Parma, Ohio - The  8-1 Football Wildcats, who with their triumph over the Bombers have locked up a home game for the OHSAA Division I, Region 1 first-round Quarterfinal Playoffs, will now focus on next Saturday night's (October 28th) storied West Side rivalry with the 9-0 Eagles of St. Edward. Coach Tom Lombardo's Eagles remained undefeated by defeating Archbishop Moeller, 31-7, on Saturday.

  According to the latest Computer Playoff Rankings by playoff guru Joe Eitel, Saint Ignatius and St. Edward will enter their highly anticipated regular-season finale matchup as the No. 1 (the Wildcats) and No. 2 teams in Region 1. The Eagles have also clinched a first-round home game for the Quarterfinal Playoffs, which begin on November 3rd.   

 As for Saint Xavier, the 2016 big-school state champion saw its 14-game winning streak come to an end against a Saint Ignatius team that outcoached and outplayed the perennial Queen City power. The Wildcats now own three consecutive regular-season victories over their Jesuit School Brothers, as on Saturday they avenged last year's 27-20, double-overtime loss to St. Xavier in the state title game.

 "I think the kids enjoyed the game plan," said Coach Kyle, whose program trails in its all-time gridiron series with the Bombers, 13-12. "We were going to run the ball and try to create some things that would help the passing game. Defensively, when you say St. Xavier, okay you have to stop something. I think we did a great job against their rushing attack."

 And the final numbers substantiate that, as Saint Ignatius' defense limited the Bombers to a net 31 yards on the ground. The Wildcats, behind 215 yards rushing off 36 carries by relentless, quick and elusive junior tailback Jahadge "Bo" Floyd, totaled 269 rushing yards.

 Jahadge opened the scoring with a 75-yard touchdown burst that came off a third-down-and-5 from the Wildcats' 25-yard line with 2 minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Gifted senior kicker/punter Matthew Trickett added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.    

 Coach Kyle was quick to point out that in making St. Xavier one dimensional, a dimension the Bombers are very good at - passing the football - at least he and his staff were able to call their blitzes that way and their coverage that way.

 The Bombers, who entered Byers Field in Robert M. Boulton Stadium on Saturday as the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Division I State Poll, the third-ranked  program in USA Today's Super 25 National Computer Poll and the fourth-ranked team in the Midwest by USA Today, passed for 203 yards off the arm of senior quarterback and Wisconsin recruit Chase Wolf. Wolf was 19-for-43 with a TD pass, a 2-point conversion throw and one interception.

 Saint Ignatius senior quarterback Danny Alexander passed for 97 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown strike to standout senior wide receiver Sammy Snyder that led to a 14-0 Wildcats lead early in the second quarter, and Danny rushed for 67 yards and scored on runs of 10 and 3 yards.

The entire Wildcats Coaching Staff deserves game balls for Saturday's performance against the highly touted Bombers, as offensively Saint Ignatius employed its "Heavy" formation to significant success.

 The "Heavy" formation includes big-game tested offensive lineman Jack Jamieson (who also serves as a Captain), senior University of Kentucky recruit Darian Kinnard, big-hearted and tough-as-nails senior center Jivan Meguerditchian, strong, savvy and hard working seniors Juan Pen and Billy Corte, and two young men who provide plenty of depth and will, junior Grant Abbott and junior Xavier Everett.

 Joining that group in allowing Saint Ignatius to at times move the football down the field with a wedge that resembled a powerful locomotive, were junior tight end/defensive lineman Aidan Wells, sophomore tight end Sam Daugstrup and junior tight end/running back John Cannon.

 Defensively, the 'Cats' secondary, as has been the case all season, was led by the exceptional one-on-one coverage of senior cornerback Cam Toppin. As a unit, the secondary came up with some huge plays while employing savvy and skilled junior cornerback Jett Elad in the "Dog" or "Hawk" position against a group of St. Xavier receivers who rank among the best Ohio has to offer. Jett complemented senior safety/Captain Justin Sands, who is a Penn recruit, junior safety Danny Scelza and sophomore corner Connor Cmiel.

 Cmiel, who was recently called up from the 'Cats' very successful Junior Varsity Program, ran all afternoon and early evening with the Bombers' wide outs and also handled the kickoff-return duties. On the JV level this fall, Cmiel has returned five kickoffs for touchdowns, yes five.

 When talking about Saint Ignatius' defensive effort, this corner tips his cap to junior outside linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, senior middle backer Andrew Keirn and senior outside linebacker Logan Joyce.

 Eichenberg was nothing less than a force on Saturday as his authoritative, pad-rattling sack off the edge on Wolf resulted in a fumble recovery by ever-present senior defensive end Bradley Andrich. That play led to Alexander's 10-yard TD gallop with 6:18 left in the third quarter and gave the Wildcats some breathing room after St. Xavier scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Wolf to sure-handed senior receiver Andrew Wittrock late in the first half.

 Continuing to make his presence felt, Eichenberg, reading Wolf's eyes all the way, made a diving interception at the Bombers' 28.

 Three plays later, Alexander, off a perfect ball fake, tucked the pigskin away and went untouched into the left corner of the scoreboard end zone from 3 yards out. Trickett's PAT was high and true, and Saint Ignatius held a 28-6 lead with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter. The 'Cats then turned the Bombers away after Wolf scored on a short TD run and added a 2-point conversion pass to senior Cameron Specht with 8:59 left to play.   

 "I think our preparation for this game was the best ever," said Eichenberg, who is the brother of former Wildcat All-Ohio and All-American offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg '16, now at the University of Notre Dame. "I think what really motivated us was how they beat us last year in the state championship game (double overtime). We took it real personal.

 "Yeah, I think this was our best defensive game overall," 'Eich,' as his teammates refer to Tommy, continued. "A lot of people stepped up and just took on their role. And Jahadge Floyd, he's awesome. He's a great football player who just loves the game." 

 FROM WILDCATS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/LINEBACKERS COACH RYAN FRANZINGER '02

 "The message through the week a little bit, but especially today, was with such a great challenge, you have to play really well. That challenge should propel you to a great performance.

 "We know St. Xavier has a heck of an offense, a lot of good players and a veteran quarterback. We had some big plays and we had some guys step in. Jett played the 'Hawk'/Safety position, Connor Cmiel's just a sophomore hanging in there with one of the best offenses in the state and Eichenberg just had a tremendous game, really an unbelievable game. It was a great challenge for our defense against this offense.

 "I'm proud of the guys for stepping up in some really big situations."