McKinley football's OHSAA playoff fight with Ignatius wakes up ghosts of glory years
CANTON — McKinley's 28-24 football playoff win over St. Ignatius woke up ghosts from Monument Park to the West Side Market.
Twenty-five years ago, Mike Doss made a last-second tackle at the goal line that preserved a McKinley victory over Ignatius in the state semifinals at Kent State.
With time almost gone Friday, McKinley receiver Keith Quincy fumbled so close to the goal line it was hard to tell if he already scored or the Bulldogs were credited with a touchdown only after teammate Alex Vazquez beat an Ignatius player to the ball in the end zone.
Officials made no indication other than touchdown.
The only thing that was clear was McKinley went from down 24-21 to up 28-24 with 53 seconds left.
Ignatius got to the McKinley 32 with 0:06 left. Quarterback Josh Papesh threw into an end zone crowd. Quincy, also a defensive back, leaped in celebration after his interception sealed the win.
A 2-8 Ignatius regular season with five running-clock losses made it pretty clear these aren't Chuck Kyle's glory days.
Back in the day, Ignatius was great even in disappointment. In the 1997 state semifinals, what might have been McKinley's greatest team needed a miracle comeback to subdue the Wildcats in the Rubber Bowl.
"We're not the team we were in 1997, either," said McKinley head coach Antonio Hall. "But both teams are doing the best they can to get back to that point."
Taking Ignatius lightly would have been pretty bad idea.
"I told our guys all week, Ignatius is Ignatius," Hall said. "Big, fast, physical, well coached, never quit. They showed that tonight."
The Bulldogs advanced to the third round of the OHSAA Division I tournament and will face defending state champ St. Edward next Friday.
Ignatius' blowout losses were to state powers, such as St. Ed's, when the Wildcats were missing key players who returned recently. A first-round playoff win at Mentor got the Bulldogs' undivided attention.
Cody Haddad, son of 1990s Ignatius star Drew Haddad, gained a healthy respect for the 2023 Bulldogs.
"They have athletes and they run hard," Haddad said. "They play hard and run hard and they've all got good character, too.
"Both teams played hard. We really couldn't do much more."
McKinley's start couldn't have been better, producing a 14-0 lead.
QB Keaton Rode steered the Bulldogs 80 yards in 12 plays, featuring catches and runs by 6-foot, 220-pound junior Nino Hill.
When Ignatius went for it on fourth and 2 from the McKinley 42, Bulldog linebacker Shaukeer Hatcher broke on a quick pass and was in stride as he began a 60-yard pick six.
An entertaining series followed an Ignatius field goal.
Rode hit Damere McClellan with downfield passes netting 18 and 33 yards. The Pups overcame a holding penalty with a 22-yard pass to Hill. Then, Rode threw into the end zone to Keith Quincy, but Haddad knifed in front for an interception.
Offensive coordinator Chad Anderson's plan called for lots of downfield passing. Rode had a big first half on a cool, dry night.
With 1:07 left before the band show, Quincy ran a go route and wasn't open by much, but Rode hit him in stride for a 28-yard touchdown and a 21-3 lead.
Ignatius stayed in it with a 28-yard TD pass from Papesh to Haddad on which both Bulldog defender Geno Kelly and Haddad got their hands on the ball. Haddad ripped it away to make it 21-10 with 28 seconds left in the half.
Ignatius rode an amped-up pass rush and passing game, featuring two TD strikes to 6-foot-4 captain Jonathan Merimee, to a 24-21 lead.
McKinley went on the ropes with a fourth and-7 from the Ignatius 28 when Rode and Quincy connected on a 17-yard gain, setting up the deciding touchdown.
First-year Ignatius head coach Ryan Franzinger offered a quick assessment of McKinley's nucleus.
"I was very impressed with No. 9 (Damere McClellan). The quarterback is a running threat, and that was in our minds. No. 11 (Quincy, seven catches for 115 yards) is very impressive. No. 12 (Hill, 14 carries, 83 yards) runs hard.
"Those are kind of the mainstays. They all had pretty good games."
This article originally appeared on The Repository: McKinley High School beats St. Ignatius in OHSAA football playoff game
