IT WAS A PERFECT NIGHT FOR FOOTBALL AND THE 2010 SAINT IGNATIUS JUNIOR VARSITY TEAM MADE IT EVEN MORE ENJOYABLE.

TAKING ON THE LAKE CATHOLIC COUGARS IN THE SEASON OPENER FOR BOTH PROGRAMS, THE JV 'CATS DOMINATED THE FIRST HALF ON FRIDAY AND WENT ON TO A 38-8 VICTORY AT WASMER FIELD.

AFTER THE WILDCATS' DEFENSE STOPPED THE COUGARS SHORT OF A FIRST DOWN ON FOURTH AND LESS THAN A YARD, A NICE CATCH AND RUN BY THE TOUGH AND VERSATILE CONNOR HENNESSEY SET UP A 1-YARD TOUCHDOWN KEEPER BY QUARTERBACK MIKE LAMANNA.

THE HARD-HITTING 'CATS DEFENSE STRUCK AGAIN BY FORCING A FUMBLE AND RECOVERING THE BALL IN THE END ZONE FOR A TOUCHDOWN.

SAINT IGNATIUS TOOK COMMAND IN THE SECOND QUARTER ON A TEXT-BOOK CATCH AND RUN FOR A TOUCHDOWN BY TIGHT END KEVIN KAVALEC, AN INTERCEPTION BY DAN LYNCH AND A PERFECTLY EXECUTED TD STRIKE FROM LAMANNA TO HENNESSEY WITH 37.2 SECONDS REMAINING IN THE FIRST HALF.

HENNESSEY CAUGHT THE STRONG THROW FROM LAMANNA IN STRIDE AND OUTRAN THE PURSUIT. THE SAME COMBINATION CLOSED OUT THE FIRST-HALF SCORING BY HOOKING UP ON A 2-POINT CONVERSION.

SPARKED BY TWO IMPRESSIVE PUNT RETURNS BY JACK LAVELLE, INCLUDING ONE FOR A TOUCHDOWN, THE SAINT IGNATIUS FRESHMAN FOOTBALL TEAM OPENED ITS SEASON WITH AN 18-6 VICTORY AT LAKE CATHOLIC ON THURSDAY EVENING.