Junior Matt Colella steps up and junior Jim Byrne gets another major offer, this time from the Spartans of Michigan State. It's Wednesday night from Wasmer Field!
By Eddie Dwyer
Senior co-captain Tim McVey, whose All-District and All-Ohio play as a tailback/safety helped lead Saint Ignatius to a record 11th Division I state championship last season, told the corner on Wednesday night that he has given a verbal commitment to the University at Buffalo of the Mid-American Conference.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound McVey, who rushed for 1,302 yards and 15 touchdowns en route to garnering 2011 first-team All-Northeast Lakes District honors as an "athlete" and third-team Associated Press All-Ohio recognition as a tailback, said there was northing he didn't like about the University at Buffalo.
Recruited as a strong safety by the Bulls' coaching staff, Tim returned 13 kickoffs for 406 yards and two touchdowns last season, including an 88-yard scoring return. He also had 27 receptions for 214 yards.
On defense, Tim's contributions last fall consisted of 24 tackles, including 18 solos, six tackles for losses, four sacks, a safety, a blocked kick and four quarterback hurries.
McVey, who emphasized that he is impressed with all of the coaches at Buffalo, said another facet about his decision that pleases him is the fact he will be only three hours from home.
Congratulations to Tim, his family, Coach Chuck Kyle '69 and the entire Saint Ignatius football program.
*While we're on the subject of football commitments, the corner would like to point out that Wildcats junior offensive tackle Jim Byrne received another impressive offer on Wednesday, this time from the Michigan State Spartans. Jim has also been offered by Coach Urban Meyer and The Ohio State University, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, Illinois and West Virginia.
WEDNESDAY'S MINI CAMP
For those fans who are concerned about Saint Ignatius' kicking game this season, rest easy.
Junior Matt Colella, who did an outstanding job as the kicker for the Wildcats' undefeated junior varsity team last season, continues to impress while trying to fill the shoes of 2011 first-team All-Ohio kicker Tim Shenk (now at the Air Force Academy).
Matt, who also plans to compete for the role as the starting punter, boomed a 60-yard field goal through the Lorain Avenue uprights on Wasmer Field this week.
It has been a busy summer for Matt, as he has attended kicking camps at Georgetown, Princeton, Northwestern, Yale, Penn and Lehigh.
"He was a great help, I learned a lot from him," said Colella of Shenk, who established all-time Wildcat marks of 20 field goals last season and a school-best 55-yard effort. "Tim is really a good role model and, as well as being a great kicker, he's a great kid."
As for other highlights from Wednesday's camp, senior quarterback Mike LaManna was holding the hot hand, as he fired some nice check-down throws to senior tailback Dan Way and combined with senior wideout Conor Hennessey on what were strong routes across the middle. Mike also ignited Coach Nick Restifo's up-tempo offense for the second straight night.
Junior wide receiver Mike Siragusa turned in another strong evening, as did senior tight end Aaron Buynak, and the defense was in an aggressive state of mind. Let's just say the "D" can't wait for next week, when they put the pads on.
The mini camps resume on Thursday with the freshmen taking the field at 3 p.m., the junior varsity at 4:15 and the varsity at 5:15. Friday's final mini camp will have the jayvees reporting at 3 and the varsity at 4:30.
Rounding the corner and getting in that "two-a-days" state of mind.