BEREA, Ohio — After playing a fourth defending state football champion in six weeks, St. Edward’s rivals await.
Its biggest rival is up next with a return to Georgia Finnie Stadium in Berea to play St. Ignatius.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” coach Tom Lombardo said Thursday last week after a 28-27 loss to defending OHSAA Division IV state champion Glenville. “They’re all good teams.”
St. Edward (3-3), fifth in this week’s cleveland.com Top 25, is coming off consecutive losses to the Tarblooders and defending Division II state champion Massillon. The Eagles split their other two games against out-of-state champions, Philadelphia St. Joseph Prep and Kentucky’s Boyle County.
St. Ignatius (1-5) also is coming off a matchup against a defending state champion, as it pushed Toledo Central Catholic before a 27-26 loss at Finnie Stadium. The Wildcats have lost three straight since their lone win at Dublin Coffman, battling injuries and playing without Ohio State safety recruit Cody Haddad while senior running back and Minnesota running back recruit Grant Washington has powered through an injury.
They also played last week without starting quarterback Daniel Chalhoub, and sophomore Dane Donovan nearly led the upset of defending Division III state champion Toledo Central Catholic in his first varsity start. It came down to junior Owen Colwell’s short-yardage touchdown run with 1:17 left before a penalty on the go-ahead two-point conversion attempt forced the Wildcats to instead attempt a tying extra point. They missed the kick — and for the second straight day the Wildcats and Eagles lost by a point on the field where they will meet at 7 p.m. Friday night.
St. Edward similarly went for the win on a two-point conversion last Thursday night against Glenville, but Bradley Eaton was stopped just short of the goal line on a run up the middle with 4:11 left in regulation. St. Edward’s defense came up with a fourth-down stop to give the offense one more chance, which ended on an interception at the goal line in the final moments.
St. Edward senior quarterback Thomas Csanyi finished with 350 yards on 17-of-30 passing and three touchdowns, all to junior Zach Hackleman, who had six receptions for 185 yards.
The next night, Donovan threw for 154 yards and two TDs on 7-of-13 passing for the Wildcats. He is one of a few sophomores St. Ignatius has turned to during its struggles, as linebacker Dillon Baker paced the defense with six tackles and lineman Luke Votykpa had a sack.
St. Edward has won seven straight games in the rivalry, including a 42-7 victory last year in Lakewood.
RELATED: Full Week 7 schedule.
A look at more top games to watch this week will follow on Thursday.
No. 5 St. Edward (3-3) vs. St. Ignatius (1-5)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: George Finnie Stadium at Baldwin Wallace in Berea
Broadcast: St. Edward Broadcasting Network via FanVu, Rock Entertainment Sports Network (RESN, Channel 22, WUAB-43), St. Ignatius Broadcast Network, WHK-AM 1420
Next week: St. Edward plays host Oct. 12 vs. Clarkson Football North (4-1); St. Ignatius plays host Oct. 11 vs. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (5-1)
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on X (@mgoul), Threads (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]).
