Ohio City - This old gridiron grinder will be providing two reports this week during Saint Ignatius' Varsity/Junior Varsity Football double sessions, reports that will appear today (Wednesday) and Sunday.
Today's report recaps some of the top highlights from Monday's and Tuesday's sessions, and on Sunday we will wrap up the rest of the week for you.
Just a reminder again that this corner will cover and report on the first scrimmage of the season, as Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 and his Wildcats travel to Solon's storied Stewart Field on August 8th for the annual preseason matchup with Coach Jim McQuaide's Comets. The action will get underway at 10 AM.
Here is a look at some of the efforts that took place at Wasmer Field Monday and Tuesday, efforts that kicked off the start of the official OHSAA preseason practices.
MONDAY
Kyle Hall showed why he and fellow senior Danny Alexander are one of the finest combinations at quarterback that Northeast Ohio, if not the entire state, has to offer.
Hall unleashed some solid on-the-money throws to gifted senior wide receiver Sammy Snyder, whose routes and pass-catching skills were as perfect as the weather.
Senior wide receivers Connor Kennedy and Max Pike did a superb job of coming back to the ball during their routes.
Alexander was also savvy in the pocket while displaying his authoritative arm.
Pike unleashed his skills on the other side of the ball during Monday's evening session, as Max, off a perfect read, knifed his way in front of the receiver and went Pick City into the Lorain Avenue end zone.
Multi-skilled junior wide receiver/defensive back John Wetula hauled in a rope off the arm of junior quarterback Patrick Delahunty on a dead run and carried the ball into the red zone.
With Monday's bright sun setting in Ohio City, the defense continued to make its mark behind the aggressiveness of the D-Line and the linebackers, and more heads-up play by the secondary.
Senior linebackers Logan Joyce and Tom Grosel, along with savvy senior cornerback Cameron Toppin, provided some nice pursuit off the edge. Senior Andrew Chalhoub, a converted quarterback, came up with a text-book pass breakup, promising junior defensive lineman Aidan Wells powered his way up the middle, timed his jump and batted away a pass, and sophomores Michael McNamara, Merick Hartley and Jacob Davis each made nice reads en route to interceptions.
The offense didn't go quietly into the Ohio City dusk on Monday, as Hall, behind solid protection by his line, combined with junior running back Andrew Phillips Jr. for a nice gain that saw Phillips Jr. pick up some significant yards after the catch. Hall also clicked with Snyder on a crossing route and then rolled away from pressure and hit gifted junior linebacker/tight end Tommy Eichenberg along the home sideline of Wasmer Field. Tommy, another of the Wildcats' oh so promising two-way players, rambled and powered his way for a nice gain.
TUESDAY
The defense, under the direction of coordinator/linebackers coach and Wildcat football and track & field Hall of Famer Ryan Franzinger '02, picked up where it left off on Monday.
Senior lineman Toby Engel, junior linebacker Caden Campolieti and junior lineman Seamus Cooney provided strong pressure in the afternoon session. Toby, a senior, is a converted offensive lineman and Caden is a converted quarterback. Toby said he finds a lot of similarities between the defensive line and wrestling, his winter sport.
John Wetula put together another strong session, as the junior wide receiver/defensive back ran a smooth route and displayed good hands on a deep seam pattern and later timed his move perfectly, stepped in front of a pass and went Pick City from his defensive position.
As the 6 PM bells echoed through the blue sky that hovered over Wasmer Field, savvy signal-callers Kyle Hall and Danny Alexander combined with junior wide receiver Nigel Drummond II and veteran receivers Max Pike, Connor Kennedy and Michael Drobnick for some big-time yards through the air.
Standout senior corner Cameron Toppin made a highlight-reel interception along the visitor's sideline that saw Cam maintain possession of the ball while staying in bounds.
Hard-nosed junior defensive back Danny Scelza, who is fearless when it comes to roaming the secondary and making his way to the pigskin, came up with a pass breakup that former Wildcat greats Barry Alvis '89, David Streeter '93, Danny Fox '09 and Pat Hinkel '09 would have been proud of.
Tuesday evening's session also featured work on extra points and field goals, and veteran offensive coaches Terry Fergus '72 and Jim Cahill '89 came up with some new drills that the spirited running backs seemed to thoroughly enjoy.
The night was capped by some more solid defense from Campolieti and junior linebacker Kyle Sullivan, an interception by talented sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Connor Cmiel and, let us not forget what every Wildcat looks forward to each day - the 10 30s.
See you at Wasmer Field on Wednesday.