by Carter Spearry ’16
The scoring was early and often, starting with a 44 yard touchdown run by Mentor tailback Frank Toth. The Wildcats responded by driving down the field as Dennis Grosel connected with Jack Cook for a 12 yard touchdown pass. Mentor took the lead minutes later with a 33 yard touchdown run by Alex Matthews. The ‘Cats responded however, with a 12 yard touchdown pass by Grosel into junior tight end James Leyden (PAT NO GOOD). Minutes later, Mentor got on the board once again with a 36 yard connection from sophomore quarterback Tadus Tatarunus to Malik Porter. Let me take a breath, that was the first quarter- Mentor 21, St. Ignatius 13.
With 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, Alex Matthews burst through the middle of the field for 66 yards all the way to pay dirt. Just over 5 minutes later, Tatarunus found his receiver Jason Blizzard for a 75 yard touchdown pass. The ‘Cats found themselves down 35-13 with 5:21 remaining in the first half. Determined to make a difference, Grosel found Cook for another score to cut the deficit to 35-20. After a 3 and out for the Cards, Jimmy Andrews scored for the Wildcats with 1:18 to go in the second quarter to make the game 35-27 at the half.
On the first possession of the second half, Dennis Grosel threw a perfectly weighted 30 yard pass to find Cal Grbac for the score. Nick Restifo elected to go for a two point conversion, but after quality coverage in the endzone, Cook couldn’t hang on. After a quick drive, highlighted with a 65 yard pass to Malik Porter, Alex Matthews ran in from 12 yards for a score. 42-33 Cards. After a 3 and out by the ‘Cats, Tatarunus threw a slant to Jason Blizzard which went for 56 yards, and then Blizzard ran the ball in for an 8 yard touchdown run with 6:09 in the 3rd quarter. 49-33 Cardinals. Immediately after, Grosel moved down the field and threw a lofted ball into the hands of Jack Cook for his third touchdown catch of the game with 4:52 to go in the 3rd quarter. Cook took a reverse on the 2 point conversion to the endzone to cut the deficit to 8, 49-41. After the Mentor kicker missed a 21 yard field goal, Grosel hit Grbac deep with an 80 yard touchdown on the next play. Grosel connected with Robert Hilbig on the 2 point conversion. 49-49. Whew.
After a great drive by the Wildcats, Jimmy Andrews ran the ball off to the right for an 18 yard touchdown with 11:55 remaining in the 4th quarter. 56-49 Wildcats. The Cardinals would not be stopped however, and Tatarunus hit Blizzard for a score to tie the game at 56 with 7:09 remaining. On the next play from scrimmage, Andrews fumbled the ball and Mentor recovered on the Ignatius 21 yard line. The Wildcats defense remained resilient however and stopped Mentor on 4th and goal from the 3 yard line in front of a roaring Ignatius student section. The ‘Cats gained themselves a chance at redemption. On the ensuing possession, Grosel was forced into a tough throw which was picked off by the Cardinals with 1:08 remaining. Tatarunus threw a perfect slant to Malik Porter with only 8 seconds remaining, and that was enough to hold off the Wildcats.
FINAL: 63-56 Mentor
