By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit October 2016
Cleveland, Ohio - If you take a look at the only polls that really matter in Ohio High School Football - the Joe Eitel and OHSAA Computer Playoff rankings/ratings - you can understand why Saint Ignatius' Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 refers to Friday night's first gridiron encounter with Canton GlenOak as a "playoff-type game."
While the end of the regular season on the night October 29th will determine the eight OHSAA playoff qualifiers from Division I, Region 1, Saint Ignatius begins a four-game stretch on Friday night that should return the record 11-time Division I state champions to their familiar place in November - a spot among those playoff teams in Region 1.
The 5-1 Wildcats, who last year missed football's postseason for only the second time since their storied playoff run began in 1988 (the other time was 2010), currently sit in the eighth spot in Region 1 with an average of 9.3667 points.
GlenOak, which has been hit by the injury bug over the past few weeks, is 4-2 and stands sixth in Region 1 with an average of 10.633 points.
Again, the top eight programs at the end of the regular season will advance to the OHSAA regional playoffs while the rest of the teams in Region 1 put their equipment away.
"They've had some injuries, but they're a great program," Coach Kyle said of the Golden Eagles, who signed a two-year contract with Saint Ignatius. "They're a playoff-caliber program every year and their offense is definitely a strong running the football type of offense.
"They do an off-set I with a little bit of Auburn influence, pulling guards and tackles, and fullbacks trailing. Getting an extra guy to the point of attack," Coach Kyle continued. "And they have a strong running back with speed."
Coach Kyle was referring to Elijah Ladson, who appeared to be a little banged up in the late stages of last week's 35-10 loss at Massillon Jackson. Jackson (6-0), the top-rated team in both the Joe Eitel and OHSAA Region 1 computer rankings with 17.8000 points, avenged last season's 48-6 setback at GlenOak. What a difference a year makes.
"They've run into some problems health-wise with their quarterback," said Coach Kyle of the Golden Eagles' injuries. "Who knows whose going to be healthy for them there."
GlenOak has certainly missed quarterback Tate Rhodes, who broke his collarbone in the loss to the Massillon Tigers. JJ Olivera, who hadn’t played quarterback since middle school and is the team’s third option due to injuries, has showed some promise.
"Defensively, they're not afraid to blitz you, Coach Kyle said of Head Coach Scott Garcia's Golden Eagles. "If you have a little bit of momentum, they'll come after you and try to break that. So we're working on picking up those blitzes.
"It's a good challenge," continued the man who has also led his alma mater to three national titles (1989, 1993 and 1995) and a national runner-up (2008). "We have to handle that hour-plus ride down the road, get off the bus be ready to play and not falter. Here's a team (GlenOak) that's 4-2 and if they get a few more victories, they're right there in the playoff hunt. So we have to respond."
AIR JACKSON: The Polar Bears of Massillon Jackson, ranked fourth in the Associated Press big-school state poll, put the Golden Eagles' secondary in a deep freeze last weekend, as quarterback Jaret Pallotta threw 5 touchdown passes, including scoring throws of 55, 50 and 75 yards.
As we reported on the corner Monday afternoon, Saint Ignatius is ranked seventh in the AP state poll.
GETTING HIS KICKS: It was great to see Wildcats junior kicker Drew Alessandro get an opportunity to display his kicking form during last weekend's 49-0 victory over Parma, as Drew boomed two kickoffs and also accounted for the game's final extra point.
A young man who displays a dedicated work ethic in practice, Drew works along side of gifted All-Ohio senior punter/kicker Colin Goodfellow and junior kicker Matthew Trickett, who is also a defensive standout for Coach Mike McLaughlin's nationally acclaimed Varsity Soccer Program.
Along with his promising leg, Drew is a young man with a significant knowledge of area high school football.
THE TIES THAT BIND: Saint Ignatius' Assistant Football Coach (defensive line) and outstanding Head Wrestling Coach Mark Sullivan recalls fondly the day former Iowa Hawkeyes Head Football Coach and GlenOak coaching legend, the late Bob Commings, complemented Coach Sullivan for Mark's outstanding game versus the Hawkeyes as a nose tackle for The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
Coach Sullivan, a former All-Ohio defensive lineman for the Lake Catholic Cougars, walked on at Ohio State and became a force as a 5-10, 225-to-230 nose guard for the late and legendary Woody Hayes and Coach Earle Bruce. Mark was the winner of the Woody Hayes Memorial Trophy for his MVP performance in the 1980 Ohio State-Michigan Game.
Later in life, Coach Sullivan played semi-pro football for the Canton Bulldogs and Coach Commings.
For our younger fans, the field the Wildcats will be playing on Friday night is named in honor of Coach Bob Commings. Coach Commings' son, Bob Jr, a former Iowa quarterback, was on hand when the dedication of the field took place.
Coach Commings was Iowa's head football coach for five years (1974-78). He was a three-time letterman for the Hawkeyes and was Iowa's MVP in 1957. Coach Commings left Iowa to become head coach at GlenOak, where in 12 years he became the school's winningest football coach. Bob died of cancer in 1992, at the age of 59.
AND LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, Saint Ignatius' game at GlenOak on Friday night will be broadcast live over the Wildcats' Student Broadcast Network. The golden tones of senior Brendan DeVenney and junior Matt MacKenzie will describe the action from Commings Field.
Matt will probably have a direct line to Progressive Field early Friday evening, so he can keep up and lend his endless baseball knowledge to the American League Central Division Champions, aka the Indians, or this old-timer's favorite, "The Fighting Franconas."
See you in Stark County Friday night.