Lakewood, Ohio - As Saint Ignatius' Head Freshmen Football Coach Rodney Gallaway was addressing his team just moments after the young Wildcats defeated longtime rival St. Edward, 10-7, on the turf in the Eagles' Brother James Everett Stadium, he emotionally and right on the money applauded the physical and mental toughness of Saint Ignatius' oh so promising 2017 ninth graders.

 A team that was 2-3 at the midpoint of the season after losing to three very strong programs - Archbishop Hoban, Mentor and Glenville -  the Freshmen 'Cats and their outstanding Coaching Staff heard their doubters.

 What they never did, however, was doubt themselves.

 In what was an exceptional job by the men who give so many days and nights  to the coaching profession they love, a group of Freshmen athletes, who before their careers at Saint Ignatius are over will have plenty of successful nights like the one they experienced on Thursday night, closed their memorable 7-3 season with their fifth consecutive victory.

 "You know what the tweets are going to read now? 10-7!" yelled Wildcats' devoted Freshmen Offensive Line Coach Matthew Mooney '85, a man who is not only an exceptional coach when it comes to developing young players, but also wears his heart on his sleeve while doing it.

Coach Mooney was referring to those who went on Social Media and predicted a long season for the Freshmen 'Cats after Coach Gallaway's ninth graders lost their season opener at home to a talent-laden Archbishop Hoban Freshmen team. Of course those same Tweeters said the Freshmen 'Cats didn't have a prayer on Detroit Road in Lakewood Thursday night.

Don't they understand? Saint Ignatius will always have a prayer, or two or three or -----.

When the Wildcats' faithful look back on the 2017 Freshmen Football Wildcats, words like resiliency, grit and big-hearted talent will come to mind.

All of the above came to the fore on what was a perfect late October night, as Saint Ignatius and the gifted Freshmen Eagles from St. Edward went toe-to-toe.

 With both defenses imposing their will in the early going, the first quarter was scoreless.

 The Wildcats' defense, under the direction of Coordinator Pat Hopkins '14, came up with a fumble recovery by ever-present lineman/linebacker Luca LaSpina at the Saint Ignatius 48-yard line late in the first half. Unfortunately, the 'Cats ' Aidan Hubbard, who was dominating the game from his linebacker position, was injured on the play.     

 As they did throughout the entire second half of the season, quarterback JP Tijanich and his receivers rose to the occasion on the opportunity they were given.

 First it was a pass in the flat to Alec LaSpina, Luca's brother, then came a long gainer off a perfectly thrown ball down the home sideline from Tijanich to two-way mainstay Emmett Hanna, who made an in-stride, sure-handed catch at the St. Edward 10-yard line.

 On the next play, Tijanich rolled left and found Alec LaSpina in the back of the end zone, a play that drew that familiar grin from former Wildcat gridiron great and Freshmen Offensive Coordinator Mark Ruddy '90. Declan Mangan's extra-point kick kissed the sky as it soared over the crossbar, and Coach Gallaway's 'Cats were up 7-0 with 1 minute and 17 seconds remaining in the first half.

 St. Edward was threatening in the final minute of the first half, but a key tackle for a loss in space by linebacker Killian Schill and tight coverage in the secondary by Hanna allowed Saint Ignatius to take its 7-0 lead into the halftime break.

 The Eagles got their running game in gear on the first possession of the second half and tied the score with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate up nearly five minutes of the third quarter.

  After a 35-yard field goal attempt by St. Edward sailed short and wide with 1:52 remaining to be played, Alec LaSpina came up with another deep route down the home sideline that saw him outfight the defender for the ball and tight end Nicholas Lamirand made a smooth reception on the run in the left flat that featured significant yards after the catch.

 Those efforts set up a 35-yard winning field goal by Mangan that was high and true as the clocked started to click off the final 10 seconds. Luca LaSpina then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and the "We never doubted for a moment" Freshmen 'Cats celebrated what was a perfect final chapter to their storied finish.

 As is his nature, Tijanich pointed to his receivers and the O-Line, and Mangan shared with this corner that his friends asked him at school on Thursday what it would be like if he kicked the winning field goal at St. Edward.

 Well, now Declan can tell them all about a game-winning effort that covered the 35 yards with plenty to spare.

We will see you at Brother James Everett Stadium on Friday evening at 6 as the 7-1, six-game winning streak Junior Varsity Wildcats take on the 8-0 JV Eagles and at my old home away from home, legendary Lakewood Stadium, on Saturday night for the highly anticipated Varsity matchup between 9-0 St. Edward and 8-1 Saint Ignatius. The kickoff from the "Madhouse on Madison" will be 7 pm. See this corner's preview on what will be the 56th Varsity meeting on the gridiron between the 'Cats and the Eagles that was posted on Wednesdaymorning.