"IT WASN'T ABOUT GOING UNDEFEATED, IT WAS ABOUT GETTING BETTER. I AM VERY PROUD OF EVERYONE OF YOU." - COACH FRANZINGER '02.
THE GRITTY AND GRACEFUL RUNNING OF TAILBACK MIKE VITALE, THE RECEIVING OF JACK HYLAND, MICHAEL SIRAGUSA AND ERIC BLACK, THE QUARTERBACK PLAY OF PETER MAHONEY AND DAVID BLACK, THE ALL-AROUND PRESENCE OF JACK LAVELLE AND A PASSIONATE EFFORT BY A KYLE BERGER, SEAN LUSKIN AND JOE KHOURY-FUELED DEFENSE CAPPED OFF ANOTHER FALL TO RECALL FOR THE WILDCATS' JAYVEES.
BY EDDIE DWYER, COPYRIGHT OCTOBER 2011
As he stood near the Detroit Avenue sideline entrance to St. Edward's athletic field, Saint Ignatius' tough and talented linebacker Sean Luskin displayed such sincere emotions that they were almost accompanied by a tear.
"It's always because on this team we're brothers," said Luskin after he helped the Wildcats' junior varsity football team cap off a perfect season with a 28-7 victory at St. Edward on Friday night. "We back each other up to the end, no matter what. I love this 2014 team."
Don't be surprised if by the time 2014 rolls around there is a large contingent of Saint Ignatius' football faithful who will have become enchanted with this gifted class.
Coach Ryan Franzinger's unflappable sophomores, en route to a second consecutive unbeaten season for the Wildcats' junior-varsity program, outscored their 10 opponents, 377-59, and recorded four shutouts.
Friday night's sealer, which came at one of the toughest venues in Northeast Ohio, saw the 'Cats' defense dominate from the get-go and the offense get on track late in the first quarter.
With standout linebacker Kyle Berger making himself comfortable in the Eagles' backfield, Saint Ignatius turned to the running of gifted tailback Mike Vitale, the passing of quarterback Peter Mahoney and the clutch receiving of Michael Siragusa and Jack Lavelle.
Vitale, a smooth and hard-nosed runner with exceptional balance and vision, scored from 2 yards out and Matt Colella's extra-point kick capped a 9-play, 60-yard drive.
The Wildcats, with their defense keeping the Eagles grounded, pushed their lead 14-0 on an exceptional leaping touchdown reception by wide receiver Jack Hyland in the right corner of the end zone and another extra point by Colella with 5 minutes, 6 seconds remaining in the first half.
St. Edward was threatening late in the second quarter with a first down at the Saint Ignatius 15.
But once again, the Wildcats' "D" stood tall.
First it was the pressure of end Joe Khoury and Berger forcing an errant pass. Then Luskin came up with a relentless hustle sack that saw him out-battle and out-maneuver two blockers. After another incompletion and some solid pass coverage by safety Matt McVey, the Eagles were stymied at their 20 with 18.2 seconds left in the first half.
"We came in knowing what we had to do and knowing that each one of us had to do our own job," said Berger, who was nothing less than a force all season. "We closed our gaps, we covered our guys and we just played great team defense. There's nothing else we could ask for."
After Vitale scored the second of his three touchdowns, St. Edward took advantage of a faked punt and cut the deficit to 21-7 with 8:01 remaining to be played.
It was at that point, Saint Ignatius displayed the composure, savvy and skill one associates with an undefeated team.
Six-foot-4 quarterback David Black, replacing an injured Mahoney, came with two big-time completions, including one that saw him roll away from pressure and find his twin brother, 6-foot-5 tight end Eric Black, in the left flat.
Eric Black made the catch, spun away from a would-be tackler, broke another tackle and rambled down the sideline to the Eagles' 45. After a nice catch and run along the sideline by wide receiver Jacob Maruna, Vitale did the rest by scoring on a highlight-reel run from inside the St. Edward 15.
Taking the handoff, Vitale cut inside, bounced outside, juked a defender with a clever display of footwork and balance, and outran the pursuit into the left corner of the end zone. Colella's extra point was high and true, and the issue was settled with 2:44 left on the clock.
"We came in here just trying to figure out what we could do (offensively)," said Vitale, who this corner will say once again has a running style very similar to former Wildcats All-Ohio tailback Pete Fitzpatrick '90. "We started off just running our basic plays. We pushed the ball very hard and we started to figure out what worked.
"Once we found out what clicked, we stuck to it. I tried to find my seams and just play as hard as I can. The line made the holes. It's a team effort.
"We came here silent and played our game," Vitale continued. "We did our thing and it feels great to execute it on their field. It's not all about talk, but what you can do on the field."