Newly #1-ranked school team St. Ignatius capped off Senior Night with a 64-24 victory over rivals St. Edward in a midweek meeting of the two Cleveland, Ohio teams.
The game was the finale match of the Cavoli Cup, the challenge trophy inaugurated this season that tracks results including Varsity, JV, and Freshmen and is named after a beloved teacher who taught at both schools.
A Concept that Deserves to be Spread Everywhere
The Varsity match showcased much of what is right and what is wrong with both of these ranked teams. St. Edward has players who can break tackles and punish you, but they were eventually exposed out wide. St. Ignatius has a good combination of forwards who can maul and pick-and-go when needed, and outside backs who can burn you, but they are prone to avoidable penalties and unforced errors.
St. Edward had the majority of ball in the early going and took a penalty goal in the first chunk of the first half, but they weren't able to find the tryline. St. Ignatius, once they saw the ball, scored on a maul and then from close-in with their forwards. But they were also starved of possession and good field position for much of the first half.
However, as halftime started to loom center Joe Deinhart power-stepped his way through and over. St. Edward stormed back and were threatening when prop Connor Bender intercepted a pass and raced almost the length of the field to score. Impressive for a prop, except Bender isn't your classic prop and normally plays flanker or lock. That was a huge emotional boost for Ignatius and they finally scored a more constructed backline play, putting wing Tommy Passerallo over on the right side.
A series of penalties opened up a chance for St. Edward and the Eagles raced through the middle to score and make it 33-10.The second half began with a turnover created by lock Jacob Papesh and a dummy and snipe from captain and scrumhalf Mark French. Papesh scored on a maul not long after.
