup very early.
“We need to continue working our depth and we’re going to use that,” Coach Kyle said. “The clear intention is that everyone on this football team is going to play. We get a chance to see, with all of this practice and technique, if we’re getting better. I think we are, but we want to take a look at some guys and get some depth there.
“It’s at that point of the season where there are some bumps and bruises and other things,” Coach Kyle continued. “It’s nice to see some guys get in there and have our quality stay right where it is.”
Juniors Peter Mahoney and John Thomas, who had solid preseasons, will be handling the quarterback duties on Saturday night while LaManna rests a slight ankle sprain.
“That gives Peter a chance and John a chance to get a little more work in,” said Coach Kyle. “Those guys are good and we would like to develop them. Mike got a chance to get some work in last year (at Erie Cathedral Prep) and it paid dividends. So we get a chance to do that here.”
Hennessey, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the Week 3 victory over Mentor, returned to practice this week, but is not expected to play on Saturday night. The plan is to have Conor get some significant reps in Week 8’s home game against St Francis (Athol Springs, N.Y.) in order to have him ready for the biggest games of the season – at St. Xavier on Oct. 20 (2 p.m.) and vs. St. Edward on Oct. 27 (7 p.m.) at Byers Field.
“Their kids work hard and they have some speed, so we’re going to have to play,” Coach Kyle said of John Adams.
The alma mater of former Louisville football standout, former Denver Broncos All-Pro linebacker and current ESPN award-winning analyst Tom Jackson, John Adams is on a three-game winning streak. Among the Rebels with a cause are senior outside linebacker/running back Tevin Ray, junior running back/linebacker Dominique Hunter, junior linebacker/running back Devante Fairfax, sophomore quarterback/wide receiver/running back Tre’Von Rutledge, sophomore running back/linebacker Tre’von Madison and senior quarterback/safety Keronta Caver.
WILDCATS-REBELS ON THE GRIDIRON: The first meeting between Saint Ignatius and John Adams took place in the 1977 City Championship Game at John Marshall Field. Despite the gales of November and temperatures that chilled your inners (I can vouch for the weather), Wildcats outstanding senior quarterback Oliver Luck completed 12 of 16 passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns in a 27-0 victory. A member of Saint Ignatius’ Athletic Hall of Fame, a standout quarterback at West Virginia (where he is currently the Athletic Director) and an NFL quarterback with the then Houston Oilers, Oliver is the father of former Stanford All-American Andrew Luck, who is the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts after being the top pick in last spring’s NFL Draft.
Also turning in solid performances that night were Brad Stinn, who was in on 16 tackles and finished the season with 104 stops, Mike Setta and Rory Hennessey. Conor’s dad, Rory is the Dean of Students at Saint Ignatius and an assistant coach for the freshman football team.
The second meeting between the Wildcats and the Rebels took place last season and Saint Ignatius, en route to its record 11th state title, came away with a 49-19 triumph by scoring 21 points in both the first and third quarters.
A STINGER: Wildcats outstanding senior offensive guard and captain Mike Cray told the corner yesterday that he tends to two bee hives at his family’s cottage in Southern Ohio. So what is Mike’s favorite snack? Of course, a banana topped with honey and peanut butter.
BRIAN HOYER IN THE HOUSE: Former Wildcat and Michigan State great Brian Hoyer ’04 was at Wasmer Field on Tuesday helping his favorite target from his high school days – Josiah “Juice” Kedzior ’04 – put Saint Ignatius’ wide receivers through their pass-catching drills. “Juice” is Saint Ignatius’ wide receivers coach.
A backup to New England Patriots All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady until he was released this season, Brian is hoping to hook on with another NFL team. His picture-perfect and powerful throws left several Saint Ignatius players in awe.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FROM THE GLENVILLE GAME: On defense the corner is going with senior end and Boston College recruit Kevin Kavalec, who was in the Tarblooders’ backfield on a consistent basis and had two key pass deflections. The Special Teams honor is a no-brainer, as junior Matt Colella had field goals of 27, 51 and 37 yards, a booming momentum punt that pinned Glenville deep in its territory and kickoffs that went into and out of the end zone and took away the Tarblooders’ hold-your-breath returns. Offensively, it’s the young man with the immeasurable heart – senior tailback Tim McVey, who scored four touchdowns, rushed for 145 yards and sealed the deal with two fourth-quarter TDs.
Rounding the corner and appreciating another reliable old-timer in his profession – the Yankees’ Raul Ibanez. Was that clutch Tuesday night or what? Not once, but twice.