CATS' DEFENSE MAKES SIGNIFICANT STRIDES, BUT THE OFFENSE TAKES A STEP BACK AS TURNOVERS ARE CRUCIAL IN A LOSS TO THE MENTOR CARDINALS.
*EITEL COMPUTER RATINGS STILL HAVE SAINT IGNATIUS IN 17TH PLACE (UPDATED IN FOOTBALL RECAP).
POSTED ON 10/3/10 AT 12:22 A.M.
By Eddie Dwyer
Copyright, Oct. 2010
The disappointment was carved in his expressions and evident in almost every word he spoke.
Chuck Kyle '69, one of the most successful high school football coaches in the nation, was, as always, straight forward as he discussed what could turn out to be one of the toughest setbacks in Saint Ignatius' rich football history.
“The defense played a good game, they really did,” Coach Kyle said, moments after his Wildcats were defeated by the Mentor Cardinals, 18-7, on a wet and dreary Saturday night in Byers Field. “Offensively, we made many mistakes. Obviously, we're disappointed.”
The Wildcats (2-4), whose playoff aspirations for this season are now in jeopardy, turned the ball over five times and had another miscue that resulted in a safety. Simply put, the 'Cats' defense was forced to spend too much time on the field.
Mentor (3-3), which came up with a commanding 82-yard drive in the fourth quarter, is now alive and well in the OHSAA playoff picture. The Cardinals, who entered the game in 12th place in Region 1, are sure to pick up a nice chunk of points based on this weekend's results.
Saint Ignatius, the 17th-place team in Region 1 this week, has made a record 22 consecutive appearances in the OHSAA playoffs. It is a run that has included a state-best 10 Division I state championships and three national crowns.
Under the OHSAA Harbin playoff system, the top eight teams in each of the state's 24 regions at the end of the regular season qualify for the regional quarterfinals.
In the latest ratings by computer playoff guru Joe Eitel, which were posted Sunday morning (10/3/10), Mentor climbed to ninth place and the Wildcats remained in the 17th spot. Eitel's top eight are Glenville, Solon, Austintown-Fitch, Willoughby South, St. Edward, Boardman, Strongsville and North Royalton. The OHSAA ratings will be released on Tuesday.
Mentor, a winner over Saint Ignatius for just the third time in 11 meetings, held a 7-0 lead after a first half that saw the Wildcats commit three turnovers – an interception and two fumbles. The Cardinals scored on a 42-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Mitch Trubisky to triple-threat senior Colton Wallace in the second quarter.
The highlights for the 'Cats in the first 24 minutes were the two interceptions by junior cornerback Dan Jones. Saint Ignatius' defense was solid, especially when you consider the excellent field position Mentor enjoyed in the first two quarters.
Ball-handling mistakes continued to stymie the Wildcats in the third quarter, as an errant pitch rolled out of the end zone for a 9-0 Mentor lead. The Cardinals, on the strength of a 27-yard field goal by Greg Klisuric, led, 12-0, entering the fourth quarter.
Saint Ignatius, behind a 46-yard reception by senior flanker David Joseph, was threatening late in the third quarter with a first-and-goal at the 9. But three plays later, the 'Cats threw another interception.
The Wildcats, who were playing without injured starting linebackers James Sheehan and Rustom Khouri, got back in the game on a 55-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Matt Hoyer to senior wide receiver Fred Davis, a play that saw Davis go high in the air along the right sideline, come down with ball, cut across the field and outrun the pursuit into the left corner of the end zone. Tim Shenk's extra-point kick was high and true, and Saint Ignatius trailed, 12-7, with 11 minutes, 27 seconds remaining.
Just when the 'Cats appeared to grab the momentum, Mentor took it right back with its decisive 82-yard march, an authoritative drive that was keyed by Wallace.
With Wallace and senior running back Ricky Hanzlik doing the damage on the ground, the Cardinals went back in the driver's seat on a 3-yard keeper up the middle by Wallace with 7:36 left.
Sparked by Wallace's 116 yards, rushing and receiving combined, Mentor finished with 294 offensive yards. Saint Ignatius totaled 218 yards.
Linebacker Kurt Laseak led the Cardinals' defensive charge with four sacks, a caused fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.
“Mentor was doing a nice job of shifting its (defensive) fronts a little bit,” said Coach Kyle, who emphasized that the 'Cats' inability to execute a check off at the line of scrimmage led to the safety. “It's a learning process there,” he said.
“Matt (Hoyer) was coming back (after sitting out last week with an injury) and he was rusty. In trying to do check offs, that started causing some confusion. So that's something we have to grow with. The youth showed up a little bit.”
BOBBY GREBENC HEADED FOR BROWN UNIVERSITY: Saint Ignatius senior co-captain and all-state tailback Bobby Grebenc, one of the finest young men this corner has ever come in contact with, said Tuesday afternoon that he will be furthering his education and football career next year at Brown University of the Ivy League.
Bobby, who also considered Fordham and Harvard, becomes the second Wildcat student/athlete in less than a month to invest his future in an Ivy League school. Basketball standout Shonn Miller '11 decided on Cornell just a few weeks ago.
“First of all, I love the campus, I love the city of Providence, it's truly beautiful,” Grebenc said, as Tuesday's practice was coming to an end. “I got a chance to meet the coaching staff and I liked every single coach I met. I didn't find one thing bad about them. They're really serious about their football.
“In talking to Coach Estes (Brown head coach Phil Estes), he mentioned that they really need a running back coming up, to put the weight on and I thought I could try to carry the load for them. So I'm looking forward to it.”
Bobby, who carries a 3.8 grade-point average, emphasized that he wants to try to major in the business field. He said he has looked at the courses that Brown offers and that he will probably put an emphasis on economics, and then plan on graduate school. There is a tie with Brown University and the Grebenc family, as Bobby pointed out that his uncle, Billy, attended Brown.
“I think this is really a wonderful opportunity for Bobby,” said Coach Kyle, who also coaches Grebenc in track. “He's an excellent student. Bobby really did well at their camp. You can play football, that's great. But an Ivy League education with a student/athlete like Bobby, it's a great fit.
“He'll do well there and we're very proud of him. In the classroom and on the football field, Bobby is a guy who just works and works and works. And he does it in a humble way.”