Week 1 Recap

Blizzard Warning...

I think all future Mentor opponents will get the message loud and clear: watch out for a Blizzard. Sorry for the cliche, but the senior receiver has made his name known. In the scrimmages and during Week 1, Blizzard has been the No. 1 target for the passing game. He delivered a super performance (11 receptions for 228 yards and 2 TD's) against Boardman that helped catapult the offense to a 38-7 win. Blizzard was effective as an outside threat last season. With Eddie Daugherty now playing college ball, there was an opening at the slot position. Blizzard has moved over to fill in for Daugherty and the results have been spectacular so far. When defenses focus on Blizzard, it will be up to the other receivers to step up. From what I have seen so far, I think they are capable of doing that. 

Strong Debut for QB...

Let's face it. Mentor's success over the last 15 years has been about the QB play as much as any position on the field. Most of the QB's since 2001 have been All-Ohio and/or DI scholarship QB's. A few have made starts as sophomores. Matt Eiswerth had 5 TD's in Week 1 two years ago as a sophomore. Eventual Mr. Football QB's Bart Tanski and Mitch Trubisky both started as sophomores. Neither had a passing performance as 10th graders like we saw from Tadas Tataruans on Friday. The 6'4 sophomore threw for 309 yards and three TD's in his debut. Tatarunas, who also had a rushing TD, was pretty effective running the ball when it was needed. There is no question he did a good job in Week 1. Nobody is perfect, but he made a lot of good throws that were right on the money. His decision making looked good as well. It is way, way too early to make any kind of comparisons to Mentor's recent Mr. Football QB's. But it was a good start for what is hopefully a successful three-year career as signal caller. 

Don't Forget Mr. Mathews...

Senior RB Alex Mathews has been hyped in the preseason as the focal point of the offense. When you have a sophomore QB, the offense was expected to count on riding Mathews to success. Boardman was ready for that kind of game plan. They did what they could in stacking the box to take away the running game. Mathews had a hard-earned 105 yards rushing. After one game, it appears the offense is going to be balanced enough to keep teams from stacking the box too much. That will help provide Mathews with more openings in the defense. His combination of strength and speed should continue to be a worry to opposing defenses. 

Getting Defensive...

My first three notes have been offensive to those who believe defense deserves some credit. Let's not forget the defense. They didn't get a shutout as they might have hoped, but there were some bright spots. For one, it was good to see Billy Hudson out there. The four year letterman has been a mainstay on the defensive line. His size, strength, and technique make him a load for opposing offensive lines. Aside from Hudson, sophomore cornerback Logan Shea had a solid performance. He was giving up about 8 inches to Boardman receiver Travis Koontz. Shea did a great job on him all night. That included a game-changing interception close to halftime. Boardman was driving on Mentor's side of the field as Shea picked off a pass near the 20-yard line. The offense marched down the field to give the Cardinals a secure 17-0 lead at halftime. 

GCC Recap...

Solon, Strongsville, and Brunswick all lost to strong DII programs. It was surprising to see that trio go 0-3 in Week 1. Their opponents were a strong group. Aurora (2010 state champs), Avon (No. 7 team in Cleveland.com/NEOMG), and Highland are three of the top teams in NEO - regardless of division. Still, it would be good for the league if these three can get it going. 

Euclid had a 19-13 halftime lead over a highly regarded Glenville team. But the second half was all Glenville as the Tarblooders beat the Panthers 32-19. This was a good start for Rotsky and Euclid. They could develop into Mentor's top challenger in the league if they can build on this.

Elyria (31-7 over Avon Lake), Shaker Heights (21-9 over University), and Medina (56-13 over Lakewood) all got Week 1 victories. That (along with Mentor's win) gave the GCC a mediocre 4-4 weekend. 

Mentor's other opponents (St Ignatius and St Xavier) both picked up easy victories in Week 1. St Ignatius pummeled Normandy 63-7 and St X routed Covington Catholic (KY) 57-7. 

Coming Soon...

Speaking of St Ignatius, that is Mentor's Week 2 opponent. A preview of the game will come later this week. 

Hoover Scrimmage Recap

Mentor hosted Hoover last night for one half of mostly "game-like" conditions. The only difference between the format of last night's scrimmage and this Friday's game against Boardman was no punt/kick returns. After two quarters of play, Mentor outscored Hoover by a score of 35-14.

After scoring five touchdowns in a similar kind of scrimmage format last week against Massillon, the offense continues to be clicking on all cylinders. Senior RB Alex Mathews had another good performance. He picked up several big runs as the Colgate recruit used his combination of speed and strength. Mathews' biggest runs were a 17-yard TD run and a 30-yard run that set up a Tatarunas rushing score. The running game was working well as three different players rushed for long TD runs. Backup RB (and starting LB) Frank Toth had one carry for a 39-yard TD run. 

QB Tadas Tatarunas continues to improve. The game plan was mostly conservative for the sophomore, but it was effective. Screen passes were executed well. Most of the passing game involved short passes. Malik Porter took one of those screen passes to the house for a 45-yard catch-and-run. That score was set up by a well executed fake punt. 

It wasn't all short passes. Tatarunas hit senior receiver Jason Blizzard for a long pass in the endzone. As the season progresses, I expect the confidence of Tataruans to improve. That should lead to more aggressive play calling. 

The offensive line gave Tatarunas good protection while they also opened up holes for the running game. Overall, the offense had another solid night.

Defensively, it was widely known that Mentor struggled against Massillon in last weekend's scrimmage. Mentor's defense surrendered six touchdowns in just two quarters. Last night went much better. Hoover was not as skilled or athletic as Massillon, but it was still a positive step. 

In five possessions, Hoover had one sustained drive (led to a score) against Mentor's defense. Mentor's defense set the tone by forcing three-and-outs on Hoover's first two drives. The defensive line was active in stopping the run. The secondary did just enough to stop any kind of consistent passing game. Hoover's third drive ended with an interception by senior safety Kenny Cook. The linebackers made some plays as well. 

Hoover's second touchdown score was against the backup defense with seconds left in the scrimmage. Considering Mentor's defense was basically without three starters, this was a good step forward from the second scrimmage. Still some work to do, but the defense should continue to improve when they get Billy Hudson back. 

It was a good tune-up for Week 1 against Boardman. 

Preseason All GCC Team

Offense

QB - Johnny Mooney (Solon): Solon's version of ¨Johnny Football¨ is set for a breakout 2015 season after a productive junior campaign (1,113 passing yards, 13 TD's, and 3 INT's).

RB - Alex Mathews (Mentor): The Colgate recruit (938 yards and 15 TD's in 2014) has been an important part of the last two Mentor teams. Mathews will be the focal point of the offense to start the season.

FB - Jimmy Daw (Medina): Daw is a big back that also plays LB for the Bees. He had several 100-yard games last season as a sophomore. Daw already has an offer from Bowling Green.

WR - Jason Blizzard (Mentor): The small but speedy senior moves to slot receiver this year after a very productive junior season that saw him boast 40 catches, 702 yards, and 8 TD's.

WR - Aaron Berry (Euclid): Berry was 2nd team All-District and all-league performer for the Panthers last season.

WR - Jake McCurry (Solon): Also a standout on defense, McCurry led the Comets in receptions and yards last season. He will be the primary target for the Comets.

OL - Conner Mundy (Strongsville): This big senior tackle (6'3, 275) is likely to get some college offers soon.

OL - Gary Harris (Shaker): Harris is a three-year starter for the Raiders and has been an all-league performer.

OL - Kevin Birchall (Mentor): The senior tackle (6'4, 225) is the anchor of Mentor's line.

OL - Chase Strayer (Mentor): Strayer (6'2, 245) is a versatile lineman that is transitioning from center to tackle.

OL - Vince Galassi (Strongsville): The 6'4, 300-pound lineman has been a key part of Strongsville's line since he was a sophomore.

Defense

DE - Simeon Lawrence (Elyria): Lawrence had 128 tackles (28 for loss) and 11 sacks as a junior.

DT - Billy Hudson (Mentor): The leader of Mentor's defense has been a varsity contributor since he was a sophomore. Hudson is a dominant force in the middle of the defensive line. 

DE - Xavier Johnson (Shaker Heights): Shaker's defensive line will be led by the big and athletic senior lineman that is a sack machine.

LB - Zach Mason (Elyria): The senior had over 200 tackles last season.

LB - Zack Lesko (Solon): The three-year starter is the leading returning tackler for the Comets.

LB - Alex Zacharyasz (Strongsville): The three-year starter has 167 career tackles.

LB - DeAngelo Levert (Mentor): Levert is one of only a few returning starters on defense for the Cardinals. He will look to build on a productive junior season.

DB - Anthony Johnson (Euclid): The Cleveland Heights transfer has more college offers than anyone in the GCC.

DB - Gil Barksdale (Solon): The gifted athlete excelled on offense and defense last season.

DB - Zach Kahn (Strongsville): A three-year starter on defense who will also be one of Strongsville's top playmakers on offense.

DB - Keon Williams (Euclid): Part of a deep and talented defensive backfield at Euclid.

Strength of Schedule

After spending the last four weeks researching Mentor's ten opponents, I did my best to rank the games in terms of their difficulty. Enjoy.

The Big Ones...

1. St Xavier (Week 3): The Bombers last played Mentor in the 2007 state championship. The two have never met in the regular season, let alone in Cincinnati. St X is widely considered one of the top programs in Ohio. This year will be no exception. They are loaded on offense with size and talent. QB Sean Clifford is a Notre Dame commit. Top receivers (including Michigan State commit Noah Davis) and lineman also return. A potential star at RB, Sean Prophit, completes the balanced approach. Defensively, St X has been as consistent as any team in the state. Their 3-3 stack defense is the same scheme that St Ignatius runs. On pure talent alone, few opponents in Ohio would be as tough of a test as St Xavier. Throwing onto that a long trip to Cincinnati makes this the most challenging game on the season for the Cardinals.

2. St Ignatius (Week 2): Having played every year since 2005 (and three additional times in the playoffs), this has become the top public-private rivalry in Ohio. St Ignatius leads the regular season series 6-4 and Mentor has won three of the four playoff matchups in the 2000's. Overall, the series is as even as it gets. It is no coincidence that the football program elevated after years of scheduling the premier Ohio football power. This is always an important game for Coach Triv and the Cardinals to see how they stack up. The Wildcats are loaded on the offensive side of the ball. QB Dennis Grosel, WR's Cal Grbac/Jack Cook, and tackle Liam Eichenberg are part of what could be the top passing offense in Ohio. This will be an incredibly challenging game. The only reason I put this below the St X game is due to travel. Even though Mentor has fared well at Byers Field, having the game in Lake County is always an advantage.

Tier 2...

3. Solon (Week 6): The Comets have long been one of, if not the number one football rival for Mentor. After a long non-conference series, multiple playoff matchups, and being together in two different leagues - it is no secret that Mentor's success rides on the Solon game. The Comets have been down the past few years (zero playoff wins), but this season should be a couple steps forward. Offensively, they are loaded with returning skill players: QB Johnny Mooney, RB Melvin Jackson, WR Jake McCurry, and the dynamic Gil Barksdale. There are some questions on defense, but that side of the ball has been consistently good for many years. Expect the GCC crown to be decided in Week 6. Solon could very well knock off the Cardinals for the first time since 2010.

4. Elyria (Week 10): Elyria has finished 7-3 four seasons in a row. This will be the toughest conference schedule the Pioneers have faced in years. Maintaining at least 7 wins will be a challenge, but one I predict they will reach. Elyria has a lot of returning starters from a playoff team. Key skill players on offense return - like leading receiver Kyle Ringer and 1,000-yard rusher Chris Atkinson. Elyria should be big, skilled, and experienced in the front seven. They have a hall of fame coach and they get Mentor on grass in Week 10. Many elements that work in Elyria's favor. Besides Solon, I expect this to be the most challenging league game for Mentor.

Minor Challenge...

5. Brunswick (Week 9): The Blue Devils are difficult to judge right now. The most obvious reason is because they are replacing every starter from last season. Brunswick is a proud program with many years of success. But under the new coaching regime, the Blue Devils haven't even won a playoff game. Last year's team was good. The 2015 group will take a couple steps back. 

6. Strongsville (Week 8): Coach Laird had a positive season last year with the Mustangs. They had their first winning season since 2008. However, a lot of starters were part of a deep and experienced senior class. Strongsville does have some key guys returning, including QB Ryan Robertson and RB Zach Kahn. Mentor doesn't always play well at Pat Catan Stadium over the years.

7. Euclid (Week 4): Under Coach Rotsky, the Panthers should have a bit of a fire under their belt. The talent in the school combined with the incoming transfers makes Euclid a potentially dangerous team in the GCC. But sometimes it takes a couple years for the players to really catch on to a new coach and system. I expect Euclid to give Mentor more of a challenge than in recent past, but this is a game Mentor should win.

Running Clock...

8.  Boardman (Week 1): I expect Boardman to look improved this season. But some improvement won't be enough to keep this game close. Mentor's offense was a matchup nightmare for Boardman and I don't expect this year to look any different. Mentor's defense is going to take some lumps early as they have many first-year starters. But Boardman doesn't have enough talent on offense to seriously exploit Mentor's youth.

9. Medina (Week 7): The potential at Medina was seen in 2010 as they made the playoffs and knocked off Canton McKinley. But that success was short lived. The Bees have struggled to get wins in the old NOC River. They are going to be underdogs almost every week in the GCC until the program can see a major shift in numbers, talent, and confidence.

10. Shaker (Week 5):  The Raiders are Mentor's most serious challenge in the league...on the basketball floor. While Jarvis Gibson is taking the program forward, they just are not ready to compete with Mentor or the top of the GCC. It doesn't help that Shaker has lost some of their top returning players to other schools both near and far.

Next: Preseason All GCC Team

Opponent Preview: Elyria (Week 10)

**Disclaimer: This is a fan blog and not affiliated with the Mentor football program.

Week 10

 

Who: Elyria

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Ely Stadium

When: October 30th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Kevin Fell (5th season at Elyria, 28-12 record, 0-2 in playoffs)

History:  Mentor hasn't played Elyria since the two were both in the LEL over ten years ago. Mentor won the most recent meeting in 2002, 42-13. 

Looking Back...

Elyria went 7-3 in the regular season for the fourth consecutive season under Fell. It was a second straight playoff appearance for the Pioneers. After starting the season 2-3, Elyria went on to win their final five games in a row to make the Region 1 playoffs. Big wins on the season were against Brunswick (DI playoff team), Fremont Ross (DII playoff team, and Stow. Elyria finished second in the final season of the NOC River.  The Pioneers lost three regular season games to playoff teams: Mayfield (NOC River champs), Midview (12-1), and Lorain (Region 1 playoff team). Elyria's season ended in Week 11 with a 42-14 loss to St Ignatius. Four Pioneers made 1st team All-District: record-setting QB Hunter Parsh, WR Brad Schneider, LB Mike Smosny, and DB Michael Church.

Schedule...

The non-league schedule for Elyria includes Lorain, Avon Lake, and Shaw. Lorain (7-4 in 2014) was also a playoff team in Region 1 last year. They will be one of the top NEO teams next season and present the biggest challenge in non-conference play. Avon Lake, one of the proudest programs in NEO, finished just 2-8 last year. Shaw (2-8) also struggled last year. If Elyria wants to return to the playoffs, getting off to a good start with at least a 2-1 start is a must. How will the Pioneers stack up in the GCC? The last time Elyria was in the big school division of the old Northeast Ohio Conference (with current GCC teams like Solon, Brunswick, and Strongsville) - the Pioneers struggled. They found a good home in the middle division of the NOC. Having Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, and Strongsville on the schedule again will make for their most competitive league schedule in many years.    

2015 Elyria Outlook...

Coach Fell is one of the most decorated coaches in the Cleveland area. Fell has coached multiple teams to the playoffs as he has 267 wins in his career. Fell has helped turn Elyria into a program on the rise. After just one playoff season (2005) in nearly 40 years, Fell has won no less than 7 games per season each of the last four years. Elyria is coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, but both were Week 11 losses. The next step for the program is to win some playoff games. Bringing back 14 starters from a playoff team is a great start.

The good news is the Pioneers do have a lot of experience. The bad news is that most of their standout players from last season were seniors. Replacing three-year starting QB is a challenge that Mentor has experienced. Parsh threw for over 6,000 yards as a Pioneer. Like Mentor, Elyria will be working in a new starting QB this season. Javon Oliver is the likely candidate. RB Chris Atkinson had over 1,000 yards rushing as a sophomore. Count on Atkinson and the other returning backs to help lead the offense early in the season while a new starting QB adjusts. Kyle Ringer returns after leading the team in receptions and receiving yards. 

DE Simeon Lawrence and LB Zack Mason are two of the top defensive players returning. Lawrence is an impact player on the edges. He had 123 tackles and 11 sacks last season. Mason led the team with over 200 tackles. 

The defensive front seven and skill players on offense are the strength of the team. Look out for Elyria to be one of Mentor's biggest challengers in the GCC. 

Next: Ranking the Strength of Schedule

Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 9)

Week 9 

Who: Brunswick

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 23rd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Luke Beal (6th season at Brunswick, 31-21 record)

History:  Mentor won all four regular season meetings as NOC members.  Mentor also won the playoff game last season, 42-0.  The teams played in the 2007 state semifinal, in which Mentor won 39-14.  

Looking Back...

Brunswick finished 7-3 in the regular season and made the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Blue Devils defeated two playoff teams in 2014: Fitch and Solon. They finished 3rd in the final season of the NOC (Valley Division). Brunswick played well against Mentor in a 21-14 loss at home.  The Blue Devils' season ended in Week 11 for the second consecuitve season as they lost to St Edward in the first round of the playoffs. Among the 40 seniors that graduated were 1st team all-district selections: QB Steven Ficyk, WR Gary Clift, OL Tom Knuff, and DB Adam Weber. 

Schedule...

Brunswick has six teams on the schedule that made the 2014 playoffs, including all three of their non-league games. They start the season with Highland, one of the top DII programs in NEO the past few years. Brecksville (8-3) is a DII playoff team the past two seasons. The toughest non-league task will be Fitch (26-3 in regular season since 2012). The GCC will have a few season-defining games for Brunswick. Solon and Elyria are two that stand out. If Brunswick wants to make the playoffs again, it will be important to win one of those. Rivalry games with Strongsville and Medina are always key to a successful season.  The NOC Valley schedule will be more challenging than last season.   

2015 Brunswick Outlook...

Coach Beal's teams have had winning seasons in four of his five years. The past two were playoff teams, but Beal is still looking for his first playoff win as the Blue Devils' head coach. Experience is hard to find on a team that started all seniors on both sides of the ball. It paid off with some 2014 success, but it leaves the 2015 group with lots of question marks. A group of unknown varsity backups and JV starters will be the core for the 2015 team. Brunswick's reputation (15 playoff appearances, two regional titles) as one of NEO's top DI programs is deserved. But they are going to have a difficult time navigating back to the playoffs considering their inexperience and schedule.  


Next Preview: Elyria (Week 10)

Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 8)

**Disclaimer: This is a fan blog. It is not affiliated with the Mentor football program.

This is the eight of my opponent previews. To view the other previews for the first five opponents, click on the team: Boardman (Week 1), St Ignatius (Week 2), St Xavier (Week 3), Euclid (Week 4), Shaker Heights (Week 5), Solon (Week 6), and Medina (Week 7)

Week 8

Who: Strongsville

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Pat Catan Field

When: October 16th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (2nd season at Strongsville, 23-10 record as a head coach)

History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 8-2. Strongsville won two meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).

Looking Back…

Coach Larry Laird didn't make the playoffs at Strongsville last year. Laird lead Medina (2010) and Avon Lake (2013) to the playoffs during his only season as head coach at those respective schools. They started off 6-1 before losing their final three games. Injuries, especially at the QB position, took a toll on a season that was one regular season win away from making the playoffs. But Strongsville's 6-4 record was a step forward. It was their first winning season since 2008. The Mustangs had five playoff teams on the schedule last year. They went 1-4 in those games. The big win on the season was against Berea, a Region 1 playoff team. Strongsville lost to Mentor 37-7 in last year's Week 10 matchup at the JTO. Last year's seniors were an important part of the team's success. OL Alex Uhas, RB Dominic Lombardo, WR Drew Robertson, and DE Austin Platt are the All-District players that graduated.

Schedule…

The Mustangs have one of the toughest nonleague schedules in the GCC. All three are against DII opponents, but it is still challenging. Avon (10-2 in 2014) has won 10+ games in five straight seasons. They are one of the top DII programs in NEO. Hudson was 13-1 last season and finished the regular season at the top of the AP poll. Brush (2-8) is the third nonleague opponent. Overall, Strongsville has six 2014 playoff teams on their schedule. Since 2009, Strongsville has lost 22 straight against the group of Mentor (0-6 record), Brunswick (0-6), Solon (0-6), Elyria (0-2), and Euclid (0-2). Those are five of their seven GCC opponents. Winning some of those games is a must if Strongsville wants to make the playoffs.

2015 Strongsville Outlook…

Laird didn't work the playoff magic in his first year as Mustangs coach. Accomplishing that goal in his second year will be challenging. Many of the key players on last year's team were part of a deep and strong senior class. QB Ryan Robertson filled in for three-year starter Bobby Cole (injury)  last season and performed well. Robertson (6'3, 185), now a senior, will be key to Strongsville's success. RB Zach Kahn (878 all-purpose yards last season) has been sharing duties with all-district RB Dominic Lombardo the past two years. Now it is Kahn's turn to shine. Connor Mundy (6'3, 275) is the anchor for the offensive line. 

Defensively, Kahn is a three-year starter in the secondary. His leadership and skill on both sides of the ball are an important part of Strongsville's success. Alex Zacharyasz is also a three-year starter. The senior LB was one of the leading tacklers on last year's team. 

Laird has never coached a team for more than one season. He left after successful first-year stints at Medina and Avon Lake. What will happen in Year No. 2? In order to take his third different program to the playoffs, some wins against the top of the GCC are imperative.

Next: Brunswick (Week 9)

Opponent Preview: Medina (Week 7)

**Disclaimer: This is a fan blog. It is not affiliated with the Mentor football program.

This is the sixth of my opponent previews. To view the other previews for the first five opponents, click on the team: Boardman (Week 1), St Ignatius (Week 2), St Xavier (Week 3), Euclid (Week 4), Shaker Heights (Week 5), and Solon (Week 6)

Week 7

Who: Medina

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 9th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Dan Sutherland (4th season at Medina, 7-23 record)

History: Mentor played Medina while both were in the NOC Valley in 2011 and 2012. Mentor won by a combined score of 108-28.

Looking Back…

Medina is one of the largest school districts in Ohio. They have been successful at several sports over the years (recent state championships in soccer, cross country, and lacrosse). Football has not been one of them. Coach Larry Laird (currently at GCC member Strongsville) had the magic touch for the Bees as he guided them to the program's only playoff win in 2010. Since Laird left, Medina has had a losing season each of the past four years. 

In 2014, Medina was 2-8. Of their eight losses, five were to playoff teams and two were against teams with winning records that didn't make the playoffs. Their two wins were against Shaker Heights and Eastlake North.  The Bees had primarily senior starters last year, especially on defense. Offensive graduates include QB Collin Minor (All-District honorable mention) and lineman Zeke Martin (Illinois). 

Schedule…

As I posted on my GCC notes, Medina's non-conference schedule is somewhat challenging - but not overwhelming. Lakewood is the opener. The Rangers (2-8 last season) have had pretty limited football success in the 2000's. It is an important game for Medina to win if they want to see improvement in 2015.  The other two nonleague games are against a couple of 2014 playoff teams: Kenston and Wadsworth. Those two games will be a challenge. In the GCC, Medina is going to have their hands full with the top of the league. The Bees got outscored 106-20 last season by Strongsville, Brunswick, and Elyria - three GCC schools on the schedule. But Medina was a very reasonable 4-4 against their nearby rivals, Strongsville/Brunswick, from 2010-2013. 

 

2015 Medina Outlook…

Medina's biggest strength for the 2015 season will be the running game. Sutherland's system includes a wing-T offense. Running the ball is the focus of the offense. They did graduate top lineman Zeke Martin, but the other four starting offensive lineman do return. Starting RB Jimmy Daw had a nice sophomore season last year. He even got some action carrying the ball as a freshman in 2013. Daw is on pace to be one of the most productive RB's in Medina history. The 6'3, 205-pound junior had several 100+ yard rushing games last season. He finished the year with 850 yards rushing, 270 yards receiving, and 15 total TD's. Daw already has an offer from Bowling Green. If Medina can be successful running the ball, they should see some improvement on their recent setbacks. 

Defensively, Medina didn't close last season very well. The Bees gave up a total of 130 points over the last three games. Most of the 2014 starters were seniors. Safety Collin Winters is one of the few returning starters on that side of the ball.

The Bees are still trying to build a winning program. Considering their schedule includes six 2014 playoff teams (Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Elyria, Kenston, and Wadsworth) - there is a good chance that a winning season will have to wait another year. 

Next: Strongsville (Week 8)