PARMA, Ohio — Chuck Kyle has seen many memorable matchups between Saint Ignatius and St. Edward during his storied career.
This was certainly not one of them, at least not for the Wildcats and not in the way they would want it to be.
No, this Saturday night was all about the Eagles, who rolled their archrivals 48-6 in Parma. Ohio's defending Division I state champions have now won five in a row over their archrivals from Cleveland, and may have gotten the final laugh over Kyle unless the two teams meet one more time in the playoffs.
What was a close 14-6 game late in the second half became a laugher when St. Ed (6-1) scored 34 unanswered points down the stretch. Junior quarterback Casey Bullock threw for three touchdowns — including two to Kyan Mason — while Marvin Bell, Joshua Groudle, and Josh Gribble all ran for scores. Coastal Carolina commit Wyatt Gedeon even added a special teams TD when the Eagles blocked a punt.
Quinn Woidke's touchdown run in the second quarter was about all Ignatius (4-2) could muster. Kyle, who is retiring after what will be his 40th season, saw his record against St. Ed fall to 26-17-1 all-time in what was his most-lopsided loss against his greatest foe.
In a sense, tonight's result was a microcosm of what has been a bit of a changing of the guard in Northeast Ohio high school football over the last decade: Prior to 2010, Kyle's Wildcats won 10 state titles compared to none for the Eagles. However, since that time, the boys from Lakewood have taken home five championships, compared to just one for the Men of Ignatius back in 2011.
St. Edward, which had been nationally ranked prior to their loss at Massillon Washington two weeks ago, will host Clarkson Football North out of Ontario, Canada, on Friday. St. Ignatius, meanwhile, will battle unbeaten Archbishop Moeller next Saturday in Kyle's final regular-season game at Byers.
