Archbishop Mitty Ends Eight-Year Drought with Win Over St. Ignatius

Archbishop Mitty High School football team celebrated a significant victory on September 29, 2023, defeating their longstanding rival St. Ignatius 37-23. This marks the Monarchs’ first win over the Wildcats in eight years, breaking a streak that had seen St. Ignatius dominate with eight consecutive victories.

The game showcased a remarkable performance by senior running back Lazaro Faraj-Washington, who rushed for 234 yards and scored three touchdowns. The Monarchs (3-1, 1-0) demonstrated a strong defensive strategy, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Wildcats to only one first down for most of the match.

In a postgame reflection, head coach Danny Sullivan expressed relief and joy, stating, “Eight years of frustration.” Under his leadership, this victory not only matched last year’s win total but also marked a turning point for the program, which finished with a disappointing 1-6 record in the West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) last season.

The Monarchs quickly established control of the game. Faraj-Washington’s impressive 47-yard run on the second play from scrimmage set up a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Joseph Engin to give Mitty an early lead. Although St. Ignatius initially responded with a touchdown of their own, the Monarchs surged ahead and did not look back.

Mitty’s defense proved formidable, as they executed a series of three-and-outs against the Wildcats. Caden Kelly’s interception at the start of the second half further solidified the Monarchs’ dominance. The game reached its peak when defensive back Kai Sniffen returned an interception for a touchdown, bringing the score to 37-7 with just over eight minutes remaining.

The Wildcats, last season’s CCS Open Division champions, struggled to find their rhythm. Coach Sullivan noted that the defensive line’s ability to create chaos was crucial in disrupting St. Ignatius’s offensive strategy. “The way our defense moves and does things creates a lot of confusion for an opposing offense,” he said.

Faraj-Washington’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he aimed to honor his older brother, Zondre, who was part of the last Mitty team to defeat St. Ignatius. Reflecting on the victory, he said, “It was just a lot of pent-up — we haven’t beat these guys in eight years. He told me he was on the last team to beat them, so I had to make history repeat itself.”

This victory is seen as a turning point for Archbishop Mitty, which has struggled to establish a strong presence in the league in recent years. Sullivan emphasized the importance of building a new identity for the team, saying, “Maybe things haven’t been great the last couple of years, but we’re trying to find our footing.”

Looking ahead, Faraj-Washington expressed confidence in his team’s future, declaring, “I don’t see us losing at all. That’s the goal: I don’t want to see us lose any games.” With this momentum, Archbishop Mitty aims to continue its success as the season progresses.