Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 8)

**Disclaimer: This is a fan blog. It is not affiliated with the Mentor football program.

This is the eight of my opponent previews. To view the other previews for the first five opponents, click on the team: Boardman (Week 1), St Ignatius (Week 2), St Xavier (Week 3), Euclid (Week 4), Shaker Heights (Week 5), Solon (Week 6), and Medina (Week 7)

Week 8

Who: Strongsville

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Pat Catan Field

When: October 16th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (2nd season at Strongsville, 23-10 record as a head coach)

History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 8-2. Strongsville won two meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).

Looking Back…

Coach Larry Laird didn't make the playoffs at Strongsville last year. Laird lead Medina (2010) and Avon Lake (2013) to the playoffs during his only season as head coach at those respective schools. They started off 6-1 before losing their final three games. Injuries, especially at the QB position, took a toll on a season that was one regular season win away from making the playoffs. But Strongsville's 6-4 record was a step forward. It was their first winning season since 2008. The Mustangs had five playoff teams on the schedule last year. They went 1-4 in those games. The big win on the season was against Berea, a Region 1 playoff team. Strongsville lost to Mentor 37-7 in last year's Week 10 matchup at the JTO. Last year's seniors were an important part of the team's success. OL Alex Uhas, RB Dominic Lombardo, WR Drew Robertson, and DE Austin Platt are the All-District players that graduated.

Schedule…

The Mustangs have one of the toughest nonleague schedules in the GCC. All three are against DII opponents, but it is still challenging. Avon (10-2 in 2014) has won 10+ games in five straight seasons. They are one of the top DII programs in NEO. Hudson was 13-1 last season and finished the regular season at the top of the AP poll. Brush (2-8) is the third nonleague opponent. Overall, Strongsville has six 2014 playoff teams on their schedule. Since 2009, Strongsville has lost 22 straight against the group of Mentor (0-6 record), Brunswick (0-6), Solon (0-6), Elyria (0-2), and Euclid (0-2). Those are five of their seven GCC opponents. Winning some of those games is a must if Strongsville wants to make the playoffs.

2015 Strongsville Outlook…

Laird didn't work the playoff magic in his first year as Mustangs coach. Accomplishing that goal in his second year will be challenging. Many of the key players on last year's team were part of a deep and strong senior class. QB Ryan Robertson filled in for three-year starter Bobby Cole (injury)  last season and performed well. Robertson (6'3, 185), now a senior, will be key to Strongsville's success. RB Zach Kahn (878 all-purpose yards last season) has been sharing duties with all-district RB Dominic Lombardo the past two years. Now it is Kahn's turn to shine. Connor Mundy (6'3, 275) is the anchor for the offensive line. 

Defensively, Kahn is a three-year starter in the secondary. His leadership and skill on both sides of the ball are an important part of Strongsville's success. Alex Zacharyasz is also a three-year starter. The senior LB was one of the leading tacklers on last year's team. 

Laird has never coached a team for more than one season. He left after successful first-year stints at Medina and Avon Lake. What will happen in Year No. 2? In order to take his third different program to the playoffs, some wins against the top of the GCC are imperative.

Next: Brunswick (Week 9)