By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit September 2016
Mentor, Ohio - "We knew coming in that we were playing a good team from a great program," said Saint Ignatius' outstanding Junior Varsity Head Football Coach and Assistant Varsity Coach Paul Yappel, just minutes after his JV Wildcats made themselves at home on Mentor High School's sun-drenched turf in the Cardinals' Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium Friday evening. That turf goes by the name of Jerome T. Osborne Jr. Field.
"It was a great test for us to see where we are early on in the season," Coach Yappel said after his 'Cats improved to 2-0 with a 28-0 victory over the Cardinals.
Saint Ignatius' sophomores certainly passed that test as they made some big plays, were opportunistic and unleashed an inspired defense like their next meal depended on it.
The list of the Wildcats' difference makers was as big as Mentor's spacious and impressive campus.
Two plays after Saint Ignatius fumbled the ball away at its 24-yard line, Wildcats' gifted sophomore defensive back Jett Elad made an over-the shoulder interception in the end zone.
Following Jett's gem, the JV 'Cats, combining the passing and mobility of gritty sophomore quarterback Patrick Delahunty, the running of sophomore tailback Jahadge "Bo" Floyd and the receiving of sure-handed and athletic sophomore wide receiver Nigel Drummond II, drove to a first down at the Mentor 14.
The Cardinals' defense stepped up on the next three plays and Saint Ignatius was faced with a fourth-and-20 from the 24-yard line.
Then came another huge play by the 'Cats, an effort that can deflate any defense.
Undaunted by the down and distance, Saint Ignatius' savvy Quarterbacks Coach Jim Cahiil '89 called on Delahunty and Drummond and the double Ds combined on a 24-yard touchdown pass that saw Drummond make a smooth extension of his arms and hands with a defender draped all over him in the left corner of the end zone. The extra-point kick was no good and the Wildcats led, 6-0, with 5 minutes and 27 seconds remaining in the first half.
It was time for the 'Cats' defense to make its mark again and that came in the form of a pad-rattling tackle by endless potential sophomore linebacker Tommy Eichenberg that jarred the ball loose from the Cardinals' tailback. Sophomore defensive lineman Zach McMahan outfought two Mentor offensive linemen for a fumble recovery at the Cardinals' 25-yard line, and Coach Yappel's tenacious 10th graders were hungry for more points.
Delahunty was more than happy to oblige as seven plays later the mature beyond his years field general swept the left side for a 5-yard touchdown run and then capped off his TD by running for a two-point conversion with 2 minutes and 12 seconds left in the first half.
Leading 14-0 entering the third quarter, Saint Ignatius' defense just kept making plays, this time in the form of a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown by ever-present sophomore defensive back Mitchell Puhalsky, Mitchell's first of two interceptions on the evening.
Saint Ignatius, which will look to go 3-0 on the young season when it welcomes Walsh Jesuit's Jayvees to Ohio City on September 10th at 10 AM, closed out the scoring on a short TD run by Bo Floyd and a two-point conversion pass from Delahunty to sophomore wide receiver Luke Cooper. Delahunty was flushed from the pocket, rolled right and, with Cooper never giving up on his route and Delahunty keeping his eyes downfield, it was a 28-0 game with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcats added a little topping to the victory out on Center Street that was flavored with a leaping pass breakup by sophomore defensive back Nathan Previts, an overpowering sack by young Mr. Eichenberg, another big-time reception by Drummond, a highlight-reel diving catch along the sideline by sophomore wide receiver Zachary LaPorte, and a strong run over the ride side by junior tailback Andrew Phillips.
"We're still making some mistakes, but we're going to improve on those and we improved from last week,'' said Coach Yappel. "That's the best thing. Winning is great, winning is important, but when you see the improvement it's even better. That's the measuring stick."