By Mr. Eddie Dwyer. Copyright Credit August 2016
Ohio City - Following Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage, Saint Ignatius' Hall of Fame Head Football Coach Chuck Kyle discussed with this corner what it was that pleased him about the spirited early afternoon matchup of the Wildcats versus the Wildcats.
"What pleased me is that a lot of first-team guys really did not participate," said Coach Kyle, whose team will now focus on Thursday's 7 PM preseason Jamboree with the Canton McKinley Bulldogs at Lowell Klinefelter Stadium on the campus of Canton Central Catholic High School. As always, the Jamboree will be played under regular game conditions. McKinley is coming off a solid scrimmage with two-time defending Division I State Champion St. Edward.
"They did a little individual and an opening series," Coach Kyle continued in reference to the first-team Varsity's limited action in the intra-squad scrimmage. "They (the first team) have gotten a lot of reps. What we really wanted to do today was see what depth we're developing.
"We've been running drills, we've been doing all of these things with the hope that you see some young guys stepping up and some guys that our seniors surprise you a little bit. Today was a good day to show us that yeah, I can be out there and help this team. We'll study the film a little bit, but I thought we ran the ball okay and I think the defense is getting the idea. There are a couple things to talk about with secondary coming up and helping out a little bit."
One of those seniors who has been stepping up is senior quarterback Luke Baker, who is an all about the team athlete personified.
During Friday's double sessions and today's(Saturday) intra-squad scrimmage, Luke displayed the versatility, strength and athleticism to handle the wide receiver/tight end positions when called upon, as he came up with several big receptions off savvy routes.
"You know what is the best thing about Luke Baker?" asked Wildcats veteran Offensive Coordinator Nick Restifo. "He wants to be out there on the field!"
A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
In the only series that members of the first-team offense took part in, the defense made its mark as defensive backs Connor Kennedy, a junior, and Alex Ringfield, a senior, came up with quick-to-the-ball, authoritative pass breakups, and junior defensive end Bradley Andrich stepped up and made a strong tackle against the run.
THE JAYVEES GO TO THE AIR
As for the Junior Varsity offense, sophomore quarterback Patrick Delahunty moved his team down the field off a couple of nice throws to sophomore wide receivers Nigel Drummond and John Wetula, but the drive ended with a missed field goal.
BACK TO THE DEFENSE
Senior defensive back Colin Waldeck and junior defensive back Cameron Topping added their names to the pass breakup list as the Varsity portion of the scrimmage resumed.
THE VARSITY OFFENSE STARTS TO CLICK
Fueled by a quick and smooth pass from junior quarterback Kyle Hall to the sure hands of Luke Baker, the Varsity offense struck for seven points off a picture-perfect burst by senior tailback Daryl Forrest that saw Daryl bounce to the outside and outrace the pursuit into the end zone, and the ensuing extra-point kick by gifted junior Matthew Trickett, who also excels in soccer.
Junior quarterback Daniel Alexander and senior wide receiver Riley Kinzel kept the Varsity offense on track as Daniel fired a strong kiss the sky pass down the seam and Riley, out-battling the defender, made a big-time leaping catch of the ball. A few plays later, Alexander scored on a 14-yard keeper and Trickett capped the drive with another impressive extra point that soared through the uprights and fittingly bounced off the soccer goal that was sitting behind the scoreboard end zone of Wasmer Field.
OUCH!
Junior defensive back/running back Matthew Viancourt picked up where he left off on Friday night with another long and powerful run, this time down the left or visitor's sideline of Wasmer Field. Matthew's effort was wiped out, however, as an ill-advised block down field resulted in a clipping penalty.
THE D DOESN'T GO QUIETLY
First it was some impressive pressure from junior linebacker/nose tackle Andrew Boldy and junior linebacker Andrew Keirn that turned away the offense, and then it was a highlight-reel play by senior safety Michael DeCicco, who read the quarterback's eyes, broke on the ball in a blur and came up with a sweet trip to pick city.
The first-team JV defense closed out the afternoon against the Varsity and oh so promising sophomore linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, whose name has appeared in the camp notes more than once this summer, unleashed some exceptional pursuit down the line of scrimmage and made a pad-rattling tackle, and sophomore linebacker Chris Velotta, coming off a blitz, would have had a sack, but was only allowed to introduce himself to the quarterback.
Have a great weekend and gear up for the annual Jamboree with Canton McKinley, again that's Thursday evening at 7 in Canton Central Catholic's Lowell Klinefelter Stadium.
Ohio City - Following Saturday's intra-squad scrimmage, Saint Ignatius' Hall of Fame Head Football Coach Chuck Kyle discussed with this corner what it was that pleased him about the spirited early afternoon matchup of the Wildcats versus the Wildcats.
"What pleased me is that a lot of first-team guys really did not participate," said Coach Kyle, whose team will now focus on Thursday's 7 PM preseason Jamboree with the Canton McKinley Bulldogs at Lowell Klinefelter Stadium on the campus of Canton Central Catholic High School. As always, the Jamboree will be played under regular game conditions. McKinley is coming off a solid scrimmage with two-time defending Division I State Champion St. Edward.
"They did a little individual and an opening series," Coach Kyle continued in reference to the first-team Varsity's limited action in the intra-squad scrimmage. "They (the first team) have gotten a lot of reps. What we really wanted to do today was see what depth we're developing.
"We've been running drills, we've been doing all of these things with the hope that you see some young guys stepping up and some guys that our seniors surprise you a little bit. Today was a good day to show us that yeah, I can be out there and help this team. We'll study the film a little bit, but I thought we ran the ball okay and I think the defense is getting the idea. There are a couple things to talk about with secondary coming up and helping out a little bit."
One of those seniors who has been stepping up is senior quarterback Luke Baker, who is an all about the team athlete personified.
During Friday's double sessions and today's(Saturday) intra-squad scrimmage, Luke displayed the versatility, strength and athleticism to handle the wide receiver/tight end positions when called upon, as he came up with several big receptions off savvy routes.
"You know what is the best thing about Luke Baker?" asked Wildcats veteran Offensive Coordinator Nick Restifo. "He wants to be out there on the field!"
A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
In the only series that members of the first-team offense took part in, the defense made its mark as defensive backs Connor Kennedy, a junior, and Alex Ringfield, a senior, came up with quick-to-the-ball, authoritative pass breakups, and junior defensive end Bradley Andrich stepped up and made a strong tackle against the run.
THE JAYVEES GO TO THE AIR
As for the Junior Varsity offense, sophomore quarterback Patrick Delahunty moved his team down the field off a couple of nice throws to sophomore wide receivers Nigel Drummond and John Wetula, but the drive ended with a missed field goal.
BACK TO THE DEFENSE
Senior defensive back Colin Waldeck and junior defensive back Cameron Topping added their names to the pass breakup list as the Varsity portion of the scrimmage resumed.
THE VARSITY OFFENSE STARTS TO CLICK
Fueled by a quick and smooth pass from junior quarterback Kyle Hall to the sure hands of Luke Baker, the Varsity offense struck for seven points off a picture-perfect burst by senior tailback Daryl Forrest that saw Daryl bounce to the outside and outrace the pursuit into the end zone, and the ensuing extra-point kick by gifted junior Matthew Trickett, who also excels in soccer.
Junior quarterback Daniel Alexander and senior wide receiver Riley Kinzel kept the Varsity offense on track as Daniel fired a strong kiss the sky pass down the seam and Riley, out-battling the defender, made a big-time leaping catch of the ball. A few plays later, Alexander scored on a 14-yard keeper and Trickett capped the drive with another impressive extra point that soared through the uprights and fittingly bounced off the soccer goal that was sitting behind the scoreboard end zone of Wasmer Field.
OUCH!
Junior defensive back/running back Matthew Viancourt picked up where he left off on Friday night with another long and powerful run, this time down the left or visitor's sideline of Wasmer Field. Matthew's effort was wiped out, however, as an ill-advised block down field resulted in a clipping penalty.
THE D DOESN'T GO QUIETLY
First it was some impressive pressure from junior linebacker/nose tackle Andrew Boldy and junior linebacker Andrew Keirn that turned away the offense, and then it was a highlight-reel play by senior safety Michael DeCicco, who read the quarterback's eyes, broke on the ball in a blur and came up with a sweet trip to pick city.
The first-team JV defense closed out the afternoon against the Varsity and oh so promising sophomore linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, whose name has appeared in the camp notes more than once this summer, unleashed some exceptional pursuit down the line of scrimmage and made a pad-rattling tackle, and sophomore linebacker Chris Velotta, coming off a blitz, would have had a sack, but was only allowed to introduce himself to the quarterback.
Have a great weekend and gear up for the annual Jamboree with Canton McKinley, again that's Thursday evening at 7 in Canton Central Catholic's Lowell Klinefelter Stadium.