Eagles Top Canada Prep on Senior Day

Some of the fans that traveled for the game. They told me how pleased they were with their friendly treatment in the Cleveland area.

The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t the only Canadian sports team that came south this weekend.  St. Edward hosted Canada Prep High School of Ontario Saturday afternoon at First Federal Lakewood Stadium. The Eagles defeated the Raiders 35-7 on sunny and bright Senior Day. Canada Prep, which is a program that plays exclusively against US teams under US rules, entered the game with a 2-2 record. Earlier this year they defeated St. Vincent-St. Mary in Akron. St. Edward entered 5-1, coming off a bye week and looking to close in on a playoff spot.

                Each team committed a turnover early in the game. Eagle cornerback Melvin Johnson intercepted a Raider pass at the 50 yard line to set up ST. Edward’s second drive of the game.  The Eagles cashed in with a one yard touchdown dive by quarterback Kevin Kramer with 1:47 left in the first quarter. St. Edward widened the margin in the second quarter, as running back Curtis Szelesta ran 11 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 early in the period. Melvin Jackson caught at 25 yard touchdown pass on a fourth down to stretch the lead to 21-0 with 4:15 left in the half. Canada Prep went “three and out” on its next possession, and Eagle senior went from goat to hero on the next two plays. He misplayed the Raider punt to pin the Eagles back at their own one yard line with 2:20 left in the half. On the very first play from scrimmage, he outran his defender to catch a 99 yard touchdown pass to make the game 28-0. The play is the longest pass play in Eagle history, breaking a record set in 1997.

                Despite  a small roster (under 30 players), Canada Prep fought very hard in the second half. St. Edward took a brief 35-0 lead in the third quarter, which put the “running clock” into effect. However, the Raiders scored on their next possession, restoring the game to normal clock rules. Many fans became frustrated because  they hoped the running clock would finish the game quickly, allowing them to go home and watch the Indians playoff game. But the Raiders battled tough the rest of the game, preventing the Eagles from restoring a thirty point margin. The final quarter had numerous penalties and incomplete passes,  which dragged the finish time to 4:38pm.  

                The Eagles next travel to Cincinnati to play perennial powerhouse Moeller. The Crusaders enter the game with a 3-5 record, desperately needing a win to make the playoffs. In his postgame comments to his team, Eagle Head Coach Tom Lombardo made one request: “Let’s eliminate Moeller!” The win raised the Eagles record to 6-1, and they control their own destiny in the playoff chase.   

Mike Deneen

Mike Deneen has extensive experience covering sports and community stories for the Lakewood Observer. Mike has been a Senior Industry Analyst for the Freedonia Group in Cleveland, Ohio, since 1998. He has appeared on CNBC’s Closing Bell, NPR’s MarketPlace and has been quoted multiple times in The Wall Street Journal. He has made multiple guest appearances on ESPN Cleveland radio. Mike also writes for Inside Northwestern, a website that covers Northwestern Wildcat Athletics. You can reach him on Twitter at @MikeDeneen1 

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Volume 12, Issue 22, Posted 6:01 PM, 10.15.2016