August 29, 2026
By Heath Scofield
The first home football game in Pickerington of the 2026 season ended up a loss as the No. 25 Pickerington North Panthers (1-1) fell 24-21 to the visiting Cleveland St Ignatius Wildcats (1-1) on Friday.
The Panthers had their opportunities — in fact they a three-point lead with 2:16 to go in the 4th quarter — but undisciplined play would prove costly.
St Ignatius received the ball to start the game, though would quickly get stopped and punt away the 3-and-out. Through a scoreless first quarter, the teams combined for 10 penalties, including two on one drive by Pickerington North.
It wasn’t until 4:10 into the second quarter that a team would get on the board; The Wildcats received a punt on their own 48 and immediately dropped a 50-yard run on the first play of the drive.
The Panthers would manage to hold St Ignatius to a field goal – with a Wildcat holding penalty overturning a touchdown and placing the line of scrimmage at the 11 — before putting their own points up.
The following drive, Pickerington North took seven plays to travel 80 yards, culminating in Junior WR Dennis White taking a 41-yard reception to the house. Nikolaos Agganis’ extra point made the score 7-3.
The Panthers’ penalty woes struck in the next drive, as after a big play by Senior DE Dallas L. Scott Jr and an Intentional Grounding penalty the Wildcats were forced to punt on a 4th and 40 at their own 2. The punt return by Geo McKnight to the 20 was overridden by a Roughing the Kicker penalty that gave St Ignatius a fresh set of downs on the 17.
Two plays later, Senior Trey Haddad would run 82 yards to give the visitors the lead, with the extra point making it 10-7 for the Wildcats.
The Panthers trailed for all of three plays, as Demetrius Neal would find Noah Dumas on the right side of the field for a 74-yard reception that, with another Agganis PAT, would put the Panthers up by 4 going into the half.
The Panthers received the kickoff in the second half, though the drive would be short-lived after a fumble by Freshman RB Jayden Preece would be recovered by St Ignatius in Pickerington North territory.
The first play of the Wildcats’ drive was an incomplete pass flagged for Pass Interference, giving the visitors 1st and 10 on the 25. The visitors would advance to the 15, however Pickerington North’s defense forced them into a 4th and 10, where they would miss the 32-yard field goal.
A Panther 3-and-out later, St Ignatius would put together a 45-yard drive — 12 of which being Pickerington North penalty yards from a Neutral Zone Infraction and an Illegal Substitution — that would put the Wildcats up 17-14 with 3:36 to go in the 3rd Quarter.
The Panthers would return the kickoff for a touchdown, however a flag for an illegal block would have it called back, placing Pickerington North on their own 25. They would then go 3-and-out, with a false start on 3rd and 9 leading to a 4th and 14 they punted from.
With 6:50 left in the 4th quarter Dennis White hauled in a pass and carried it to the house. The 55-yard reception and accompanying extra point by Agganis would put the hosts ahead late.
St Ignatius’ first play after the kickoff was a 63-yard reception by Haddad, placing the Wildcats on the Panther 32. Pickerington North would manage to force a turnover on downs through heavy defensive tackles.
The Panthers received the ball on their own 23 with about 4:00 left in the game, however a false start and a fumble would give the ball back to the visitors on the 19.
Pickerington North held St Ignatius to the 16 with the first three downs, then called their last timeout with 2:16 remaining.
Five seconds later, Wildcat quarterback Jacob Mikin found Jake Lamirand in triple coverage on 4th & 7 to put St Ignatius ahead.
The Panthers received the ball at their 24, but ended up turning the ball over on downs for the Wildcats to kneel out.
With the loss, the Panthers fall to 1-1, which puts them at risk of falling out of the MaxPreps State Top 25.
North’s away again next week, as they travel down Pickerington Road to take on the 0-2 Pickerington Central Tigers at 7pm on Friday, Sept. 4th.
The Wildcats next game is also at 7 p.m. on the 4th, as they host the No. 24 Mentor Cardinals.