OHIO CITY, OH - The countdown to the 2026 high school football season is officially underway. While nine weeks may seem like a long way off, one blink and it'll be the start to a new season. The Wildcats will begin their campaign under the lights of Huntington Bank Field, home of the Cleveland Browns, on Thursday, August 20, at 7 p.m., when they welcome the Division II State Champion Avon Eagles for a season-opening showdown.
Week One will also mark the debut of Head Football Coach
Tom Kaufman, who enters his first season at the helm for the Wildcats after being named the 24th head coach on December 15, 2025. Kaufman enters his first season with a 21-5 high school record during his time with the Gilmour Academy Lancers.
"We are building every day towards that first week; the environment at Browns Stadium is going to be tremendous," says Kaufman. "We are solely focused on how we can get better on a day-to-day basis. We'll worry more about that first week as we get closer, but I love the work that these guys are putting in this summer; it is fun to watch."
The football program has had an exciting week as three student-athletes have committed to continue their academic and football careers at the Division I level. It began with
Andrew Davalla Jr. committing to Northwestern University. Other recent Wildcats that went on to play at Northwestern include Jack Kennedy '19 and Aidan Hubbard '21. Hubbard recently signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks. Sean Martin '24, enters his Redshirt Sophomore year at Northwestern.
On Sunday,
Trey Haddad committed to Texas A&M. The senior totaled 548 yards on 35 receptions last season, scoring five touchdowns. Haddad was also used in the secondary as a safety late in the 2025 season.
James Conrad committed to the University at Buffalo last year. He collected 23 tackles, five for a loss, and two sacks. Conrad is coming off a memorable track and field season, breaking the Ohio High School Discus record with a 209'1" throw, and winning the 2025 OHSAA State Championship in Discus.
Week One will mark the third overall meeting between Saint Ignatius and Avon; the Eagles have won the previous two meetings, which include a 42-21 win in 2024 at Browns Stadium. "I had the chance to play there my sophomore year; we didn't get the win, so it is a chance at redemption," explains Haddad. "I love to compete. This is a new team, a different team, and we're excited to get after it."
Week Two will feature a trip to Columbus to face the Pickerington North Panthers. It will be the second all-time meeting between the two schools. The first meeting came last season at Euclid Community Stadium, where the Wildcats lost 20-7.
Week Three features a well-established rivalry in Northeast Ohio when the Wildcats host the Mentor Cardinals at Don Shula Stadium on the campus of John Carroll University. This will mark the 33rd overall meeting, with the Wildcats owning a 17-15 record against the Cardinals. Mentor won last season's meeting 35-21. The Cats are seeking their first win against Mentor since the 2023 OHSAA Regional First Round.
Throughout the summer workouts, the senior leadership has worked towards building a culture. "Guys like Haddad, Davala, Conrad, they are doing things at a high level, but they are not afraid to bring others along too," Kaufman says. "If they see that a teammate is not meeting the standard, they will call it out. We have a great senior class."
The Wildcats will meet the Walsh Jesuit Warriors once again in Week Four of the season, traveling to Cuyahoga Falls on Friday, September 11. The Warriors have gotten the best of the Wildcats in the previous two seasons, including a 31-0 win at Don Shula Stadium last year.
Week Five features an old rival on the gridiron as the Wildcats welcome the John Marshall Lawyers on the campus of Saint Ignatius High School when they square off on Wasmer Field. It will be one of three varsity games on Wasmer Field in 2026. This game will mark the 50th meeting between the Wildcats and Lawyers, with the last meeting coming in the OHSAA First Round in 2022, where the Wildcats won 33-6.
"This is a great venue, it almost feels like Wrigleyville for what we have going on in Ohio City," says Kaufman. "We are excited for the atmosphere with our students. We did a tunnel run with our Youth Campers last week, and I got chills. When we get to that time, I think it is going to be incredible."
The first meeting between these two programs came in the 1930 season, and from 1933 to 1978, they met in 47 straight seasons. Both programs were members of the Senate League until the Wildcats left to become Independent after the 1978 season. To this day, the Lawyers are still members of the Senate League. The Wildcats own a 40-8-1 record against John Marshall.
"It is going to be an awesome experience," reflects Conrad. "We got to play a couple of our freshman football games on Wasmer, but to have a true home game, I just can't wait to get after it."
Week Six will feature another old rival as the Wildcats face the Benedictine Bengals on Friday, September 25. It will be at Don Shula Stadium on the campus of John Carroll University; this is a home game for the Bengals. It will be the 34th meeting overall, with the Wildcats owning an 18-15-1 historic record. Last season, Benedictine stunned the Wildcats late with a 16-14 win.
The first meeting between these two programs took place in 1929, and they met 10 times in City Championships between 1950 and 1970. The last Wildcat victory came in 2004, when they beat the Bengals 43-6.
The 67th overall meeting between Saint Ignatius and St. Edward will take place on Friday, October 2, at Don Shula Stadium at John Carroll University. The Eagles took the historical series lead after last season's 45-31 win and now hold a 33-32-1 record historically over the Wildcats. They are currently on a nine-game series win streak over the Wildcats. Saint Ignatius' last win against St. Edward came in the final week of the regular season in 2018.
"Coach [Tom] Lombardo has done a tremendous job with his program at St. Edward, and hats off to him," Kaufman says. "For us, we are just focusing on the little things and how we can get better each week leading up to that match-up."
The Cats return to Wasmer Field for a Week Eight meeting against Archbishop Moeller. This will be the 16th overall meeting between the Wildcats and Crusaders. Saint Ignatius owns an 8-7 record over Moeller, but the Crusaders have won the previous five meetings, including a 42-10 win at Mount St. Joseph's University last season.
For Week Nine, the Wildcats will take a trip down I-71 South as they face the St. Xavier Bombers at RDI Stadium & Ballaban Field for the Paul Lammermeier Cup in the 34th overall meeting. St. Xavier commands an 18-15 record over the Wildcats, and won last season's meeting 41-7, and would be the runner-ups in OHSAA Division I in 2025.
Finally, the Wildcats will put a bow on the regular season back at Wasmer Field when they host Football North-Clarkson (ONT) on Friday, October 23. The last time the Wildcats hosted a varsity football game on Wasmer Field came against Football North in 2023 before the construction of DiSanto Hall. It was also the last time the Wildcats defeated Football North, as the Chargers have won the previous two meetings, including a 28-13 win last year. The Wildcats own a 5-3 overall record against Football North.
As the Wildcats enter the 2026 season, their opponents' record from last season stands at 93-30. It will be the Wildcats' ninth-ranked toughest strength of schedule since 1983. Two teams went on to play for a State Championship: Avon (Division II State Champions) and St. Xavier (Division I Runner-up).
Coach Kaufman brings a new coaching staff with him, which includes receivers coach
Bryce Agnew, who played collegiately at Marrieta College. He has started building chemistry in the receiving corps that includes Haddad. "Our coaching staff is helping us develop and build a bond. Next week, coach Agnew is taking the receivers to go paintballing. There is a love for this coaching staff," explains Haddad.
"Our season began earlier this year. Friday Meetings with Coach Kaufman during the school year were great," Conrad says. "There is a great foundation being laid, and our guys are buying in. We have been consistent with most, if not all, guys showing up to offseason lifts and willing to put in the work."
There is a palpable excitement on the gridiron for the Wildcats as they get after it during the dog days of summer. They will have a pair of scrimmages as well, come August. On August 7, they will come together with Strongsville, North Ridgeville, and Youngstown Boardman at Pat Catan Stadium for a scrimmage. They will also get one final tune-up with a scrimmage against Massillon Perry at Wakefield Stadium on August 13.
Every game this season can be caught on the Saint Ignatius Broadcast Network.
