This is the fourth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2015 season. Click below for other opponent previews:
Week 1 - Boardman
Week 2 - St Ignatius
Week 3 - St Xavier
Week 4
What: Greater Cleveland Conference opener
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 18th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Jeff Rotsky (1st season at Euclid)
History: Mentor and Euclid have played one another for decades, having been in the old GCC and LEL together. The Cardinals have an edge (22-16) in the overall series. After a four year hiatus with Mentor in the NOC, the two teams are back in the same league.
Looking Back...
Last year, Mentor won their 7th straight game over Euclid with a 49-0 win. It was the second straight season Mentor shut out the Panthers. Euclid was 4-5 last year while facing a schedule with six playoff teams. Euclid did have two wins over playoff teams (Maple Heights and VASJ). After the season, Tom Gibbons stepped down as head coach after seven seasons. Standout defensive players LB Harrison Roberts (Bowling Green) and DE Christian Woods were three-year starters that have graduated.
Schedule...
Euclid's non-conference schedule has Glenville, Willoughby South, and South Collegiate Institute (Canada). It is pretty rare for a Canadian team to pose a threat to an Ohio team. That should be an easy win for the Panthers. Glenville and South will pose quite a challenge. Both have seen various levels of success for an extended period. If Euclid hopes to return to the playoffs, winning one of those two games would go a long way. The newly reformed GCC schedule includes a few 2014 playoffs teams: Solon, Brunswick, and Elyria.
2015 Euclid Outlook...
The biggest splash made in the program over the last year has been the hiring of Jeff Rotsky. After the departure of Gibbons, the program will have a different kind of leader in Rotsky. After years of successfully building Cleveland area programs like Chanel, Maple Heights, and Cleveland Heights - Rotsky will look to do similar things on E. 222nd. The Panthers haven't made the playoffs since 2009. Their last winning season was in 2012. Euclid has a stronger football heritage than the previous programs Rotsky took over.
Offensively, Euclid used two QB's last season. Both of them return: senior Terry Duckworth and junior Noah Mitchell. Duckworth has had varsity experience at the position since he was a sophomore. He is more of a threat with his legs while Mitchell is more reliant on his arm. Mitchell probably has the upper hand, but don't be surprised if both end up playing. Two-way player Aaron Berry was an All-District receiver last season. Berry should be the top target for whomever is playing QB. David Wright, a starting receiver for Shaker last season, has transferred to Euclid. Chris Collins should be the feature back after a productive junior season in which he split duties with Taji Holden.
On the defensive side of the ball, the returning standouts include Berry and Keon Williams in the secondary. Newcomer Anthony Johnson (transfer from Cleveland Heights) had 50 tackles last year. Johnson has several DI offers that include Kentucky, Cincinnati, and several MAC teams. The 6'3, 185-pound cornerback could also make an impact on offense at receiver if needed. The secondary is loaded with talent. The defense does have a gaping hole in the front seven when trying to replace Roberts/Woods.
Expect bigger things for Rotsky and Euclid going forward. The 2015 season will be a transition: new league, new coach, new players. Euclid will probably be closer to the bottom of the GCC than the top, but never underestimate a sleeping giant.
Next Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 5)
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