Parma, Ohio - Matthew Trickett, who two weeks ago in The Pit at Cincinnati Elder tied Tim Shenk's (Class of 2012) field goal record of 55 yards set against Detroit Cody in the 2011 season, sent his new Saint Ignatius record 59-yard, no-doubter through the uprights in the scoreboard end zone of Byers Field with plenty to spare. Matt's historic kick, which was also the fourth-longest in OHSAA history, came with 2 minutes and 6 seconds remaining in the third quarter and extended the Wildcats' lead to 34-10.

 "As soon as I hit the ball and it took off I had a feeling it was definitely on target," said Matt, who opened the scoring against GlenOak on Saturday night in Robert M. Boulton Stadium with a 42-yard field goal.

 "I had the wind at my back and it was just a good kick, hold and snap overall," Matt continued in reference to his long snapper, junior Sean Wracher, and his holder, senior wide receiver Nicholas Szubski. "It feels great. Tim Shenk was one of the best kickers, if not the best, to come through Saint Ignatius. It feels really special to be able to do something that nobody else has ever done before at Saint Ignatius."

CAN YOU HEAR THE THUNDER?: Adding to how powerful Trickett's record setter was, his holder, Nicholas Szubski, said he knew Matt's one for the all-time record books was good just by the sound it made off the tee.

FROM WILDCATS HALL OF FAME HEAD COACH CHUCK KYLE '69 ON HIS GIFTED KICKER/PUNTER: "We all witnessed Matt's 55-yarder at Elder a few weeks ago when there really was no wind," Coach Kyle said. "It was lined up in the middle and with that wind (in Robert M. Boulton Stadium) we decided let's go ahead and launch it.

 "He got all of it. I mean he really hit a good one. I am standing there saying I hope it goes straight because it sure had the distance. That was really fun to see."

 THE EARLY GOING: After Trickett's 42-yard effort staked the now 7-0 Wildcats to a 3-0 lead with 4:01 remaining in the first quarter, GlenOak put together a 7-play, 80-drive that was highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown run down the visitor's sideline of Byers Field by the Golden Eagles' big-play senior quarterback Tate Rhoads. After junior kicker Dean Sarris sent his extra-point kick sailing over the crossbar, GlenOak led, 7-3, with 28 seconds left in the opening quarter.

 Rhoads' speed was as advertised. The young man who anchored GlenOak's 4x800 and 4x400 state-qualifying relay teams last spring, proved to be a major problem in space.

 The Golden Eagles, who are now 2-5 and in jeopardy of not qualifying for the Division I, Region 1 OHSAA Regional Quarterfinal Playoffs with three regular-season games remaining, saw their early lead on Saturday night to be short-lived.

 Saint Ignatius, the top-ranked team in the all-important OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Computer Playoff Rankings and the No. 1 program in the Associated Press Division I State Poll, regained its 3-point advantage on a 37-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Danny Alexander to senior wide receiver Sammy Snyder and the ensuing extra point by Trickett with 10:22 to go in the first half. Sammy now has 40 receptions on the season for 755 yards and nine touchdowns.

After the Golden Eagles knotted the score at 10 on a 31-yard field goal by Sarris with 6:41 on the first-half clock, the record 11-time big-school state champion Wildcats stunned GlenOak by scoring off a highlight-reel 66-yard TD pass from Alexander to senior wide receiver and Holy Cross recruit Connor Kennedy with just 20 seconds left in the first half. Following another PAT by Trickett, the Wildcats led, 17-10, at the halftime break.

 A 17-POINT RUN HAS GLENOAK ON ITS HEELS: Saint Ignatius, which is now 2-0 all-time versus the Golden Eagles on the gridiron, began taking total control after Alexander and Kennedy hooked up again, this time on a 31-yard TD strike that saw Alexander roll right and fire a seed to Kennedy in the corner of the scoreboard end zone. That score, combined with a 2-yard touchdown run by Alexander, two more PATs by Trickett and Matt's record-setting field goal had the 'Cats sitting pretty late in the third quarter.

 GlenOak showed the will one expects from a program that has made eight playoff appearances under its Head Coach Scott Garcia, including three consecutive trips to the OHSAA postseason, by scoring the game's final 10 points off a 6-yard touchdown run by Rhoads, the ensuing extra point by Sarris and Sarris' 32-yard field goal with 2:13 remaining to be played.

 BY THE NUMBERS:  Saint Ignatius had 13 first downs to GlenOak's 11. The Golden Eagles rushed for 181 yards on 41 carries and the Wildcats totaled 157 yards on the ground off 37 rushing attempts.

 The total offensive plays and yards showed Saint Ignatius with the edge in yards, 336 to 240. Both teams ran 53 plays.

 Rhoads rushed for 109 yards and two TDs on 14 carries and teammate/classmate Michael Rekstis had 54 yards on 21 carries. Junior tailback Jahadge "Bo" Floyd totaled 65 yards on 11 carries for the Wildcats, 'Cats' senior tailback/Captain Mark Bobinski had 54 yards off 12 carries and Alexander finished with 40 yards on 14 rushing attempts.

 Through the air, Rhoads was 5-for-11 for 59 yards and Alexander was 6-of-14 for 179 yards. Along with Sammy Snyder's receiving totals that we mentioned earlier in this report, Connor Kennedy totaled 97 yards and two touchdowns off two receptions.

 MORE FROM COACH KYLE: Coach Kyle said the Wildcats' faithful and football fans in general saw Saturday night how much Connor Kennedy means to his team. Connor was sidelined with an injury during the early part of the season.

 "He made some big plays tonight," said Coach Kyle. "That's Connor."

 Coach Kyle also pointed out that although Wildcats fans are looking forward to the Week 9 and Week 10 encounters with currently undefeated St. Xavier and unbeaten St. Edward, Saint Ignatius' whole season has been a challenge. As this corner puts it, just ask area powers Archbishop Hoban, Mentor and Euclid who handed them their only setbacks.

 FROM DANNY ALEXANDER: "Now it takes a little pressure off Jahadge (Floyd) and Mark (Bobinski)," Danny said of Connor Kennedy's return to the lineup. "Connor is going to Holy Cross for a reason. He runs like a 4.4 and is such a great route runner. He gets open, he gets separation and has such great hands. When you hit him in stride, he's going to do something with the ball.

 "Connor, Sam (Snyder), (Michael) Drobnick, Nigel Drummond and Max (Pike), we're blessed at Saint Ignatius to have such great receivers. It makes your job as a quarterback so much easier when you're surrounded by great athletes. And I'm also blessed to have such a great line."

UP NEXT: The Wildcats will travel to Otterbein University on Friday to face Archbishop Moeller. The kickoff will be 7 pm. Moeller is currently 3-4 and ranked sixth in the Division I, Region 4 Computer Playoff Rankings. As always, this corner will preview the Moeller game this coming week.