St. Ignatius Rebounds for Big Win in Ohio

04.01.2023HS Boys

St. Ignatius of Cleveland defeated St. Xavier 62-12 Saturday on a very, very windy day in Ohio.

Ignatius used defensive pressure as much as anything else to get the job done, pushing St. X back and forcing turnovers and errors simply by making tackles. With players such as Cole Sutkus, Pat Cooney, and Michael Krebs they produced scoring chances early.

The first two tries came off defensive pressure, and the third came off a kick and a series of offloads and hard runs that set up Ryan Putka for a try. Prop David Kotnik capped off another solid offensive move that was a bit more about Ignatius putting together an attacking movement.

Leo Ference was very active in the centers while hooker Aidan Miczak seemed to be in on the action everywhere. With scrumhalf Teagan Frain and flyhalf Aiden Pickston pulling the strings nicely, and the back row of Cooney, Mark Stresinic, and Brendan Hearns working hard the Wildcats led 36-0 at halftime.

Good win for @SIHS_Varsity15s in @RugbyOhio action.

We check in with two guys who put in a full day's work in Leo Ference and Adam Bornhorst. pic.twitter.com/iBf6zoMrYh
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) April 2, 2023

St. Xavier battled well and kept playing, scoring two tries late in the game, but this was a solid showing from Ignatius after the rather humbling loss to Gonzaga the week before. Despite some injuries for Ignatius, they have found some talent within their greater program. Among them are some sophomores—lock Connor Bender and prop Adam Borhorst—both loose forwards adapted to the tight five.

Meanwhile, St. Edward, the heated rival of Ignatius in Cleveland, won well over Moeller 33-17. Moeller, St. Xavier, St. Ignatius, and St. Edward are usually the top four teams in Ohio, and it appears, for now, that SIHS and SEHS are on a bit of a collision course.

St. Ignatius Rebounds for Big Win in Ohio

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