By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit September 2016
From Tom Mach Field in Fr. Richard Elmer, C.S.B., Stadium on the campus of Detroit Catholic Central
Saint Ignatius and Catholic Central, who both have 11 state football championships in their storied athletic histories, tested each other's will for four quarters and overtime Friday night before the Shamrocks from Novi, Michigan prevailed, 28-21, on a 10-yard touchdown run in overtime by tough and talented junior fullback/linebacker Cameron Ryan, an extra-point kick by senior Jacob Nichols, and a victory-sealing and game-ending interception by junior linebacker Matt Young.
Young came up with the biggest of the four interceptions turned in by the Shamrocks' defense under the Friday Night Lights and full moon of Novi. It came off a fourth-and 8 from the 8-yard line on the Wildcats' possession in overtime.
Under the National Federation overtime rules used in the state of Michigan, each team is given a possession at the opponent's 10-yard line. Saint Ignatius elected to go on defense first.
Catholic Central, under the direction of its Hall of Fame Coach Tom Mach, improved to 4-0. Coach Mach had guided the Shamrocks' fortunes for more than four decades.
Saint Ignatius, led by its Hall of Fame Coach Mr. Chuck Kyle '69, is now 3-1 heading into next Friday night's game versus Walsh Jesuit. The kickoff from the Warriors' Conway Memorial Stadium will be 7 PM. Coach Kyle is in his 34th season as the head of his alma mater's football program.
In what was a huge turning point for Saint Ignatius on Friday night came after the Wildcats marched 65 yards on 13 plays and took a 21-14 lead on a 3-yard touchdown sweep over the right side by gifted junior tailback Mark Bobinski and the ensuing extra-point kick by junior Matthew Trickett, who doubles as a soccer standout for the Wildcats.
Forcing a punt that was shanked out of bounds after Saint Ignatius appeared to get a piece of the ball under heavy pressure, the Wildcats thought they were in in business with a seven-point lead and excellent field position.to start the fourth quarter.
Not so said one the officials, who called the 'Cats' for roughing the punter. After the officials conferred, Catholic Central was awarded a first down at its 44-yard line.
"That was a key, we would have had the ball with the lead," Coach Kyle said. "But we made too many mistakes with the turnovers. You have to play your game, your way. That's a good football team (Catholic Central) and it was the type of game in which you have to keep your focus.
"So we have to learn from that," Coach Kyle continued. "We're going to be playing more teams of this caliber."
The Shamrocks took full advantage of the new life the penalty presented, as under the field generalship of their scrappy and heady sophomore quarterback Austin Brown and the running of Ryan and senior halfback Nicholas Capatina, Coach Mach's team marched down the field and knotted the score on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Brown to senior tight end Jack Morris and the PAT by Nichols with 6:57 left in the fourth quarter.
Morris, who also made some key plays from his defensive end position, caught the toss from Brown in the left flat and raced elusively down the sideline before diving over the pylon.
In the early going, Capatina, another of the Shamrocks' two-way headliners, scored the game's first points on a 13-yard TD run that was complemented by a Nichols PAT.
Saint Ignatius would answer with a 5-yard TD burst by Bobinski, only to watch Catholic Central's Brown hook up with senior wide receiver Chris Jakubik on a 75-yard touchdown pass off a perfect throw, route, catch and run with 2:22 remaining in the first half.
Leading, 14-7, in the late stages of the first half, the Shamrocks were knocking on the door again after recovering a fumble at the 'Cats' 7-yard line. However, on the very next play Brown tried to catch Saint Ignatius off guard by passing on first-and-goal from the 7 and paid the price as 'Cats' junior cornerback Cameron Toppin made a leaping interception in the right corner of the scoreboard end zone.
Saint Ignatius, displaying savvy clock management, drove 80 yards and tied the score on a leaping 5-yard touchdown reception by multi-skilled senior tight end/linebacker James Leyden and the ensuing extra point by Trickett with 23 seconds to go in the first half. Tough as nails senior tailback Jimmy Andrews set up Leyden's big-time catch with a hard nosed and heads up run to the 5, an effort that saw Jimmy get out of bounds and stop the clock.
Despite some of the clutch plays by Catholic Central's offense, Saint Ignatius' defensive front seven turned in another strong night, especially up front where the senior man in the middle, Joe Gibbons, set the aggressive tone early and also had a key fumble recovery.
SOME NUMBERS TO CHEW ON: Along with his two touchdowns, Bobinski rushed for 79 yards on 21 carries, Andrews had 47 yards on eight carries and senior quarterback Patrick Ryan picked up 57 yards rushing on 15 carries.
Leyden finished with four receptions for 31 yards.
Saint Ignatius won the first down battle, 22-12.
Saint Ignatius totaled 298 yards on 69 plays and Catholic Central ran 52 plays for 230 yards.
Yes, the first meeting on the gridiron between the Wildcats and the Shamrocks was a roller coaster of emotions and momentum.
But then that is what you would expect from two class programs.