Stan Elad and Kyle Daugenti provide some hard-nosed running, Bennett Kinzel hauls in two touchdown passes, Jaylin McDonald grabs a six-pointer and Toby Leahy displays a powerful leg as the JV ‘Cats improve to 3-2 with a 34-14 victory over Erie (Pa.) McDowell’s jayvees.
****Saint Ignatius’ varsity soccer team improves to 10-0-1 with a 2-1 victory at Massillon Jackson on Saturday afternoon. Ty Sanda and Colin Cleary provide the goals as Coach Mike McLaughlin’s team will now prepare for Thursday night’s home game against the Twinsburg Tigers. A wrapup on the Wildcats-Polar Bears game follows the JV football story.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright September 2012
It was a picture-perfect September morning in Ohio City.
And yes, Saint Ignatius’ junior varsity football team made it even more pleasant for the Wildcats’ faithful by starting fast and going on to defeat the JV team from Erie McDowell, 34-14, under a blue-gray sky atmosphere at Wasmer Field on Saturday.
That said, Wildcats head jayvee coach Ryan Franzinger ‘02, although happy with the victory, is still looking for more of an intense effort from a program that moved to one game above .500 with the win.
The 3-2 JV ‘Cats rode some powerful running by tailback Stan Elad, a key pass and catch from quarterback Jake Kucia to sure-handed wide receiver David Shibley and some nice work by the offensive line to an early 7-0 lead. The touchdown came courtesy of a pad-rattling 6-yard run over the right side by Elad.
Taking advantage of a short punt by the Trojans, Coach Franzinger’s team stretched its lead to 14-0 on the first of two touchdowns receptions by wideout/tight end Bennett Kinzel and the second of four booming extra points by Toby Leahy, kicks that were flirting with the houses behind the scoreboard end zone.
Clutch receptions by wide receiver Jake Helton and fullback John Simeone helped set up another Kucia-to-Kinzel touchdown with 17 seconds remaining in the first quarter and Saint Ignatius led, 28-7, after quarterback Christian Klink hooked up with wideout Jaylin McDonald on perfectly executed throw and catch in the Lorain Avenue end zone and Leahy added his fourth PAT.
McDowell would close to 28-14 late in the third quarter, but the Wildcats were able to turn away the Trojans behind field goals of 37 and 28 yards by Leahy, efforts that cut through the wind.
Coach Franzinger’s team will now gear up for next Saturday’s trip to Youngstown, where it will face Cardinal Mooney’s JV program at 11:00 a.m.
*For those who have inquired, Erie McDowell’s varsity team, which lost to Ohio’s top-ranked Wildcats, 34-10, in Erie on Friday night (see the corner’s story below), will be traveling to Cleveland next year for a rematch with the ‘Cats.
Here is a recap on Saturday's soccer action at Massillon Jackson, courtesy of Wildcats veteran assistant coach Joe Popelka '84.
JV game: The JV Cats move to 10-1 with a 1-0 victory over the Polar Bears. Junior Cole Brownsberger scored the game winner 10 minutes into the second half. Freshman Hayden Parente sent a free kick deep into the box that was headed by Brownsberger off the Jackson keeper. Brownsberger then followed the rebound with a strike from 6m out. The JV defense -Captains Patrick Meidenbauer and Jack Wiegandt, along with Matt Nigro and Christian Stano - preserved the shutout, only forcing keeper Sam Fuller to make two saves.
Varsity: The 'Cats moved to 10-0-1 with a 2-1 road victory over the Polar Bears and remained unbeaten in nine contests vs. Jackson. As always, the Jackson faithful came out to support their Polar Bears with a very vocal crowd for an 11:30 contest.
Starters Nick Taljan and David Sisson did not play, but Co-Captain Ty Sanda did play despite nursing an injury suffered in the St. Edward match. Sophomore Bobby Barsic earned his first varsity starting nod for the contest.
Jackson played a very defense-minded game, at times playing 10 men behind the ball. They looked to quickly counter-attack as the play was largely dominated by the Saint Ignatius midfield. The first half ended at 0-0.
Colin Cleary opened the scoring at 31:21 to go in the second half when he got behind the Jackson defense and received a pass from Sanda. Cleary calmly buried the right-footed shot to the far post.
With 12:31 left to be played, Jackson had a free kick from 40m out in the middle of the field. The Polar Bears executed an excellent free kick to the 6m spot that was headed in for a 1-1 tie.
The Wildcats wasted little time in responding, as 25 seconds later senior Co-Captain Nate Fahey won a ball along the left side of the field and found Sanda in the box. Ty rifled a shot to the far post to put the 'Cats up for good at 2-1.
Jackson threatened one more time on another free kick, but sophomore keeper Mikal Outcalt made his best save of the year to deny a header that would have tied the contest. Outcalt finished the day with three saves.