LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Every coach at every level has said it more than once. They say it in the pros. They say it in college and in high school. Turnovers have lost more games and broken more hearts than curfew violations and homecoming queens.
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Every coach at every level has said it more than once. They say it in the pros. They say it in college and in high school.
Turnovers have lost more games and broken more hearts than curfew violations and homecoming queens.
It happened again on Saturday in Lakewood Stadium where St. Ignatius used two key turnovers in the third quarter -- turning both into touchdowns -- to defeat rival St. Edward, 20-17, in front of a chilled crowd estimated at 11,000 in a game that threw a monkey-wrench into the playoff works.
The victory will lift the Wildcats from sixth place in the region playoff race to second, meaning they will play Boardman on Saturday at Byers Field. St. Edward, the defending Division I state champion, fall from fifth to sixth and will play third-place finisher Cleveland Heights.
• Check out The Plain Dealer's photo gallery from the game.
First-round playoff matchups will be announced Sunday by the OHSAA.
In typical fashion between the two West Side rivals, the game had two lead changes, was tied three times and went down to the late stages of the fourth quarter. The Wildcats (8-2) clinched the game when senior Blake Thomas made a sparkling catch of an Eric Williams pass on third-and-9 play at its 41.
Thomas' reception, his third of the night, went for 13 yards and a first down. With St. Edward out of timeouts, the Wildcats simply had to run out the final 2:24 to give them their fifth victory in the last six games against their rivals.
"I would probably put that in the top five, especially because it came against St. Ed's," said Thomas, who took the ball off the helmet of a St. Edward defender. "It was sitting there for a little bit and I wasn't sure if I was able to get it but I got it out of there."
St. Edward (7-3) led, 10-3, at the half on a seven-yard touchdown run by Dwayne Aaron with 47 seconds left in the second quarter -- also set up by a turnover -- and a 35-yard field goal by Jake Wilhelm.
The Wildcats, in the playoffs for the 22nd time, got their first break on the opening possession of the third quarter when junior linebacker Kevin Smith recovered a fumbled punt at the Eagles' 37. Junior Tim McVey scored on a seven-yard run after senior Tim McCoy set up the score with a clutch reception for a 35-yard gain on first down.
The Eagles erred again on their next possession when St. Ignatius senior Adam North stepped in front of a Ryan Fallon pass at the St. Edward 33. Five plays later, Thomas caught a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the Wildcats their first lead since a first-quarter field goal of 29 yards by Tim Shenk.
"In a game like this, a turnover is key," said St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle, wearing a baseball cap from the 2009 playoffs. "We needed a turnover. Adam is a good defensive back, He has very good anticipation. Some kids can run like a deer but they don't get it that they have to get [to the ball] and jump. Adam does that very well."
St. Edward pulled into a 17-17 tie when Fallon bulldozed his way for a one-yard touchdown run with 2:48 left in the third quarter, answering the Thomas touchdown. Shenk gave the Wildcats on top for good when he opened the fourth quarter with a 35-yard field goal. The Eagles had two more possessions but were unable to convert.
With Fallon completing a 29-yard pass to senior Chris Connors -- who caught a game-high eight passes for 120 yards -- St. Edward eventually moved to the St. Ignatius 41. Senior Zack Ryan and lineman Mike Ryan forced a punt by sacking Fallon.
St. Ignatius couldn't move the ball and the Eagles took over on their 29. They were able to penetrate to the Wildcats' 40 before three straight passes fell incomplete.
Williams, a transfer from Portland, Ore., completed 16 of 28 passes for 193 yards. Fallon was 13-of-23 for 160 yards. Senior Jake Mooney caught five for 47 yards, Conor Hennessey caught two for 41 yards and Tim McCoy caught four for 60.
Aaron led the Eagles with 103 yards rushing on 20 carries. McVey led the Ignatius ground game with 60 yards on 16 carries.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com; 216-999-5169
On Twitter: @TimRogersPD
Source: http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/4196440943282666171
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