Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 8)

Week 8

Who: Solon Comets

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 12th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jim McQuaide (125-47 record at Solon, 211-109 overall)

History: This is one of the top big school rivalries in NEO. Mentor leads the overall series, 13-11. Solon leads the regular season series 11-9, but the Cards have won all four playoff matchups. 

Looking Back...
Mentor snapped a two game losing streak to Solon as they picked up an exciting 38-34 win last season at Stewart Field. Solon started the season strong before losing their last four games to finish 5-5. The final two losses against Medina/Shaker (two teams that finished with losing records) were especially surprising. Nine of their ten games were decided by 14 points or less. Among the key graduates are QB/S JT Caver, RB Thomas Wilks, WR/CB Taj Ward, and WR/CB Ryan McCurry, and lineman Da'Veon Parker. 

Schedule...
For the third straight season, Solon maintains a smart non-conference schedule filled with nearby teams that have had some level of football success. Twinsburg (12-38 record since 2013) is the only one of the three that is struggling to win. Aurora is a DII power that has made the playoffs in 13 straight seasons, including a state championship in 2008. Stow, a team that has beaten Solon each of the last three seasons, has seen a resurgence in the program as they have made the DI playoffs in four of the last five seasons. Solon can afford one slip in non-conference, but a 3-0 start would go a long way in taking some of the pressure off of league play. Solon was competitive with Mentor/Euclid last year, but came up short. Those are two important games to the Comets' season. From 2004-2016, Solon was 33-1 against Shaker, Strongsville, Medina, and Elyria. Last season was an anomaly as Solon struggled in October and lost to both Medina and Shaker. Expect Solon to be the favorites in the majority of their league games in 2018.

2018 Solon Outlook...
Disappointing ending aside, the team Mentor saw in Week 8 last season played like a playoff team. Mentor barely escaped with a win. The Comets had some tight losses against three DI playoff teams - losing by a combined 12 points to Mentor, Euclid, and Stow. Will Solon be able to close and win those types of games in 2018? If so, it will require some big plays from last year's Cardinal-killer, 6'4 receiver Trevon Raphael. The senior lit up the Mentor defense in last season's game for four touchdowns - two receiving, one rushing, and one 90-yard kick return. Raphael, offered by Michigan and several others, is one of the top recruited players at his position in Ohio. Quarterback as a position of contention on last year's team as the Comets tried multiple players (due to injuries and other reasons). Getting that position solidified in 2018 will be key to a bounce back season. Sophomore Pat McQuaide, son of Coach McQuaide, is the QB returning with the most varsity experience. Versatile senior Sam Bubonics, a standout receiver and defensive back last season, is another player to watch out for on offense.

Defensively, Solon has been one of the strongest programs around Northeast Ohio. In order for them to compete to win the GCC and make the playoffs, that side of the ball will need to stand out. A pair of three-year starters will command a lot of attention at the edges. Nate Leskovec and David Marbury are strong and athletic difference-makers that can wreak havoc from both defensive end positions. Leskovec (6'3, 250) is also a standout on the offensive line. He was first team All-Ohio last season and has multiple offers from the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12. Marbury was a starter on Solon's state runner-up basketball team. 

Solon will be one of Mentor's toughest games as usual. The Comets have some returning talent, but depth will be a concern. Solon has some key games early on against Stow and an improved Strongsville team. Winning those two games would mean a lot in Solon's quest to return to the top of the league and playing football games in November.

Next Preview:  Euclid (Week 9)