Big nights from the offense and the defense will be needed in order to slow down the Trojan horse known as the Erie McDowell running game.
By Eddie Dwyer, Copyright September 2012
When you play a team with the powerful running attack Erie McDowell possesses, the burden doesn’t only fall on your defense.
Saint Ignatius’ 30-year head coach Chuck Kyle ’69 will be the first to tell you that his offense has to “help the defense” on Friday night, when the Wildcats (4-0) travel to Gus Anderson Field in Erie, Pennsylvania to face the Trojans (2-1) and their three-headed monster – running backs James Conner, Khyre Drayer and Tyree Spearman. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.
“This is a team that has run the football on everybody,” said Coach Kyle of the Trojans, who are averaging well over 400 yards rushing after three games. “Their line is disciplined and they really fire out. They have two (Conner and Drayer) strong, big backs who have speed and have made big plays. You look at them and you think they are just driving the ball down the field, but they have made big plays on breakaways when you’re trying to cover their option (offense).
"In a way, philosophically, what we would like is what happened against Cardinal Mooney (31-7 in Week 1), where offensively we were scoring and yeah we bent, but didn’t break defensively,” Coach Kyle said of a Mooney team that also features a potent ground game. “We got the stops and the offense did the job. When we put that third one (touchdown) in just before halftime, that really discourages a team like Mooney. We hope to have our offense in high gear on Friday night.”
McDowell, which flirted with 500 yards rushing in its opening-night loss to Mentor in Erie, 34-27, has bounced back with dominant victories over General McLane, 48-14, and Lancaster Catholic, 49-20.
Last Saturday afternoon, the Trojans went into Lancaster Catholic’s Mansion Park Stadium and snapped the Crusaders' 18-game winning streak. With Conner (6-0, 190 pounds), Drayer (5-11, 212) and Spearman showing the way, McDowell invoked the Pennsylvania mercy rule against a Lancaster Catholic program that won the 2009 Pennsylvania AA state championship.
The Trojans entered the Lancaster Catholic game averaging 427 yards rushing and 460 total yards. They surpassed both of those marks by racking up 458 yards rushing and 522 total yards against a usually formidable Crusaders defense. Conner rushed for 244 yards on just nine carries and rambled for scoring runs of 73, 92 and 68 yards. The 5-10, 170-pound Spearman carried the pigskin five times and totaled 133 yards and touchdown gallops of 46 and 45 yards.
Drayer was outstanding in defeat against Mentor, rushing for 236 yards and finding the end zone three times.
Like any smart running back, Conner credits McDowell’s big and physical offensive line for much of his success. It is a group that is anchored by the 290-pound Scot Augustine, the 260-pound Chris Larsen and the 250-pound Joel Mascharka.
“A lot of times it’s the true triple-read option,” Coach Kyle said of a Trojans’ offense that resembles the attack employed by the Centerville Elks. “It’s an offense that you really don’t see a lot anymore. Sometimes it’s designated who they are giving the ball to, but sometimes it’s truly reading it. The quarterback (Sean Gallagher) is quick and is a good runner. I think his major weapon is that he is a runner and he throws just enough to keep you honest.”
Coach Kyle also pointed to McDowell’s healthy size up front on defense and added that the team from the Keystone State has a number of players who compete on both sides of the ball.
"We’re hoping that could be in our favor, that maybe we could wear them down a bit,” Coach Kyle said of the Trojans’ two-way players.
Along with their depth, the record 11-time Ohio Division I state champion Wildcats feature an offense that is very balanced and very precise. Unlike the Mentor game, when McDowell was able to load up against the passing game, Saint Ignatius senior quarterback Mike LaManna (11 touchdown passes) and his gifted receivers and Wildcats All-Ohio senior running back Tim McVey (10 TDs) keep opposing defenses very honest.
Friday night’s game will also feature two excellent kickers, Saint Ignatius junior Matt Colella and Trojans junior Ethan Stark.
“This is a strong challenge for us,” said Coach Kyle, who enters Friday night’s game with a career record of 294-67-1. “This (McDowell) is a solid football team.”
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FROM THE STRONG VINCENT GAME
Offense: We’re going with the men up front, as the O-Line, both the first and backup units, did a solid job of showing the way in what was the Wildcats’ first shutout (40-0) since 2009.
Defense: The honors go to senior end Matt Gawlik, senior linebacker C.J. Haag and junior linebacker Kyle Berger, who set the tone from the get-go with their relentless pursuit (Haag also had a blocked punt and took a shanked punt into the end zone for a touchdown), and senior cornerback Joe Velten, who was all over the field. Joe came up with a key tackle that resulted in a 7-yard loss and made an excellent timing move in intercepting a pass in the right corner of the end zone.
AIR WAVES
S-I-B-N!: Friday night's game from Pennsylvania's fourth-largest city will be brought to you live over the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network. Seniors John Fanta and Greg Ziton will have the call.