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Community Corner

St. Edward Hosts St. Ignatius Saturday in Football 'Holy War'

On the line this year is home-field advantage in the first round of playoffs.

The Ohio State-Michigan of northeast Ohio high school football is right around the corner.

This Saturday, Oct. 29, defending Division-I state champion (7-2) hosts Cleveland’s St. Ignatius (7-2) in the last game of the regular season at 7 p.m. at Lakewood Stadium.

The game will likely decide which team gets home field advantage in this year’s playoffs. The top four teams in the Ohio High School Athletic Association poll will host first-round games. In the latest poll, St. Ignatius is ranked third, and St. Edward is fourth.

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For some fans, the rivalry provides an excuse to give each other some good-natured grief. But for Grace Leon, of Cleveland, it’s a little more emotional.

Leon’s husband, Wayne Leon, was a Cleveland police officer killed in the line of duty in 2000, after a routine Sunday-morning traffic stop.

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Wayne was a 1986 graduate of St. Ignatius, and Grace decided to establish a scholarship fund in his name.

“Wayne always knew he was making a difference in people’s lives,” Grace said. “This is how I can help him continue to make that difference.”

The Wayne Leon ’86 Scholarship Fund is for St. Ignatius students whose parents are members of safety forces. An adult fundraiser for the fund is being held during the game, at Cleveland's West Park Station Restaurant and Bar, 17015 Lorain Ave. Tickets are $20, and they get you all the draft beer, house wine, well drinks, pizza and wings you want from 7-9 p.m. All proceeds go to the fund.

The bar will show the game, Leon said.

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