Saint Ignatius Wildcats honored as one of the top 50 high school football teams in the country

CLEVELAND - Even during the offseason, the Saint Ignatius Wildcats football team is still receiving honors for its state championship season in 2011.

At halftime of the Wildcats home basketball game against Lorain Saturday night, football coach Chuck Kyle accepted a trophy from representatives of Maxpreps.com for finishing the 2011 high school football season as one the countries top 50 teams. The division one state champions finished 15th in the nation in the final Maxpreps.com poll.

"To think that we're ranked 15th in the nation out of 16,000 schools that we're considered is really a flatering and humbling thought," Kyle told NewsChannel5 following the ceremony Saturday evening. "I think when we began the year I don't think we were even 15th in the state but through hard work and determination and just setting goals each week, we became a better team."

Five weeks ago the Wildcats won the schools 11th state championship for Kyle with a 34-13 victory over Pickerington Central. The Wildcats finished the season at 13-2 overall.

"Well everyday there is a little thought about it obviously," Kyle said. "So many people come up and congratulate and appreciate that they think that highly of what we did. I think we represented Northeast Ohio very well."

The Wildcats are the only area football team to finish in the Maxpreps.com top fifty poll.