2018 Game Notes Week Three: Euclid

@SIHSSports sihsathletics sihssports 2018 GAME NOTES WEEK THREE: #RETURNTOGLORY EUCLID 1 THE MATCHUP Team Information Saint Ignatius High School: 0-2 OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Head Coach: Chuck Kyle ‘69 Record at School: 345-89-1 at Overall Record: 345-89-1 Euclid High School Panthers: 2-0 OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Saint Ignatius Euclid Head Coach: Jeff Rotsky Record at School: 28-10 WILDCATS PANTHERS Overall Record: 155-69 September 8, 2018 Media Information Euclid Community Stadium For information and credential Kickoff: 7 p.m. requests, contact: Joe Ginley ‘12 Saint Ignatius Schedule Communications Coordinator for Athletics Date Opponent Time/Score (P): 216-651-0222 x242 8/25 vs. Archbishop Hoban L, 14-21 email: [email protected] 9/1 vs. Mentor L, 7-28 For full coverage of the Wildcats, 9/7 @ Euclid 7:00 pm visit ignatiuswildcats.com. 9/14 @ COF Academy 7:00 pm 9/22 vs. Cincinnati Elder 3:00 pm Broadcast Information 9/29 vs. Clarkson Football North 7:00 pm 10/6 vs. West Toronto Prep 7:00 pm Saint Ignatius Broadcasting 10/13 vs. Archbishop Moeller 3:00 pm Network Play-by-Play: Zack Strom ’19 10/20 @ St. Xavier 2:00 pm Color Analyst: Jack O’Rourke ’20 10/26 vs. St. Edward 7:00 pm Moderator: Jeff McCormick ‘83 (P): 216-651-0222 x228 Follow the Wildcats on social media for full email: [email protected] coverage of every Saint Ignatius team. SAINT IGNASTIUS BROBNADCAST NETWORK @SIHSSports sihsathletics sihssports And also visit ... ignatiuswildcats.com 2 2018 SAINT IGNATIUS FOOTBALL GAME NOTES ABOUT THE WILDCATS ... Wildcats Storylines ... Previous Matchups ROUGH START: In the first three weeks of the season, the Wildcats play three of the best teams in Northeast Ohio. Mentor (Week 2), 11/10/17 W 45-22 N Reg. Semi Archbishop Hoban (Week 1) and Euclid (Week 3) are the top three 9/9/17 W 34-20 H teams in this week’s Cleveland.com Top 25. The Knights and Cardinals 11/6/99 W 28-14 N Reg. QTF 11/9/96 W 23-2 N Reg. Semi won the first two games, sending the Wildcats to their first 0-2 start 8/31/96 W 41-7 H since 1987. The Wildcats have not started out the season 0-3 since 9/1/95 W 27-0 A 1966, when the Cats finished at 5-4. 11/20/93 W 42-7 N Reg. Final 11/14/92 W 32-27 N Reg. Semi 8/31/90 W 19-7 A DELLY-HANNA SHOW: The Wildcats are currently employing a 11/11/89 W 31-30 N Reg. Final 2-quarterback system. Senior Patrick Delahunty serves as the starter, 9/2/89 W 55-26 H receiving most of the reps. Junior Griffin Hanna typically plays at least 11/12/88 W 17-0 N Reg. Semi one series per half to provide a spark, while gaining experience under 9/9/88 W 21-12 A 9/12/87 L 7-30 H center. The two have combined for 317 passing yards this season. GROUND GAME: The Wildcats will try to get the ground game going this week after tough sledding against Hoban and Mentor. Jahadge “Bo” Floyd and Jack Welcsh will anchor the attack. All three of the Wildcats’ touchdowns this season have come on the ground. The Wildcats have 29 rushing yards through two games. Series History BE LIKE EICH: The star of the Wildcats’ defense has been Tommy Eichenberg. The senior captain has topped the team in tackles in each Meetings ...........................................14 of the last two weeks, totaling a team-best 23 tackles and 2.5 tackles First Meeting ..........................9/12/1987 for loss. Eichenberg has also notched a sack and a forced fumble. In Most Recent Meeting..........11/10/2017 the last two weeks, Eichenberg has played outside linebacker, but look for the coaching staff to place him at middle backer, switching up his Saint Ignatius Wins...........................13 spot to prevent defenses from running plays away from him. Last Saint Ignatius Win....11/10/2017 Euclid Wins................................................1 SPEEDY TACKLERS: Four of the Wildcats’ five top tacklers are mem- Last Euclid Win......................9/12/1987 bers of the secondary. Jett Elad (11 tackles), Jack Welcsh (10.5), Mitch Puhalsky (10.5), and Danny Scelza (8) have been strong and sure Ties..............................................................0 tacklers for the Wildcats this season. Longest Winning Streaks In Series SACK ATTACK: Defensive end Zach McMahan has been a critical play- Saint Ignatius........13; 9/9/88-11/10/17 maker for the Wildcats this season. The senior has pressured oppos- Euclid..........................................1; 9/12/87 ing quarterbacks well, tabbing three sacks through two games. McMa- Current Streak..........Saint Ignatius, 13 han will be a key piece of the defensive line against Euclid. Largest Margin of Victory Saint Ignatius.......35 points; 11/20/93 BLOCKING KICKS: The Wildcats have done well on special teams this Euclid........................23 points; 9/12/87 season, as a whole. The unit has blocked two kicks – an Archbishop Hoban field goal and a Mentor punt. The blocked punt led to the Wildcats’ touchdown against the Cardinals last week. COMMITTED: During the offseason, several Wildcats committed to play football in college. Here is the list of commits: LS Sean Wracher – Indiana University OL Grant Abbott – Bowling Green State University DL/TE Aidan Wells – Harvard University LB Tommy Eichenberg – Boston College CAPTAINS: The four captains for the 2018 season are Tommy Eichenberg, Grant Abbott, Chris Velotta, Jr., and Nigel Drummond II. #RETURNTOGLORY 3 ABOUT EUCLID ... Learning about the Panthers ... 2018 Euclid Schedule EUCLID’S VALENTINE: Without a doubt, Euclid fans love 8/24 vs. Glenville W, 42-17 the Panthers’ new quarterback – Dion Valentine. The junior has excelled in his first two starts for the Panthers. Against Euclid Community Glenville, Valentine completed 9-of-13 passes for 179 yards Stadium and three touchdowns. Against Lorain, Valentine tabbed 274 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air along with a rush- 8/31 vs. Lorain W, 42-21 ing touchdown. Valentine’s confidence has grown measur- Euclid Stadium ably over the last two weeks, as the signalcaller has dem- onstrated strong throwing ability plus the skill to run and scramble outside of the pocket. 9/7 vs. Saint Ignatius 7 pm Euclid Stadium DOUBLE TROUBLE: The Euclid backfield has two dangerous running backs. Brandon Wright is the feature back, as the 9/14 vs. Medina 7 pm 6’2, 230-pound back can bully his way past opposing de- fenders and find daylight quickly. The Michigan State com- Euclid Stadium mit exited each of the first two games due to injury, but will likely play against the Wildcats. The Panthers have another 9/21 @Elyria 7 pm fearsome running back Jaabir Mujihad. The junior ran 17 Ely Stadium times for 147 yards and a touchdown vs. Lorain. Senior Job Rand also figures into the mix after adding 38 yards and the go-ahead touchdown on Friday. 9/28 vs. Strongsville 7 pm Euclid Stadium EXPERIENCE UP FRONT: The Euclid offensive line may be the strength of the offense. Valentine credited his line with 10/5 @Solon 7 pm helping the Panthers’ offense roar to 42 points against the Stewart Field Titans last week. Left tackle Darrius Johnson is the most veteran member of the offense, with 24 career starts. Center Ashawn Berry and right tackle Jalen Jackson each have 14 10/12 @Brunswick 7 pm starts, too (according to Euclid’s media guide). Euclid ran for Brunswick Auto- 218 yards last week. Mart Stadium LOADS OF WEAPONS: The Panthers have plenty of weapons on offense at wideout. Seniors Damien Brown, Dre’Von 10/19 vs. Mentor 7 pm Lindsay, and Patrick Hawthore have feasted on opposing Euclid Stadium secondaries this season, picking up yards in bunches. The Wildcats will have to play smart against this trio. 10/27 @Shaker Heights 1 pm Rupp Field FLY AT YOUR OWN RISK: The Euclid secondary have a num- ber of star players. One of the top playmakers is All-Ohio safety Job Rand. Seniors Titus Jackson, Damien Brown, and Deandre Williams are also players to watch for the Panthers. MOVE, GET OUT OF THE WAY: Playmakers dot the Euclid defensive line. In the first two games of the season, the Panthers’ defensive line has thrived. Tywann Johnson, Chris Parker, Reese Worship, and John Brown are some of the important members of the line, which helped to rack up nine sacks against Lorain. The Panthers will be attacking the Wildcats’ youthful offensive line, hoping to limit time in the pocket for the Saint Ignatius quarterbacks. 4 2018 SAINT IGNATIUS FOOTBALL GAME NOTES BY THE NUMBERS/ WILDCATS TO WATCH QB PATRICK DELAHUNTY ’19 79 The Wildcats’ starting Points scored against quarterback scored the Euclid last season lone touchdown last week. Delahunty has a solid arm and quick legs to escape pressure 65-22-1 or extend plays. Coach Chuck Kyle’s Delahunty will need record after a loss to have a strong week for the Wildcats. Look for the senior to use his arms and legs in an 12 effort to lift the Wild- Tackles for loss cats to a win this week notched by the against the Panthers. Wildcats’ defense S DANNY SCELZA ’19 6-6-1 The Wildcats’ safety Wildcats’ record in stepped in front of a games played in the Cardinals’ pass and helped to block a Men- city of Euclid tor punt last week. Scelza’s effort and hustle on every play 2 are a major asset to Blocked kicks by the the Wildcats’ defense.

Load more