By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit September 2016
From Wasmer Field on the campus of Saint Ignatius High School - Coming off last weekend's tough five-point setback at home to the ninth-grade team from Mentor, Coach Rodney Gallaway's Freshmen Football Wildcats set the tone early Thursday night versus Kirtland and then had a bit of a lull before leaving no doubt, 21-0.
The Freshmen 'Cats, who now stand 2-1 heading into their high noon September 17th matchup with the Freshmen Shamrocks from Detroit Catholic Central on Wasmer Field, struck right from the get-go on both sides of the ball.
Saint Ignatius, which kicked off to start the game, forced a three-and-out thanks to some exceptional pursuit by defensive lineman Anthony Gerace.
Taking possession at their 40-yard line, the Wildcats drove 60 yards in 14 plays and scored on a 2-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Fletcher to 6-foot-4, 215-pound tight end Sam Daugstrup in the right corner of the Lorain Avenue end zone. The ensuing extra-point kick by Rory McConville made it a 7-0 game with 1 minute and 48 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
Some of the key plays in the 60-yard march were a hard-nosed 20-yard run on first down by running back/linebacker Jack Welcsh, key pass receptions by wide receiver Domenic Fabe and wide receiver/defensive back Connor Cmiel, and two more second-effort runs by Welcsh.
Saint Ignatius pushed its lead to 14-0 on a 60-yard catch and run for a touchdown by Cmiel that saw Connor outleap and outmaneuver the defensive back for the ball. McConville's extra point was high and true, and the young 'Cats were in control with 2:22 left in the first half.
From there, Coach Gallaway and his savvy and veteran staff would watch the Wildcats' defense keep things under control, as it did all night.
A botched punt attempt by Kirtland, which was the result of Saint Ignatius' pressure and pursuit, led to the game's final points with 4:47 remaining to played. Welcsh did the honors off a 10-yard touchdown run that featured a solid display of vision and power, and McConville was money on the PAT.
Among those helping key Saint Ignatius' defense was linebacker Mac Boyle, who made himself at home in the Hornets' backfield with pad-rattling pursuit.
Kirtland, a small-school football power in Ohio, got a solid all-around effort from Luke Gardner, who ran the ball with a purpose and also made a nice pass break-up in the left corner of the scoreboard end zone.
"I think they see 20 guys and think well what are these guys going to do?," said Coach Gallaway in reference to the Hornets' small roster and the fact that his 'Cats didn't get the message this week that they can't assume anything.
"They don't realize their tradition and their style of football is not typical," Coach Gallaway continued in reference to Kirtland. "So that leaves room for anything to happen. It's a-typical offensively.
"Offensively, I thought we could have came out and played a little better," Coach Gallaway said. "Defensively, we played well. Even without high energy, I thought we made, more or less, all of the plays we needed to. Mac Boyle had a real good game, he was all over the place, and Jack (Welcsh) carried the ball pretty well."
CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. DAVE HICKS ON A MARVELOUS 50-YEAR CAREER AS ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING AND MOST RESPECTED FOOTBALL OFFICIALS, NOT ONLY IN OHIO AND GREATER CLEVELAND, BUT THROUGHOUT THE NATION.
Dave, a young 81, officiated his last game Thursday night on the field he made home while officiating many weeknight freshmen games and Saturday morning junior varsity games during the final years of his storied officiating career - Saint Ignatius' Wasmer Field.
A retired Homicide Detective in Cleveland, Dave can still proudly rattle off his badge number of 91 and his police car number of 501.
A native of Wisconsin and a diehard fan of the Green Bay Packers, Dave's career on the gridiron not only consisted of officiating on the high school level, but also in the college ranks, where he was among the most respected in his profession throughout the nation.
Dave officiated games for the Crimson Tide of Alabama, worked the historic rivalry between the University of Southern California and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and, in what he said with pride, humility and class, had the opportunity to officiate the legendary Army versus Navy series.
Mr. Hicks worked so many big college games and household name teams during his career that he has become a regular in many of ESPN's Classic Replays.
In closing this report on the Freshmen Football Wildcats and Mr. Hicks, I will always remember what Dave said before getting ready for the flip of the coin on Thursday night. In a very direct, but professional manner, he emphasized how much he always pushed for young officials to have the opportunity to work Varsity games on the high school level so they could develop and hone their skills.
And many times, that opportunity came to fruition because an honored and respected veteran named Mr. Dave Hicks took on a freshmen or junior varsity assignment and left an opening for a promising young official.
May God Bless Mr. Hicks in his retirement and a big Thank You from this corner for everything Dave did for the high school athletes of the Greater Cleveland area, past and present.