Ohio City - Coach Kyle, who will take a 35-season career record of 344-86-1 into Friday's 7:30 pm OHSAA Region 1 Semifinal Playoff Game versus the Euclid Panthers at Bedford's Bearcat Stadium, garnered this season's big-school District Coaching Honor after leading his Wildcats to their 28th playoff appearance, the top ranking in the seven-county area by Cleveland.com, the No. 1-ranking in the Associated Press Division I State Poll and a fourth-place ranking in the Midwest by USA Today.
The panel of sports writers who put together this season's All-Northeast Lakes District Team and selected Coach Kyle were particularly impressed with Saint Ignatius' back-to-back regular season triumphs over Cincinnati St. Xavier and St. Edward, who were both undefeated and ranked No. 1 in Ohio at the time they faced Wildcats - Week 9 for St. Xavier and Week 10 for St. Edward.
Coach Kyle's 'Cats are looking to add to their record 11 Division I State Championships, including five in a row from 1991 to 1995. Saint Ignatius, a three-time national champion (1989, 1993 and 1995), a national runner-up in 2008 and a state runner-up both last season and in 1996, will take a 10-1 record into Friday's matchup with 9-2 Euclid.
Garnering first-team All-Northeast Lakes District honors for the Wildcats on offense were senior linemen Jack Jamieson (a repeat All-District selection) and Darian Kinnard (a Kentucky recruit), senior wide receiver Sammy Snyder (52 receptions for 897 yards and 10 TDs) and senor kicker/punter Matthew Trickett (a school-record 59-yard field goal and a 55-yard field goal that tied the school record).
First-team honors on defense went to senior linebacker Logan Joyce (57.5 tackles, 38 unassisted, 24 tackles for -minus yardage, 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a forced fumble) and senior cornerback Cam Toppin (6 interceptions, 44 tackles, including 33 unassisted, 8 pass breakups and a blocked kick).
Saint Ignatius' second-team honors were earned by relentless junior linebacker Tommy Eichenberg, who, when you take everything into account (especially the level of competition Tommy faced), should have been a first-team selection.
Tommy will enter the Region 1 matchup with Euclid with 64 tackles, 38 unassisted and 15.5 for -minus 72 yards, 1 forced fumble, 6 sacks for -minus 39 yards, an interception, 6 quarterback hurries and 4 pass breakups.
If I may after following area High School Football since the late 1950s, the top three linebackers this old gridiron grinder and seasoned reporter saw this fall were the endless pursuers from the edge, Eichenberg and Joyce, and St. Edward's Omar Fattah.
Receiving Honorable Mention All-District from Saint Ignatius were junior running back Jahadge "Bo" Floyd, senior nose tackle/fullback Aidan Gill, senior center Jivan Meguerditchian, senior safety Justin Sands and junior safety Daniel Scelza.
Here is the 2017 All-Northeast Lakes Division I Team, as selected by the panel off nominations from the District's coaches.
DIVISION I
First-team offense
Quarterback: Tadas Tatarunas, Mentor, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Sr.; Running backs: Ronald Lee, Euclid, 5-7, 170, Sr., Daylin Dower, Lorain, 5-11, 180, So.; Receivers: Micah Hills, Shaker Heights, 6-0, 175, Sr., Sam Snyder, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 5-9, 155, Sr., Logan Shea, Mentor, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Line: Darian Kinnard, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-7, 330, Sr.; Jack Jamieson, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-2, 280, Sr.; Joseph Iemma, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 275, Sr., Rashaun Rogers, Lorain, 6-2, 230, Sr.; Ryan Jacoby, Mentor, 6-5, 260, Jr.; Ashawn Berry, Euclid, 6-2, 245, Jr. Athlete: Jamir Dismukes, Shaker Heights, 6-0, 175, Sr., Justin Sturgill, Lorain, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Kicker: Matthew Trickett, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-0, 185, Sr.
First-team defense
Line: Tyreke Smith, Cleveland Heights, 6-4, 235, Sr.; Noah Potter, Mentor, 6-6, 240, Jr.; Antonio Wyatt, Lorain, 6-4, 295, Sr., Nate Leskovec, Solon, 6-3, 230, Jr; Linebackers: Qwanda Woodson, Elyria, 6-0, 235, Sr.; Omar Fattah, St. Edward, Sr., 5-11, 225, Sr.; Sean Jackson, Jr., Euclid, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Logan Joyce, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Tommy Zacharyasz, Strongsville, 6-0, 205, Sr.; Backs: Dakota Mincy, Lorain, 5-8, 169, Sr.; Cameron Toppin, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Michael Dowell, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Job Rand, Euclid, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Athlete: Tyshawn Lighty, Lorain, 5-10, 170, So.; Punter: Derek Kleinhenz, Mentor, 6-3, 180, Sr.
Offensive player of the year: Ronald Lee, Euclid
Defensive player of the year: Tyreke Smith, Cleveland Heights
Coach of the year: Chuck Kyle, Cleveland St. Ignatius
Second-team offense
Quarterback: Trevor Bycznski, Berea-Midpark, 6-5, 225, Jr.; Running backs: Chris Edmond, Mentor, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Thomas Wilks, Solon, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Receivers: Dre’Von Lindsay, Euclid, 6-1, 173, Jr.; Deviian Williams, Elyria, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Luke Floriea, Mentor, 5-8, 165, Soph.; Quintel Kent, Lakewood St. Edward; Luis Vega, Berea-Midpark, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Line: Gabriel Larsosa, Lorain, 6-4, 280, Sr.; Tyler Schonauer, Mentor, 6-0, 265, Sr.; Tyler Churney, Mentor, 6-3, 250, Sr.; Matthew McCausland, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-2, 285, Sr.; Darrius Johnson, Euclid, 6-4, 315, Jr.; Athlete: Dontae Beckett, Elyria, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Kicker: Conor McIntosh, Mentor, 6-3, 165, Jr.
Second-team defense
Line: Johnanthony Lowery, Elyria, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Larenz Wright, Euclid, 5-10, 250, Sr.; Collin Haas, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Dontae Cilenti, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-1, 280, Sr.; Linebackers: Cairo Smith, Lorain, 5-10, 220, Jr.; Mike Brey, Mentor, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Kelvin Torres, Lorain, 5-10, 225, Jr.; Thomas Eichenberg, Cleveland St. Ignatius, 6-3, 216, Jr.; Backs: Jayvon Benton, Cleveland Rhodes, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Arquon Bush, Euclid, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Darnell Shields, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-0, 158, Sr.; John Spragg, Strongsville, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Athlete: Tristan Arno, Elyria, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Punter: Mason Lawler, Lakewood St. Edward, 6-3, 195, Sr.
Honorable mention
Elyria: Luke Palos, Dayonte Horton; Lorain: Davion Dower, Zion Cross, David Larson; Berea-Midpark: Jared Bycznski, Dwayne Holland, Garrett Waite; Cleveland Heights: Grayson Green, Shamar Rhodes, Zaire Webb; Cleveland Rhodes: Jordan Bost-Floyd, Jevonte Croskey, Paul Farmer, Kordell Kennedy, Richard Monday, Tekeli Tables; Cleveland St. Ignatius: Jahadge Floyd, Aidan Gill, Jivan Meguerditchian, Justin Sands, Daniel Scelza; Euclid: Cee Jay Hale, Jaylen Jackson, Ryan Johnson, Titus Jackson; Lakewood St. Edward: Damerisse Freeman, Caden Kolesar, Devin Maddox, Richard White; Mentor: Will LaGanke, Sam Kirschner, Jackson Paglio, Brady Benz; Shaker Heights: Sam Meinhard, Nasir Rashid;Solon: Sam Bubonics, J.T. Caver, Da’Veon Parker; Strongsville: Joe Gillette, Ryan Keating, Jony Major, Peter Schumacher.