Ohio City - For the 105th time, young men from Saint Ignatius High School gathered at the corner of West 30th and Lorain to prepare for a football season, with high hopes of glory.
Thirty-five years ago, a young Chuck Kyle ‘69 arrived for his first season as head coach of the Wildcats. Today, the 11-time champion head coach prepares to lead his men yet again, hoping to guide the Wildcats to the program’s 12th state championship.
The Wildcats celebrate a number of anniversaries this season – 80 years since the Alma Mater was written, 50 years since Kyle’s 1968 team won the City Championship, 30 years since the first state title team in 1988 – but Kyle has his team focused on the present.
The Wildcats have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, including a number of players who will play both ways. Working hard in the offseason with Strength & Conditioning Coach Anthony Rubino, the Wildcats have been preparing for 2018 since falling to Mentor in last year’s Regional Final, 23-21.
This year, the Wildcats have a tough schedule but are prepared for the challenge. Here is a position-by-position preview of the Wildcats.
Quarterbacks
Heading into summer camp, the Wildcats did not have a starter at quarterback. Last season’s starters graduated, leaving the team with no signalcallers with any on-field varsity experience.
Senior Patrick Delahunty and junior Griffin Hanna entered as the top two contenders. Following some great competition, Delahunty won the job this week. However, Hanna won't be idle on the sidelines – the junior will get significant playing time to gain experience.
As Nick Restifo, the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator and QB coach, explained, Delahunty and Hanna each have distinct skills and abilities.
“Pat Delahunty, as a senior, has shown leadership and Griffin has great athletic ability,” Restifo said. “We have two talented, quality athletes at that position. As a senior, Patrick has been in the program for four years, so I would expect him to know the offense a little better, seeing as 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. But there are some things where it takes a while to really feel comfortable back there.”
The offense, as a whole, will look like a traditional Wildcats attack. Fans will see the patented zone run, run-pass options, and a refined passing game.
“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. But we’re pretty much an inside zone, outside zone team. 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 run and when they can take off.”
Running Backs
The Wildcats have a plethora of talent returning at running back this season. It might be the offense’s top unit entering the season.
Senior Jahadge “Bo” Floyd will be the bellcow for the Wildcats this year. As a junior, Floyd rushed for 1,078 yards and 8 touchdowns, showing off his skill in finding and making holes to run through. Floyd has bulked up in the offseason and is ready for another strong season.
“We have a lot of fun with Bo, because he’s very laid back,” said Terry Fergus ’72, the Wildcats’ running backs coach. “But you give him the football, and he’s not laid back. He has the right attitude.
“His feel for where the hole is going to be is uncanny. You rarely see that. It’s not brute force, it’s not just, ‘I’m the fastest guy on the field and hopefully, I’ll break one.’ He can make his own holes.”
The Wildcats have plenty of talent behind Floyd, too. Jack Welcsh saw playing time as a sophomore following Mark Bobinski’s injury. Welcsh tallied 214 yards and 4 touchdowns in 7 games. The rising junior can bruise opponents and hit a hole quickly.
Fellow junior Michael McNamara will also see playing time. Also a star baseball player, McNamara is a bowling ball of a running back. He broke out for 60 yards and a touchdown on five attempts vs. Euclid in last year’s Regional Semifinal. McNamara is a special athlete.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Last season, Sammy Snyder dominated the catches, nearly eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark. This year, the Wildcats hope to spread the ball more, with a number of targets at wideout and tight end.
The top returning wideout is Nigel Drummond II. The senior has gamebreaking speed and great hands, with the ability to change a game. He’ll also play some at cornerback. Speedster Jack Kennedy returns for his senior year after missing much of last season. Connor Cmiel will see lots of snaps at wideout, using his speed and 6’2” frame to beat opposing defensive backs.
Other names to watch include Luke Cooper, Zach LaPorte, Ethan Biacsi, and Nate Conry.
The Wildcats have talent at tight end, including returning senior John Cannon. Primarily a blocker last season, Cannon will look to haul in more passes in 2018. Senior Aidan Wells, though primarily a defensive end, will see snaps at tight end this year. Another Wildcat to watch is Jake Lang. The incoming junior is a strong, smart athlete.
Offensive Line
One of the Wildcats’ strengths last season was the offensive line. This season, the Wildcats will have to rebuild, as all five starters from last year graduated.
But the Wildcats do have players who saw action last year, namely Grant Abbott and Xavier Everett. Abbott figures in as a likely center, though the Bowling Green commit can play any position. Everett will also serve as a key leader.
Owen Murphy, Owen Keane, Tony Georges, and Nick Schwitzgebel have all impressed in camp, and Seamus McCarthy and Seamus Cooney will also figure into the action.
“Overall, the work ethic is stong with this group. This goes back to the culture aspect. If they weren’t working hard, they wouldn’t be at the position,” said Offensive Line Coach Paul Yappel. “Collectively, if there’s one thing I would emphasize, it’s the five guys playing as one. We have to be a strong group.”
As of now, Everett will start at left tackle, Georges will be at left guard, Abbott will anchor the line at center, Keane will start at right guard, Schwitzgebel will be at right tackle, and Murphy will cylce in.
Defensive Line
Two leaders stand out on the defensive line for the Wildcats this season – Aidan Wells and Zach McMahan.
Wells, a Harvard commit, and McMahan combined for 30.5 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks last year, and bring senior leadership to the group.
If you are a fan of HBO’s Hard Knocks, which this year is following the Cleveland Browns throughout training camp, you are familiar with linebacker Christian Kirksey’s question to his teammates: “What is your why?” That is, why do you play football?
McMahan’s “why” is “to continue the lineage of Saint Ignatius and all those who support the school.” Wells’ “why” is “definitely playing for the guys that have come before us. I can vividly remember seeing disappointment on the faces of the 2016 team in the locker room following our loss in the state title game. It’s something I never want to experience again. Likewise, the D-line was particularly close with the seniors on the 2017 team, and all of us are playing for them. We want to make them proud.”
Other playmakers to watch at the position this season include Anthony Gerace, Max Watters, Rico Levert, and Seamus Cooney. This group will likely cycle in at defensive tackle and as subs for McMahan and Wells.
Linebackers
One of the Wildcats’ top players this season will anchor the team’s Linebacker Legion – Tommy Eichenberg.
The Boston College commit starred on last year’s defense, notching a team-best 81 tackles. Eichenberg also poured in 19 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 9 quarterback hits, and 2 interceptions.
The other two linebacker spots have been claimed by Kyle Sullivan and Cade Campolieti. Several others will rotate in, however.
“Typically in the past, if guys have been good enough to play, they’ll play. Not everyone can start, but if you’re good enough to play, you will play some, it helps to keep people fresh and get players experience," Ryan Franzinger ’02, the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator and LB coach, said.
Beyond the starting three, juniors Connor Francz, Jake Lang, and Michael McNamara will be Wildcats to watch. Sophomores Aidan Conway and Aidan Hubbard also might see time on the field this season.
In determining playing time, Franzinger uses two pieces of criteria.
“Each player needs to demonstrate that you know what to do, then you can execute it well,” Franzinger said. “You always have some guys who know the whole playbook but don’t execute well, and then you have other guys who are tremendous athletes but don’t follow the playbook well. It’s the coach’s job to figure out who puts the team in the best position.”
Defensive Backs
One of the Wildcats’ deepest positions this year is defensive back. Jett Elad and Connor Cmiel each return, as the two started as shutdown corners last year, and will continue to see time there this season. Safeties Danny Scelza and Chris Velotta, Jr. are back, ready to serve as smart, playmaking security blankets.
Jack Welcsh and Nigel Drummond II plan to play both ways this year, as Welcsh will see time at safety and Drummond will be called upon at corner. Speedster Jack Kennedy will figure into the action, as well.
Mitch Puhalsky and Merick Hartley have been the unsung heroes of the camp, providing two great options at free safety for the Wildcats. In the Wildcats' offense, the free safety will act as the field general, making the position very important.
Special Teams
Kicker/punter Matt Trickett has graduated, but the Wildcats have talent ready to go.
Unlike last season, two players will share the kicking duties.
Senior Pat Otter will be the punter, kickoff specialist, and handle longer field goals. Junior Rory McConville will be tasked with extra points and short field goals. Sophomore Declan Mangan will also figure into the mix with his strong leg.
Sean Wracher will handle long snapping duties with skill again this year, after committing to Indiana during the summer. Wracher's snaps are reliable and always on target.
Holding duties will fall to either Henry Cook or Connor Cmiel this year.
As for the returnmen, several players will split the responsibilities. Drummond, Cmiel, and LaPorte, among others, will figure in as punt and kick returners for the Wildcats this year.
The season begins for the Wildcats on Saturday, so look for a game preview on Friday morning. In the meantime, fans can purchase tickets online for the big game.