Week 12: Euclid

2017 GAME NOTES REGIONAL SEMIFINALS: EUCLID THE MATCHUP Team Information Saint Ignatius High School: 10-1 OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Head Coach: Chuck Kyle ‘69 Record at School: 344-86-1 Overall Record: 344-86-1 vs Euclid High School: 9-2 OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Euclid Saint Ignatius Head Coach: Jeff Rotsky Record at School: 24-7 PANTHERS WILDCATS Overall Record: 147-66 November 10, 2017 Media Information Bedford Bearcat Stadium For information and credential Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. requests, contact: Joe Ginley ‘12 Saint Ignatius Schedule Communications Coordinator for Athletics Date Opponent Time/Score (P): 216-651-0222 x242 8/24 @ Archbishop Hoban W, 17-3 email: [email protected] 9/1 @ Mentor W, 41-31 For full coverage of the Wildcats, 9/9 vs. Euclid W, 34-20 visit ignatiuswildcats.com. 9/15 vs. Detroit Catholic Central W, 38-7 Broadcast Information 9/23 @ Cincinnati Elder W, 30-28 9/30 vs. Clarkson Football North W, 38-7 Saint Ignatius Broadcasting 10/7 vs. Canton GlenOak W, 34-20 Network 10/13 vs. Archbishop Moeller (at Otterbein) L, 41-20 Play-by-Play: Matt MacKenzie ‘18 10/21 vs. St. Xavier W, 28-14 Color Analyst: Zack Strom ‘19 10/28 @ St. Edward W, 17-10 Moderator: Jeff McCormick ‘83 11/3 vs. Massillon Perry W, 24-7 (P): 216-651-0222 x228 email: [email protected] 11/10 vs. Euclid 7:30 p.m. Follow the Wildcats on social media for full coverage of every Saint Ignatius team. S BN @SIHSSports sihsathletics sihssports 2 2017 SAINT IGNATIUS GAME NOTES ABOUT THE WILDCATS ... Series History Wildcats Storylines ... Meetings ............................................13 PLAYOFF EXCELLENCE: The Saint Ignatius football team has a long First Meeting ......................9/12/1987 history of playoff success under Head Coach Chuck Kyle ‘69. The Most Recent Meeting..........9/9/2017 Wildcats are making their 28th appearance in the OHSAA Division I Playoffs, including their second in a row and six in seven seasons. Un- Saint Ignatius Wins...........................12 der Kyle, the Wildcats have a 71-16 overall record vs. playoff foes. Last Saint Ignatius Win......9/9/2017 Euclid Wins...........................................1 WE’RE GOING STREAKING: Following a tough loss to Archbishop Last Euclid Win...................9/12/1987 Moeller, the Wildcats have been on a hot streak. The Cats handed St. Ties........................................................0 Xavier and St. Edward their only losses of the season before defeat- ing Massillon Perry. The Wildcats have now defeated five of the nine Longest Winning Streaks In Series other Top 10 teams in Cleveland.com’s local poll. The Wildcats were Saint Ignatius........12; 9/9/88-9/9/17 named the 2017 Division I AP Poll Champions after Week 10. Euclid.................................1; 9/12/1987 Current Streak........Saint Ignatius, 12 MORE COWBELL: The Wildcats have established an identity down the stretch this season – a strong defense, a grind-it-out running Largest Margin of Victory game, and an opportunistic passing offense. Jahadge “Bo” Floyd Saint Ignatius..............35; 11/20/1993 has made the offensive success possible, assuming the role of the Euclid.................23 points; 9/12/1987 “bellcow” on offense. Floyd has anchored the offense with his tough running style that earns him extra yards on the inside with his power and on the edges with his speed. Floyd leads the team with 866 rush- Previous Matchups ing yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Also, look out for fellow back Jack Welcsh (55 yards, 1 TD) and quarterback Dan Alexander (237 9/9/17 W 34-20 H yards, 7 TD) in the ground game. 11/5/99 W 28-14 N Reg. QTF 11/9/96 W 23-2 N Reg. SF MILESTONE WATCH: The Wildcats’ playmakers could hit some more 8/31/96 W 41-7 H 9/1/95 W 27-0 A milestones on Friday after Alexander surpassed 1,000 passing yards 11/20/93 W 42-7 N Reg. Final for the season in Friday’s win over Perry. Running back Bo Floyd is 11/14/92 W 32-26 N Reg. SF 134 yards away from 1,000 rushing yards on the season. Wideout 8/31/90 W 19-7 A Sammy Snyder needs 103 yards to hit 1,000 receiving yards on the 11/11/89 W 31-30 N Reg. Final 9/2/89 W 55-26 H season, a feat just four Saint Ignatius receivers have achieved. Sny- 11/12/88 W 17-0 N Reg. SF der currently stands at 8th on the leaderboard for receiving yards in 9/9/88 W 21-12 A a season. Kicker Matthew Trickett’s next made field goal will tie him 9/12/87 L 7-30 H with Jesse Milligan (15, 1997) for second-most field goals in a season. Tim Shenk leads the way with 20 in 2011. On defense, Logan Joyce is one tackle for loss away from 25 on the year. BE LIKE EICH: Few defenders inspire fear in ballcarriers like Tommy Eichenberg. The junior linebacker leads the team with 64 tackles and 6 sacks. He also has 15.5 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hits. Look for Eichenberg to play a key role in limiting Ronald Lee. Also look out for senior ‘backers Logan Joyce, Andrew Keirn, and Tommy Grosel. NO FLY ZONE: The Wildcats’ secondary has seen plenty of changes this season, accomodating for injuries, different styles of offenses, and new schemes. Against all types of foes, corner Cam Toppin has led the way with 39 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 8 pass breakups. Matthew Viancourt and Justin Sands have been clutch at safety, while Jett Elad has played well at both corner and free safety. Connor Cmiel, John Wetula, and Daniel Scelza have all helped to limit oppo- nents to 154.6 passing yards per game and 13 TD through 11 games. 2017 SAINT IGNATIUS GAME NOTES #58MILESTOCANTON 3 ABOUT EUCLID ... Learning about the Panthers ... Euclid Schedule A TEST FOR THE PROGRAM: Head Coach Jeff Rotsky and the Date Opponent Time/Score Panthers see Friday’s game as a large test for the school’s growing football program. As Rotsky told reporters last week, “You’re not a great program until you beat the Saints.” The Panthers will try to 8/25 @ Glenville W, 39-21 do just that, as Euclid looks to avenge a 34-20 loss to Saint Robert Bump Taylor Stadium Ignatius in Week 3. 9/1 @ Aurora W, 27-21 FAMILIAR FOES: Saint Ignatius and Euclid have met a number Veterans Stadium of times in the playoffs. The two teams have met six times in the playoffs, with the Wildcats winning all six contests. Most of the matchups have been fierce. The 1989 Regional Final pitted Robert 9/9 @ Saint Ignatius L, 34-20 Smith and Euclid against Joe Pickens and the Wildcats. The Cats Byers Field escaped with a 31-30 victory in one of the most memorable high school playoff games in Northeast Ohio history. The last playoff 9/15 @ Medina W, 34-7 encounter between the two teams occurred in 1999, with Saint Ignatius winning, 28-14. Ken Dukes Stadium THE NEXT ROBERT SMITH: Last Friday, one of the most 9/22 vs. Elyria W, 54-28 venerated records in Euclid football fell. Ronald Lee replaced Rob- Sparky DiBiasio Stadium ert Smith as the single-season rushing leader, notching 221 yards and 3 touchdowns against Massillon Jackson to propel himself above Smith’s previous mark of 2,042 yards in 1989. Smith now 9/29 @ Strongsville W, 38-30 has an incredible 2,202 rushing yards this season. Lee notched 103 Pat Catan Stadium yards on 19 carries in the Week 3 against the Wildcats. Lee also might get some catches out of the backfield from talented 10/6 vs. Solon W, 33-28 quarterback Aubrey Shabazz. Sparky DiBiasio Stadium REGULAR SEASON RECAP: The Wildcats and Panthers have already met this season, facing off in Week 3. (For a full box score 10/13 vs. Brunswick W, 78-54 and recap, see p. 13). Euclid began with an early mistake, as Jett Sparky DiBiasio Stadium Elad took a pick-six to the end zone for the early lead. Euclid man- aged two first-half touchdowns, but the Panthers slowed down in 10/20 @ Mentor L, 61-59 the second half. The Wildcats notched 114 rushing yards on offense, while holding Euclid to 38 rushing yards in the second half. Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium Euclid’s key to victory on Friday is a full 48 minutes of football. 10/27 vs. Shaker Hts W, 26-12 SPEED IN THE SECONDARY: Jeff Rotsky’s defense is known for Sparky DiBiasio Stadium its speed. The Panthers have a host of athletes in the secondary, foremost among them Arquon Bush. The University of Cincinnati recruit will figure highly into limiting Dan Alexander and the Wild- 11/3 vs. Jackson W, 49-29 cats’ passing game. Rotsky and his secondary will utilize plenty of New Euclid Stadium man coverage, looking to limit the Wildcats’ shifty receivers, but will switch it up with zone coverage, too. 11/10 vs. Saint Ignatius 7:30 pm Bedford Bearcat Stadium STRONG UP FRONT: The Euclid defense has a strong and attack- ing front can surprise you. The Panthers typically utilize a six-man front, or a version of the 4-2-5 defense, occasion- ally rotating between three and four down linemen. Euclid aver- ages 29.5 points allowed on defense, but if its linemen can limit Bo Floyd on the ground, the Panthers will be in business.

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