Opponent Preview: Medina (Week 6)

Week 6

 

Who: Medina Bees (4-6 in 2017)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Ken Dukes Stadium

When: September 28th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (3rd season at Medina, 13-9 record)

History: Mentor has played Medina five times in league play since 2011, winning all five. Last season, the Cardinals won at home 49-14. 

Looking Back...

Fresh after a 2016 season that saw Medina make the playoffs and win in Week 11, the Bees finished 4-6 in Laird's return. The Bees were a respectable 3-4 in the tough GCC. This included breaking an 11-game losing streak to Solon with a 38-28 win in Week 10. WR/QB Dylan Fultz, and 1st Team All-District linemen Patrick Ross/Will Mercurio are among the graduated starters. 

Schedule...

Four of Medina's first six opponents made the playoffs last season. After Cleveland Heights (4-6 in 2017) in Week 1, the Bees have quite a tough five game stretch against Highland (9-3), neighboring Wadsworth (11-1), Euclid (9-3), Shaker (4-6), and Mentor (13-2). Medina started last season 1-5 before finishing the season winning three of four. The schedule is very challenging early on and it will be difficult to get more than one win in August/September. Strongsville and Solon are among the GCC teams that await the Bees in October. From start to finish, Medina has one of the tougher schedules in the league. 

2018 Medina Outlook...

Medina could use a little bit of luck on their side in 2018 if they want to match or surpass the 4-6 record from a season ago. Health was not on their side in 2017 as starting QB Gavin Montgomery went down in Week 1 to injury. The Bees were forced to use several different QB's throughout the season, providing some experience for some underclassmen. Laird's return might not have matched his magical one-season stint in 2010 in which he guided the Bees to their first playoff win. But considering the challenges and number of underclassmen starting, it could have been a lot worse. 

Medina does bring back eight starters on offense and six starters on defense. Four of the five offensive lineman return as does starting RB Dylan O'Dear. Senior receiver Chris Kelly is the top returning receiver. Finding the right QB (and keeping him healthy) is key to 2018 success. Two telling games on the schedule are Week 1 against Cleveland Heights and against longtime league rival, Brunswick. Last season, the Bees lost 25-23 to Brunswick. A win there would have swung the door to a 5-5 finish and a winning record in the league. 


Next Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 7)