skip navigation

Strive for improvement!

By Eddie Dwyer, 07/24/12, 12:00AM EDT

Share

With two-a-days set to begin on Monday, Saint Ignatius' 30-year head football coach Chuck Kyle '69 wants to see his Wildcats use the remainder of this week, and the reps and conditioning drills that accompany it, as a tool for improvement.

"We have to improve gentlemen," said Coach Kyle, whose state and nationally acclaimed program is coming off a record 11th Division I Ohio crown.

That was the calm, yet very direct message that followed Tuesday evening's mini camp on Wasmer Field. The final three camps will run Wednesday through Friday, as Saint Ignatius prepares to put on the pads next week and get down to the real nitty gritty.

After the Wildcats' promising freshmen team completed its practice and the junior varsity 'Cats wrapped up their mini camp, the defending big-school state champs took Wasmer Field on what was a near perfect summer evening. Quite a contrast to Monday's steam-like heat and humidity.

Senior quarterback Mike LaManna and junior QB Pete Mahoney were sharp from the get-go on Tuesday, with a particular read and throw from LaManna drawing a "Great job Mike" from Wildcats assistant coach Elvis Grbac. Now in his third season on Coach Kyle's staff, Coach Grbac was a tremendous all-around athlete at St. Joseph High School (now Villa Angela-St. Joseph), an outstanding quarterback for the University of Michigan and an All-Pro signal-caller in the NFL.

Along with the early hot hands by LaManna and Mahoney, Saint Ignatius continued to display its abundance of skill in the receiving department. Believe us when we tell you that the Wildcats' receivers, coached by former Saint Ignatius football and baseball standout Josiah "Juice" Kedzior '04, are one of the most underrated units in Ohio.

Seniors Rocky Zingale, Randy Buffington and Ray O'Brien had some nice catches right out of the gate in the daily 7-on-7, with the 6-foot-4 Buffington adding to what has already been an impressive summer for the quiet, but gifted "Buff."

Mahoney clicked on an impressive sideline pattern with 6-6 junior wideout Eric Black, an effort that featured a nice throw and catch, junior quarterback David Black, Eric's 6-5 twin brother, combined with junior wideout Jack Hyland on another solidly executed sideline toss and grab, and junior quarterback John Thomas hooked up with Eric Black on a deep post route.

Wildcats veteran offensive coordinator Nick Restifo grabbed the attention of the fans in the Wasmer Field stands when he decided to go up-tempo and no-huddle with his offense.

With lefty LaManna at the helm, the up-tempo or "jet" attack, as LaManna described it, worked to near perfection.

LaManna clicked on some well-timed throws to Zingale, multi-skilled junior wide receiver Mike Siragusa and senior tight end Kevin Kavalec during a drive that saw Kavalec take the ball away from a defender and step into the end zone.

A first-team All-Ohio defensive end last season, Kavalec has accepted a scholarship from Boston College. Don't worry you defensive gurus, Kevin is still playing defensive end. A true captain, he enjoys helping out on either side of the ball.

Speaking of defense, it is only fair to mention that mini camps and 7-on-7 drills favor the offense. That will start to even up next week.

However, the defense didn't go home Tuesday night without a few moments of its own.

Providing the "D" highlight was junior cornerback and kick returner Marquee Montgomery, who made a text-book move on the ball and came up with an interception that he would have taken the distance in a scrimmage or regular game. It was great to see Marquee back in action, as he has been battling a growth-plate injury that hampered his exceptional ability as a sprinter this past spring for Coach Kyle's district champion varsity track and field team.

A BIG THANK YOU!: Goes out to Saint Ignatius assistant coach and former Wildcats football and track great Ryan Franzinger '02 for allowing me to share with his gifted and gritty linebackers some of my memories and stories on Wildcats Hall of Fame sports legends Brian Dowling '65 and Mike Buddie '89. I truly enjoyed it and was honored to be called on by Coach Franzinger, who also serves as Saint Ignatius' Assistant to the Dean of Students and is a young man this corner had the privilege to cover and report on during my many years at The Plain Dealer.

Rounding the corner and trying to recall the days when I saw a deeper group of receivers at West 30th and Lorain Avenue.