TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE TOMORROW (MONDAY).
POSTED BY EDDIE DWYER
SATURDAY'S DIVISION I STATE-SEMIFINAL MATCH UP BETWEEN THE SAINT IGNATIUS WILDCATS (11-2) AND THE PANTHERS FROM TOLEDO WHITMER (13-0) WILL BE PLAYED ON ARLIN FIELD AT MANSFIELD SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. THE KICKOFF WILL BE 7 P.M.
ARLIN FIELD IS A TRADITION-RICH FACILITY THAT RECENTLY UNDERWENT RENOVATIONS, INCLUDING A NEW TURF SURFACE.
THE WILDCATS AND THE PANTHERS MET IN A STATE-SEMIFINAL GAME IN 1988 AND SAINT IGNATIUS, EN ROUTE TO THE FIRST OF ITS RECORD 10 STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS, DEFEATED WHITMER, 31-8, IN THE TOLEDO GLASS BOWL.
WHITMER AND SAINT IGNATIUS ALSO SQUARED OFF IN A REGULAR-SEASON FINALE IN 1994, WITH THE WILDCATS AGAIN TRAVELING TO TOLEDO AND COMING HOME WITH A 28-14 VICTORY.
THE PANTHERS ADVANCED TO SATURDAY'S STATE SEMIFINAL BY DOMINATING WADSWORTH, 37-0. SENIOR TAILBACK JODY WEBB LED THE WAY WITH 155 YARDS AND TWO TOUCHDOWNS ON 22 CARRIES. RANKED SECOND IN THE FINAL ASSOCIATED PRESS STATE POLL FOR 2011, WHITMER PLACED 11 PLAYERS ON THE ALL-DISTRICT TEAM FROM ITS PART OF THE STATE. LEADING THE WAY WERE WEBB (OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR), END CHRIS WORMLEY (DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR) AND OFFENSIVE TACKLE STORM NORTON (LINEMAN OF THE YEAR).
CHAMPION OF THE THREE RIVERS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE, WHITMER WAS THE TOP SEED IN REGION 2. THE PANTHERS HAVE OUTSCORED THEIR FIRST THREE PLAYOFF OPPONENTS, 94-6.
*Tickets for Saturday's game will go on sale no later than 3 p.m. Monday (until 5 p.m.). Tickets will also be sold on Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saint Ignatius is planning on selling any remaining tickets on Friday from 9-11 a.m. All tickets are General Admission and will be $8.
Wildcats Athletic Director Rory Fitzpatrick '88 has reserved one fan bus so far. The cost will be $10 for students and $20 for adults. Please sign up and pay with Jennifer Fight in the Athletic Office.
"We have done an amazing job of supporting our teams - keep up the good work. I know how much it helps our young men. Let's pack Arlin Field with Wildcat fans." - Rory Fitzpatrick.