Opponent Preview: Glenville (Week 3)

This is the third of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2018 season.  See the Week 2 preview (St Ignatius) here.

Week 3

Who: Glenville Tarblooders

What: Non-league game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium 

When: September 7th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Ted Ginn Sr. (22nd season)

History: Mentor and Glenville played regularly beginning in the late 90's through 2006. In the 2000's, Mentor and Glenville played ten times (including two memorable playoff games in 2006 and 2007). Mentor holds a 6-4 edge during that stretch. Overall, Mentor leads the series 11-5. The two teams renewed their regular season series last season as Mentor won 38-15.

Looking Back...
Glenville has been one of the state's most successful programs over the last 20 years, making the playoffs 16 times since 1999. When dropping down to Division II, Glenville also was the state runners-up in 2013. Since that season, Glenville has taken a step or two back. The number of BCS recruits is down. The number of playoff wins (two total over the last four seasons) is down. The last time Glenville defeated a team that wasn't in the Senate League was in 2015. The Tarblooders, now in Division III, lost their first three games in 2017 before winning out their league and returning to the playoffs. Their season ended in Week 11 at the hands of Toledo Central Catholic. Among the senior standouts included two-year starting QB Xander Spikes, WR Carlton Swopes (Eastern Michigan), WR Bryan West (Alabama State), and All-District RB Tre'Ron Fullerton. Legendary coach Ted Ginn Sr. won his 200th game late last season. 

Schedule...
Glenville plays in the Senate Athletic League. The Tarblooders haven't lost a league game since the 90's. The league, made up of fellow Cleveland public schools, has rarely even posed a challenge to Glenville. In order to make up for the lack of harbin points in the league, Ginn has consistently scheduled some grueling non-conference games. Along with Mentor, Glenville's non-conference schedule includes Euclid and Olentangy Liberty, a 2017 state semifinalist that Mentor beat last season. The Tarblooders found a way to make the playoffs despite starting 0-3 the last two seasons. Glenville will be underdogs in all three of those non-conference games. It remains to be seen if the Tarblooders can still pull off a playoff appearance while relying on only the computer points from the Senate League. It helps some that Glenville is in Division III. 

2018 Glenville Outlook...
Glenville had six players receive All-District recognition in 2017. All of them were seniors. Reloading is nothing new to Ginn as he routinely has to replace most of his impact players and starters on a yearly basis. On Cleveland.com's "80 Players to Watch," not a single Tarblooder is on the list. A decade ago, a list like that would have been littered with Glenville players. After another senior-laden team graduated, a lot of new starters will grace the fields for the Tarblooders this season. Expect the Tarblooders to have a big offensive line, a run-stopping defense, and enough speed at the skill positions to create some big play opportunities. 

Glenville's season will be defined by how they stack up in their non-conference schedule and how they perform in November. They don't necessarily need to win those games against three strong DI programs, but being competitive would be a step in the right direction. If they can manage just one non-conference victory, the playoffs are a lock. Another 0-3 start will make it a challenge to make their 17th playoff appearance. The Tarblooders should sweep through their league schedule. 

Next Preview:  Strongsville (Week 4)