The 58-mile road to Canton will be lined with hungry foes in 2017.

The 2017 Saint Ignatius football schedule is complete. The slate features four new teams, all quality opponents, giving the Wildcats one of the most difficult roads to the OHSAA Division I State Championship. 

Three of Saint Ignatius' four new opponents – Archbishop Hoban, Euclid, Elder – made the playoffs last year. 

Ten teams stand in the Wildcats' way of a state-record 14th appearance in the title game, which returns to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for 2017 and 2018. Eight of the teams have played the Wildcats previously. 

The Wildcats' 2017 foes notched a combined record of 79-39 (.669) last season. Seven of the Wildcats' 10 opponents clinched a berth in the playoffs in 2016. Three teams (St. Xavier, Archbishop Hoban, and Detroit Central Catholic) played in state championship games, with two of those earning titles. 

Athletic Director Rory Fitzpatrick '88 and the Athletic Department deserve a heap of credit for crafting a great schedule, filled with quality foes and challenges for the Football Cats. 

The schedule features four games (vs. DCC, Canada-North Clarkson, GlenOak, and St. Xavier) at Byers Field at Robert M. Boulton Stadium in Parma. Three Friday night games are scheduled before the Wildcats end the year with six Saturday showdowns, including two day games.  

Here is the full 2017 Saint Ignatius football schedule:

@ Archbishop Hoban, TBD, 7 p.m.
@ Mentor, Friday Sept. 1, 7 p.m.
@ Euclid, Friday Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
vs. Detroit Catholic Central, Friday Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
@ Elder, Saturday, Saturday Sept. 23, 2 p.m.
vs. Canada North Football - Clarkson, Saturday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m.
vs. Canton Glen Oak, Saturday Oct. 7, 7 p.m.
vs. Moeller*, Saturday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m.
vs. St. Xavier, Saturday Oct. 21, 2 p.m.
@ St. Edward, Saturday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m.

*At Otterbein University