After nearly a month of watching film, studying the offense, and working on the practice, one quarterback has emerged as the starter at quarterback for the Wildcats.

Senior Patrick Delahunty will be the lead signalcaller for the 2018 season. 

Delahunty earned the role with his knowledge and execution of the Saint Ignatius offense, along with his confidence and arm. 

"He's shown the leadership and he has a good grasp of the offense being a four-year player in our system," Offensive Coordinator and QB Coach Nick Restifo said. "He has the advantage that way, as I would expect him to know the offense a little better."

However, junior Griffin Hanna will not have a passive role this season. The Saint Ignatius coaching staff plans on playing Hanna extensively this season, including on Saturday vs. Archbishop Hoban. 

"We plan on getting Griffin some work during the game," Restifo said. "I want to put him in for certain situations to have him get some experience, because that's what he needs."

Head Coach Chuck Kyle '69 concurs completely. 

"I agree 100 percent, he needs some experience," Kyle said. "He definitely has talent, we just need to get him into the right situation so he can gain confidence and get used to it."

Both Delahunty and Hanna have plenty of talent and will serve as solid quarterbacks for the Wildcats this season. Each brings a different brand of quarterbacking to the foray.

Delahunty brings more experience in the offense and thus comfort in the pocket. The senior is strong in the short and intermediate passing game, showcasing a definite ability to execute the team's effective run-pass options. 

Hanna brings athleticism and a big arm to the table. Hanna can uncork the long ball and also shows solid ability in the short and intermediate passing game. The junior has plenty of talent – it will be fun to watch him develop over the course of the season. 

"Pat, as a senior, has shown leadership and Griffin has great athletic ability," Restifo said. "We're looking for him to develop as the season goes on. We have two, talented, quality athletes at that position. They both bring different things to the table."

Last season, Delahunty called in plays from the sidelines, while Hanna started at quarterback for the JV Wildcats. 

"Griffin was injured his freshman year. Last year he got a good baptism as a JV quarterback and got a lot of snaps, but it's only one year in the offense," Restifo said. "There are some things where it takes a while to really feel comfortable with back there. A quarterback has to get a pre-snap read, know what he's going to do, where he's going to do, and read the coverage once it's snapped. It's a little different and the speed is a little faster than JV football. There's a learning curve and a speed difference between JV and varsity."

Also making the leap from JV to varsity this season is Patrick Keane. The proud West Parker will be the primary signaler from the sidelines, and will see time as the Wildcats' third-string quarterback. Keane, a great student and young man, also serves as a broadcaster on the SIBN for the Ice Cats. 

As a whole, the Wildcats' quarterbacks will call the typical Saint Ignatius offense. However, the coaching staff does throw in wrinkles every year. 

"If you go back to when we first started, the offense is always evolving. We build on what we've done well in the past and we add a few new wrinkles here and there, and we add to the offense in that fashion," said Restifo. "The thing you have to be aware of, in any offense, is you're not trying to do too much. You want to work to the strengths of what your players can do. If they're not option QB, you're not going to run the option. If they can't drop back, you have to move them around a bit. But we can do a bit of everything to accommodate the strengths and weaknesses of each guy.

"We're pretty much an inside zone, outside zone team," Restifo continued. "Our quarterback will run, as well. Obviously, we pass the ball pretty well. Our passing game is pretty sophisticated. The kids know when they can pass and when they can take off."

Delahunty will hope to lead the Wildcats to a win over Hoban on Saturday, with Hanna helping out, too.

The 2018 season preview, along with a preview of the Hoban contest, will be posted leading up to the game.