Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 8)

This is the eight of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:

Massillon

St Ignatius

St Xavier

Euclid 

Shaker Heights

Solon

Medina

Week 8

Who: Strongsville

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 13th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (3rd season at Strongsville, 28-15 record as a head coach)

History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 9-2. Strongsville won two meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch). 

Looking Back…

Last year's game at Pat Catan Stadium was in doubt until late in the 4th quarter. The Mustangs were forced to start a freshman QB after dealing with some injuries. Mentor would pull away with a 35-24 win. During the season, Strongsville got off to a 4-1 start that included a big win over Hudson (DII state semifinalist). The second half of the schedule featured four GCC playoff teams. Strongsville lost to all of them and finished the season 5-5. The Mustangs snapped a six-game losing streak against rival, Brunswick. 

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 2015) has won 10+ games in six straight seasons. They are one of the top DII programs in NEO. Hudson was 11-3 last season and would go on to win Region 3. Brush (1-9) is the third nonleague opponent. Overall, Strongsville has six 2015 playoff teams on their schedule. Since 2009, Strongsville has a 1-26 record against Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Euclid, and Elyria. 

2016 Strongsville Outlook…

After two decent seasons (6-4 in 2014 and 5-5 in 2015), Strongsville has their hands full in 2016. If they can manage to not have a losing record, it would be a very successful season for Coach Laird. After starting mostly seniors last year, this will be a rebuilding year. QB Ryan Robertson and RB Zach Kahn were among the key seniors on last year's team. 

The good news is that Strongsville's sophomore class is super after finishing 10-0 as freshman last season. QB Johnny Majors got promoted late in the season and landed the starting varsity job as a freshman. Majors played well against Mentor and will be a big key to Strongsville's hopeful climb up the DI ladder over the next few years. Considering the reliance on a sophomore class, overcoming a very tough schedule will mean the Mustangs will take some lumps. They are a year away from really competing with the top of the league.

Next: Brunswick (Week 9)

Opponent Preview: Medina (Week 7)

This is the seventh of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:

Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid 
Shaker Heights
Solon

Week 7

Who: Medina Bees

What: GCC Game

Where: Ken Dukes Stadium

When: October 7th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Dan Sutherland (5th season at Medina, 11-29 record)

History: Mentor easily won both games when the two teams were in the same division of the NOC in 2011/12. Last year, Mentor won 42-20 at home against the Bees.

Looking Back...
Medina took a small step in the right direction last season, finishing 4-6. They began by winning two of their three non-conference games by a combined score of 118-19. Only a 27-24 hiccup in Week 2 against Kenston prevented a 3-0 start for Medina. The Bees won Week 4 against Elyria (a 2015 playoff team). After that, they lost five of their final six in the GCC. Shaker Heights was the lone win during that stretch. 

Schedule...
Medina's non-conference schedule is the same as last season. They open up at Lakewood (1-9 in 2015), a must-win for the Bees. Kenston (3-7) and Wadsworth (3-7) struggled last season, but should see some improvement. Half of the GCC teams made the playoffs last season. If the Bees can find a way to win one of those games, it would be a big step in the right direction. Local rivals Strongsville and Brunswick are season-defining games.

2016 Medina Outlook...
Big and talented RB Jimmy Daw (6'4, 215) is a three-year starter and a key part of Medina's success. Daw, a 1st-team All-District back in 2015, has offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, and Iowa State. Senior QB John Curtis (6'4, 205) and Dylan Fultz, the top receiver from 2015, also return on offense. On paper, Medina looks to be in good shape on that side of the ball. 

Defensively, the Bees will need some improvement. In their five GCC losses, Medina gave up at least 35 points in all of them. The majority of the starters return, so experience will be on their side. 

Medina does have an experienced group returning, but they will still have trouble cracking the top half of the league. Making the playoffs would be a huge stretch, but finishing with at least 5 wins is a possibility.  

Next Preview:  Strongsville (Week 8)

Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 6)

This is the sixth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:

Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid 
Shaker Heights

Week 6

Who: Solon Comets

What: GCC Game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: September 30th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jim McQuaide (110-40 at Solon, 196-102 overall)

History: This is one of the top big school rivalries across NEO. Mentor leads the overall series, 12-10. Solon leads the regular season series 10-8, but the Cards have won all four playoff appearances. 

Looking Back...
Solon snapped a five game losing streak to Mentor as they picked up an impressive 42-35 win last season at Stewart Field. Solon won a share of the GCC and made the playoffs. The Comets won their first playoff game since 2011 - a 19-9 win over Olentangy Liberty. Solon's season was ended by Stow in Week 12. It was a solid 2015 for the Comets. 

Schedule...
Solon brings back neigborhood foes Aurora (9-2 last season) and Twinsburg (1-9). The Comets beefed up their non-conference schedule by adding Stow, the team that ended their season in 2015. The Bulldogs were 13-1 last season and return 18 starters. Week 3 will be a huge game at Stewart Field. In the GCC, big games that stand out are longtime rival Mentor and Euclid, the only GCC team to defeat the Comets in 2015. Since 2004, Solon is 29-1 against Shaker, Strongsville, Medina, and Elyria. Brunswick is down. 

2016 Solon Outlook...
QB Johnny Mooney was a thorn in Mentor's side last season. Mooney was one of the most productive QB's across the state. Mooney has graduated, but Solon brings back 17 starters. Senior Joe Bubonics is the front runner to succeed Mooney. There are some talented and experienced skill position players returning. Receivers Jake McCurry and Darryl Sinclair make quite the dynamic duo. After an injury-plagued junior season, Melvin Jackson should be the primary ball-carrier for what should be a more run-oriented offense than a season ago. Jackson showed some serious flash as a sophomore. Andrew Mason and Devon Brown both return after being the leading rushers last year. Solon has plenty of options on offense. Miami (OH) recruit Chris Glaser leads an experienced offensive line. There will likely be a drop off in the passing game, but the talent surrounding the new QB will be second to none in the GCC.  

Defensively, the Comets should be strong. Last year the Comets held five opponents to less than 10 points. The majority of last year's starters return. Solon often puts some of their better athletes on both sides of the ball. McCurry, Bubonics, and Sinclair will start in the secondary. LB Matt Brown was the leading tackler from last season. Jacob Gross is an impact player returning on the defensive line. 

Solon will be the favorite to win the GCC and should be able to put themselves in position to be winning football games in November. 

Next Preview:  Medina (Week 7)

Opponent Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 5)

This is the fifth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:

Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid 

Week 5

Who: Shaker Heights Raiders 

What: GCC Game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: September 23rd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jarvis Gibson (7th season at Shaker, 22-38 regular season record)

History: Mentor and Shaker have been in two leagues together over the years. The Cards lead the series 12-7 that dates back to the LEL days. Mentor has won eight in a row in the series. Shaker's last win against Mentor was in 2004. In a game that was much closer than the final score, Mentor prevailed 35-12 against Shaker last season. 

Looking Back...
The Raiders had a tough opening season in the Greater Cleveland Conference. After starting the season 3-0, Shaker went 0-7 in GCC play. The most competitive loss in league play was against Brunswick (31-14). Shaker did outscore their three non-conference foes 111-9 as the highlight of their season. 

Schedule...
The non-conference schedule is completely different from the one Shaker was so successful with last season. New on the schedule are Skyline from Michigan (4-5 record last year), John Adams (3-7), and Bedford (5-5). This is the easier part of the schedule and one that Shaker has to take advantage of. The Raiders are at the bottom of the GCC and will have to claw their way out of the basement. With teams like Mentor, Solon, Elyria, Euclid, etc. - Shaker will have their hands full winning in league play. 

2016 Shaker Outlook...
Junior QB Jamir Dismukes returns to lead the offense. Dismukes showed some flashes of being a big time playmaker last season against Mentor. Dismukes has some talented receivers returning, including speedster Terrance Colvin and junior Micah Hills. Colvin is dangerous on special teams as well. 

LB Jaylin Garner is another super junior on the roster. Garner (6'2, 230) has been offered by Cincinnati and is being recruited by Big Ten schools. He may be an impact player on offense as well. 

Shaker is not short on talent and potential on offense. But putting it together to win games against a rugged GCC schedule remains to be seen. This is probably another losing season for the Raiders. 

Next Preview:  Solon (Week 6)

Opponent Preview: Euclid (Week 4)

This is the fourth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season.  Here are the other previews:

Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier

Week 4

Who: Euclid Panthers

What: GCC Opener

Where: Sparky DiBiasio Stadium 

When: September 15th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jeff Rotsky (2nd season at Euclid)

History: Mentor and Euclid have been on each other's schedule for many years whether they are in the same league or not. The Cardinals have a 23-16 edge in the overall series. Mentor won last year's game at home, 37-27. 

Looking Back...
When Mentor beat Euclid in Week 4 last year, it was hard to project that the Panthers would end up being the better team come November. Mentor lost two GCC games last year, opening up the Panthers to have a share of the league title with Solon. Even though the Cards did prevail in a September regular season game, Euclid would go on to win their next eight games (including two playoff games). The Panthers were shutout 33-0 by St Edward, the eventual state champions, in Week 13. Overall, it was a very successful season under Rotsky. This was the most accomplished Euclid team since the Robert Smith days. 

Schedule...
Under Rotsky, Euclid has beefed up their non-conference schedule to go along with a tough slate of Greater Cleveland Conference games. They open with Glenville, always one of the most talented teams in Ohio. The Panthers fell to Glenville last year. Euclid's other non-conference opponents are Willoughby South and Aurora. The Rebels and Greenmen are perennial playoff teams in NEO. Along with playing Mentor, the Panthers will have their hands full in the GCC. Solon and Elyria are two teams that will definitely pose a challenge. Half of the teams on Euclid's schedule made the playoffs last season.  

2016 Euclid Outlook...
The Rotsky era got off to a great start as Euclid returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. But making the playoffs hasn't been the problem. Winning playoff games was the stumbling block. After years of falling short in the playoffs (hadn't won a playoff game since 1993), the Panthers put together a memorable stretch where they won two playoff games. A new coach and a group of players that bought in were a big reason for the change. Now the next challenge is to build on the memorable 2015 season and keep it going.

On offense, Noah Mitchell returns as the starting QB. Mitchell started the 2015 season until he was inured in the final regular season game. Mitchell was a key part of the Panthers winning their final six regular season games. In the backfield, De'Quan Pruitt and Edward Robinson will get a good shot at carrying the football in Euclid's run-first offense. Opportunities were hard to come by with standout RB Chris Collins being the primary back, but Pruitt and Robinson made an impact as sophomores last season. Leading the way on the offensive line is senior Terrell Lee (6'1, 260)

The Panthers graduated a lot of talent, including 9 starters on defense. Lee will play two-ways and can make an impact up front. Jaylen Nolden is a big defensive end (6'4, 200) that will be active in rushing the passer. Rotsky's defense will have to reload to compete with a tough schedule. Let's not rule out the impact of possible transfers either. Rotsky's goal in coming to the Panthers was to "Return to Glory." So far, they are on their way. 

Next Preview:  Shaker (Week 5)

Opponent Preview: St Xavier (Week 3)

This is the second of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season.  See the Week 2 preview (St Ignatius) here.

Week 3

Who: St Xavier Bombers

What: Non-league game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium 

When: September 9th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Steve Specht (13th season, 2 state titles)

History: Mentor and St Xavier have played twice. The first was a 27-0 state championship win for the Bombers in 2007. Last year the Cards traveled to Cincinnati in Week 3 riding high after their win over St Ignatius. Mentor ate a big piece of humble pie as the Bombers dominated every facet of the game. The final score was 59-13. 

Looking Back...
Last year's game was long over before the dreaded 45-6 halftime deficit. The Bombers dominated in every facet of the game. The most surprising aspect was how their defense completely frustrated a Mentor offense that had scored 63 points the week before. The win over Mentor was part of a roller coaster regular season that some highs (defeating eventual state champion LaSalle) and lows (OT losses to Elder/Colerain and falling 34-20 to Jesuit rival, St Ignatius). The Bombers finished the regular season 6-4. After picking up a Week 11 playoff win against Gahanna Lincoln, St X had their season ended in a 42-12 loss to Colerain.

Schedule...
St Xavier routinely plays one of the most difficult schedules in the country, let alone the state. Their four-team league (Greater Catholic League) out of Cincinnati is a murderer's row: LaSalle (won last two state titles in DII), Moeller (nine state titles), and Elder (two state titles). Warren Central (IN), Louisville St Xavier (KY), and Indianapolis Cathedral (IN) have combined for 32 state titles. Rounding out the schedule is St Ignatius (11 state titles, Cincinnati power Colerain, and St John Bosco (CA), a team that finished No. 11 in the final USA Today national rankings last season. In other words, a road game at Mentor might be the "easy" game on St X's schedule - a very scary thought.

2016 St Xavier Outlook...
Offensively, the Bombers bring back some key starters from last year. It starts with senior QB Sean Clifford (6'3, 200). The three-year starter is committed to Penn State. Clifford had a great game against Mentor last year on his way to over 1,700 passing yards. Seniors Louis Raines and Colton Paul were two of the top receivers last season. The Bombers graduated their starting RB (Sean Prophit) from last year, but a trio of backs (Quinn Earley, Pete Rumpke and Cameron Specht) will have opportunities this season. The offensive line is big and talented, led by Clemson recruit Matt Bockhorst (6'4, 290). The potential for a well balanced and successful offense is in place.

Defense is where Specht and St Xavier have really stood out over the years. The standout LB group all graduated. There is some returning experience and talent on the defensive line. Up front, DI recruit Bobby Jefferson (6'3, 235) will look to make an impact after some strong showings during his sophomore season. Some guys with little varsity experience will have to step up and replace key contributors from last year's defense. 

With a tough schedule, it is always hard to predict St X's record. You can bet they will playoff-tested come Week 11. Regardless of how the Bombers stack up against their hefty schedule - this will be one of, if not THE biggest challenge on Mentor's schedule.

Next Preview:  Euclid (Week 4)

Opponent Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)

This is the second of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2015 season.  See the Week 1 preview here.

Week 2

Who: St Ignatius Wildcats

What: Non-league game

Where: Byers Field (Parma)

When: September 3rd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Chuck Kyle (34th season, 11 state titles)

History: Mentor and St Ignatius are entering their 12th game in this series. St Ignatius has a slight edge (6-5) over the Cardinals in the regular season. After winning three of four against the Wildcats in the playoffs, Triv has an 8-7 lead head-to-head against the legendary Chuck Kyle.

Looking Back...
During Week 2 last fall, Mentor and St Ignatius had one of the most unforgettable offensive performances in NEO history. Offensive records were set. Defenses were destroyed. In the end, Mentor got the final score with a 63-56 win. It was by far the biggest highlight game of sophomore QB Tadas Tataruans (523 yards and 4 TD's). St Ignatius (5-4 in 2015) missed the playoffs for only the second time in 28 seasons. 

Schedule...
The schedule worked against St Ignatius last year. The Wildcats were easily a playoff caliber team. They were probably the 2nd or 3rd best team in the region, but the harbins were not in their favor. Playing the three Parma schools again doesn't help. Parma, Valley Forge, and Normandy went a combined 5-25 last season. Walsh Jesuit, Detroit Catholic Central, and GlenOak are challenging, but winnable games. The key to the Ignatius schedule is finding a win in their final three games against Moeller, St Xavier, and St Edward. 


2016 St Ignatius Outlook...
There is no question the Wildcats were an offensive juggernaut last season. QB Dennis Grosel (Boston College), OL Liam Eichenberg (Notre Dame), WR Jack Cook (Harvard), and WR Cal Grbac were All-Ohio talent. All four have graduated. Senior RB Jimmy Andrews is one of the few experienced players returning on offense. Senior RB Dean Stowers will also get some carries. The offensive line is led by John Spellacy, a 6'1 280-pound center committed to East Carolina. Senior Patrick Ryan is the likely starting QB for the Wildcats this fall. Defensively, the Wildcats had a down season in 2015. There were some bright spots, but a couple bad weeks against Mentor and Moeller stand out to the Wildcat faithful. Many of the starters from last year's defense do return. Growth and development on that side of the ball will be key to the season. Long-time media legend and St Ignatius reporter Eddie Dwyer is high on the linebacking core - keyed by Johnny Velotta, Adam Shibley, and James Leyden. There are some question marks, but the defense has to be significantly better for the Wildcats to reach their usually high expectations.

Next Preview:  St Xavier (Week 3)

Opponent Preview: Massillon (Week 1)

Here is the first of my previews of Mentor opponents for the 2016 season.  Throughout July and August, I will post some info on each opponent starting in Week 1 with Massillon.  It will lead up to the beginning of the season.

Week 1

Who: Massillon Tigers

What: 2016 regular season opener

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium

When: August 26th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Nate Moore (2nd season at Massillon, 7th season overall)

History: Massillon leads the overall series 6-4. Mentor's biggest win before the 2000's was in 1968 as they upset the Tigers, 19-0. The two split a six game series from 2005-2010. 

Looking Back...
Mentor and Massillon are two of the top football programs in NEO. They had an exciting back-and-forth series for six seasons that ended in a split. After Mentor joined a new league in 2011, the series was on pause until the two had a mutual opening week. On the football field, the 2015 season is one the Tigers are ready to move on from. In their first year under Moore (a state-championship coach at Cincinnati LaSalle in 2014), Massillon could not overcome a schedule featuring nine playoff teams. The Tigers finished 4-6, their first losing season since 2004. 

Schedule...
The Tigers' schedule won't be quite as daunting as 2015, but it will be a big challenge. Seven teams on the schedule made the playoffs last season: Mentor, GlenOak, Warren Harding, Ursuline, Austintown Fitch, St. Vincent-St. Mary, and Canton McKinley. Four of those games will be at home. Massillon's three other games (Akron North, Akron Firestone, Toledo Bowsher) should be easy wins. If the Tigers can manage through the meatgrinder portion with 3 or 4 wins, they should return to the playoffs. 

2016 Massillon Outlook...
As a sophomore, Keyshawn Watson rushed for over 1,000 yards last season. Expect Watson, also dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield and in the return game, to be a primary part of Massillon's success. Another offensive player to watch out for is WR Austin Jasinski. The three-year starter was the leading receiver last season, even while sitting out the final three games due to injury. The offensive line is led by DI recruits Thayer Munford (6'6, 335-pound transfer from LaSalle), Chris Anthony (6'4, 285) and Vince McConnell (6'6, 255). The big question on offense will be at QB. Returning starter Seth Blankenship will try to build on last year's steady performance. Defensively, the Tigers had concerns last year as they surrendered 48+ points in three of their losses. The Tigers do return many starters on D from 2015. LB Jamir Thomas made an impact as a freshman for the Tigers. Thomas led the team in tackles and could also make an impact on offense as a RB. The 6'2, 220-pound standout has  received multiple college offers, including Michigan and Michigan State. Also returning on defense is DT Malcolm Robinson (6'3, 280, multiple DI offers), DB Kordell Ford, LB Jacob Risher, and DL Edwin Glick. Defensive improvement and stability at the QB position will be key in Massillon's quest to make an impact in Division II this November. 

Next Preview:  St Ignatius (Week 2)