Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 9)

Week 9 

Who: Brunswick

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 23rd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Luke Beal (6th season at Brunswick, 31-21 record)

History:  Mentor won all four 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 7-3 in the regular season and made the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Blue Devils defeated two playoff teams in 2014: Fitch and Solon. They finished 3rd in the final season of the NOC (Valley Division). Brunswick played well against Mentor in a 21-14 loss at home.  The Blue Devils' season ended in Week 11 for the second consecuitve season as they lost to St Edward in the first round of the playoffs. Among the 40 seniors that graduated were 1st team all-district selections: QB Steven Ficyk, WR Gary Clift, OL Tom Knuff, and DB Adam Weber. 

Schedule...

Brunswick has six teams on the schedule that made the 2014 playoffs, including all three of their non-league games. They start the season with Highland, one of the top DII programs in NEO the past few years. Brecksville (8-3) is a DII playoff team the past two seasons. The toughest non-league task will be Fitch (26-3 in regular season since 2012). The GCC will have a few season-defining games for Brunswick. Solon and Elyria are two that stand out. If Brunswick wants to make the playoffs again, it will be important to win one of those. Rivalry games with Strongsville and Medina are always key to a successful season.  The NOC Valley schedule will be more challenging than last season.   

2015 Brunswick Outlook...

Coach Beal's teams have had winning seasons in four of his five years. The past two were playoff teams, but Beal is still looking for his first playoff win as the Blue Devils' head coach. Experience is hard to find on a team that started all seniors on both sides of the ball. It paid off with some 2014 success, but it leaves the 2015 group with lots of question marks. A group of unknown varsity backups and JV starters will be the core for the 2015 team. Brunswick's reputation (15 playoff appearances, two regional titles) as one of NEO's top DI programs is deserved. But they are going to have a difficult time navigating back to the playoffs considering their inexperience and schedule.  


Next Preview: Elyria (Week 10)