St. Ignatius Routs Berea-Midpark in Playoff Opener
St. Ignatius secured a dominant 49-14 victory over Berea-Midpark to advance in the state playoffs.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Football
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St. Ignatius defeated Berea-Midpark 49-14 in a Division I, Region 1 state playoff game. The victory marks the first playoff advancement for the school since 2023.
Why it matters
The win propels the team forward in the tournament bracket, setting up a high-stakes matchup against the region's top seed. St. Ignatius now prepares to face St. Edward in the next round of competition.
St. Ignatius dominated with two rushing touchdowns each from Dane Donovan, Teague Deinhart, and Tyler McMillon. Dylan Papushak added a 19-yard touchdown pass to Andre Alexander, while Trey Haddad returned a kickoff for a score.
The players
St. Ignatius
St. Ignatius is a high school football program based in Cleveland that competes in the Division I state playoffs.
Berea-Midpark
Berea-Midpark is a high school football team that faced St. Ignatius in the regional playoff bracket.
St. Edward
St. Edward is the No. 1 seeded high school football program in the region that will host the next round of the playoffs.
The details
The St. Ignatius offensive line consistently opened lanes for ball carriers to find the end zone throughout the contest. A key highlight included a sustained scoring drive culminating in a 14-yard touchdown run just before the halftime break.
Timeline
The playoff game took place on October 30, 2026.
St. Ignatius is scheduled to play St. Edward next week.
Season Trajectory
This victory keeps the team alive in the Division I, Region 1 bracket following their early departure in the 2023 OHSAA Division I state playoffs. The win shifts the program into a challenging regional quarterfinal showdown against top-seeded St. Edward.
The win advances St. Ignatius in the Region 1 bracket, forcing a high-stakes matchup against the top-seeded St. Edward squad. This result confirms the team's standing as a serious regional contender heading into the next round of playoff elimination.
The takeaway
Maintaining offensive line consistency remains critical as the team transitions to facing the No. 1 seed. Players will look to replicate this balanced rushing attack to keep their playoff run alive against St. Edward.
What happens next
St. Ignatius will face St. Edward in the next round of the state playoffs, which is scheduled to take place next week.
Further reading
For more local coverage of the postseason, check out our Football section.
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