Week 4
Week 4
Who: Strongsville
What: Greater Cleveland Conference game
Where: Pat Catan Stadium
When: September 15th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Lou Cirino (1st year at Strongsville, 46-28 record at West Geauga)
History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 10-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).
History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 10-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).
Looking Back…
Mentor defeated Strongsville at home last season, 42-26. Mentor QB Tadas Tatarunas had one of his best statistical lines of the season with 388 passing yards and three TD's. It was the Cardinals' 8th straight win over the Mustangs. With a team built on youth, Strongsville struggled last year with a 2-8 record (1-6 in GCC). The program hasn't been to the playoffs since 2008. After gaining a little bit of momentum (6-4 in 2014, 5-5 in 2015) under Coach Larry Laird, last year was a step back. Laird resigned after last season and returned to coach at Medina. This left an opening for Cirino, a successful coach at the DIII level with West Geauga.
Schedule…
The Mustangs' nonleague schedule consists of Berea, Hudson, and Canton Central Catholic. The season opens with neighboring Berea, a big school that also struggled in 2016. If Strongsville/Cirino want to have a chance for any momentum, that is a must-win game. Hudson is one of the top programs in NEO right now. That will be as difficult as any game on the schedule. Canton Central Catholic is the defending Division V state champions. Even with enrollment difference being a huge advantage to Strongsville, this game will be a huge challenge. Overall, Strongsville has only four 2016 playoff teams on their schedule. Since 2009, Strongsville has a 2-30 record against Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Euclid, and Elyria. The most grueling stretch of the season will be during Weeks 2-5 when Strongsville has Hudson, Canton Central Catholic, Mentor, and Solon all in a row.
2016 Strongsville Outlook…
About half of the starters on last year's team were part of a talented sophomore class. This included QB Johnny Majors, who even had some starts as a freshman. The lumps they took on varsity last year does provide some needed experience. There are 13 starters returning, with the majority of them being on offense. Skill position players returning include RB Taylor Griffin and a trio of WR's. Offensively, Cirino brings a triple option offense into the mix. It will be interesting to see how Majors, a QB with some speed, will be able to lead the Mustangs.
Strongsville has a lot of size and experience returning on the lines on both sides of the ball. JD Duplain (6'4, 275) was a big part of Strongsville's state runner-up baseball squad. Duplain, a defensive lineman, could make big strides on the gridiron this year. If the junior-led offense can fully adapt to Cirino's new scheme, expect some improvement from Strongsville. With the schedule so front loaded, the Mustangs will have a tough start. But during the second half of the season, a few wins in the league is not out of the question.
Next: Brunswick (Week 5)
Strongsville has a lot of size and experience returning on the lines on both sides of the ball. JD Duplain (6'4, 275) was a big part of Strongsville's state runner-up baseball squad. Duplain, a defensive lineman, could make big strides on the gridiron this year. If the junior-led offense can fully adapt to Cirino's new scheme, expect some improvement from Strongsville. With the schedule so front loaded, the Mustangs will have a tough start. But during the second half of the season, a few wins in the league is not out of the question.
Next: Brunswick (Week 5)
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