Sports
Mentor's St. Mary School, Communion of Saints take CYO championships
Wally Mieskoski
Bedford
For the first time, Akron area teams were competing
against Cleveland area teams in the Diocese of Cleveland CYO football championships.
The two Division title games were played on the artificial turf of Bedford High
School's Bearcat Stadium, one of the best high school football facilities in
Northeast Ohio. Playing conditions were outstanding as the weather was sunny
and seasonably comfortable on Sunday afternoon November 6
WILLIAM RIETERSt. Mary School, Mentor beat St. Francis of Assisi in a good Division I championship game which was followed by a great game in Division II between Communion of Stains and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Division 1
St. Mary of the Assumption 22,
St. Francis of Assisi
6
St. Mary of the Assumption (Mentor) scored twice in the first half that helped
lift the Knights over St. Francis of Assisi (Gates Mills), 22-6 in the Division
1 championship football game.
Earlier in the season, St. Francis handed St. Mary its only loss in two years.
The Knights finished with a 9-1 record this year and had an 18-1 record over
the past two seasons.
That loss provided additional motivation for the Knights in this title game.
"We had a chance to play them again for the title," said St. Mary coach Sal D'Angelo. "You
can't ask for a better scenario than that." The Knights took advantage of the
opportunity.
Running back Ricky Osborne of St. Mary opened the scoring with a seven-yard run
with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Brendan Galloway's extra point
kick gave the Knights an 8-0 lead.
On the first play from scrimmage following St. Mary's touchdown, Cole Gest of
St. Francis outran everyone on his way to a 70-yard touchdown. The extra point
kicked failed and the Cougars trailed 8-6.
Osborne's second touchdown of the game with 1:21 left in the first half that
gave the Knights a lead they never relinquished. That touchdown and Galloway's
extra point kick gave the Knights a 16-6 halftime lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, San D'Angelo added some insurance points on
a one-yard touchdown run with 6:15 left in the game to make the final score of
22-6.
Coach D'Angelo said, "Our kids worked hard all year. They battled together."
He also complimented his opponent, St. Francis.
"They were the only team that really shut us down all year," added Sal D'Angelo.
"They played a great game."
St. Francis coach Dan Cavolo said, "I'm very proud of my team. This team was
truly a brotherhood that has come together since August."
"We were one of the smallest teams at this level in CYO. But this team had the
biggest heart," Cavolo said. "These players will learn that heart is what will
help you overcome challenges in the future."
St. Francis finished the season with
a 9-1 record.
Division 2
Communion of Saints 45,
Immaculate Heart of Mary 22
The Communion of Saints (Cleveland Heights) finished with a flurry, scoring
19 points in the fourth quarter, but it was a pass interception that led
to a late first-half touchdown that gave the Sabres the lead for good.
The Communion of Saints (formerly St. Ann), won its first Cleveland CYO title
in 10 years, by defeating Immaculate Heart of Mary (Cuyahoga Falls), 45-22. It
also completed a 10-0 season.
Through much of the first half, the teams traded touchdowns with Immaculate
Heart holding a 14-12 lead late in the second quarter when the game's turning
point took place.
That's when, with 1:25 left in the first half, Communion of Saints' defensive
back Vince Baerman intercepted a pass that led to James Norris's five-yard
touchdown run with just 14 seconds before halftime that gave the Sabres a
20-14 lead.
Immaculate Heart of Mary took the game's early lead, 6-0, when Joseph Penna
opened the scoring with a nine-yard run on the last play of the first quarter.
Communion of Saints' Greg Jones answered with a 57-yard score to tie the
game at 6-6. Then Immaculate Heart's Paul Collins scored on a one-yard run
with 3:15 left before halftime. Vincent D'Abrosca's extra point gave the
Mustangs a 14-6 lead.
James Norris of Communion of Saints narrowed the gap with a 61-yard run that
brought the Sabres back to a 14-12 deficit with 2:32 left in the second.
On the next possession, Communion of Saints' Baerman made his game-changing
interception that helped give his team the halftime lead.
In the third, the teams traded touchdowns.
Jones increased his team's lead to 26-14 on a 29-yard run. Immaculate Heart
came back with Joseph Penna's 59-yard scoring dash. With D'Abrosca's kick,
the Mustangs trailed 26-22.
Early in the fourth quarter, Communion of Saints exploded for the first of
three touchdowns to break open the close game.
James Norris scored twice in the fourth on a 10-yard run and then on an 82-yard
run that gave the Sabres a 39-22 margin.
Communion of Saints closed out the scoring when Greg Jones returned a pass
interception 81 yards with just 19 seconds remaining in the game.
The 67 points scored by both teams was one of the highest scoring games in
recent memory in CYO championship history.
Communion of Saints was led by James Norris who scored four times on runs
of 61, 5, 10 and 82 and Greg Jones who scored on runs of 57 and 29 yards
and added an 81-yard pass interception return.
Immaculate Heart coach Shannon Shinaberry was proud of his team. "Our kids
played extremely hard," he said.
"We showed that we could run on them," he added. Looking back
on the season, Shinaberry said, "It was a special time spending time with
these kids, not only coaching my son, but I felt like I had 17 sons on this
team."
"Communion of Saints was a class act. They were gracious in winning." Shinaberry
added.
Immaculate Heart finishes with a 7-3 record.
Long-time Communion of Saints coach Tim Deininger, who is no stranger to
the CYO winner's circle, smiled when asked how it felt to win another city
title, "It feels pretty darn good."
"We've been knocking on the door the last couple of years but couldn't walk
through it with untimely injuries. The team dedicated themselves which really
brought a purpose to their season. This year the team overcame all adversity
to win the title," said Deininger.
"I give a lot of credit to Immaculate Heart of Mary. They kept coming and
coming B they never quit," he added.
Mieskoski is a freelance writer.