Rosati, Iammarino go way back on football sidelines

The coaching friendship of Perry’s Matt Rosati and Chagrin Falls’ Mark Iammarino goes a ways back — 22 years to be exact. With the Pirates’ 45-21 win over the Tigers on Sept. 29, the series between Rosati and Iammarino is deadlocked, 11-11.

But their family ties go well beyond the last 22 years of coaching against each other. Their fathers — Ron Rosati and Tony Iammarino — worked together as mail carriers in Mayfield Heights.

“My dad delivered mail to his family way back when,” Rosati said. “There is a lot to (our relationship). Someday when it’s all said and done, I should write a book about all the great games we’ve had against each other and about our dads.”

Iammarino has spent his entire head-coaching career at Chagrin Falls, while Rosati was at West Geauga for 11 years before spending the next 11 years (and counting) at Perry.

Iammarino held a 6-5 advantage against Rosati’s West Geauga Wolverines, while Rosati has a 6-5 edge as Perry’s coach against Iammarino’s Tigers.

Rosati said their paths likely crossed even earlier in the gridiron, while he was offensive coordinator at West Geauga and Iammarino was an assistant at Solon.

“It’s neat,” Rosati said. “He’s definitely one of the best football coaches I’ve ever witnessed. I’d like to think I know him better than I know myself, and he’d probably say the same thing about me. He’s one of the classiest guys I’ve ever been around. It’s been

a lot of fun.”

Ahead of his time

The rugged Western Reserve Conference can often be unkind to young players.

Mike Huss bucked that trend on Sept. 29 in Mayfield’s 38-12 win over Kenston.

In his first varsity start, Huss — a freshman — threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Bombers. Regular starter Jake Dostal missed the game with an injury, and is still considered day-to-day by Coach Ross Bandiera.

“Michael is a special kid,” Bandiera said. “He’s going to be really good for the next three-and-a-half years. I knew how good he was all along. He’s poised, he’s hard-working, quiet and coachable. We’re excited.”

Bandiera said Dostal is still the starter and if he is ready to play against Madison on Oct. 6, he will. But Huss will be ready if he is called upon.

Mayfield improved to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the WRC.

“It was a must-win game for us,” Bandiera said of the Kenston game. “Our season was on the line in playoff terms. That’s a very good Kenston team. Michael just stayed poised, had confidence in his ability and executed the game plan.”

Championship reunion

Brian Malloy didn’t want to do the math.

As he and his former Lake Catholic teammates gathered on the sideline on Sept. 30 for a reunion of their 1992 state championship, Malloy reluctantly added up the years that had passed.

“Twenty-five?” Malloy said with a deep exhale. “It’s embarrassing to announce that.” Perhaps. But it was a great memory to relive.

A few dozen former Cougars gathered at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium for a halftime recognition of their 1992 state title. There were smiles, hugs, handshakes and photos.

Most of all, there were memories.

The 1992 Lake Catholic Cougars finished 14-0, outscored the opposition, 540116. The Cougars capped the perfect season with a 31-7 win over Ironton in the state title game.

Malloy played the state final with a torn ACL.

“Big plays aren’t what we remember the most,” said Brian Wervey. “I think it’s more the little things we did, like practice, JV games and the friendships we developed.

“We get together a few times a year,” said Wervey, who now coaches at Aurora. “It doesn’t feel like we’re 40-something years old, that’s for sure. We probably feel we could go out right now and play. There are a lot of great memories.”

John Kampf