Week 4
Who: Strongsville Mustangs (6-4 in 2017)
What: Greater Cleveland Conference game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 14th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Lou Cirino (2nd year at Strongsville, 52-32 overall coaching record)
History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 11-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).
History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 11-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).
Looking Back…
Mentor defeated Strongsville last season, 42-27. For the third consecutive year, the Mustangs hung around with a talented Mentor team before losing by just a couple scores. It was the Cardinals' 9th straight win over the Mustangs. After Strongsville had a 2-8 season in 2016, Cirino saw some success in his first year as the Mustangs finished with a winning record. A team built around a lot of juniors, winning their last four games was a great way to build momentum into 2018.
Schedule…
The Mustangs' nonleague schedule consists of Berea, Hudson, and Canton Central Catholic. The season opens with neighboring Berea, a team that Strongsville beat last year. Hudson, a team that has beaten Strongsville the past two years, is one of the top programs in NEO. That might be the game that is the difference between making the playoffs or not. Canton Central Catholic, DV state champions in 2016, struggled last season and finished 3-7. Finding a way to start 2-1 or 3-0 is critical. In the GCC, Strongsville went 4-3 last year. Mentor, Euclid, and Solon will once again be challenging opponent. Since 2009, the Mustangs have a 3-33 record against Mentor, Solon, Euclid, and longtime rival Brunswick.
2018 Strongsville Outlook…
More than half of the starters on last year's team were part of a talented junior class. The hype surrounding that group has come to the final exam as they enter their senior years. This class is headlined by QB Jony Major, who even started as a freshman against Mentor in 2015. As Major enters his fourth year on varsity, experience is on his side. Don't be surprised if the senior is the top QB in the GCC. JD Duplain (6'5, 290), a top 10 player in Cleveland.com's "Best of the Best", is one of the most highly recruited left tackles in Ohio. WR Joey Gillette, a 2017 All-District honorable mention, is a speedster with some FCS offers. 6'4, 200-pound TE Kevin Lawler gives Major a big target to throw to. Senior RB Taylor Griffin is a returning starter and a key player on an offense looking to make some noise. Gillette and Griffin made up half of Strongsville's 4x200 relay team that advanced to the state tournament in track and field. This offense has size, experience, talent, and speed.
Strongsville took a big step in the right direction last season. They had four playoff teams on the schedule, losing to all of them. In order to take another step forward, the Mustangs will need to find a way to beat one or two of the big names (Mentor, Euclid, Solon, and Hudson) on the schedule. If they can do that, expect to see Strongsville back in the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Next: Brunswick (Week 5)
Strongsville took a big step in the right direction last season. They had four playoff teams on the schedule, losing to all of them. In order to take another step forward, the Mustangs will need to find a way to beat one or two of the big names (Mentor, Euclid, Solon, and Hudson) on the schedule. If they can do that, expect to see Strongsville back in the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Next: Brunswick (Week 5)
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