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)