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Freshman Football Cats Secure 27-7 Victory over Erie McDowell

By Eddie Dwyer, 09/29/16, 11:45PM EDT

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Okay, after the rain, lightning and thunder ran a delayed offense of nearly two hours and a flat tire sacked this veteran reporter on the way home, we're ready for the report on the Freshmen Football Wildcats' 27-7 victory over Erie McDowell

By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit September/October 2016

Cleveland, Ohio - Mother Nature decided to lay down the law in the early going Thursday night by flashing a couple of lengthy lightning delays before the opening kickoff on Wasmer Field.

Once things got underway in a soggy Ohio City, Coach Rodney Gallaway's talented and rich in promise Freshmen Football Wildcats ran, passed and defended their way to a 27-7 victory over the Keystone State's ninth-grade Trojans from Erie McDowell.

In what was a very competitive first half, Saint Ignatius' defense, which again turned in a solid night, came up with an interception by ever-present linebacker/tailback Jack Welcsh.

Welcsh's pick, which came off a tipped pass, gave the 'Cats possession at the McDowell 40-yard line with the game not a minute old.

After authoritative runs of 20 and 9 yards by Welcsh, and a quick hitter from strong-armed quarterback Nick Fletcher to gifted wide receiver/cornerback Connor Cmiel, Saint Ignatius was knocking on the door with a first-and-goal just over the Trojans' 5-yard line. Cmiel made one of his second-effort diving receptions for the first down.

From there, Welcsh, off a nice cutback, powered his way over the right side and into the Lorain Avenue end zone. Rory McConville's extra-point kick was high and true, and Coach Gallaway's 'Cats led, 7-0, with 6 minutes and one second remaining in the first quarter.

Following a strong punt return by Cmiel, Saint Ignatius appeared to be in business again at the McDowell 25-yard line.

The Trojans' defense answered the challenge and forced a fourth-and-11 from the McDowell 26, where a Cats' fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

Saint Ignatius' flying-to-the-ball defense came up with another impressive series that gave the offense possession at midfield.

Welcsh, who displays a smooth combination of balance, vision, speed and strength, put together runs of 10 yards and 13 yards, and, after Fletcher scrambled for 11 yards, it was first-and 10 at the McDowell 16.

Four plays later, Welcsh followed a lead block by fullback Merick Hartley and the lunch-pail work of his offensive line, and scored from less than a yard out.

Welcsh's short trip to the end zone for his second TD of the night made it a 13-0 game, as the attempt for the extra point was blocked by the Trojans' standout Damon Berarducci.

McDowell, which has had a solid Pennsylvania vs. Ohio football rivalry with Saint Ignatius on every level in recent years, one this old gridiron ghost would love to see return to the Varsity stage, put together a nice drive in the closing minutes of the first half.

Sparked by the pursuit of active and tough-as-nails defensive lineman Anthony Gerace, the 'Cats were able to force the Trojans into a fourth-and-goal from Saint Ignatius' 16-yard line.

Up stepped the small-in-stature, but oh so talented and versatile Berarducci, who ran a perfect route down the left seam and made a leaping two-handed catch in the Lorain Avenue end zone for a highlight-reel touchdown that, along with the extra point, cut Saint Ignatius' lead to 13-7 with 1:54 left in the first half.

It stayed that way entering a second half that saw the aggressive defensive unit of Coaches Pat Hopkins and Tony Antonelli pick up the offense after the O had a drive stall at the McDowell 11-yard line.

Just seconds later, defensive back/wide receiver Erik Daugenti made a one-handed interception that saw him tip the ball from one hand into to the other and race into the left corner of the Lorain Avenue end zone for a touchdown that could be described as the key play of the game in that it seemed to take some of the steam out of the Trojans' comeback intentions.

Holding a 20-7 lead after McConville sealed Daugenti's effort with his second PAT with 2:32 to go in the third quarter, Saint Ignatius took command on a 5-yard diving touchdown reception by multi-skilled wide receiver/defensive back Henry Cook, which came off a fourth-and-3 from the McDowell 5. The scoring drive was set up by Welcsh's second interception on the night.

Another extra point by McConville closed out the scoring with 8:05 remaining in the fourth quarter and the now 5-1 'Cats sealed the deal on an interception by defensive back Jacob Davis in the Lorain Avenue end zone.

Along with the work of Coach Matthew Mooney's offensive line, Coach Rory Hennessey's defensive secondary and the defensive line of Coaches Tom Flandera and Jim Ramella, Saint Ignatius benefitted from some heads up down field blocking, including one by wide receiver Blade Cintron that drew the praise of Offensive Coordinator Mark Ruddy.

FROM HEAD COACH RODNEY GALLAWAY: "I thought we were rolling at the beginning and then we kind of slowed down a little bit, and that's where it's like, okay, let's just put this team away. Keep it going and that sort of thing.

"If you don't capitalize where you have opportunities, you make a small little error here and there, and it doesn't go your way.

"The defense stepped up and got us out of the rut with big turnovers. We threw Daugenti in there (on defense) because we wanted to talk with Cmiel about a route and he comes up with a one-handed pick six. So that was good. He's (Daugenti) a good athlete who is coming along.

"Henry (Cook) had his first touchdown and a nice run back that should have been a touchdown." 

UP NEXT: The Freshmen 'Cats are scheduled to face the Freshmen Golden Eagles from GlenOak on October 8 at Wasmer Field at noon.