A New Era for the Wildcats
The Saint Ignatius Wildcats will open the 2026 high school football season on August 20, traveling to face the Avon Eagles in what promises to be a tightly contested opener.
Adding to the excitement, Tom Kaufman, a coach with a 21‑5 record at the high school level, has taken the helm, bringing a proven track record and a fresh vision to the program.
The roster will feature several standout athletes who have already secured Division I scholarships, including Andrew Davalla, who has committed to Northwestern University, and Trey Haddad, headed to Texas A&M, while James Conrad will continue his career at the University at Buffalo.
The schedule is stacked with traditional rivals such as the Mentor Cardinals, the Benedictine Bengals and the storied St. Xavier Bombers, a slate that analysts have ranked as the ninth‑toughest in the program’s history since 1983.
To sharpen their tactics, the Wildcats will stage a series of scrimmages throughout August, and every game of the season will be streamed live on the Saint Ignatius Broadcast Network, giving fans across the region front‑row access.