Lakewood, Ohio - Coach Paul Yappel's Junior Varsity Football 'Cats, who finished their fall to recall with an 8-1 record and a seven-game winning streak, overcame St. Edward's early momentum and handed the JV Eagles their only setback in nine games this season.

 Saint Ignatius will now attempt to sweep the regular-season series versus their longtime rival when Hall of Fame Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 leads his 8-1 Varsity Wildcats against Coach Tom Lombardo's 9-0 Varsity Football Eagles tonight at 7 in legendary Lakewood Stadium. Saturday night's matchup will feature the state's and area's top-ranked programs, as St. Edward and Saint Ignatius are 1-2, respectively, in Cleveland.com's Top 25 seven-county area poll and the Associated Press' Division I State Poll.

 This old gridiron grinder wrote regular season when referring to the three levels of the Saint Ignatius-St. Edward football rivalry because, barring a major upset in the early rounds of the OHSAA playoffs, the Varsity Wildcats and the Varsity Eagles, as they did last season, will meet in a Regional Final matchup the third Friday in November.        

 The Wildcats' Freshmen Football Program got this year's rivalry series off to a good start by turning away the Eagles' ninth-graders, 10-7, at St. Edward's Brother James Everett Stadium on Thursday night (see the corner's story).

 "I think overall our JV guys really wanted it more tonight," said Saint Ignatius' outstanding Varsity and Junior Varsity Defensive Secondary Coach Kevin Johnson '10, who excelled in football and track for the Wildcats and Baldwin Wallace University, garnering All-American honors in track for Baldwin Wallace.

 "From what we started at the beginning of the season (on the JV level) to what we have now is a completely different defensive backs set," Coach Johnson continued. "I thought our guys did a real good job of playing their roles and doing what they're coached to do. Coach Franzinger (Wildcats savvy Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Ryan Franzinger '02) said our defense is like a puzzle. I took that to our JV guys and told them that if you don't do your job, a piece of that puzzle is missing."

 St. Edward's Jayvees, who had to overcome injuries at the quarterback position this season, utilized some strong special-teams play off the opening kickoff for a first down at the Saint Ignatius 49-yard line.

 Six plays later the Eagles scored off a fourth down-and-19 play from the Wildcats' 29, as talented sophomore wide receiver Mackenzie Wainwright came up with a touchdown reception in the left corner of the open end zone. After the extra-point, St. Edward led, 7-0, with 7 minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

 The Eagles were knocking on the door again after they came up with an interception return to the Saint Ignatius 21-yard line.

 However, Saint Ignatius' defense made its first big stand of the night by beating St. Edward's offensive line off the ball and stopping the Eagles for no gain on a fourth-and-1 from the 'Cats' 12-yard line.

 With St. Edward carrying that early 7-0 lead into the second quarter, Mother Nature greeted everyone with a persistent, but not heavy rain.

 The Wildcats seemed to be right at home under Mother Nature's showers as they put together a 65-yard drive that featured the outstanding athletic combination of sophomore quarterback Griffin Hanna and sophomore wide receiver Henry Cook.

 In what was a highlight-reel play, Hanna was flushed from the pocket, rolled out near the Wildcats' sideline under heavy pressure and fired a pass down field just before going out of bounds. Cook, who had a step on two defenders, went up and caught the ball for a first down at the Eagles' 22-yard line.

 From there it was a couple of strong runs by hard-nosed sophomore running back/linebacker Michael McNamara and a Hanna completion to sophomore tight end/linebacker Jake Lang that gave Coach Yappel's big-hearted sophomores a first-and-goal at the 5.

 On third-and goal at the 5, Hanna again rolled away from pressure and found Lang, who made a diving reception in the left corner of the end zone. Sophomore kicker Rory McConville sent his extra point through the rain drops and the score was knotted at 7 with 5:41 left in the first half.

 Entering the second half still tied at 7, Saint Ignatius' special teams came to the fore and gave Hanna and Co. a first down at the St. Edward 35-yard line. Two plays later, the Hanna to Cook combo clicked again, with Cook beating the Eagles' secondary for a first-and-goal at the 2.

 Hanna, off a ball fake that had St. Edward's defense on its heels, darted into the left corner of the concession stand end zone standing up and the Wildcats led, 13-7, with 9:23 remaining in the third quarter.

  Saint Ignatius was knocking on the end zone door again after a leaping interception by sophomore defensive back/safety Tyler Hampu at the Wildcats' 43-yard line. Tyler returned the ball to the St. Edward 22-yard line.

 The Eagles stopped the 'Cats short on a third-and-1 play and Saint Ignatius failed to execute a 35-yard field goal attempt with 7:53 to go in the third quarter.

 Forcing St.  Edward to punt from deep in its territory, the 'Cats took passion at the Eagles' 39. St. Edward's defense forced a punt, however, and the Eagles had the ball at their 27-yard line with 3:39 on the third-quarter clock.

 Another deep route reception by the Eagles' Wainwright put the ball on the Saint Ignatius 17-yard line. St. Edward moved to a first-and-goal at the 5, only to fumble the ball away at the Wildcats' 10-yard line.

 With just over eight minutes remaining to be played, sophomore defensive back Charles Kinzel, off an excellent read, came up with a leaping interception at the Saint Ignatius 16-yard line.

 The Wildcats' outstanding play caller, Coach Jim Cahill '89, then put the ball in the hands of gifted tailback James Crosby, who rambled 74 yards down the home sideline for a first-and-goal at the 10.

 Crosby's run, which was so quick even the raindrops couldn't keep up, led to a diving touchdown reception by sophomore wide receiver Erik Daugenti off the quick release of Hanna.

 St. Edward would close to 19-14 off another TD reception by Wainwright and the ensuing PAT. With 3:08 left to play, the Eagles had the ball on the Saint Ignatius 49-yard line.

  Any hope of a comeback by the home rooting interest faded in a hurry, however, as a pass break up by Hampu, a bad snap from center that sailed past the quarterback and deep into St. Edward territory, and another leaping interception by Kinzel put the seal of approval on the JV 'Cats' season-ending seventh consecutive victory.

 FROM CHARLES KINZEL: "They kept going to #8 all night (Wainwright), so I figured I would just play deep, snap off of him and I came up with it. The second one (Kinzel's second pick), they ran a post and I was just there.

 "We're a resilient group," Charley continued. "There was no quit in us all game. I knew we would do it. This means a lot, but we're going to get right back in the weight room and get ready for the off season."

 FROM ERIK DAUGENTI: "It felt amazing, I was beating him off the slant all night," said Erik of his TD reception that turned out to be the difference on the scoreboard. "I dropped a couple, and I knew I had to get one back. It was a great throw by Griff (Griffin Hanna) and the line did spectacular blocking. It's all on Griff.

 "After the Mentor game (the JV 'Cats' only setback in Week 2 at home), we just came together and it grew," added the young man who is part of a Daugenti football tradition at Saint Ignatius.

 In some closing comments, this corner would like to point out that the JV 'Cats kept right on winning the past few weeks despite playing without three of their key players - defensive back/kick returner Connor Cmiel, tight end Sam Daugstrup and running back/linebacker Jack Welcsh, who are currently playing key roles as sophomores for the Varsity.

 It was great to see several of the Varsity players on hand supporting the Jayvees despite Friday night's weather.

 And, on a personal note, this old timer can't thank Coach Yappel, his staff and the JV 'Cats enough for taking me along on your great 2017 ride. Hope to see you around the halls of Saint Ignatius this winter and, God be willing, back on Wasmer Field next summer.

 See you at Lakewood Stadium in a few hours.