2025 Pre-Season All GCC Team

Offense

QB LaMarques Greenwood, Cleveland Heights - The junior QB transferred from Glenville after Greenwood stepped up to lead the Tarblooders to the state semifinals a season ago. Greenwood is picking up multiple DI offers already. 

RB Elijah Harris, Cleveland Heights - Harris burst onto the scene in 2024 as a freshman, putting together an incredible season that earned him First Team All-District. Harris already has an offer from Kentucky. 

RB Jackson Farley, Mentor - Farley ran for 1,914 yards, caught 243 yards worth of passes and scored 26 touchdowns last season. Farley could be headed for a 2,000 yard season as Mentor adjusts to life after QB Scotty Fox. 

WR Ky’Mari Frieson, Euclid- The Panthers have a talented receiver in Frieson, a speedster with offers from Purdue and Akron. 

WR Justen Hodge, Mentor - An explosive athlete with good size, Hodge is committed to Miami (OH). The senior had 51 catches for 913 yards and nine touchdowns and is a two time First Team All-District player. 

WR Alex Espay, Strongsville - The leading receiver for the Mustangs a season ago, Espay will make life easier for a first year starting QB at Strongsville. The senior was a Second Team All-District receiver in 2024. 

OL Landry Brede, Mentor - The senior tackle earned First Team All-Ohio honors in 2024. Brede (6'5, 280) committed to NC State over a long list of DI offers. 

OL JoJo LoDuca, Mentor - The senior tackle has been a varsity contributor since his freshman season. LoDuca missed much of 2024 with injury, but the 6'3, 270-pound senior committed to Navy. 

OL Colin Prichard, Mentor - The 6'5, 260-pound senior earned Second Team All-District last season. Pritchard, a Kent State commit, joins Brede and LoDuca to form one of the best lines in Ohio. 

OL Isaiah Ray, Lorain - An impactful returning lineman for the Titans. He earned Second Team All-District last season. 

OL Quinten Young, Strongsville - A key returning starter for the Mustangs, Young earned all league recognition a season ago. College football is in Young's future.

Defense

DL Austin Adkins, Strongsville - A key part of a talented Mustangs defense a season ago, the 6'3 250-pound senior is committed to Ohio University. 

DL Chase Coleman, Mentor - After an impactful junior season, Coleman will be a key leader at the front of Mentor's defense.

DE Kingston Seals, Shaker Heights - A two way player at Gilmour a season ago, Seals (6'3, 210) is an impact player at tight end in addition to edge on defense. Seals is a Bowling Green commit. 

DL Emory Landrum, Shaker Heights - The 6'2, 280-pound senior is an impactful two-way player returning for the Red Raiders. Landrum has Division I college football in his future.  

LB Eli Nichols, Brunswick - The senior is able to play multiple positions on the field. Nichols compiled 65 tackles (12 for loss) and four sacks as he earned First Team All-District last season. 

LB Storm Miller, Strongsville - One of the most talented defenders in the state, Miller had ten sacks and 20 tackles-for-loss in 2024. Miller is a four start recruit that chose Texas A&M over a "who's who" list of offers.

LB Jay’l Diaz, Lorain - A leading tackler from the Titans last season, Diaz earned First Team All-District recognition as a junior. 

DB Xayvion Dunn, Mentor - The veteran of the secondary now enters his third season as a starter. Dunn, a Second Team All-District player in 2024, will be counted on to lock down the top opposing receiver. 

DB Henry Perrymond Jr., Cleveland Heights - A starter since his freshman season, Perrymond is a three star athlete that fields many DI offers. 

DB Kevin Lowery, Shaker Heights - A two-way athlete for the Red Raiders, Lowery gained recognition as Second Team All-District as a junior in 2024. 

DB Kei’shjuan Teflair, Euclid - A starter since his freshman season, Telfair will play multiple positions for the Panthers. A First Team All-District honoree in 2024, Telfair enters his junior season with a couple dozen DI offers.

Mentor/St Ignatius: A Playoff Rivalry Renewed

This Friday, Mentor and St Ignatius will renew their playoff rivalry at Jerome T Osborne Sr Stadium. This will be the 9th time the two programs have played in the playoffs. These two power programs have split the eight playoff games they have played. St Ignatius has won the last two playoff matchups (2021 and 2023), but Mentor did win the regular season game in Week 2 at John Carroll University by a score of 20-14. In honor of Friday's game, let's look back at some history between these two programs. 

In 2003, Mentor and St Ignatius would end up playing in a memorable playoff game at Byers Field. In the months that followed that game, Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno pursued getting St Ignatius on the schedule more regularly. What began as a two-year series signed for the 2005 and 2006 seasons has been a long-standing agreement between two of the premier programs in the state. It is a friendly public/private rivalry that has been as important to high school football over the last 20 years as any in the state. The series has been especially beneficial to the growth of the Mentor football program. It is no coincidence that Mentor began turning a corner of success after regularly putting St Ignatius and other powerhouse programs on the schedule. 

The two first met in the playoffs back in 1992 in a regional final. St Ignatius easily defeated Mentor, 38-13, during one of their many state championship seasons during the 90's. Since then, the two have played each other in seven playoff games. The latter six were played during seasons in which the two programs had played earlier during the regular season. In the first five of those playoff games from 2011 to 2021, the loser of the regular season game went on to flip the script in the playoff rematch. It wasn't until last season that the trend was finally bucked as St Ignatius held on to win both of the 2023 matchups.

Here are my memories and recap of the past seven playoff games between the Cardinal and the Wildcats:

 Mentor 31 St Ignatius 0 (2003): Coming into this game, St Ignatius was wrapping up a period of complete dominance. From 1988-2001, the Cats won nine state titles as they were led by the legendary Chuck Kyle. Mentor's 2003 group was the most dominant regular season team in program history. The defense completely suffocated QB Brian Hoyer (future NFL QB) on this evening, picking him off five times. The Mentor defense forced three fumbles and held St Ignatius to 10 net yards rushing. Some of the defensive standouts included LB Chad Mayse, LB Paul Burger, DB Tony Martucci, DB Scott Goodwin, and DB Angelo DiFranco. 1st Team All-Ohio players Thom Abbot and RB Matt Lieb punched in scoring chances set up by an aggressive and opportunistic defense. St Ignatius hadn't been dominated like that in a playoff game before, and it hasn't happened since. Most people who witnessed that game will never forget "31-0." This unforgettable game is as much a nod to the all-time status of the opponent as it was to the talented "class" of Cardinals. 

St Ignatius 23 Mentor 17 (2011): The two had met during the regular season at a packed house in Mentor for Week 3. Mentor, led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky and a five-wide offense, wreaked all kinds of havoc against the St Ignatius defense. Senior receiver Cameron Kavan put up record breaking numbers with 284 receiving yards. Trubisky and the talented bunch of receivers picked apart the secondary on their way to a 38-24 win. Entering Week 10, Mentor was the #1 ranked team in the AP poll. A surprising Week 10 loss at Twinsburg ended that, but the aspirations of a state championship were very much still in play. The biggest obstacle that would stand in the way of Mentor's hopes of a state title would be the Wildcats. The St Ignatius defense, a group that gave up no more than 20 points in their 13 games following Week 3, was not going to be denied in the second meeting. On a windy evening in Lakewood Stadium, the combination of an aggressive and talented Wildcat defense made life much more difficult for Trubisky. Wildcat legend Tim McVey, a junior at the time, was the bell-cow as he ran 38 times for for 160 yards. Mentor, a team that relied almost exclusively on the passing game in their five-wide offense, was unable to rely on a steady running game to balance out the offense. St Ignatius used blitzes, turnovers, and much better coverage to turn the tide in the rematch. The Wildcats would win the game, the region, and the state championship. 

Mentor 57 St Ignatius 56 3OT (2012): After an amazing and unexpected come back the week prior against St Edward, it was hard to believe that anything could top that. Just seven days later, Mentor and St Ignatius put on all-time memorable performance in a game that featured the "Moment of the Year" by the 2012 Cleveland Sports Awards. In the regular season, St Ignatius dominated the game (48-21) and gave Mentor their only loss. The Cats were 11-1 heading into this game, with their only loss being to St Eds. The Cardinals got off to a great start and were in control during the first half. Mentor had scored on their first four possessions of the game. They were about to score on their fifth before the Cats picked off Trubisky in the end zone, leaving the halftime score at 20-14. St Ignatius got control of the second half as they would score two touchdowns to take a 28-20 lead in the 4th quarter. Trubisky guided Mentor to a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive that included a two point conversion to Fritts. After a stop by the defense, Trubisky led the Cards on a 64-yard drive that resulted in a 35-28 lead with only 48 seconds left in the game. St Ignatius QB Mike LaManna and WR Mike Siragusa took advantage of a prevent defense and connected for a touchdown to send the game into overtime. The two juggernaut offenses, that included Ignatius all-time great Tim McVey, exchanged blows back and forth in overtime sessions until Coach Triv went for two at the end of the third overtime. A Trubisky-Fritts connection in the corner of the end zone sealed the victory for Mentor. In my opinion, that St Ignatius team was the best team that Mentor has ever beaten. Anyone who watched will never forget it. If you want some goosebumps, watch this video

Mentor 26 St Ignatius 3 (2013): The previous season, Mentor pulled off the unthinkable and knocked off St Edward and St Ignatius in back-to-back weeks in the playoffs. In 2013, the Cardinals would have that chance again. Just like the year prior, St Ignatius dominated the regular season matchup with a 26-3 win in Week 2. On a windy and snowy rematch in Week 13 at Byers Field, Mentor's defense combined with the difficult elements to completely dominate the Wildcats. Both teams struggled offensively for the majority of the first half in less than ideal weather conditions. With two minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the score was 5-3 in favor of Mentor. An Eddie Daugherty halfback pass to Corey Plavcan gave Mentor a commanding two score lead just before the half. The Mentor defense, led by All-Ohio players like Kent Berger and Justin McMahon, smothered the Wildcats to a total of 126 total yards on the night. QB Connor Krizancic had trouble throwing the ball in the elements, but made plenty of plays with his feet (167 yards rushing). 

Mentor 23 St Ignatius 21 (2017): Of Mentor's four trips to state championship games, the 2017 run was probably the most unlikely. The team was 9-1 in the regular season, but had some inconsistencies (including giving up 59 points to Euclid in Week 8) that were causes for concern. Once the clock turned November, the defense (led by junior DE Noah Potter) flipped a switch. Late in the season, senior RB Eli McDougal became one of the most unexpected stars. Running behind a big and talented offensive line, McDougal completely transformed Mentor's chances at knocking off the top teams in Ohio. After upsetting St Edward the week prior, the Cardinals found themselves facing St Ignatius in yet another pivotal Region 1 playoff game. Mentor had lost to St Ignatius in the regular season game, 41-31, in a game that McDougal was unavailable for. McDougal's 41-yard TD run on the game's opening drive put Mentor ahead and gave them some early momentum that was soon snatched away by the talented Cats. McDougal finished the game with 18 carries for 151 yards and 2 TD's. St Ignatius had leads of 14-7 and 21-14 before senior QB Tadas Tatarunas found sophomore receiver Luke Floriea to pull Mentor within a PAT from tying. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked and St Ignatius had a 21-20 lead halfway through the 4th quarter. Mentor kicker Conor McIntosh hit a 27-yard field goal with 37 seconds in the game. St Ignatius All-Ohio kicker Matthew Trickett's 52-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide as time expired to earn Triv his third straight playoff win over the legendary Chuck Kyle. This would end up being the last playoff game between the two legendary coaches. 

St Ignatius 35 Mentor 32 (2021): After Mentor won their Week 2 matchup (28-26) at home, the two programs went in pretty different directions throughout the season. St Ignatius would win six of their final eight regular season games highlighted by wins over Akron Hoban and Cincinnati St Xavier. Mentor would follow up their biggest regular season win by losing five of the next six games, finishing without a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 1997. During this playoff game, St Ignatius came out incredibly strong in building a huge 35-10 lead entering the 4th quarter. It looked like a running clock was inevitable. The running backs of the Wildcats combined for 252 rushing yards. Mentor receiver Evan Harper scored early in the 4th quarter in attempts to give the Cardinals some hopes of a comeback. The lights at Byers Field went out and the game was on pause. Upon its return, Mentor picked up where Harper left off. Two more scores (including Harper's third TD of the game) brought Mentor within a field goal with just a few minutes left in the game. The Wildcats recovered an onside kick and sealed the victory. The miracle comeback came up just short. St Ignatius would go on to win one more playoff game before falling to a talented Drew Allar led Medina Bees in a regional semifinal. It was the fifth straight time the playoff rematch went to the loser of the regular season matchup. 

St Ignatius 10 Mentor 7 (2023): After the winner of the regular season game went on to the lose the playoff rematch in five consecutive occurrences, the Wildcats finally stopped the trend with a narrow win in a rare defensive battle between these two. St Ignatius entered the Week 11 game at Mentor with only one win on their belt, and that was against the Cardinals. Mentor was held scoreless until late in the 4th quarter when QB Scotty Fox hit Austin VanHuss for a touchdown pass. A late Mentor field goal was unsuccessful in sending the game to overtime. Returning from an injury that cost him most of his junior season, Cody Haddad scored the pivotal touchdown for the Wildcats that helped give them a lead they never surrendered. 

Pre-Season All GCC Team

 Offense

QB Scotty Fox, Mentor - The West Virginia recruit has been a rare four year starter. Fox threw for 2,275 yards and 22 TD's in 2023 to go along with a team-high 11 rushing touchdowns. 

RB Marquise Davis, Cleveland Heights - One of the most talented offensive players in the state, the Kentucky commit ran for 2,228 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2023. 

WR Ky’Mari Frieson, Euclid- The Panthers have a talented receiver in Frieson, a 6'2 speedster with multiple DI offers. 

WR Justen Hodge, Mentor - An explosive athlete with good size, Hodge enters his junior season with multiple DI offers. Hodge (46 catches for 872 yards and 8 TD's) was a First Team All-District player in 2023. 

WR Austin VanHuss, Mentor - A senior with college football in his future, VanHuss had 45 catches for 716 yards and six TD's in 2023. 

WR Cooper Neel, Brunswick - A senior slot receiver that looks to make an impact in whatever way the Blue Devils can get the ball in his hands (1,291 all-purpose yards in 2023). 

OL Jason Owens, Cleveland Heights - This big and talented center leads the interior of the Tigers' line. Owens earned Second Team All-Ohio honors in 2023. 

OL Landry Brede, Mentor - The junior tackle started every game as a sophomore. Brede (6'5, 280) has many DI offers already, including Florida and Michigan State. 

OL JoJo LoDuca, Mentor - The 6'3, 270-pound junior has offers from some MAC schools. LoDuca is a key returning starter on a very talented Mentor offense. 

OL Sandale Jackson, Cleveland Heights - The senior tackle has tremendous size (6'7, 295), talent, and will be a scholarship player at the Division I level. 

OL Douglas Hoston, Shaker - An impactful returning two-way lineman for the Raiders, Hoston (6'3, 300) is key in opening holes for the talented RB Cornell Beard. 

Defense

DL Brandon Cesar, Cleveland Heights - A key part of a talented Heights defense, the 6'4 255-pound lineman is one of the most highly recruited players as his position in the Midwest. 

DL Julian Solis, Mentor - After an impactful junior season that saw him earn Second Team All-District, Solis looks to lead the front of the Mentor defense.

DT Jayquan Stubbs, Cleveland Heights - A center of the one of the biggest and most talented defensive line in the state, Stubbs (6'6, 250) is a Minnesota commit

DE Jameil Hamm, Cleveland Heights - A transfer from Glenville, Hamm had a handful of MAC offers before committing to Miami (OH). 

LB Cooper Josefczyk, Medina - The senior was one of the top linebackers in Northeast Ohio last season, earning recognition as the GCC Defensive Player of the Year. 

LB Storm Miller, Strongsville - Just a junior, Miller is a four start recruit with nearly 20 different offers including Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Clemson. 

LB Caiden Clair, Mentor - The top returning tackler from a good Cardinals defense in 2023, Clair earned Second Team All-District recognition as a junior. 

DB Trey McNutt, Shaker - A two way standout in high school, McNutt is the highest ranked safety prospect in the country with offers from every major college football conference. 

DB Henry Perrymond Jr., Cleveland Heights - A three year starter already as a junior, Perrymond is a talented two-way player that fields offers include Miami, Kentucky, and Indiana.

DB Tallen Hulvey, Medina - A key part of Medina's returning defense, Hulvey earned Second Team All-District honors in 2023. 

DB Kei’shjuan Teflair, Euclid - A bright spot on Euclid's 2023 season, Telfair was a two-way starter as a freshman. He enters his sophomore season with his first DI offer from Akron. 

Mentor Basketball Single Game Scoring

With 46 points against Strongsville on January 23, senior Matthew Biddell hit a scoring milestone of 1,000 career points. He also put himself near the top of the single game scoring record for Mentor basketball. Behind eight three pointers and many strong finishes in the lane, Biddell put together a night that many in attendance won't soon forget. 

Over the years, there are five single game performances that stand out. I personally witnessed all of these regular season games. These rank as the five highest single game scoring marks since 2000:

1. Adam May: 49 points against Eastlake North on November 27, 2004

The 6'8 wing was one of the most unguardable scorers to play for Krizancic. May, a DI scholarship player at Holy Cross, became one of the top players in the area for his three years on varsity. In the first game of his senior season, May lit up the scoreboard with his 49 points against the Rangers that still sits at the top of the Mentor record books. Some players might put up high scoring marks on games where they are taking dozens of shots. On this night, May was incredibly efficient as he shot 75% on two point field goal attempts, 50% on three point field goal attempts, and nailed 22 of his 23 free throws. When he finished his career at Mentor in 2005, May ranked as the program's all-time leading scorer. That would soon be passed by two other players on this list. 

2. Joe Meyer: 48 points against Cleveland Heights on February 1, 2008

In a program known for shooting excellence, Meyer is arguably the best shooter the Cardinals have ever had. During his senior campaign, Meyer helped lead a young and small Mentor team to an excellent season. His personal highlight came during a big LEL showdown on the road against Travis Kelce (24 points and 11 rebounds in a loss) and the Cleveland Heights Tigers. Meyer helped carry the Cardinals to a 90-76 win that helped secure a league title. Behind six three-pointers along with sinking 22-24 free throws, he demonstrated a strong all-around game with eight rebounds and five assists. Meyer's historic night puts him as the #2 single game scorer in Mentor history.

3. Matthew Biddell: 46 points against Strongsville on January 23, 2023

Mentor entered this game already having handed Strongsville their only loss of the season. In order to secure the victory, Mentor needed a legendary night from senior Biddell as he scored 46 in a 114-100 track meet. Biddell's final points even propelled him to the monumental 1,000 career point mark. With eight three pointers (including six in the second half) to go along with a strong inside game, Strongsville was unable to stop the Walsh University commit. Biddell is a three-year starter that has helped Mentor to many big wins. This night is one that (for now) is his career high and is tied for 3rd all-time in single game scoring for Mentor with Chris Jacklich. 

4. Justin Fritts: 44 points against Garfield Heights on January 13, 2012

At the time, Garifeld Heights was a conference foe in the old Northeast Ohio Conference. Fritts, the 2012 Mr. Basketball winner, is the single season leader in points for Mentor. And on this night against an incredibly talented Bulldogs team, Fritts poured in his career high in single game scoring with 44 big points in a 73-63 home victory. Playing without two key players, Mentor relied on Fritts even more than usual as he scored 26 in the second half. Fritts shot 68% on two point field goals, 50% on three-pointers, and was perfect on 10 free throw attempts. Fritts, the only Mr. Basketball winner in Mentor history, finished his career as the program's second all-time leading scorer. 

5. Cole Krizancic: 42 points against Warren Harding on January 11, 2010

The son of legendary Coach Bob Krizancic, Cole was a four year starter with many single game highlights. He is the program's all-time leading scorer. During his junior season against Warren Harding, Krizancic put on a show at Cleveland State University in scoring his single game career high. The 42 points came from a typical array of masterful scoring. Krizancic attacked WGH inside and outside as they found no answers to stop him. Both teams entered this game undefeated. It lived up to the hype as Mentor won a double overtime thriller, 99-91. This Mentor team would eventually go on to secure the program's first trip to the state Final Four. 

All five of these players are among the highest scoring players in the program history. Each hit the 1,000-point career plateau. Krizancic is the program's all-time leading scorer. Fritts is the only Mr. Basketball winner in program history. May, a rare DI scholarship player, joins Krizancic and Fritts on my First Team selection for "Mentor Basketball 2000's All-Stars." Click Here to read that list. 

Mentor/St Ignatius: A Playoff Rivalry Renewed

This Friday, Mentor and St Ignatius will renew their playoff rivalry at Byers Field. This will be the 8th time the two programs have played in the playoffs. Mentor holds a narrow 4-3 edge in those games, having won three of the last four. St Ignatius held on for a 16-14 win over the Cardinals in their Week 2 battle at Mentor. In honor of Friday's game, let's look back at some history between these two programs. 

In 2003, Mentor and St Ignatius would end up playing in a memorable playoff game at Byers Field. In the months that followed that game, Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno pursued getting St Ignatius on the schedule more regularly. What began as a two-year series signed for the 2005 and 2006 seasons has been a long-standing agreement between two of the premier programs in the state. It is a friendly public/private rivalry that has been as important to high school football over the last 20 years as any in the state. The series has been especially beneficial to the growth of the Mentor football program. It is no coincidence that Mentor began turning a corner of success after regularly putting St Ignatius and other powerhouse programs on the schedule. 

The two first met in the playoffs back in 1992 in a regional final. St Ignatius easily defeated Mentor, 38-13, during one of their many state championship seasons during the 90's. Since then, the two have played each other in six playoff games. The latter five were played during seasons in which the two programs had played earlier during the regular season. In each of those five playoff games, the loser of the regular season game went on to flip the script in the playoff rematch. 

Here are my memories and recap of the past six playoff games between the Cardinal and the Wildcats:

 Mentor 31 St Ignatius 0 (2003): Coming into this game, St Ignatius was wrapping up a period of complete dominance. From 1988-2001, the Cats won nine state titles as they were led by the legendary Chuck Kyle. Mentor's 2003 group was the most dominant regular season team in program history. The defense completely suffocated QB Brian Hoyer (future NFL QB) on this evening, picking him off five times. The Mentor defense forced three fumbles and held St Ignatius to 10 net yards rushing. Some of the defensive standouts included LB Chad Mayse, LB Paul Burger, DB Tony Martucci, DB Scott Goodwin, and DB Angelo DiFranco. 1st Team All-Ohio players Thom Abbot and RB Matt Lieb punched in scoring chances set up by an aggressive and opportunistic defense. St Ignatius hadn't been dominated like that in a playoff game before, and it hasn't happened since. Most people who witnessed that game will never forget "31-0." This unforgettable game is as much a nod to the all-time status of the opponent as it was to the talented "class" of Cardinals. 

St Ignatius 23 Mentor 17 (2011): The two had met during the regular season at a packed house in Mentor for Week 3. Mentor, led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky and a five-wide offense, wreaked all kinds of havoc against the St Ignatius defense. Senior receiver Cameron Kavan put up record breaking numbers with 284 receiving yards. Trubisky and the talented bunch of receivers picked apart the secondary on their way to a 38-24 win. Entering Week 10, Mentor was the #1 ranked team in the AP poll. A surprising Week 10 loss at Twinsburg ended that, but the aspirations of a state championship were very much still in play. The biggest obstacle that would stand in the way of Mentor's hopes of a state title would be the Wildcats. The St Ignatius defense, a group that gave up no more than 20 points in their 13 games following Week 3, was not going to be denied in the second meeting. On a windy evening in Lakewood Stadium, the combination of an aggressive and talented Wildcat defense made life much more difficult for Trubisky. Wildcat legend Tim McVey, a junior at the time, was the bell-cow as he ran 38 times for for 160 yards. Mentor, a team that relied almost exclusively on the passing game in their five-wide offense, was unable to rely on a steady running game to balance out the offense. St Ignatius used blitzes, turnovers, and much better coverage to turn the tide in the rematch. The Wildcats would win the game, the region, and the state championship. 

Mentor 57 St Ignatius 56 3OT (2012): After an amazing and unexpected come back the week prior against St Edward, it was hard to believe that anything could top that. Just seven days later, Mentor and St Ignatius put on all-time memorable performance in a game that featured the "Moment of the Year" by the 2012 Cleveland Sports Awards. In the regular season, St Ignatius dominated the game (48-21) and gave Mentor their only loss. The Cats were 11-1 heading into this game, with their only loss being to St Eds. The Cardinals got off to a great start and were in control during the first half. Mentor had scored on their first four possessions of the game. They were about to score on their fifth before the Cats picked off Trubisky in the end zone, leaving the halftime score at 20-14. St Ignatius got control of the second half as they would score two touchdowns to take a 28-20 lead in the 4th quarter. Trubisky guided Mentor to a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive that included a two point conversion to Fritts. After a stop by the defense, Trubisky led the Cards on a 64-yard drive that resulted in a 35-28 lead with only 48 seconds left in the game. St Ignatius QB Mike LaManna and WR Mike Siragusa took advantage of a prevent defense and connected for a touchdown to send the game into overtime. The two juggernaut offenses, that included Ignatius all-time great Tim McVey, exchanged blows back and forth in overtime sessions until Coach Triv went for two at the end of the third overtime. A Trubisky-Fritts connection in the corner of the end zone sealed the victory for Mentor. In my opinion, that St Ignatius team was the best team that Mentor has ever beaten. Anyone who watched will never forget it. If you want some goosebumps, watch this video

Mentor 26 St Ignatius 3 (2013): The previous season, Mentor pulled off the unthinkable and knocked off St Edward and St Ignatius in back-to-back weeks in the playoffs. In 2013, the Cardinals would have that chance again. Just like the year prior, St Ignatius dominated the regular season matchup with a 26-3 win in Week 2. On a windy and snowy rematch in Week 13 at Byers Field, Mentor's defense combined with the difficult elements to completely dominate the Wildcats. Both teams struggled offensively for the majority of the first half in less than ideal weather conditions. With two minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the score was 5-3 in favor of Mentor. An Eddie Daugherty halfback pass to Corey Plavcan gave Mentor a commanding two score lead just before the half. The Mentor defense, led by All-Ohio players like Kent Berger and Justin McMahon, smothered the Wildcats to a total of 126 total yards on the night. QB Connor Krizancic had trouble throwing the ball in the elements, but made plenty of plays with his feet (167 yards rushing). 

Mentor 23 St Ignatius 21 (2017): Of Mentor's four trips to state championship games, the 2017 run was probably the most unlikely. The team was 9-1 in the regular season, but had some inconsistencies (including giving up 59 points to Euclid in Week 8) that were causes for concern. Once the clock turned November, the defense (led by junior DE Noah Potter) flipped a switch. Late in the season, senior RB Eli McDougal became one of the most unexpected stars. Running behind a big and talented offensive line, McDougal completely transformed Mentor's chances at knocking off the top teams in Ohio. After upsetting St Edward the week prior, the Cardinals found themselves facing St Ignatius in yet another pivotal Region 1 playoff game. Mentor had lost to St Ignatius in the regular season game, 41-31, in a game that McDougal was unavailable for. McDougal's 41-yard TD run on the game's opening drive put Mentor ahead and gave them some early momentum that was soon snatched away by the talented Cats. McDougal finished the game with 18 carries for 151 yards and 2 TD's. St Ignatius had leads of 14-7 and 21-14 before senior QB Tadas Tatarunas found sophomore receiver Luke Floriea to pull Mentor within a PAT from tying. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked and St Ignatius had a 21-20 lead halfway through the 4th quarter. Mentor kicker Conor McIntosh hit a 27-yard field goal with 37 seconds in the game. St Ignatius All-Ohio kicker Matthew Trickett's 52-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide as time expired to earn Triv his third straight playoff win over the legendary Chuck Kyle. This would end up being the last playoff game between the two legendary coaches. 

St Ignatius 35 Mentor 32 (2021): After Mentor won their Week 2 matchup (28-26) at home, the two programs went in pretty different directions throughout the season. St Ignatius would win six of their final eight regular season games highlighted by wins over Akron Hoban and Cincinnati St Xavier. Mentor would follow up their biggest regular season win by losing five of the next six games, finishing without a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 1997. During this playoff game, St Ignatius came out incredibly strong in building a huge 35-10 lead entering the 4th quarter. It looked like a running clock was inevitable. The running backs of the Wildcats combined for 252 rushing yards. Mentor receiver Evan Harper scored early in the 4th quarter in attempts to give the Cardinals some hopes of a comeback. The lights at Byers Field went out and the game was on pause. Upon its return, Mentor picked up where Harper left off. Two more scores (including Harper's third TD of the game) brought Mentor within a field goal with just a few minutes left in the game. The Wildcats recovered an onside kick and sealed the victory. The miracle comeback came up just short. St Ignatius would go on to win one more playoff game before falling to a talented Drew Allar led Medina Bees in a regional semifinal. It was the fifth straight time the playoff rematch went to the loser of the regular season matchup. 

Time Capsule: Mentor vs Coach Kyle

Since the 2005 season, Mentor and St Ignatius scheduled an annual regular season matchup. The only exception to these two playing every season was in 2020 as all schedules were thrown out the window due to COVID. Legendary St Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle announced that 2022 will be his final season. As we look to the final regular season game that Mentor will play against Coach Kyle, let's take a look down memory lane. The two programs have split the 16 regular season games. Here is a list of the regular season results since the 2005 series began: 

2005: St Ignatius 55 Mentor 35
2006: St Ignatius 27 Mentor 14

2007: Mentor 38 St Ignatius 17

2008: St Ignatius 28 Mentor 14

2009: St Ignatius 47 Mentor 7

2010: Mentor 18 St Ignatius 7

2011: Mentor 38 St Ignatius 24

2012: St Ignatius 48 Mentor 21

2013: St Ignatius 26 Mentor 6

2014: Mentor 37 St Ignatius 33

2015: Mentor 63 St Ignatius 56

2016: St Ignatius 49 Mentor 7

2017: St Ignatius 41 Mentor 31

2018: Mentor 28 St Ignatius 7

2019: Mentor 38 St Ignatius 31

2021: Mentor 28 St Ignatius 26

Top Five Regular Season Games

St Ignatius 27 Mentor 14 (2006): A year removed from starting this series, it was clear early on that Mentor was in for a special season. It started with a Week 1 win in Browns Stadium over a very talented Glenville team. Junior QB Bart Tanski would help guide Mentor to the state championship game. Mentor's regular season was nearly perfect that season. The Week 4 game at Byers Field saw Mentor jump out to a 14-0 lead late in the 1st quarter. The Wildcats' defense suffocated the strong Mentor offense for the last three quarters. St Ignatius scored 27 unanswered points as they outplayed Mentor on both sides of the ball. This was the lowest point total of the season for the Cardinals. The Wildcats standouts on defense included Pat Hennessey, Steve Bigach, and Emmet Lydon. 

Mentor 38 St Ignatius 24 (2011): The 2011 game featured a matchup between a Mentor team that would eventually soar to the #1 ranked team in the AP poll. St Ignatius would be the 2011 eventual state champions. Needless to say, this was a high powered matchup with loads of talent. The Mentor offense threw away the RB position and relied on a 5-out spread offense led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky. The Mentor defense featured DE Tom Strobel and LB Kurt Laseak. The Wildcats' ferocious defense allowed an average of 13.6 points per game, not including this Week 3 loss. But on this night, the Mentor offense was clicking on all cylinders as Trubisky threw for nearly 500 yards. A trio of standout receivers (Cameron Kavan, Brandon Fritts, and Conner Krizancic) had their way in the Ignatius secondary. Kavan had a team-record 283 receiving yards. St Ignatius would turn the tables and win the rematch in the regional final. 

Mentor 63 St Ignatius 56 (2015): In hindsight, neither of these teams ended up meeting the pre-season hype or expectations set before them. Mentor finished with an 8-4 record that included a Week 12 loss to St Edward. St Ignatius went on miss the playoffs for just the second time since the late 80's. But at the time this game was played, this offensive explosion made it an unforgettable evening. Entering the game, Mentor and St Ignatius were the top ranked teams in the Cleveland-area. The game featured over 1,400 yards of total offense from both teams. Sophomore QB Tadas Tatrunas had a night to remember with a record 523 passing yards. Receiver Jason Blizzard surpassed Cameron Kavan's single game receiving record (also set against St Ignatius) with 342 yards. Both teams moved the ball and scored at will. The Wildcats were led by QB Dennis Grosel's 415 passing yards and six touchdowns. But it was Mentor that got the last score with 8 seconds left in a game that ultimately became the difference between one team making the playoffs and one team sitting at home in Week 11.

St Ignatius 41 Mentor 31 (2017): QB Kyle Hall came away with a super performance in throwing for 291 yards and three touchdowns in guiding St Ignatius to a key victory. The two-back tandem of Mark Bobinski and Jahadge Floyd each rushed for over 100 yards. Mentor's Tadas Tatarunas, a three-year starter, threw for 341 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in defeat. This would be Mentor's only loss in the regular season. St Ignatius was considered a favorite to win in Division I before Mentor won a regional final rematch. 

Mentor 38 St Ignatius 31 (2019): In what would be the final game between former Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno and St Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle, fans were treated to one of the most entertaining games in the series. Mentor found themselves down 31-17 at the end of the 3rd quarter. St Ignatius senior Connor Cmiel had a memorable evening as he scored in a variety of ways that included two special teams touchdowns. An opportunistic Mentor defense and a strong running attack helped the Cardinals score three unanswered touchdowns in the final frame to earn the comeback win. QB Ian Kipp (175 yards passing, 134 yards rushing) improved his record to 4-1 against "the Saints" (St Edward and St Ignatius) with this win. Senior RB Brian Trobel joined Kipp in running for over 100 yards in this game. 

For a trip down memory lane for the playoff games between these two programs, click on this link here

2022 Pre-Season All- GCC

The Greater Cleveland Conference has a lot of returning talent for the 2022 season. Here are some of the top players on the heels of the season opening. 

Offense

QB Scotty Fox/Jacob Snow, Mentor - This talented duo, in whatever ways they are used, should give Mentor the advantage at the QB position in the league. Fox, just a sophomore, already has an offer from Bowling Green. Snow has shown flashes of stellar play since starting in the 2020 state semifinal game. 

RB EJ Taylor, Solon - After a junior season (1,400+ yards and 17 TD's) that earned him First Team All-District, expect Taylor to be one of the best backs in the state. 

WR Brennen Schramm, Medina - The First Team All-Ohio receiver became Drew Allar's top target as he hauled in 82 catches for 1,333 yards and 14 TD's in 2021.

WR Joel Kpassou, Solon - The Ball State commit stood out for the Comets last year as he was recognized for First Team All-District. 

WR Jamal Jefferson Jr., Euclid - A rising junior in the state, Jefferson has offers from Ball State and Kent State. 

WR Jordan Stapleton, Mentor - Having the most returning production and experience for the Cardinals, expect a big year for Stapleton in Mentor's pass-heavy offense.

OL Colin Van Rooy, Strongsville - The 6'5, 300-pound tackle is one of the top at his position in Ohio as he started opposite Clemson-commit Blake Miller last season. Van Rooy follows Miller to the ACC by committing to Pitt. 

OL Michael McClure, Mentor - The senior tackle has the most size (6'4, 275) and experience returning on the Cardinals' offensive line.  

OL Sean Houser, Brunswick - College football is in the future for this big (6'4, 270) starting tackle for the Blue Devils. 

OL Myshaun Turner, Euclid - The 6'6, 290-pound lineman will anchor Euclid's offensive line. Turner has an offer from Akron. 

OL Patrick Gillespie, Medina - The returning starter at center, Gillespie (6'4, 265) was a key part of an offensive line that was instrumental in Medina's dynamic 2021 offense. 

Defense

DL Brenan Vernon, Mentor - A starter since a freshman, Vernon (6'5, 270) is one of the top recruits in the 2023 class as he is committed to Notre Dame. 

DE Chase Smith, Euclid - Finished with 11 sacks last season as he earned some All-District recognition. 

DT Jamari Holmes, Solon - An impactful two-way player for the Comets that is a three-year starter. Holmes has offers to D2 colleges like Lake Erie and Wheeling.  

DE Ryan Lawson, Mentor - Playing with Vernon, expect Lawson to help be a part of the top defensive line in the league.

LB Michael Novak, Strongsville - A three year starter with college football in his future, Novak will be a leader on defense for the Mustangs this season.

LB Ryan Merrill, Euclid - A three-year starter, Merrill has earned a First Team (2020) and Second Team (2021) All-District selection in two varsity seasons. 

LB Collin Orosz, Mentor - A key standout and sure tackler last season, Orosz earned Second Team All-District honors for his strong play. 

DB Caleb Pohto, Mentor - After a standout season with a team-high five interceptions, Pohto is one of the top defensive talents in the GCC. 

DB Branyan Nichols, Brunswick - A two-way starter as a running back, Nichols is one of Brunswick's most important returning players. 

DB Charlie Bubonics, Solon - A two-way standout for the Comets, Bubonics is a playmaker in the secondary to go along with his stellar play at quarterback.

DB Brian McQuaide, Solon - Another dynamic player on both sides of the ball for Solon, McQuaide is one of the top juniors in the league.