Week 1 Review

Mentor started off the regular season with an easy 48-14 road win against Boardman.  Here are some of the headlines of the win:

Floriea Impresses

It is no secret that the rise of Mentor's football program over the last dozen years is a direct correlation of the elite play of their QB's.  Thom Abbot, Chris Jacquemain (RIP), Bart Tanski, Mitch Trubisky, and Conner Krizancic were some combination of DI college QB, All-Ohio, and Mr. Football.  As the 2013 season ended, there was no question in many eyes who would be the 2014 starter.  It wasn't Jake Floriea.  With last year's brief sophomore sensation (Matt Eiswerth) deciding to concentrate on baseball, Floriea took the reigns.  He has not disappointed at all.  In the two scrimmages along with Week 1, Floriea has shown the ability to be a very good QB.  On Friday he was 16-20 for 228 yards and three TD's.  He also scrambled for a rushing TD.  It was a very efficient evening for the first-year varsity starter.  I look forward to see how he continues to grow throughout the season.

Defensive Line 

Going into the season, all of the attention on defense went to the defensive line.  Nico Lautanen, Trevor Morrison, and Billy Hudson are the headlining trio.  Morrison was the biggest standout of the three as his night included sacks and fumble recovery.  Lautanen also made an impact getting after the Boardman QB behind the line.  The inside DT combination of Lautanen/Hudson made it almost impossible for the Spartans to get any productive runs between the tackles.  Let it be said that the first team defense played very well overall.  Boardman had one good drive for a score, but the rest of the time it was Mentor's defense that won the battles.

Eddie, Eddie, and more Eddie

Senior Eddie Daugherty had a fantastic 2013 season that culminated with being a record receiver in the state championship game (18 receptions for 177 yards).   It was logical to think that Daugherty would have a difficult time being as effective now that the attention from opposing defenses starts with him.  The 5'7 WR/RB can no longer be just "another guy" in an offense keyed by Trubisky, Fritts, and Krizancic.  As the focal point of the offense, Eddie came up big.  He had touchdowns in three different ways:  passing (the 5th of his career), receiving, and punt return.  

Spread the Wealth

It was encouraging to see the touchdowns come in such a variety of ways from a variety of individuals.  A halfback pass, QB scramble, 54-yard touchdown run (Alex Mathews), and long punt return were some of the ways Mentor got in the endzone.  Two different players passed for a touchdown (Floriea and Daugherty), three different receivers caught a touchdown pass (Daugherty, Jason Blizzard, and Jerrell Jackson), two different players rushed for a touchdown (Mathews and Floriea), and Daugherty had a punt return for a score.  That kind of variety will put opposing defenses in a very tough position.

What's Next?

St Ignatius.  What else needs to be said?

2014 Mentor Preview

I have previewed the rest, so why not preview the best?  Here is a look at what to expect for the 2014 version of the Mentor Cardinals:

Looking Back...

The 2013 season was another successful season for the program.  A 9-1 regular season included a sweep of the NOC Valley once again.  had its ups and downs to be sure.  Mentor won their fourth regional title since 2006 and made their third state final.  It was the second straight season Mentor picked up playoff wins in back-to-back weeks over St Ignatius (26-3) and St Edward (41-38).  Unfortunately, the defense couldn't figure out how to stop Moeller in the championship game.  In light of a record-setting offense in the state final and scoring 52 points, Mentor gave up a state record 55 points.  It was an exciting game, but crushing defeat for a team that once again came so close. 
 

Conner Krizancic was much better at QB than most could have imagined.  He threw for 3,230 yards and 32 TD's.  The dual threat QB had a team high 1,455 rushing yards and 23 TD's.  The All-Ohio WR turned All-Ohio QB is now at Minnesota.  WR Brandon Fritts (31 career TD's and close to 3,000 receiving yards) has joined Mitch Trubisky at North Carolina.  Fritts had a memorable Mentor career and is the most accomplished receiver in the program's history.  Fellow receiver Corey Plavcan was another talented offensive player that graduated.  All five starting offensive lineman from last season were seniors.  They will be missed. 

 

On defense, All-Ohio DE Kent Berger leaves a big hole.  Delvon Maddox, also a DE, was another key part to the defense who has since graduated.  All-Ohio LB Justin McMahon had a very good season.  The defense had some very good moments last year (5 shutouts).  Graduating 7 defensive starters puts a lot of pressure on the new group.  Mentor also graduated two-year starting kicker Mike Muzic.
 

Offense...

 

At this time last year, I thought it would be incredibly difficult for Mentor's new QB to match the incredibly high level of the previous QB.  Krizancic had a season to remember.  His level of play was nearly identical to his Mr. Football predecessor.  Incoming QB Jake Floriea was set to compete with Matt Eiswerth - last year's early season sophomore sensation.  Eiswerth decided to focus on baseball, which opened up the clear path for Floriea to lead the offense.  The senior has looked sharp in the scrimmage season.  Mentor's offense will not be going down the field as much as they did the past few years.  Mixing up more short to intermediate passing along with a stronger commitment to the running game will be the main focus. 

Senior RB/WR Eddie Daugherty (Eastern Michigan commit) will be the focal point of every opposing defense.  Daugherty continues to elevate his game and will be one of the most dangerous playmakers in the entire states.  Junior RB Alex Mathews is bigger, faster, and better than the player we saw last season.  Mathews has what it takes to be a 1,000-yard rusher - the first at RB since Mike Korecz in 2010.  First year starters at receiver include juniors Malik Porter and Jason Blizzard.  Both are deep threats on the outside.  RB/WR Jerrell Jackson will be an important part of the offense whether he is lined up in the slot or in the backfield.  The offensive line looks good so far.  The attention will be given to incoming transfer Reggie Browley (6'7, 350) due to his size.  But the rest of the line has blocked well so far in the preseason. 

 

Defense...

The strength of the defense should continue to be on the line.  DT Nico Lautanen (6'3, 265), DT Billy Hudson (6'3, 285), and DE Trevor Morrison (6'2, 250) all were important parts of last year's defense.  Lautanen, a Bowling Green commit, should again be an All-Ohio level player.  Hudson, a varsity player since he was a freshman, is looking stronger and better.  Those two in the middle of the line will cause a lot of problems for opposing interior lineman.  Morrison is transitioning to his new position on the end as last year he rotated with Hudson at tackle.  The success of the defense will start and end with this talented trio. 

 

LB JD Matsko is a three-year starter and will play in the middle.  The senior captain has some big shoes to fill as he moves over to replace Justin McMahon.  The outside linebackers and safeties have a lot of speed, which will hopefully make up for their lack of size.  The defense will be as quick as they have ever been.  Hopefully that will translate to forcing a lot of turnovers.  Seniors Marc Walton and Brenden Parker will play the pivotal cornerback positions.  If Mentor can get some consistency out of their secondary, that will go a long way toward a deep playoff run.

 

Prediction...

Usually teams that only bring back two offensive starters and four defensive starters don't reload to an elite level.  But from what I have seen so far in scrimmages, this Mentor team isn't any further behind than last year's team was in August.  The offense has reloaded very well.  The offensive line looks good.  QB Jake Floriea is looking comfortable with his arm.  As quick as he is, expect Floriea to blossom into a productive runner in this system as well.  The skill position players are all talented.  Eddie Daugherty is the preseason offensive MVP for the team and I expect him to put up big numbers even though opposing defenses will be focused on him.  The defense has shown the potential to be as good (or even better) than last year's group.  Lautanen, Hudson, and Morrison are the strength of the defense and it will star

 

There are some concerns.  The team doesn't have much depth at QB behind Floriea.  He needs to stay healthy.  The new starters on defense are plenty and they still have some room to grow.  The linebackers aren't a big group, so stuffing the run will probably not be a strength.  They will need to find some consistency in the punting and kicking game after the graduation of Muzic.  One of the biggest concerns for the program the last several years has been the secondary.  There needs to be some improvement in that unit for Mentor to accomplish their goals of a league title, Week 11 at home, and winning a state championship. 

The toughest games of the season will be the road contests at St Ignatius and Hudson.  St Edward is clearly the team to beat in Region 1.  Ignatius and Hudson join Mentor in the second tier of top Region 1 teams.  Those are the only two games I could see Mentor losing this season.  My conservative prediction is that Mentor will split those and win the rest of their games.  But an undefeated regular season is certainly feasible.

 

And so...I predict a 9-1 regular seasons, hosting a Week 11 playoff game, and another deep playoff run. 

Hoover Scrimmage Recap

Mentor had another strong showing in a scrimmage against one of Stark County's best.  After handling Massillon last Saturday, the Cards shutout Hoover 27-0 in one half of game-like conditions.  The first team offense has scored touchdowns on 9 of their 10 possessions in the last two scrimmages.  The defense has yet to give up a score.  The preseason scrimmages really couldn't have gone any better.

Mentor's first drive of the game was the only that didn't end in a score.  A sustained drive stalled at the 20-yard line with a missed field goal.  Mentor scored touchdowns on their next four possessions.  QB Jake Floriea had another solid effort as he helped move the offense with his arm and occasionally his legs.  Floriea mixed it up in spreading the ball around to all of the receivers.  Most of his throws were short to intermediate passes, but Floriea did show the ability to stretch the field.  He is still trying to get comfortable figuring out how to use his athleticism to break some big runs, but I expect that to be a part of his game that blossoms. 

Like the Massillon scrimmage, Mentor did a good job of mixing up the pass and run on offense.  Junior RB Alex Mathews is looking very good.  He has a dangerous combination of size, speed, and vision.  Mathews had a few good runs to go along with a 3-yard touchdown.  Mathews looks to be a very important and effective part of the offense. 

RB/WR Eddie Daugherty was the offensive player that stood out the most.  His 24-yard catch and run went for a touchdown and put Mentor up 27-0.  Daugherty had a rushing touchdown for the first score of the scrimmage.  Mostly operating in the slot, Daugherty also got some carries in the back field.  When Eddie gets into open space, he is incredibly dangerous.  He is Mentor's MVP on offense right now. 

The offensive line, replacing all 5 seniors starters from 2013, looked very sharp.  Big Reggie Browley (6'7, 350) stands out due to his size, but he backed up that size with a productive game.  The entire line did a great job in protecting Floriea.  He was pretty comfortable in the pocket during the entire scrimmage.  The offensive line also did a good job of opening holes for Mathews, Daugherty, and senior RB/WR Jerrel Jackson.  The third score of the night came on a short run from Jackson. 

The offense will get the press clippings, but the defense showed a lot tonight as well.  The defensive line set the tone.  The big and talented trio of Nico Lautanen, Billy Hudson, and Trevor Morrison all made some big plays.  The defense allowed a couple of sustained drives by Hoover, but overall it was pleasing to see the Cards keep the opponent off the score board.  The defense is creating turnovers, stopping the run, and limiting the opposing passing game.  If they continue to grow, this could be a good unit.  Lots of potential speed and playmaking ability in the secondary and at linebacker. 

Strength of Schedule

Its not an exact science to rank the opponents on Mentor's schedule.  Given what I know, here is how I would rank the opponents/games on the 2014 schedule from toughest to easiest:

The Big Ones...

1. St Ignatius (Week 2):  For me, the schedule's focal point is always going to start with the dynasty that is St Ignatius.  Coach Chuck Kyle (11 state titles) is among the most successful high school football coaches in the country.  The Cats don't have the amount of top shelf talent they have had in recent years.  The players at QB, RB, and WR will be relative unknowns to those outside of the program.  But Ignatius does have two of the best lineman in the Midwest (OL Liam Eichenberg and DE Dre'mont Jones).  As usual, Ignatius seniors are ones that have waited their turn behind a talented group in front of them.  Expect this to be the most difficult game (and most probable loss) of the season.  Mentor is 3-0 against the Wildcats at Byers in November games.  But they are just 1-3 against Ignatius at Byers in regular season games.

2. Hudson (Week 9):  If Mentor wants to go out of the NOC on a winning note, they will have to get through Hudson.  The Explorers are built for a good run this season behind talented QB Mitch Guadagni and a good senior class.  This is a road game and Mentor can expect a rowdy crowd in what could be the most significant home game in Hudson's history.  On paper, Hudson has the most talented returnees of any team on Mentor's schedule.  This will be a tough game to win.  The Explorers will probably start the season as the second ranked team (behind St Edward) in the seven county Cleveland.com coverage area.

Good, but not Great...

3. Brunswick (Week 7):  The Blue Devils bring back 12 starters from last season, including back QB Steven Ficyk (1,646 yards and 14 TD's last season) to lead the offense.  Brunswick lost 45-3 (regular season) and 42-0 (playoffs) to Mentor last season, so they will welcome Mentor with a lot of passion.  You can bet that the Blue Devils, a team with 40 seniors, will be ready to compete for the NOC Valley as well as a Region 1 playoff spot.

4. Solon (Week 8):  The Comets have been on Mentor's schedule since the beginning of the Triv era.  There have been a lot of big games over the years between these two teams.  Rivalry is the best way to describe the annual battle between these two strong programs.  Solon has lost four straight to the Cardinals, who averaged 43.8 points per game in that stretch.  The Comets have some standout defensive players (LB John Seinsibaugh and DE Tyree Seals are among the 8 returning starters) to go along with experience at the QB position.  I don't expect this game to be as easy as the past two seasons.  Having the game in Mentor helps.

5. Strongsville (Week 10):  After a few years of struggling, the Mustangs took a positive step in finishing 5-5 last season.  They have a good and deep senior class that is ready to return to the playoffs.  I think Strongsville will compete very well in the NOC Valley this season.  QB Bobby Cole should be very good as he enters his third season as a starter.  The Mustangs return a group of big and talented linemen to go along with some of their top skill players on offense.

Minor Challenge...

6. Brush (Week 5):  The Arcs have some speed and talent.  Last year they put quite a scare.  I don't expect the similar kind of offensive explosion unless they can effectively replace dynamic QB Stephen Shorts.  Brush does have 2-3 returning skill players on offense that could give Mentor some challenges.  Standout LB Matthew Draper is also one to watch out for.

7. Euclid (Week 3):  The Panthers may only win 3 or 4 games this season due to a tough schedule with just 9 games.  Euclid has some good returning players on both sides of the ball, but they don't have the type of talent and depth to steal a game in Mentor.  The Panthers haven't beaten the Cardinals in Lake County since the 90's.

Running Clock...

8.  Boardman (Week 1):  The opening game for Mentor will be a challenge as they try to replace nearly every offensive starter as well as several key players on defense.  Boardman had a miserable 2013, but I expect them to take at least a couple steps forward this season.  But still, this is a team that went 1-9 last season and their only win was against an 0-10 team.

9. Shaker (Week 6):  If Shaker couldn't play with Mentor last year when they had a strong senior class (featuring eight, yes EIGHT DI football commits) - I don't expect the Red Raiders to have much of a shot this year.  The DI talent is gone.  A good senior class is gone.  Mentor will have this game at home again.  It should be an easy win.

10. Twinsburg (Week 4):   Mentor had their most dominant performance last season against the Tigers in which the Cards built up a 45-0 lead in barely over one half of play.  Twinsburg's program has fallen on hard times and it doesn't look to get much better this season.  The Tigers are in over their heads in games against Mentor and the NOC Valley.  For what its worth, Twinsburg is still the only conference opponent to beat Mentor in six seasons.

Massillon Scrimmage Review

First of all, it is important to note that scrimmages are not games.  The results, winners, and final score should be looked at with a grain of salt.  Even though this particular scrimmage did have pretty realistic game-like conditions, a team (and its fans) shouldn't get too high or too low with the results.

With all of that said, Mentor's 35-0 "win" over Massillon was an impressive showing.  The varsity began their day with each team's offense getting 10 plays.  Both Mentor and Massillon moved the ball into the red zone, but neither scored.  After that point, the game-like conditions began.  It was one half of football.  Besides a ban on hitting on special teams (punts and kicks returns), the only major difference between the scrimmage and a real game was a lack of hitting on the QB's.  Anytime they were touched (behind or past the line of scrimmage), the refs stopped the play.  Besides that, it felt like real game conditions.

Mentor's offense looked pretty sharp considering they were replacing a Mr. Football candidate at QB (Krizancic), an All-Ohio receiver (Fritts), and the entire offensive line.  QB Jake Floriea was hardly perfect, but he did make a lot of good throws.  An important thing is he didn't throw any interceptions.  RB/WR Eddie Daugherty continues to impress.  Whether he was getting carries out of the backfield or catching passes down out of the slot, Daugherty was the most effective player for the Cardinals.  Daugherty had one touchdown reception today along with a few other big plays.

The offense did a good job of mixing up the passing and running game.  They were very balanced.  Floriea didn't run much, but that was by design.  I expect his legs to be a bigger part of the offense as the regular season starts.  RB Alex Mathews looked good today.  He had a couple long runs, including a touchdown sprint that took him around 60 yards.  He ran through and then outraced the Massillon defense down the sideline.  Mathews also put Mentor up 28-0 with a short touchdown run.

The final score of the day was a nice jumping touchdown catch by WR Malik Porter.  The 6'2 junior looks like he could be a very nice receiver.  I was also impressed with fellow junior receiver Jason Blizzard.  He lines up on the outside opposite of Porter.  Blizzard looks like he can fill in nicely in a role Corey Plavcan had last year.  Senior RB/WR Jerome Jackson looked comfortable in his transition to more of a receiver role.  He had a few big plays today, including a short touchdown run for the first score of the game.

I can't speak for Massillon.  I know that they are considered one of the top teams in Division II.  They have a big time QB (sophomore Danny Clark) that has already committed to Ohio State.  The Tigers didn't look very good today.  Mentor's first team defense shut them out on all six possessions.  Massillon picked up multiple first downs on just one or two of those possessions.  Massillon had four punts, a fumble, and a turnover on downs.  Mentor's defense was steady.  The defensive line can be difference makers with guys like Nico Lautanen, Billy Hudson, and Trevor Morrison.  The secondary broke up some passes.  Massillon didn't have any consistency on offense today.  Mentor's defense certainly had a say in that.

Overall, I have to believe the coaches were very pleased with the scrimmage.

Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 10)

This is the tenth and final in a series of previews of Mentor's 2014 opponents.  

Week 10

Who:  Strongsville

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  October 31 at 7:00

Opposing Coach:  Larry Laird (1st season at Strongsville, 17-6 record as head coach)
History:  Since the two started playing regularly in 2006, Mentor is 7-2 against Strongsville

Looking Back…

Legendary coach Russ Jacques stepped down after last season's 5-5 season.  Strongsville hit a rough patch from 2009-2011, so last season was actually a pretty positive step.  Last season in Week 10, the Mustangs gave Mentor all they could handle in the first half before the Cards pulled away 45-19.  Strongsville was undefeated (5-0) against teams with losing records and 0-5 against teams with winning records.  LB Clay Carusso and OL Brandon Bailey were among the standouts that graduated.  

Schedule…

One half of Strongsville's schedule are a group of five teams that combined for a 15-35 record.  The Mustangs won all of those games last year.  Lake Catholic, Berea, Parma, Medina, and Twinsburg are important games for Strongsville to win again.  The other half of the schedule were against 5 playoff teams.  Strongsville lost all of those games.  Besides Mentor, the toughest games on the schedule will be Hudson and Cleveland Heights.  Just like last season, the games against Solon and rival Brunswick will make or break the season.  If they want to make the playoffs, the Mustangs will need to win one - if not both of those games.

2014 Strongsville Outlook…

Larry Laird, the mysterious coaching magic man, is a big part of the season.  Laird has spent one season at Medina and one at Avon Lake.  Laird took the teams to the playoffs in both seasons (winning three playoff games) and stepped down after his lone season both times.  What will happen with Laird at Strongsville?  He steps in with a good and deep senior class.  Senior QB Bobby Cole (over 3,000 career passing yards) has been starting since he was a sophomore and could be one of the top at his position in NEO.  Cole will have some big and experienced guys protecting him on the line.  Returning skill players include RB Dominic Lombardo (778 yards in 2013) and WR Drew Robertson (608 yards).  Senior DE Austin Platt (6'3, 255) is one of the standout players on defense.  Platt had 10 sacks in the last five games of the season.  LB Kylen Bailey (110 tackles) and DB Zach Kahn are other key players on defense.  The Mustangs will aim for their 12th playoff appearance and first since 2008 if they can win a few NOC Valley games.  

Opponent Preview: Hudson (Week 9)

Week 9

Who:  Hudson

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Hudson Memorial Stadium

When:  October 24 at 7:00  

Opposing Coach:  Ron Wright (29-7 at Hudson)

History:  Last year, Mentor defeated Hudson 38-14 in what is their only meeting

Looking Back...

Hudson (10-2 overall) finished the 2013 regular season with a 9-1 record and ended up in 2nd place (behind Mentor) in the competitive NOC Valley.  Mentor defeated Hudson 38-14 in Week 9 last season.  The Explorers defeated four playoff qualifiers (Brecksville, Stow, Brunswick, and Solon) during their regular season and were the No. 3 seed in Region 1.  Hudson defeated Toledo Whitmer, 31-7, in the first playoff game.  Hudson played St Ignatius in Week 12 in what was the biggest game in the program's history.  An injury to star QB Mitch Guadagni during the 3rd quarter stalled Hudson's early lead.  St Ignatius won 28-17.  While the majority of the key players on offense last year were juniors, the two most valuable players on defense were seniors - LB Ben Hart and DB John Zucarro.  Both were 1st team all-district.  

Schedule...

Hudson’s non-league schedule includes Euclid, Uniontown Lake, and Brecksville.  These three teams combined for a 20-10 record in 2013.  Hudson will be challenged, but should be able to start off 3-0 once again.  The two NOC crossovers are Stow (10-2) and Cuyahoga Falls (2-8).  Hudson;s toughest task will be the NOC Valley schedule.  The league as a whole will be better than last season.  Wins against Strongsville, Brunswick, and Solon will not come as easy as they did last year, but Hudson is right there with Mentor as the favorites in the league.  

2014 Hudson Outlook...

The success starts with three-year starter QB Mitch Guadagni.  The 6'3 senior has committed to Toledo after throwing for over 2,000 yards in each of the last two seasons.  Guadagni was also the leading rusher for the Hudson offense.  Guadagni should be one of the most complete QB's in Ohio.  His main targets this season will be returning receivers Colton Whited and Reid Robinson.  Whited (1st-team All-Ohio in 2013) led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns last season.  Hudson also brings back a lot of talent and experience on both lines.  Senior Dylan Carlson is a three-year starter on the offensive line. The defense will be strong in the front seven, led by LB Matt Rightnour and DE Grant Elffers.  A lack of experience in the defensive backfield is one of the only concerns.  This senior class is a good one.  Outside of St Edward, no big school in NEO brings back as much talent and depth as Hudson.  They are good enough to beat Mentor, win the NOC Valley, and win some games in November.  

Next:  Strongsville (Week 10)

Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 8)

Week 8

Who:  Solon

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  October 17th at 7:00

Opposing Coach:  Jim McQuaide (95-32 at Solon, 171-94 overall)

History:  Mentor leads the overall series 11-9.  Solon leads the regular season series 9-7, but Mentor has won all four playoff meetings (2002, 2006, 2007, 2011).

Looking Back…

Solon (6-5 in 2013) has struggled for the last two seasons, going just 11-10 (0-1 in playoffs).  After an up and down season in 2013, the Comets fell to Westerville Central (55-7) in the first round of the playoffs.  Mentor won 35-0 during Week 8 at Solon.  It was one of their top defensive games of the season.  As for Solon, their biggest wins on the season were against playoff teams Kenston and Brunswick.  Some key players will need to be replaced.  Brandon Reynolds, a standout defensive end, was the leader of the line and led the team in tackles-for-loss.  RB Antwain Hamilton (leader in rushing yards and touchdowns) and WR Kollyn Crenshaw were the standouts at the skill positions.  The offensive line graduated a few key starters.  

Schedule…

The Comets will open the season with games against Kenston, Shaker Heights, and South.  All three made the playoffs last season.  In my opinion, Weeks 1-3 will make or break Solon's season.  Mayfield and Valley Forge are the NOC crossovers.  Both teams are improved from last season, but Solon will be the favorite.  The NOC Valley schedule also includes Hudson, Brunswick, Twinsburg, and Strongsville.  Overall, Solon’s schedule has six returning playoff teams.  If Solon can find a way to at least get a split in those games, they will put themselves in good position to return to the playoffs.  

 

2014 Solon Outlook…

Solon brings back their two QB's, Ryan Gallagher (over 1,000 passing yards last season) and Matt Laubscher.  Both have been getting varsity reps at QB since their sophomore seasons.  Experience and depth at the position will be a big advantage for Solon.   Hamilton, 1,000-yard rusher last season, will be missed at the RB position.   Look for Gil Barksdale and Melvin Jackson to be the primary ball carriers.  Both were productive on varsity even though Barksdale was a sophomore and Jackson was a freshman.  The top 5 receivers for the Comets last season were seniors.  That will be a key position they need to reload.  Defensively, Solon's top returnees are LB John Sensibaugh (three-year starter) and DE Tyree Seals.  Sensibaugh was the leading tackler for Solon for the second straight season.  Seals was second on the team in tackles-for-loss.  LB Alex Brown (3rd in tackles last season) and junior DL Ben Peterson (a starter since he was a freshman) are other top returning players on defense.  If the Comets can establish a consistent offense, the team should be able to return to the playoffs.  

Next:  Hudson (Week 9)

Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 7)

Week 7

Who:  Brunswick

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium

When:  October 10th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach:  Luke Beal (5th season at Brunswick, 24-17 record)

History:  Mentor has won all three regular season meetings as NOC members.  Mentor also won the playoff game last season, 42-0.  The teams played in the 2007 state semifinal, in which Mentor won 39-14.  

Looking Back...

Brunswick finished 6-5 last season as they fell to Mentor in the first round of the playoffs. The Blue Devils best win last season was against Elyria, another playoff team in Region 1.  Brunswick had a tough schedule that included losses to Mentor, Hudson, and Fitch - three of the top teams in NEO last season.  The Cards outscored the Blue Devils 85-3 in the two games.  Brunswick sneaked into the playoffs as the 15 seed in light of a 6-4 record.  Brunswick had 8 players receive all-district recognition.  All but one of those players were seniors.  WR/DB Zach Parker, LB Elijah Galloway. and DL Justin Boey are among the standouts that graduated.  

Schedule...

Brunswick has five teams (Mentor, Fitch, Solon, Elyria, and Hudson) on the schedule that made the 2013 playoffs.  Rivalry games with Strongsville and Medina are always key to the season.  The NOC Valley schedule will be more challenging than last season.   Games against Normandy (0-10), Padua (4-6), Medina (3-7), and Twinsburg (2-8) are very probable wins.  How the Blue Devils perform against Elyria, Solon, and Strongsville will be the difference between making the playoffs or not.   

2014 Brunswick Outlook...

Coach Beal's teams have steadily improved to finish 5-5, 6-4, and 7-3 in his first three seasons.  Brunswick's 6-4 record last season was a step back in terms of wins, but they did make the playoffs.  Most of the prominent players from last season have graduated, but there are 40 upcoming seniors on this team that are ready to contribute.  The Blue Devils return six starters on each side of the ball, so experience will be on their side.  This is a deep and experienced group led by returning QB Steven Ficyk (6'4, 215).  The senior threw for over 1,600 yards last season and 14 TD's.  He will be key to the team's success.  RB/WR Joe Pinzone (439 all-purpose yards last season) and WR/TE Ethan Engelka (6'3, 218) return to give Ficyk some talented targets.  DL Tom Knuff (6'2, 285) is the best returning lineman. 

Next Preview:  Solon (Week 8)

Opponent Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 6)

Week 6

 

Who: Shaker Heights

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference crossover game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium

When: October 2nd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jarvis Gibson (4th season at Shaker, 16-14)

History:  Mentor and Shaker played annually in the Lake Erie League from 1993 to 2010.  Mentor held a slight edge (9-7) during that time.  Mentor won 52-14 last season.  The two will soon be together in three different leagues (LEL, NOC, GCC) over a 5 year period starting next season.  Mentor and Shaker will join Solon, Strongsville, Elyria, Brunswick, Medina, and Euclid in the Greater Cleveland Conference beginning in the 2015-16 season.  

Looking Back...

Shaker Heights is coming off a very successful back-to-back stint.  After finishing 8-2 in 2012, the Red Raiders found their way into the expanded Region 1 playoffs (for the first time since 2005) as the 16 seed.  It ended up with a 49-0 defeat from St Edward, but it was another step in the process of Gibson building the program.  Shaker graduated 8 seniors that signed with DI college football programs.  In spite of their talent on the field, Mentor was able to put it to Shaker Heights at home with a 52-14 win.  

Schedule...

Shaker has kicked their schedule up a notch or two from last season.  The Red Raiders still have University (2-8 in 2013) to open the season.  But they have replaced JFK and Cleveland Central Catholic with Solon and Avon Lake - two of the premier programs in the Cleveland area for many years.  The NOC River (the middle division) has long been the most equally balanced in terms of competition.  Mayfield, North Royalton, Medina, Elyria, and Stow join Shaker in the River.  Normandy (0-10 last season) and Mentor are the NOC crossovers.  Shaker will really have to earn their way back to the playoffs with this schedule.  

2014 Shaker Heights Outlook...

Coach Jarvis Gibson has helped bring some excitement back to the Shaker football program.  Last season's playoff appearance combined with the success of the individual talent made for a memorable run.  But with last year's team being featuring seniors so heavily, there wasn't a lot of opportunities for the underclassmen.  Shaker will have their hands full in replacing players such as DE Joe Henderson (Tennessee), OL Ja'Marez Brown (Cincinnati), and WR Odell Spencer (Cincinnati).  All of their top skill players on offense (including QB Brian Jones) have graduated.  Gibson will have his hands full this year by putting a lot of last year's JV players into key positions on the team.  Among the few returning players with varsity experience are WR Marcus Carthon, RB Jeff Massey, and linemen Gary Harris/Jerson Gaskins.  Look for senior Adin Leibovich to be the starting QB.  One thing that will help is the incoming transfer of RB Casimier Mitchell (1,000-yard rusher for Lakewood last season).  

Next Preview:  Brunswick (Week 7)

Opponent Preview: Brush (Week 5)

This is the fifth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2014 season.

Week 5

Who:  Brush

What:  NOC Crossover

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  September 26th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Josh Wells (3rd season, 14-6 record)

History:  Mentor and Brush played last season for the first time since their old GCC days.  Mentor won the offensive battle 62-43.

Looking Back...
Last season Brush had a successful season as they finished 7-3 and went to the Region 3 playoffs.  The Arcs lost to top seeded Glenville (DII state runners-up) in the first round.  The Week 5 game at Brush last season was certainly one of the most challenging regular season games of the season for the Cards.  The high powered Brush offense caught Mentor sleeping as they jumped out to a commanding 28-7 lead.  Mentor eventually played up to their potential on both sides of the ball as they went on a 55-7 run.  The game was a wakeup call for the Mentor defense.  After surrendering 43 points to Brush, the Cards gave up just a total of 53 points over the next 8 games.  

Schedule...
Besides Mentor, Brush plays only two teams that had winning records in 2013.  The schedule sets up nicely as Brush plays in the least competitive division of the NOC.  The nonleague games are Padua, Lakeside, and Kenston.  The schedule provides a lot of opportunities for wins.  Key games on the season are Kenston (made playoffs last season), local rival Mayfield, and Garfield Heights (7-3 last season).  A win over Brush should mean a good amount of computer points for Mentor.  

2014 Brush Outlook...
Brush has a lot of talent to replace from last season.  QB Stephen Shorts, WR Ugochhukwu Onunwor, RB Javari Gill, and top lineman Jonah Harper were among the standouts on a very talented offense.  Brush returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.  As the Arcs look to build on that appearance, the cupboard is hardly bare.  LB Matthew Draper (6'1, 215) - a transfer from Glenville - is the most talented player on the Brush roster.  Draper has several DI offers that include Kentucky, Louisville, and Cincinnati.  RB Darryl McCluney (6'3, 215) was one of the leading rushers (754 yards, 8 TD's) for the Arcs last season.  WR Jordan Overton (offers from several MAC schools) made an impact on the offense last season as a sophomore.  Finding a replacement for the dynamic Shorts will be a big key to their season.  If they can do that, a return to the playoffs is within reach.

Next Preview:  Shaker Heights (Week 6)

Opponent Preview: Twinsburg (Week 4)

Week 4

Who: Twinsburg
What:   Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley) game
Where:  Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium
When:  September 19th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Joe Schiavone (3rd season at Twinsburg, 15-15 record)
History:  An original NOC member, Twinsburg joined the Valley division (2011) at the same time Mentor joined the conference.  Twinsburg upset a 9-0 Mentor team (No. 1 in AP poll at the time) in the 2011 regular season finale, 38-35.  Mentor has outscored Twinsburg by a total score of 90-0 the past two seasons.

Looking Back...

Twinsburg (2-8 in 2013) had its first losing season since 2007.  Their schedule was brutal (played seven playoff teams), and the Tigers were in a rebuilding season.  The Week 4 game at Twinsburg was called early in the second half due to severe storms and a 49-0 Mentor lead.  It was a coming out party for a Mentor offense that didn't really get on track early in the season.  The Cards put up over 400 yards of offense in barely over a half of football.  Twinsburg did improve throughout the season.  After averaging just 8 points a game in the first half of the season, the Tigers scored 20+ in four of their last five games.

Schedule...

Seven of the Tigers’ opponents made the playoffs last season.  Twinsburg maintains one of the toughest schedules of any team in Division II.  Their nonleague slate includes Aurora, Nordonia, and Avon - three teams that will all be serious contenders for a state title.  Twinsburg is stuck in the most competitive division in the NOC with the big school Valley Division.  Playing Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Hudson, and Strongsville makes it very difficult to pick up wins in a rebuilding process.  Garfield Heights (7-3 last season) and North Royalton are the league crossovers on Twinsburg's schedule.

2014 Twinsburg Outlook...

Twinsburg took a major step back last season and it won't be easy to climb back up.  Twinsburg used a lot of seniors in key spots last year, including their QB (Mike Peelman), All-District receiver (Tailin Johnson), and top defensive players (DE Cameron Dial and LB Jacob Turray).  One of the most talented returning starters is Darius Jones, a threat on offense as a receiver or getting carries out of the back field.  Other top returning starters include DB/RB No'ah Edwards (2nd leading rusher in 2013) , DB/WR DeVonte Washington (younger brother of former QB stud Jalen Washington), RB Deyonte Groce, and LB Joe Leondarides (3rd leading tackler last season).  Considering the difficult schedule and a continued dropoff in talent/depth, it is tough to see Twinsburg winning any more than 1 or 2 games this season.

Next Preview:  Brush (Week 5)

Opponent Preview: Euclid (Week 3)

This is the third of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2014 season.

Week 3

Who:  Euclid Panthers

What:   Home opener

Where:  Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  September 12th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach:  Tom Gibbons (7th season, 33-29 record)

History:  Mentor and Euclid have played one another for decades, having been in the GCC and LEL together.  The Cardinals have a slight edge (21-16) in the overall series.  The two will both be part of the newly formed GCC starting next season.

Looking Back...
In hindsight, Mentor's comfortable 36-0 win at Euclid during Week 3 last season was an important game for the Cardinals.  After some uncertainty in the QB position, it was the first game in which eventual All-Ohio QB Conner Krizancic would start from beginning to end.   The shutout was a great showing for the defense.  Euclid (5-5) closed their season on a four game winning streak, but missed out on the playoffs.  It was not a banner year for the Panthers (who went 0-5 against playoff teams), but youth and inexperience played a great deal into that.   LB Rayanthony Bruster and OL/DE Jeremiah Peters are among they key player that were seniors last season.

Schedule...
The 2014 schedule includes a rugged non-conference slate of Hudson (10-2), VASJ (9-2), and Mentor (13-2).  The LEL schedule is headlined by Cleveland Heights (27-5 last three seasons), Bedford (10-2 last season), and Warren Harding.  Euclid was a respectable 5-2 against the LEL last season.  Currently, Euclid has a nine game schedule.

2014 Euclid Outlook...
Dual threat QB Ryshon Johnson has been starting since he was a sophomore.  His continued development will be a big part of the team success.  Johnson was injured during the second half of last season.  Terry Duckworth, a sophomore last season, filled in for Johnson and helped the Panthers end the season on a winning note.  He will probably have a place on this team somewhere.  RB Taji Holden will be a key part of the Patherns' offense.  LB Harrison Roberts (Bowling Green commit) leads the defense and has the most impact of any player on the team.  LB Christian Woods is another key returning player on defense.  Given the returning players and looking at their schedule, it would be a success if the Panthers could find a way to have a winning record.

Next Preview:  Twinsburg (Week 4)

Opponent Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)

This is the second of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2014 season.  See the Week 1 preview here.

Week 2

Who: St Ignatius

What:  Non-league game

Where: Byers Field

When: September 6th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Chuck Kyle (32nd season, 11 state titles)

History: St Ignatius leads the regular season series (6-3) dating back to 2005.  These Region 1 juggernauts have played in the playoffs four times since 2003 (Mentor leads playoff meetings 3-1).  

Looking Back...
St Ignatius was 8-5 (including playoffs) in 2013. One of the highlights of their roller coaster regular season was a pretty easy 26-6 win at Mentor in Week 2.  In an expanded Region 1 field, the Wildcats were able to make the playoffs as the 11 seed.  Ignatius picked up a couple of impressive playoff wins to set up another showdown with the Cardinals.  For the third straight season, Mentor and St Ignatius had a Week 13 rematch.  For the third straight season, the loser of the regular season game flipped the script in the playoff meeting.  In a cold, windy, and snowy November evening at Byers Field - Mentor had an impressive 26-3 win.  

Schedule...
The 2014 schedule includes in-state matchups with rival St Edward and Moeller, the two-time defending state champions.  Those two juggernauts along with Mentor and cross-state Jesuit rival St Xavier make up four of the top teams in Ohio according to nationalhsfootball.com.  Those are the only Ohio teams on the schedule.  Two games with Canadian teams, Erie McDowell, Lawrence Central (IN), St Joseph Prep (PA), and Paramus Catholic (NJ) make up the rest of the schedule.  On paper, Paramus (defeated Ignatius 44-10 in 2013) is easily the best of the non-Ohio teams.  The Wildcats have a few certain wins on the schedule - but the majority of the games will be very challenging.  A 7-3 or 8-2 season would be very impressive.

2014 St Ignatius Outlook...
The Wildcats are not strangers to reloading.  Coach Kyle is known to be very loyal to seniors, which explains why the majority of starters on a year to year basis are seniors.  St Ignatius will have to replace an excellent group of receivers (highlighted by Michael Siragusa), several linemen (including Notre Dame freshman Jimmy Byrne), and playmakers on defense like Dameon Willis.  As usual, St Ignatius will be working in a first-year starting varsity QB after the graduation of John Thomas.  The most talented returnee for the Cats is Dre'Mont Jones (6'4, 250) - a standout defensive end that has committed to Ohio State.  Geoff Dimassa is a talented returning outside linebacker.  Jones and Dimassa will be key to the Ignatius' 3-3 stack defense.  Junior OT Liam Eichenberg (6'5, 280) has offers from most of the major college programs - including Ohio State and Notre Dame.  Eichenberg is one of the top lineman in the country.  In the mix for starting QB is junior Dennis Grosel.  Promising junior RB James Norris and senior RB Chavez Perez could will play important roles in the offense.  Norris got some varsity experience as a sophomore - a very rare thing in Kyle's system.  Some of the receivers to look out for are David Shibley (team captain) and Cal Grbac (son of Elvis Grbac, former NFL QB).  Expect St Ignatius to have a disciplined defense and an efficient offense.  Their record may not end up reflecting it, but the Wildcats should be one of the top teams in Region 1.

Next Preview:  Euclid (Week 3)

Opponent Preview: Boardman (Week 1)

Here is the first of my previews of Mentor opponents for the 2014 season.  Every 2-3 days or so I will try to post some info on each opponent starting in Week 1 with Boardman.  It will lead up to the beginning of the season.

Week 1

Who: Boardman

What:  2014 regular season opener

Where:  Boardman Spartan Stadium

When:  August 29th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Joe Ignazio (2nd season as head coach)

History:  These two teams did not play last season.  Mentor had Erie McDowell in Week 1 and Boardman had Hilliard Darby.

Looking Back...
Boardman and Mentor had very different 2013 seasons.  The Spartans finished with just one win - and it came against Massillon Perry (0-10).  Mentor (13-2) was the state runners-up.  Offensively, Boardman averaged 9.2 ppg last season.  Mentor scored 35+ in 13 of their 15 games.

Schedule...
Aside from replacing Hilliard Darby with Mentor, the 2014 schedule is the same as 2013.  Boardman has a rugged non-conference schedule which also includes Mooney (DIV runners-up in 2013), Fitch (12-1), and Poland (DIII regional semifinalist).  Boardman plays in the Federal League - consistently one of the state's top big school football conferences.  Even with some expected improvement, the Spartans will have their hands full again in 2014 with a pretty demanding schedule.

2014 Boardman Outlook...
Moving down to Division II last season, Boardman (1-9) had one of their most disappointing seasons in their proud program's history.  A low turnout led to the program cancelling the JV season, left with roughly 40 players in the program.  Most of the top offensive players (including their QB, top linemen, and leading rushers/receivers) from 2013 were seniors.  This was a team that didn't have a lot of success and really can't blame it on a rebuilding season with the number of seniors in key starting positions.  One position of strength will be at linebacker.   Evan Croutch and Mario Graziani received all-district mention.  Croutch (6'1, 225) was a standout LB that has multiple scholarship offers, including Buffalo.  Graziani, also a standout wrestler, was a standout sophomore last season.  Unfortunately for any Boardman fans reading, I don't expect a season much better than 2013.

Next Preview:  St Ignatius (Week 2)