1997 National Champion Canton McKinley vs St. Ignatius
- Thread starter JJBulldog
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JJBulldog
Well-known member
This was the State semi final playoff, the much-anticipated rematch of the regular season game played in week 7 @Fawcett Stadium where the undefeated #1 (in the Nation) Canton McKinley Bulldogs faced the undefeated (#4 in the Nation) Cleveland St. Ignatius Wildcats battled before 22,000 fans and 200 press people from throughout the state of Ohio and the nation in what was billed as THE Game of the Century. McKinley won that game 35-31, the Wildcats' only loss of the season.
This Bulldog team featured 12 D1 players, 4 of whom went on to play in the NFL -Michael Doss (Colts), Kenny Peterson (Packers), and Jamar Martin (Cowboys), and Antonio Hall (Indianopolis Colts). McKinley quarterback Ben McDaniels was the coach's son and brother of Josh McDaniels, offensive co-ordinator for perennial Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Bulldogs wide-outs and D-backs were sprinters for McKinley's State Champion track team that year.
St.Ignatius was led by future NFL quarterback Dave Ragone and future NFL all-pro lineman LeCharles Bentley. Chris Haneline was their all-Ohio middle linebacker, Joe Gonzales, and legendary HC Chuck Kyle had won 5 of the last 6 State Championships.
On a freezing cold night which saw execution suffer for both teams, a crowd of some 25,000 @ the Akron Rubber Bowl witnessed one of the most exciting final minutes of a game, ever. Enjoy!
This Bulldog team featured 12 D1 players, 4 of whom went on to play in the NFL -Michael Doss (Colts), Kenny Peterson (Packers), and Jamar Martin (Cowboys), and Antonio Hall (Indianopolis Colts). McKinley quarterback Ben McDaniels was the coach's son and brother of Josh McDaniels, offensive co-ordinator for perennial Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. The Bulldogs wide-outs and D-backs were sprinters for McKinley's State Champion track team that year.
St.Ignatius was led by future NFL quarterback Dave Ragone and future NFL all-pro lineman LeCharles Bentley. Chris Haneline was their all-Ohio middle linebacker, Joe Gonzales, and legendary HC Chuck Kyle had won 5 of the last 6 State Championships.
On a freezing cold night which saw execution suffer for both teams, a crowd of some 25,000 @ the Akron Rubber Bowl witnessed one of the most exciting final minutes of a game, ever. Enjoy!
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JJBulldog
Well-known member
Some fans left early from both sides. The game looked over to most, it was freezing cold, the crowd was huge and the construction in the area meant parking far from the stadium for some. There were St. Ignatius fans walking to their cars thinking they had won. Their players were laughing and joking on their sideline like they knew they had won. You can see them in the video.. But the vast majority of us stayed, anyway. Good thing, too!
UcantCatchMe
Active member
Please post the regular season game!!! I think this board is a cool idea for schools/teams to archive some of their most historic games for everyone to see.