Both teams think they’re going to win. Glenville is confident that they have the team that can get them beyond the second round for the first time in their school’s history and then farther, while St. Edward is just plain confident by definition. The two Cleveland area teams go at it in a regional semifinal confrontation on Saturday at Byers Field in Parma.
Last week began a new season and a fresh start for St. Ed’s, who were all but left for dead after losing to St. Ignatius, or so it seemed. It was generally understood that the Eagles would have to win out after the forfeiture ruling came down and the appeals went against them in order to sneak into the playoffs. As it turned out, they slipped into the playoffs anyway, even with the loss to the Wildcats.
"I was a little surprised but after looking at our schedule and the teams that we played, I wasn’t surprised that we made it in at all," said Alex Boone, who plays offensive tackle for St. Edward and has already verbally committed to Ohio State. "I think we played probably one of the hardest schedules and the fact that we can get in with a 5-5 record just goes to show what kind of schedule we played."
The loss to St. Ignatius in week eight was obviously painful but it may have served as a much-needed reality check for St. Edward.
"I was disappointed because we went into that game so fired up and we thought nothing could have knocked us down, but it’s just that every year, somehow, they get something on us," Boone said. "It was very disappointing because we were so ready to go and we had taken so much and we conquered so much, and then all of the sudden a team just knocks us right off our feet.
"I think it helped us though because after that we started saying ‘you know what, we’re not the best team.’ We knew we had to work for everything if it was going to come to us, so I think it was good for us that we lost that game."
Boone, however, wasn’t about to concede the team’s playoff chances even at that point.
"People were coming up to me after that game saying, ‘I’m really sorry because you’re probably not going to make it in now,’ and I was like, ‘Well, once again we’re going to have to show people that we are going to make it in and we’re going to overcome everything that happens."
Then during the Moeller game a week later, quarterback Anthony Gardner went down with a dislocated shoulder and he would be sidelined for an undetermined about of time.
"Our backup (Junior, Brandon Frohnapple) came in and stepped up real well, and I was really proud of him and I thought we played pretty good against Moeller," Boone said. "But Gardner is going to start this week so we’re back to throwing the ball and running the ball and our offensive line is going to start proving to people that we are the best.
"I think the last couple of weeks people have been doubting our team and so now we’re going to have to come out and respond to Glenville. Their speed is amazing. This will be a great test for us, and if we can pull this off in the trenches, then we’d have a lot of confidence."
So St. Ed’s will go into the Glenville contest as healthy now as they’ve been all season, and their spirits couldn’t be any higher.
"I think now that everybody is back healthy and our spirits are way up, if we play our ‘A’ game there’s no way they can stop us," Boone said.
Glenville is just another game and the next opponent for the Eagles who ultimately have designs on playing for the big school state title once again this season.
"It’s just another game, it’s nothing big, it’s just another team that we’re going to play," Boone said. "We’re ready to go into battle and we’re going to do whatever it takes to win."
Boone acknowledges that Glenville is a worthy opponent and it won’t be an easy task for St. Ed’s to come away with a victory.
"Their speed is amazing but I don’t think anything about them really scares me," he said. "They love to hit, and I like that about teams when they come ready to hit, that’s a good thing."
The expectations for St. Ed’s were so high going into this season and despite all of the adversity they’ve gone through this season thus far, the Eagles are still right on track. They’re treating this game no differently than the other 11 that came before it.
"It’s an important game but at the same time it’s just another game," Boone said. "Anything can happen and anybody can make a big play and so you can’t lose your focus at all because it’s just another game that you have to find a way to win."
The Eagles have the utmost respect for the best public school in Cleveland and possibly the entire state.
"We respect everybody and obviously we know they’re a great team," Boone said. "We would never underestimate a team and we would never expect anything less than they’re best. I think you can’t underestimate this team because they will have you beat before you even play. They have so much skill on that team it’s amazing. They have play makers all over the field."
But make no mistake about it, the Eagles do expect to win on Saturday.
"Some people might say it’s cocky to go in there and think we’re going to win this, but I think it’s just confidence," Boone said. "I’m so excited for it, I just think it’s going to be a great game."
