FOR THE SECOND TIME IN FOUR SEASONS, SAINT IGNATIUS AND ST. EDWARD HAVE EXTENDED THEIR FOOTBALL RIVALRY INTO NOVEMBER. AND THEY'RE TAKING IT TO CENTER ROAD IN MEDINA COUNTY.
"I'M EXCITED TO BE PLAYING THEM AGAIN. IT'S THE GAME EVERYONE WANTS TO PLAY IN AND SHOULD GET THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN AT LEAST TWICE. IT'S THE HOLY WAR, SO IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE PLAYING IN IT TWICE IN THE SAME YEAR." – SAINT IGNATIUS SENIOR TIGHT END AND OHIO STATE RECRUIT BLAKE THOMAS, WHO WILL BE COMPETING IN HIS FOURTH WILDCATS-EAGLES ENCOUNTER ON SATURDAY NIGHT.
BY EDDIE DWYER, COPYRIGHT NOVEMBER 2011
After Saint Ignatius and St. Edward played a down-to-the-wire thriller in a regular-season finale at Lakewood Stadium on Oct. 29, Wildcats coach Chuck Kyle '69 and Eagles coach Rick Finotti shared the same sentiment – they would meet again before the final chapter for 2011 was written.
On Saturday night, Saint Ignatius (9-2) and St. Edward (8-3) will be meeting for the 49th time overall and the second time in the postseason when they square off in a Division I, Region 1 semifinal match up at Brunswick High School's Judy Kirsch Stadium. The kickoff is 7 p.m.
The Wildcats, who edged the Eagles, 20-17, two weeks ago, lead the all-time series, 26-21-1. That mark includes a regional-quarterfinal victory over St. Edward in 2008, the first and only other time the West Side rivals clashed in the OHSAA playoffs.
Saint Ignatius, which has captured a record 10 Division I state championships, is making its 23rd post-season appearance in 24 seasons. St. Edward, the defending big-school state champ, is in the playoffs for the 17th time.
"How much do you change?" said Coach Kyle, as he was referring to playing a rival for the second time in a span of 15 days.
"Well, you tweak a few things after you've played a team. We thought that could work and somehow it didn't, or maybe we could have used a different blocking scheme, something.
"But it comes down to which team is going to play the better game, which team is going to avoid the mistakes. No one intends to make them. That's for sure."
At this point of the season, every team has some significant bumps and bruises. The biggest concern for the Wildcats, however, is the health of standout junior defensive end Kevin Kavalec.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Kavalec, who has 62 tackles on the season, including a remarkable 33 stops for losses and 13.5 sacks, had an outstanding game against St. Edward two weeks ago.
"Kevin went to see the Browns' doctor today and we'll go from there," said Coach Kyle.
Filling in admirably for Kavalec in last week's 29-14, regional-quarterfinal victory over Boardman was junior Matt Gawlik, a player who has been part of the defensive line rotation all season.
Giving Gawlik plenty of support were senior end Mike Ryan, junior nose tackle Dave Katusha, senior linebackers Rustom Khouri (99 tackles and 8.5 sacks on the season), Zack Ryan (97 tackles and 5 sacks) and James Sheehan (72 stops), and senior safety and Miami of Ohio recruit Mike Svetina (89 tackles and 3 interceptions).
Offensively, the Wildcats will again try to balance their attack against the talent-rich Eagles behind the running and receiving of junior tailback Tim McVey, the passing and mobility of senior quarterback Eric Williams and the receiving of senior wideouts Jake Mooney (36 catches for 756 yards and 9 TDs) and Tim McCoy (18 receptions for 311 yards and 4 scores) and senior tight end Blake Thomas (15 grabs for 175 yards and 4 TDs).
Williams has passed for 1,453 yards and 16 touchdowns and McVey has 895 yards and 12 TDs rushing. McVey also has 22 receptions for 180 yards and more than 370 yards and two touchdowns on kickoff returns.
St. Edward's offense operates behind one of the biggest lines in the history of Ohio high school football, a unit that is anchored by senior guard and West Virginia recruit Tyler Orlosky (6-4, 290), senior tackle and Michigan recruit Kyle Kalis (6-6, 306) and senior tight end and Boston College-bound Sam Grant (6-7, 240).
Producing the yards behind that massive front are the 1-2 running back punch of Dwayne Aaron and Kenny Butler and versatile junior quarterback Ryan Fallon. Aaron carried the ball 33 times for 205 yards and two scores in last weekend's 28-14 regional-quarterfinal victory over Cleveland Heights and Butler had 108 yards and two TDs on 20 carriers.
The Eagles also feature a talented trio at the wide receiver spots – record-setting senior Chris Connors, senior Quincy Jones and junior Anthony Young, who is Ohio's 200-meter state champion.
Defensively, Coach Finotti's team comes at you with senior nose tackle and Northwestern recruit Greg Kuhar (6-2, 290), senior end and Pitt recruit Darryl Render (6-3, 250) and senior linebackers Sam Martello and Mason Morrow.
Both teams have exceptional kicking games, an area that will most likely come into play again on Saturday night. St. Ignatius senior Tim Shenk and St. Edward senior Jake Wilhelm have been solid all fall.
An Air Force recruit, Shenk has 14 field goals this season, including a school-record 55-yard effort, and is 41-for-41 on extra points. Tim had two field goals, including the game-winner early in the fourth quarter, as the Wildcats rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit against the Eagles on Oct. 29.
"Field position-wise, I think our kicking game helps a lot," said Coach Kyle, pointing to the big-play return teams of St. Edward that are headed by the ultra-quick Young.
Coach Kyle's Wildcats will enter Saturday night's game with an all-time OHSAA playoff mark of 57-12.
THE CORNER'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK FROM THE BOARDMAN PLAYOFF GAME
Eric Williams, who completed 15 of 25 passes for 179 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, and rushed for 102 yards.
Mike Ryan, who had eight tackles, including four for losses, a sack and a safety that saw Mike plant a Boardman ball carrier in the end zone.
Dave Katusha, who had seven tackles, including four for losses, and James Sheehan, who had 10 tackles, including two for minus yardage.
THE AIR WAVES: Saturday night's game will be brought to you live by the Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network and its cool and candid tandem of John Fanta and Greg Ziton.
Ed Daugherty and Mike Gibbons will call it as they see it live over WHKW-AM 1220 and SportsTime Ohio will be televising the game live.