Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 6)

This is the sixth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:

Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid 
Shaker Heights

Week 6

Who: Solon Comets

What: GCC Game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: September 30th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jim McQuaide (110-40 at Solon, 196-102 overall)

History: This is one of the top big school rivalries across NEO. Mentor leads the overall series, 12-10. Solon leads the regular season series 10-8, but the Cards have won all four playoff appearances. 

Looking Back...
Solon snapped a five game losing streak to Mentor as they picked up an impressive 42-35 win last season at Stewart Field. Solon won a share of the GCC and made the playoffs. The Comets won their first playoff game since 2011 - a 19-9 win over Olentangy Liberty. Solon's season was ended by Stow in Week 12. It was a solid 2015 for the Comets. 

Schedule...
Solon brings back neigborhood foes Aurora (9-2 last season) and Twinsburg (1-9). The Comets beefed up their non-conference schedule by adding Stow, the team that ended their season in 2015. The Bulldogs were 13-1 last season and return 18 starters. Week 3 will be a huge game at Stewart Field. In the GCC, big games that stand out are longtime rival Mentor and Euclid, the only GCC team to defeat the Comets in 2015. Since 2004, Solon is 29-1 against Shaker, Strongsville, Medina, and Elyria. Brunswick is down. 

2016 Solon Outlook...
QB Johnny Mooney was a thorn in Mentor's side last season. Mooney was one of the most productive QB's across the state. Mooney has graduated, but Solon brings back 17 starters. Senior Joe Bubonics is the front runner to succeed Mooney. There are some talented and experienced skill position players returning. Receivers Jake McCurry and Darryl Sinclair make quite the dynamic duo. After an injury-plagued junior season, Melvin Jackson should be the primary ball-carrier for what should be a more run-oriented offense than a season ago. Jackson showed some serious flash as a sophomore. Andrew Mason and Devon Brown both return after being the leading rushers last year. Solon has plenty of options on offense. Miami (OH) recruit Chris Glaser leads an experienced offensive line. There will likely be a drop off in the passing game, but the talent surrounding the new QB will be second to none in the GCC.  

Defensively, the Comets should be strong. Last year the Comets held five opponents to less than 10 points. The majority of last year's starters return. Solon often puts some of their better athletes on both sides of the ball. McCurry, Bubonics, and Sinclair will start in the secondary. LB Matt Brown was the leading tackler from last season. Jacob Gross is an impact player returning on the defensive line. 

Solon will be the favorite to win the GCC and should be able to put themselves in position to be winning football games in November. 

Next Preview:  Medina (Week 7)