EUCLID, OH - The Saint Ignatius Wildcats (1-9) finished the regular season this past Friday in a match up against Football North (5-4). Football North entered the game with a presentable win on its schedule, defeating Massillon Washington 34-2 in its week six game, where it forced six turnovers. The Wildcats entered the game coming off a 41-7 loss to St. Xavier the week prior, the largest margin of victory in the two teams' match up history. 

Last year's 27-26 loss to Football North marked just the second loss all-time for the Wildcats in the series. The last time the Wildcats lost to Football North was in 2019, when Football North stunned the Wildcats on a last-second Hail Mary touchdown. This match up would be the 13th all-time meeting between the Wildcats, a Canadian opponent, and the eighth against Football North.  

Football North opened the game with possession and put together a strong opening drive. In just seven plays, they marched 70 yards down the field, powered by Josh Martin-Pendley's legs. The drive was capped off when Brandon Bailey delivered a perfect strike to Tyson Clarke, who hauled it in for a touchdown. Football North led 7-0 early in the first quarter with 8:50 remaining. 

Billy Cole returned the kickoff to the Football North 35-yard line to set up the Wildcats' opening possession. Despite an 8-yard carry on first down, the Wildcats' opening drive resulted in a punt after a holding penalty and a Football North sack. 

Football North would also punt on their next possession following a pass breakup on a flea-flicker by Trey Haddad and a Matthias Michelek sack on third down. 

After the quarter end, on the Wildcats' next offensive drive, Trey Haddad made an athletic catch to give the Wildcats a first down in Football North territory. The Wildcats continued into the red zone but failed to convert on third down, sending out Kyle Ritt and the field goal unit. Ritt drilled the 30-yarder, putting the Wildcats on the board. It was 7-3 early in the second quarter. 

On their next offensive drive, Football North would make a statement when Bailey uncorked a bomb downfield to Clarke, who made a basket catch and continued with his legs to the end zone for a 71-yard touchdown pass. Football North extended their lead to 11 points with a 14-3 lead. 

The Wildcats responded with a 10-play, 58-yard drive but once again couldn't find the end zone, settling for an Ian Phiri 39-yard field goal attempt. Phiri, primarily a soccer player, had not attempted a field goal before this game, as those duties typically belonged to Griffin Roberts. Despite the inexperience, Phiri drilled the kick, cutting the Football North lead to 14–6 with 2:13 left before the break. 

The score remained the same throughout the remainder of the first half, and the Wildcats headed to the locker room with an eight-point deficit. 

On second down on their first drive out of the half, Owen Colwell carried the ball 45 yards to put the Wildcats in Football North territory. Haddad also made a nice catch on the next play to set the Wildcats up at the seven-yard line. Despite this, the Wildcats couldn't muster points as Phiri had his field goal attempt blocked, keeping the Wildcat deficit at eight. 

Following a Football North punt, the Wildcats' offense got another opportunity just a few minutes later. Football North appeared to have regained all the momentum when a Jacob Mikin pass was tipped and intercepted in the end zone, but a pass interference penalty negated the play. Haddad hauled a deep catch on the next snap to set the Wildcats up inside the five-yard line. However, on third and goal, Colwell mishandled the handoff exchange, and Football North recovered the fumble, stunning the Wildcats and halting a promising drive.

Football North made no mistake in taking advantage of the turnover. They drove 98 yards downfield and added seven points to their lead when Bailey stepped up in the pocket and kept the ball up the middle for a 22-yard touchdown run. Football North jumped out to a 21-6 fourth-quarter lead with 10 minutes remaining. 

After the Wildcat defense forced a missed field goal to stay alive, Shane O'leary fumbled the football after receiving a huge hit across the middle, and Football North took over. However, they did not muster any points. 

Despite starting their next drive in Football North territory, the Wildcats took two sacks on their next drive. They were backed up to 4th and 28, and they were forced to punt the ball away. 

On second down, Martin-Pendley put the dagger in the game when he took a run 54-yards for a touchdown making the Wildcat deficit too much to overcome. Football North led it 28-6 with time running out in the fourth. 

The Wildcats did manage to add a touchdown to their night when senior quarterback Daniel Chalhoub delivered a ball into the end zone to an open Marcus Tekancic for the final points of the night. The game would end with a 28-13 final. 

The Wildcats were under the impression that their season was over after Medina (3-7) won a close 33-30 game over Lorain (2-8) to eliminate the Cats mathematically. However, after 11-seeded John Marshall (3-7) opted out of the playoffs, the Wildcats received new life as they jumped to the #12 and final playoff spot. The Wildcats will travel to Toledo this Friday to take on Perrysburg (8-2) in the first round of the playoffs.