SAN FRANCISCO — The brand new, everlasting lights over the sphere at St. Ignatius lower by the heavy fog to light up Friday’s season opener between the Wildcats and Palo Alto Vikings. The massive dwelling crowd noticed clearly a blowout for the house staff.
The Wildcats look primed to be aggressive in a stacked West Catholic Athletic League, beating Palo Alto 41-6 on Friday night time. St. Ignatius returns with loads of depth and expertise coming off a 2021 season by which it went 5-7, ending 2-5 in WCAL play and shedding in a CCS Division II semifinal to Wilcox.
“We’re precisely the place we thought we have been, in some respects,” coach John Regalia stated. “Positively some first sport errors, however loads of first sport pleasure. First sport vitality and first sport uncertainty. We anticipated all that.”
Senior quarterback Mac McAndrews accomplished all of his go makes an attempt, together with three landing passes within the first half. He wouldn’t must play within the second half. The Wildcats did all of their scoring within the first half, operating up a 27-0 lead after the primary quarter.
Dave DeGeronimo performed with a brief bench in his debut as head coach with Palo Alto as 26 of their 37 listed on the roster suited up. The Wildcats’ energy up entrance compelled Palo Alto right into a pair of pricey unhealthy snaps recovered by St. Ignatius.
The primary, senior Colin Mulkerrins recovered on the Palo Alto 44-yard line to arrange a goal-line speeding landing for junior Cameron Jones with the assistance of his first eight-yard carry and a 10-yard carry for McAndrews.
The second, recovered by sophomore Sui Hunkin, arrange a 23-yard landing go to a wide-open junior Moe Barnum to provide St. Ignatius a 14-0 lead. The turnovers fueled the Wildcats’ first-half offense.
“That’s simply us working numerous rotations and being sharp,” Regalia, in his twelfth season because the Wildcats’ head coach, stated. “Even when a few of these guys weren’t rotating, it’s about being sharp for 4 quarters. And that’s what we now have to study from and develop this week.”
The Wildcats protection held the Vikings behind midfield till the second quarter — when junior quarterback Declan Packer discovered senior receiver Kai Bussey down the sideline for a 27-yard reception. Palo Alto additionally couldn’t clear mid-field on particular groups, both — just a few quick punts resulted in scores for the Wildcats.
Gus Parker was the beneficiary of each botched kicks. Beginning on the Palo Alto 46-yard line, McAndrews discovered receiver Gus Parker on the second play for a 34-yard landing to provide SI a 21-0 lead.
Palo Alto went three-and-out on its subsequent possession and the punter shanked a kick after being hit. Parker discovered the stay ball and ran it into the top zone for twenty-four yards and a landing to provide the ‘Cats a 27-0 lead with the primary quarter winding down.
Parker scored his third landing, breaking freed from the protection for a 28-yard reception from McAndrews within the second quarter.
“Gus is a really dynamic athlete,” Regalia stated. “He has nice pace, nice imaginative and prescient and nice skill. So it is a good begin for him and considerably anticipated for him. He has excessive expectations for himself. Pushes himself, pushes us and raises our bar a little bit bit.”
St. Ignatius started to drag some starters earlier than halftime, together with McAndrew to provide sophomore quarterback Soren Hummel into the sport. Hummel accomplished a 15-yard landing go to junior Ethan Arguelles earlier than halftime.
Each groups went scoreless in a 3rd quarter highlighted by a Wildcats interception by senior Dean Dollosso. Palo Alto received on the board with a couple of minutes remaining on a two-yard speeding landing by Jack Newman.