@SIHSSports sihsathletics sihssports 2020 GAME NOTES REGIONAL SEMIFINAL: MEDINA IGNATIUSWILDCATS.COM 1 THE MATCHUP Team Information Saint Ignatius High School: 3-3 OHSAA Division I, Region 1 Head Coach: Chuck Kyle ’69 at Record at School: 361-98-1 Overall Record: 361-98-1 Medina Medina Bees: 5-3 Saint Ignatius OHSAA Division I, Region 1 BATTLING Head Coach: Larry Laird WILDCATS Record at School: 30-21 BEES Overall Record: 51-41 October 23, 2020 Byers Field Media Information Kickoff: 7 pm For information and credential Saint Ignatius Schedule requests, contact: Joe Ginley ‘12 Date Opponent Time/Score Communications Coordinator 9/12 vs. Bishop Sycamore W, 33-6 for Athletics 9/19 vs. St. Edward L, 0-17 (P): 216-651-0222 x242 9/25 @ Massillon Washington L, 14-21 email: [email protected] 10/3 @ St. Xavier L, 37-62 For full coverage of the Wildcats, 10/9 vs. Solon W, 42-14 visit ignatiuswildcats.com. 10/16 @ Euclid W, 30-20 10/23 vs. Medina 7:00 pm Broadcast Information MEDIA POLICIES Saint Ignatius Broadcasting Network • The press box and loges are for media, school Play-by-Play: Owen Gerba ’21 administrators, and coaches only. Color Analyst: Bobby Gerome ’21 Spectators will not be allowed to enter or use the Analyst/Show Host: Danny Gibel ’22 press box or loges. Moderator: Joe Ginley ’12 / Jeff McCormick ’83 • No sideline passes will be administered. The sidelines (P): 216-651-0222 will be for athletes, coaches, and trainers only. email: [email protected] • Media from credentialed outlets will be allowed to [email protected] cover the game, standing in the end zones in a physically distanced manner. Media is not allowed on the sidelines. • Media wishing to conduct postgame interviews must consult a member of the school’s Athletic Department or Communications Department before doing so. S BN 2 2020 SAINT IGNATIUS FOOTBALL GAME NOTES THE MATCHUP ABOUT THE WILDCATS ... A Look Back ... Wildcats Storylines ... Nov. 20, 1999 WHO ARE THESE GUYS: The Wildcats and Bees have never before met on the gridiron. The two schools have become rivals on the soccer pitch, how- As you look at the 2020 Wild- ever, meeting in the State Semifinal in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. cats, some similarities emerge to the 1999 Saint Ignatius football LUCKY #30 and #360: The Wildcats are making playoff appearance #30 in team. Entering the 1999 cam- the program’s prolific history. Chuck Kyle ’69 has coached the Wildcats in paign, the Wildcats had plenty of all 30 postseason apperances. Kyle has a 74-18 all-time record in the play- starting roles to fill after a 10-3 offs, winning 11 state championships and 4 national championships during season in 1998. In fact, the Wild- his previous 37 seasons. Kyle earned his 361st coaching win last Friday, cats had to fill 18 of 22 starting placing him 4th in OHSAA history. spots, including quarterback. Not unlike this season, Saint NEXT MAN UP: Every team deals with injury at postseason time, and the Ignatius had a QB competition for Wildcats are no different. Injuries have popped up this year at several posi- much of the season and plenty of tions, opening the door for young players. Sophomore Will Robinson is a injuries, sidelining stars such as new addition to the depth chart this week at tackle, while Emmett Hanna Jon Gannon ’01. The inexperience returns at safety and Aidan Conway returns at linebacker. If Robinson plays and injuries led to losses such as tackle, he’ll wear #65. If Sean Ward plays offensive line, he’ll wear #68. 50-33 defeat to St. Xavier, remi- niscient of struggles by the Cats PFAFF SHOW: After emerging as the starter following a competition at the this season. position, Joe Pfaff has performed aptly in the playoffs. Pfaff notched 184 In the Regional Final, the 1999 yards vs. Solon and 131 yards vs. Euclid. Effective as a game manager who Cats confronted the undefeated can stretch the field, Pfaff will be vital to keeping the offense balanced. Solon Comets at Byers Field. Solon started the scoring with MARTY MAGIC: The Wildcats have found an identity on offense: Marty an early touchdown, but Dan Lenehan. The offense is defined by Lenehan’s toughness and grit, on full Murphy ’00 marched the Cats into display with his 39 carries for 174 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the season, the end zone to tie it. After a So- Lenehan has 620 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging 103.3 yards per game. lon three-and-out, Mike Foran ’01 He’s the bellcow and will be critical in the playoff stretch. (now the Chief Operating Officer, Co-Founder at Market Garden THE BIG UGLIES: The injury bug has bit every position, even offensive line. Brewery) returned the ensuing The Wildcats will have some changes to make with Ashton Montgomery punt 48 yards for the 14-7 lead. out this week. AJ Gottschalk or Tommy Wasinski will slot in at left guard A safety and a quick scoring and William Witalis will slide over to right tackle. Will Robinson and Sean drive boosted Solon back into the Ward will be backups at tackle in case more injuries occur. lead, 15-14, heading into the sec- ond half of action. DUNSTAN DANDY: Jack Dunstan returned to the lineup and immediately To start the half, the Wildcats made an impact at wideout vs. Euclid. The senior hauled in 3 catches for marched down the field on a 28 yards, placing him in the team lead for catches (18). Dunstan has 205 re- 9-play drive, capped off by a 21- ceiving yards on the season. Steven Bodamer, Nick Lamirand, John Becker, yard Murphy scamper and punc- and Colin Wiehn will also figure into the mix. tuated by a Bryan Panteck ’01 2-point conversion. A NIGHTMARE NAMED ADLER: Bennett Adler surely gave his opponents The defense forced a quick nightmares last week after his incredible performance vs. Euclid. Adler Solon punt, and the Wildcats notched 5 tackles, 4 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble in one of capitalized on the field position. the best efforts by a Saint Ignatius defender in recent memory. Murphy raced into the end zone for a crucial TD, extending the ADJUSTMENTS IN THE SECONDARY: The secondary may look a bit differ- lead to 29-15 midway through the ent this week. Emmett Hanna hopes to return as the starter at free safety, third quarter. shifting Griffin Taliak back to strong safety. The Wildcats may play more Solon managed another safety of a dime look against 5-wide receiver sets, with Andrew Chime in as the and scored a late TD with 1:28 Hawk or Brandon Webster as another cornerback. left. But the Wildcats held on, and just two weeks later, captured the CAPTAINS: The captains for the 2020 season are #37 Nick Velotta, #48 program’s 8th state title. Aidan Conway, #66 Gus Salopek, and #86 Nick Lamirand. IGNATIUSWILDCATS.COM 3 ABOUT MEDINA ... Learning about the Battling Bees ... 2020 Medina THRIVING IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In the Regional Quarterfinal, Me- dina toppled the No. 1 seed St. Edward, 35-31, forcing a fumble Schedule deep in the red zone to secure the victory late. 8/28 vs. Mentor L, 19-37 AIR RAID: The Bees’ offense is best described as an Air Raid offense. Medina most often employs 4 and 5 wide receiver sets, 9/4 @ Brunswick L, 21-28 spreading defenses with a speedy, quickstrike offense. ALLAR ATTACK: Drew Allar is the ringleader of the offense. At 9/11 @ Strongsville W, 34-7 6’5, 220 pounds, Allar is a deadly threat at quarterback, a thrill- ing passer and an agile runner. Allar has an astounding 2,093 9/18 vs. Elyria W, 61-6 yards and 21 touchdowns through 8 games. Allar is drawing interest from Division I colleges, and for good reason. The junior is the real deal and can sling the ball all over the yard. 9/25 @ Euclid L, 28-31 BOYLAND’S BREAKOUT: Medina surprised St. Edward with the 10/2 Solon W, 24-20 run game last Friday. Dorian Boyland entered the Regional Quar- terfinal with 141 yards, while Allar was the team leading rusher 10/9 Strongsville W, 37-7 with 170 yards. Boyland nearly bested both marks with 158 yards on 17 carries. Boyland is the grandson of Dorian “Doe” Boyland, a former Pittsburgh Pirates first basemen. The younger Boyland 10/16 St. Edward W, 35-31 scored on runs of 4 and 10 yards, playing a key role in Medina’s upset victory. Boyland saw much of his success when Medina 10/23 @ Saint Ignatius 7 pm loaded up in the Maryland stack I-formation, as he’s a bruising back. Medina’s coach Larry Laird told the Medina Gazette this week that Boyland “could carry the ball anywhere from 5 to 30 times.” Boyland also plays defense. With a 4.6 40-time and a 3.2 GPA, Boyland is headed to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. DIVISION I AP POLL OFFENSIVE WEAPONS: Luke Hensley is Medina’s top wideout. 1. Pickerington Central (13) 8-0 163 The 6’2, 200-pound senior hauled in 6 catches for 63 yards vs. 63 2. Lakota West (1) 8-0 145 yards and 3 TDs vs. St. Edward. He leads the team with 51 recep- 3. Dublin Coffman (1) 8-0 129 tions for 786 yards and 13 touchdowns. Drew Hensley also figures 4. Clayton Northmont (1) 8-0 122 into the mix, as does Jajuan Jackson and Matt Rudolph.