High School Football Week #2: Saturday Games
The second weekend of Ohio high school football continued Saturday with four Region 1 teams putting on impressive performances.
ST. IGNATIUS vs DE LA SALLE (Warren, MI)
Defending Division I State Champion St. Ignatius, showed why it is the top-ranked team in the FOX-8 Top 8, routing Michigan powerhouse De La Salle, 49-13, while harassing Pilots’ quarterback Shane Morris, a University of Michigan recruit, all afternoon at Byers Field. St Ignatius dominated De La Salle in a game that was not nearly as close as the final score.
Michael LaManna continued to demonstrate why he is already being mentioned among the area’s top quarterbacks, after just two career starts. The St. Ignatius signal caller was 18 for 24 with four touchdown passes, including three in the first half, as the Wildcats scored on four of their first five possessions and jumped out to a 38-0 nothing lead at the intermission. Connor Hennessey caught two of LaManna’s scoring passes, while senior tailback Tim McVey also found the end zone twice, once on the ground, and once through the air. Rocky Zingale also scored for St. Ignatius, which added a pair of safeties and a Matt Calella field goal to close out the scoring.
For the second straight week, the Wildcats first team defense did not allow a point, and De La Salle only found the end zone after the reserves took over midway through the third quarter. LaManna finished with 367 yards passing, just 22 shy of Nate Szep’s single-game school record, set back in 2001.
Coach Chuck Kyle and St. Ignatius (2-0) continue their difficult schedule next Saturday, September 8, when the Wildcats host Coach Steve Trivisonno’s talented Mentor Cardinals (2-0) at Byers Field for a 7:00 pm kickoff. The winner will likely move to the top of the Region 1 OHSAA Playoff Standings.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS vs JOHN ADAMS
Jeff Rotsky’s Cleveland Heights Tigers showed why they are ranked 3rd in the FOX-8 Top 8. Heights scored early and often against Cleveland John Adams, but it was the Tigers’ talented defense that led the way in a 48-20 victory over the visiting Rebels.
Cleveland Heights (2-0) travels to Youngstown East next Saturday, September 8, for a 2:00 pm kickoff, while John Adams (0-2) opens Senate League action against John Hay (1-1) on Thursday, Sept. 6 at 7:00 pm at Collinwood.
SHAKER HEIGHTS vs JOHN F. KENNEDY
Shaker Heights continued its strong start to the season with a lopsided 35-0 shutout win over Cleveland John F. Kennedy. The Red Raiders nearly pulled a stunning upset at Solon in week one, and proved it was not a fluke with a dominating defensive performance against the overmatched Eagles. Shaker speedster Greg Claytor scored twice on rushing touchdowns in the second half as the Raiders put the game out of reach.
Shaker Heights (1-1) travels to Cleveland Central Catholic (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 8 for a 1:00 pm kickoff, while JFK (0-2) opens Senate League action against Rhodes (2-0) on Friday, Sept. 7 at 3:00 pm.
EUCLID vs CLEVELAND CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Euclid also impressed, blanking a revamped Cleveland Central Catholic squad, 44-0 at Stefanski Stadium. Juwan Ford scored twice, on touchdown runs of 4 and 15 yards, while Rhyshon Johnson also found the end zone from 15 yards.
However, it was the Panther defense, which intercepted reigning FOX-8 player of the year, Mitch Trubisky twice in week one, that controlled the game on Saturday afternoon. The Euclid defensive line was in the Central backfield all day, putting tremendous pressure on the Ironmen passing attack, and forcing the Ironmen into several three and outs.
The schedule does not get any easier for Euclid (1-1) which plays host to a red hot Canton Glenoak (2-0) team, coming off a big win over rival Massillon. The Eagles will invade Sparky Dibiaso Stadium next Friday, Sept. 7 for a 7:00 pm kickoff. CCC (1-1) hosts Shaker Heights (1-1) on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 1:00 pm.
Check the FOX-8 Friday Night Touchdown page for live scoring updates from all of Saturday night’s games, including Ricky Powers’ Akron Buchtel Griffins, who continue their brutal opening schedule by traveling to Lakewood to face 2010 State Champion St. Edward, the seventh-ranked team in the FOX-8 Top 8.
Week one star Eric Glover-Williams leads 3-time Champion Canton McKinley, #8 in the FOX-8 Top 8 on a long road trip to Braxton Miller’s alma mater Huber Heights Wayne
Also Villa-Angela St. Joseph hosts Warrensville Heights, and perennial small school powers collide as Tiffin Calvert travels to Norwalk St. Paul.
For more final scores, plus video highlights and photo galleries from all of Friday and Saturday’s games, head over to the FOX-8 High School Football page.
