By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit August 2016

Cleveland, Ohio - The first time this gridiron-tested reporter saw the 2016 Saint Ignatius Wildcats Freshmen Football Team make their way across Lorain Avenue from a summer practice on Kyle Field, I said to myself, and then repeated it to many others, "Physically, that's the biggest Freshmen Football Team from Saint Ignatius that I have seen in nearly six decades of following high school football in the Cleveland area."

On Wednesday night, the 2016 Freshmen 'Cats showed this old timer that they not only pass the eye test, but have football skills that more than measure up to their size.

Dominating both lines of scrimmage and displaying a balanced offense that was fueled early on by the running of tailback Najee Lockett, Saint Ignatius' oh so promising ninth graders overwhelmed the freshmen football team from Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, 49-0, in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd at Wasmer Field. It was the season opener for Coach Rodney Gallaway's young 'Cats.  

The OHSAA deficit rule of a running clock came into play after the Wildcats moved to a 35-0 lead with 6 minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

When Lockett wasn't rushing for big yards and thee touchdowns, running back Merick Hartley was finding the end zone, quarterback Nick Fletcher was picking apart the Cardinals' secondary, and the versatile Henry Cook was setting up the offense with a strong punt return and routes and receptions that saw Henry get significant yards after the catch.

Along with Cook, Fletcher was mixing his throws to the rangy and sure-handed Blade Cintron, the steady Connor Cmiel and 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end Sam Daugstrup. Cmiel, who doubles as a defensive back, added a diving interception to his opening-night resume.  

Cardinal Mooney didn't have an answer up front all night, as Saint Ignatius defensive lineman Joshua Dinya set the tone on the game's first play from scrimmage by making an authoritative tackle for a 3-yard loss.

Saint Ignatius' special teams also got into the act early and often.

Linebacker Mac Boyle pounced on fumble off a botched kickoff return by the Cardinals that led to the Wildcats' third first-quarter touchdown, a 5-yard power gallop by Lockett.

With linebackers Connor Francz, Hartley and Buzz Mastrobuono flying around to make tackles and break up passes, the Wildcats pushed their lead to 28-0 by halftime on a 1-yard touchdown run by Lockett and the fourth of seven extra-point kicks on the night by Rory McConville.

From there, it was Katy Bar the Door as linebacker Jack Welcsh pounced on a fumbled punt and two plays later Hartley went right up the gut and into the scoreboard end zone of Wasmer Field for the 15-yard TD run that brought the running clock into play. Hartley also scored the game's first touchdown on a 5-yard second effort.

Cardinal Mooney's shaky special teams play came to the fore again in the third quarter when Saint Ignatius defensive back/running back Dominic DeVengencie recovered the ball off the ensuing kickoff that followed Hartley's second touchdown. DeVengencie then did the TD honors and, after some strong defensive play by linebacker Carter Pappas, it was a 42-0 game entering the final 9 minutes (Freshmen quarters are 9 minutes).

The 'Cats ended their impressive gridiron debut in the Blue and Gold with a solid and savvy down hill tackle by two-way lineman Tyler Kidd that thwarted a Cardinal Mooney drive and a 90-plus yard touchdown run by tailback James Crosby that saw James burst through the hole, make a nice read and outrace the pursuit into the Lorain Avenue end zone.

FROM COACH GALLAWAY

"We looked good in the passing game, especially," Coach Gallaway said of his team's early execution. "We were pretty crisp (through the air) for this early in the season. There were still some small mental errors. We tell the guys the moment can't be too big. You still have a destination on your route and you have a certain responsibility on your blocking.

"Defensively, I thought we got after it," Coach Gallaway continued. "We could tackle a little better in general, but we had good pressure and got to the ball. Najee (Lockett) is unbelievable. The big thing is to keep him healthy. He is a good all-around running back, probably one of the better running backs we've had. Yeah, he's good."

Lockett is also a talented young wrestler, who is expected to learn from defending 182-pound state champion Kaden Russell and take it from there.

Up next for Coach Gallaway's big and skilled Freshmen Cats is the September 2rd game on Wasmer Field versus the always capable Freshmen Team from Mentor.