By Mr. Eddie Dwyer, Copyright Credit November 2016
Cleveland, Ohio - The Saint Ignatius Football Wildcats, under the direction of Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69, will face the Patriots from Olentangy Liberty in the 45th OHSAA Division I State Semifinals on Friday at Arlin Field in Mansfield. The kickoff will be 7:30 PM.
Coach Kyle's Ohio-best 11-time State Champion Wildcats (12-1) will take an OHSAA postseason record of 69-15 into Friday's matchup with the 13-0 Patriots, who are making their first State Semifinal appearance on the gridiron. Coach Steve Hale's Patriots are 6-8 in their football playoff history.
Wildcats football is no stranger to Arlin Field, as in route to the 2011 State Championship the 'Cats defeated Toledo Whitmer, 17-6, in a State Semifinal on Arlin Field.
Both Saint Ignatius and Olentangy Liberty were tested down to the wire in their Regional Final matchups, with the Patriots, trailing 20-10 in the final minute of the third quarter, rallying to a 24-20 victory over the Lorain Titans. The Wildcats turned back longtime West Side rival St. Edward, 38-31, in overtime in the Regional Final at Bedford Bearcat Stadium (see the corner's story).
Helping key Olentangy Liberty's comeback and a spot in Ohio High School football's final four was The Ohio State University recruit Brendon White, who plays wide receiver, running back, quarterback and defensive back. No, he doesn't drive the bus to the away games.
As always, the corner will give you an in-depth look at the Patriots on Tuesday night, when we preview Friday's State Semifinal matchup.
TICKETS: Saint Ignatius will begin selling tickets for Friday night's State Semifinal on Tuesday at 10 AM, and will be selling tickets on Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 10 AM.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, this old gridiron grinder would like to wish all of the best and a smooth recovery to St. Edward's standout senior quarterback Kevin Kramer, who suffered a broken tibia and fibula during this past Friday'sclassic Regional Final game versus the Wildcats.
Kevin had surgery on Saturday and was expected to be coming home today. Kevin turned in an outstanding season for Eagles Head Coach Tom Lombardo and was a huge key in another impressive postseason drive by St. Edward.