Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Cardinal Stritch football program enters a new era under first-year head coach Ryan Ochmanek, who guides the Cardinals into eight-man competition after a year without a program last year.
Aside from three fewer players on the field on each side, eight-man football is played on a field that is 40 yards wide — compared to 53 1/3 for traditional 11-man. The field also remains 100 yards in length.
“I'm excited to see what the kids can do on the field,” Ochmanek said. “I have very high expectations for this team just because of the level of talent we have. I’m looking forward to putting it together and seeing what they can do.”
The Cardinals will compete in the Northern 8 Conference, an eight-man league that features Stryker, Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic, Chalker, Holgate, Fremont St. Joseph Central Catholic, Danbury and Sebring McKinley.
Ochmanek, who has 22 years of experience coaching young players in football, basketball and baseball, joined Stritch as a substitute teacher approximately six months before being named the head football coach in April. He is also the assistant athletic director at the school.
“The transition has been a very easy one,” he said. “I've been around a lot of the kids prior to April. I know a lot of kids at the school, been around them, and kind of have a working relationship with them.”
Stritch’s lone senior is Xavier Blackman, who will see time at wide receiver and running back. Another key player is Jordan Johnson, who will compete at running back, strong safety and linebacker.
Blackman brings a business-like approach to the team, Ochmanek said while praising his all-around athletic ability. He also said that Johnson adds speed and knowledge to the team.
“All of the guys have experience,” Ochmanek said. “But I would say those two are probably my leaders that bring everybody together excitement-wise and just help the team gel even better.”
As far as team strengths, Ochmanek said it’s simply his players being able to put on a Stritch jersey. He estimates that 10-12 kids played elsewhere last year.
“The kids are excited about it,” he said. “They're excited to play for Cardinal Stritch, their home school, and not have to travel anywhere else to play. I think that's what really is our main strength — the willingness to play eight-man and also play for their home school.”
Positionally, Ochmanek said he has at least two guys competing for the running back spot, while there’s four guys battling for starting spots at wide receiver.
“The development has gone really well,” Ochmanek said. “Last year, there were some kids that went to other schools and played, so it's not like we have a brand new team that has no experience. They do have experience playing football.”
Stritch, which plays its home games at Clay Memorial Stadium, opens the season by hosting St. Mary Central Catholic on Aug. 22.
Program history
In July 2024, Stritch canceled its fall season for the second time in three years because of low participation numbers.
The Cardinals went 5-4 and qualified for the Division VI playoffs in 2021 before finishing 2-8 in 2023 under the direction of Al Thompson. At the time, their schedule included three TAAC schools, but they weren’t eligible to compete for a TAAC championship.
Prior to the trouble in recent years, Stritch competed in football since 1963. They joined the Toledo City League from 1971 until the early 1980s. The Cardinals won the City League’s Blue Division title in 1972, falling to Scott 13-6 in the City League’s Shoe Bowl title game inside the Glass Bowl.
The Cardinals left the City League to join the TAAC in 1995. In addition to 2021, they made the state playoffs in 2020, 2006, 1999 and 1975. The 1975 team advanced to the Class AA state semifinals before falling to Cleveland Holy Name.
