Behind Tim McVey's four touchdowns, three field goals by Matt Colella, including a 51-yard effort, and a defense that responded to every challenge in the second half, the Wildcats defeat the Tarblooders, 35-7, and move to 6-0 on the season.
*See Saturday's soccer report following the varsity football story and JV and freshman football recaps.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright September/October 2012.
Parma, Ohio - As was the case in Week 6 of last season, the Glenville Tarblooders faced Saint Ignatius on Saturday night in Byers Field knowing that their postseason aspirations could be on the line.
And although the Tarblooders played with passion and a sense of urgency throughout the first half, the end result was much like last year when the Wildcats broke down Glenville in the second half.
Saint Ignatius, overcoming a first 24 minutes that were a bit shaky, shutout the Tarblooders over the final two quarters and went on to a 35-7 victory in what was the 11th meeting between two of Ohio’s traditional big-school football powers.
The Wildcats, riding four touchdowns by their brilliant senior tailback Tim McVey, the powerful leg of junior kicker Matt Colella, some tough receptions by junior Mike Siragusa and senior Rocky Zingale, and a defense that has passed every test this season, improved to 6-0.
Saint Ignatius, which again substantiated its top rankings in the area and the state, now leads the storied all-time series with Glenville, 6-5. The Tarblooders, who lost to the Wildcats, 24-6, last season, slipped to 4-2 and are now in danger of not qualifying for the OHSAA Region 1 playoffs for the second straight year.
“They can really hit,” said McVey of the Tarblooders. “I was impressed with that. They’re good people and fun to play against. It’s always a war with Glenville.
“My brother (former Wildcats All-Ohio linebacker Scott McVey ’10) even came up to the game,” Tim continued. “He always loved the (Glenville-Saint Ignatius) game.”
Saint Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle ’69 and his staff loved most of what took place in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter when a pair of McVey touchdowns sealed the deal.
The defending state champion Wildcats, winners of a record 11 Division 1 titles, had a 69-yard opening drive that resulted in a 27-yard field goal by Colella.
After Glenville had a long interception return for a touchdown by junior safety Erick Smith wiped out by a block-in-the-back penalty, Saint Ignatius forced the Tarblooders to punt.
Starting on the Glenville 42 after a short punt, the Wildcats turned to McVey and needed only three plays to reach pay dirt, or pay turf. McVey swept the left side from 12 yards out and just as he was crossing the 2, the 5-10, 185-pounder went airborne and dove into the end zone. The extra point failed, making the score, 9-0.
Saint Ignatius pushed its lead to 12-0 on an impressive 51-yard field goal by Colella that was set up by a fumble recovery at midfield by Wildcats outstanding senior nose tackle Dave Katusha.
Colella, who credits former Wildcat All-Ohio kicker Tim Shenk ’12 for a lot of his development, said he just kept his head down and went straight through the ball. He added that his approach was like any other kick, an approach he “trusts.” Shenk, now at the Air Force Academy, set a school record with a 55-yard field goal during opening night of the ‘Cats’ 2011 state championship season.
Glenville, ranked 10th in this past week’s Plain Dealer Top 25 area poll, got back in the game with a stunning, three-play 80-yard drive in the final four minutes of the first half. Junior quarterback Quan Robinson Jr. threw a picture-perfect pass to a wide open Carl Dowdell down the left sideline in front of the Tarblooders’ bench and, after Dowdell raced into the end zone to complete the 69-yard scoring play, Brandon Robinson’s extra-point kick flirted with the crossbar but made it over to help cut the deficit to 12-7.
With Mr. Momentum about to take a seat on the Glenville bench, Saint Ignatius responded with the poise and confidence one expects from an 11-time Ohio champion and three-time national champ.
In what was the turning-point sequence of the game, the Wildcats covered 67 yards in seven plays and pushed their lead to 18-7 on a 9-yard jaunt over the left side and into the Day Drive end zone by McVey. A two-point conversion run failed and the ‘Cats clung to their 11-point lead with approximately 1 minute and 26 seconds to go in the first half. The Byers Field scoreboard clock was not functioning properly.
Along with the sure hands of Siragusa and Zingale, the momentum-reversal drive featured a key third-and-10 from the Tarblooders’ 25. A snap from center nearly sailed by senior quarterback Mike LaManna, who was in the shotgun formation. However, Mike was able to get a hand on the ball, deflect it in the air, catch it and find McVey in the right flat for a reception and run to the Glenville 14. LaManna was 15-of-28 through the air for 207 yards.
Although the Tarblooders had some moments in the second half, including an impressive goal-line stand at their 1-yard line, Saint Ignatius’ defense, led by its front three of Katusha and fellow seniors Kevin Kavalec and Matt Gawlik, junior linebacker Kyle Berger, senior linebackers C. J. Haag and Nick Chapek, senior safeties Mike Gibbons and Bryan Fisher, junior safety Dameon Willis Jr. and senior cornerback Tommy Fanning, kept Glenville’s offense in check.
Haag made a diving interception just before halftime, Berger came up with an athletic leaping interception and a return deep into Tarblooders territory and Kavalec had two key pass deflections from his defensive end spot.
With the “D” creating opportunities, Coach Kyle’s team sealed its 12th consecutive victory – a mark that dates back to Week 10 of last season – on a 37-yard field goal by Colella in the final seconds of the third quarter and fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 13 and 5 yards by McVey. Not only did McVey display his trademarks of strength, speed and balance on his 15th and 16th touchdowns on the season, but also exceptional cut-up-field vision. Tim finished with a hard-earned 145 yards on the ground, which came off 25 carries.
“As a running back, it’s necessary to have that vision, or you’re not going to make it as a running back,” said McVey, an All-Ohio selection in 2011 and a University at Buffalo recruit. “The line will open up a hole and for that split second that’s when I have to hit it.”
Coach Kyle, an All-City running back for Wildcats coaching legend, the late John J. Wirtz, always enjoys talking about his gifted tailback.
“He’s worked so hard on his skills,” Coach Kyle said of McVey. “The speed is there and the strength is there, but you have to be a running back with your eyes. Glenville would come flying defensively and he would find the cutting seam. They actually over pursued at times because they were trying to get to him. They know Timmy from track season. They know he has the speed.
“But we have some things we definitely have to work on,” Coach Kyle continued, as he was not happy about his team’s inability to score from the Glenville 1-yard line in the second half.
*Congratulations to Coach Kyle, as his Wildcats were awarded with a Team Trophy after the game. The 11th meeting between the Wildcats and Tarblooders was part of Chris Spielman’s Gridiron Classic Series and its battle to fight breast cancer. And congrats to Tim McVey, who was presented with the Spielman Series’ MVP Trophy for the game.
This corner can assure you that Spielman, a former Massillon and Ohio State All-American and NFL All-Pro, and the greatest linebacker this old-timer has ever had the privilege to report on, would love the effort Tim brings to the field every day.
JUNIOR VARSITY AND FRESHMAN FOOTBALL RECAPS
Coach Ryan Franzinger’s junior varsity team improved to 4-2 with a 23-20 victory at Youngstown Cardinal Mooney on Saturday morning.
Among the highlights were a touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Kucia to tight end/wide receiver Bennett Kinzel off a nice throw and catch down the seam, and another reception by Kinzel that saw him take the ball away from the defender.
Quarterback Christian Klink also did some solid work through the air, wideout Jaylin McDonald had several key receptions and all of the backs ran hard, with Kyle Daugenti and Chavez Perez scoring touchdowns.
Defensively, nose tackle Dre’Mont Jones was a force, as he caused a key fumble that was recovered by linebacker Joe Conway. Up next for the JV ‘Cats is a trip to Holy Name’s field on Oct. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
Saint Ignatius' freshmen, under the direction of Coach Rodney Galloway, traveled to Toledo on Saturday and brought home a 35-0 victory over St. John’s Jesuit. Coach Galloway’s team now stands 4-1 heading into Wednesday evening’s game against Erie (Pa.) McDowell on Wasmer Field. The kickoff is 5:30 p.m.
The biggest highlight from the freshman game was a 98-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dennis Grosel to wide receiver Cal Grbac. Cal is a son of former St. Joseph and Michigan standout quarterback, former NFL All-Pro QB and current Saint Ignatius quarterbacks coach Elvis Grbac.
Ian Forkapa found the end zone twice, Jack Cook, son of former Wildcats football and basketball great Kevin Cook, had a touchdown and fullback/middle linebacker Ben Cray, the brother of Wildcats standout varsity offensive lineman Mike Cray, was a force on both sides of the ball.
*SAINT IGNATIUS SOCCER RECAPS FROM SATURDAY, COURTESY OF WILDCATS ASSISTANT COACH JOE POPELKA '84.
The Freshmen traveled to play Archbishop Hoban. They won, 5-0, to increase their record to 9-1-1.
Junior varsity: The Wildcats improved their record to 12-1 with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Pioneers of Western Reserve Academy. Freshman Mitchell Ford opened the scoring in the first half with a goal from 6m out after a quality assist from Junior Cole Brownsberger.
The Wildcats got an insurance goal in the second half from Sophomore Dean Miller off another assist from Brownsberger.
The story of the game was the work of the team defense as they kept the Pioneers from getting any solid shots on goal. Sophomore keeper Sam Fuller did not have to make a save.
Varsity: The Wildcats tied again 1-1, frustrated for the third time in four games, to move their record to 10-0-3.
The game matched two undefeated teams as the visiting Pioneers entered the game as the number one team in Division III.
Seniors Andreas Kolaczko (back) and Nick Taljan (ankle) did not see action, but the game saw the return of a heavily bandaged Sophomore David Sisson, who is still has a cast on his arm (the arm was broken earlier in the season during the Strongsville game).
A sizable afternoon crowd was treated to a high level of soccer from both sides in an entertaining match. The Wildcats opened the scoring with a Alec Nagucki goal with 9:50 remaining in the first half. David Sisson sent a long ball to an open Nagucki, who settled the ball off of his chest and then struck the ball true from 16m out. The Pioneers evened the score 43 seconds into the second half off a rebound after an excellent save by Mikal Outcalt on the initial shot.
The Wildcats threatened several times in the second half, including a couple of unlucky shots off the post, but were unable to put in a game-winner. Outcalt finished the game with 4 saves.
Saint Ignatius will travel to Milwaukee next weekend to play Marquette Jesuit.