Mentor Football Preview

Here is a look at what to expect for the 2019 version of the Mentor Cardinals:

Looking Back...

The 2018 season was another successful one for the program. A 9-1 regular season began with back-to-back wins against St Edward and St Ignatius. The Cardinals, behind a highly decorated group of lineman, caught the attention of the state quickly. Injuries to QB Ian Kipp and RB Brian Trobel gave the team an opportunity to showcase their depth and resiliency. Mentor's only regular season blemish was an overtime loss at home to Solon. The Cardinals picked up a huge victory (without Kipp/Trobel) at Euclid in Week 9. The first two rounds of the playoffs were impressive wins. Mentor's playoff win against Canton McKinley (36-6) secured their 10th regional final appearance since 2002. The rematch with St Edward in Week 13 resulted in a 24-14 loss, ending the hopes of a state championship. All-Ohio graduates included DE Noah Potter (Ohio State), OL Ryan Jacoby (Ohio State), and OL Nick Samac (Michigan State). 

Offense...

Over the last 20 seasons, the offense has been the bread and butter of the Mentor program. The no-huddle spread offense has given nightmares to many opposing coaches. One part of that equation that has been an important part of the success is having a talented QB. For nearly every season since the early 2000's, Mentor has had an All-Ohio level type of QB. This season will be no exception. Junior Ian Kipp was the starter beginning in Week 1 of his sophomore season. Last year's offense was predicated more on the run than the pass thanks to a strong offensive line, a pair of talented backs, and the running ability of Kipp himself. This season, more of the offense will be placed on the arm of Kipp. He may need to be a 2,000-yard passer in the regular season for Mentor to meet their goals of winning the league and hosting a playoff game. Senior WR Luke Floriea has been a key part of the offense since his sophomore season on the state runners-up. The speedy Floriea, a Boston College commit, should have another All-Ohio type of season. Seniors Justin Luke and Nolan Vernon also return after getting plenty of varsity experience at receiver a season ago. Senior RB Brian Trobel burst onto the scene from the start in 2018. He finished with over 1,400 yards and 28 TD's. The offensive line is pretty green in terms of varsity starts. They don't have the big time recruits like last season, but this group should be able to hold their own. Led by a terrific trio (Kipp, Floriea, and Trobel), expect Mentor's offense to be the strength of the team. 

Defense...

While the offense gets plenty of attention, it is said that defense wins championships. Mentor brings back several guys that started games in 2018. Up front, the graduation of three-year starters Noah Potter and James Pedley will take a toll. Freshman sensation Brenan Vernon (6'5, 240) is going to start at defensive end. Vernon already has an offer at Kent State and will likely add several more offers in the next 12 months. But a freshman starting at such a key position won't come without some growing pains. Junior Preston Cardina (6'1, 290) is a big talent in the middle that should do his job at taking up blockers and slowing down the run up the middle. At linebacker, three-year starters Jackson Paglio and Kyle Bischoff have plenty of big game experience. If they can put together All-District kinds of seasons, that will go a long way. Some experience returning in the secondary as well, led by corner Nyzier Fourqurean and safety Marco Toth. This group has a nice mix of experience and potential. The early season challenges of St Edward and St Ignatius will test this side of the ball right from the start. 

Prediction...

Expect the final season of Coach Trivisonno to be one filled with lots of emotion and plenty of success. The first two games of the season are a difficult way to start. I don't expect Mentor to start 2-0 against St Eds and St Ignatius again. A split of those two games plus a league title is what I expect to see. Euclid and Solon are fully capable of beating Mentor, but I think this is the year they finally run through the GCC unscathed. The offense should once again be one of the very best in the state. If the defense can improve and do their part, the sky is the limit.

 

And so...I predict a 9-1 regular seasons, hosting a Week 11 playoff game, and another deep playoff run. 

Triv's Top Playoff Wins (2010-2018)

In honor of Coach Trivisonno's final season as Mentor head coach, I took a trip down memory lane to highlight the top ten playoff wins over his career. The first five were highlighted here. You will notice that all of these wins have something in common. Here is the rest of the top ten, in chronological order:

Mentor 63 St Edward 56 (2012): The undefeated, No. 1 ranked-team in Ohio had every reason to believe they were going to beat Mentor. Not only was St Edward the favorites going in, but they had a 21-point second half lead. The Eagles scored touchdowns on seven of their first eight possessions. The Mentor defense had no answers, but the Mentor offense had all of the answers in the world. Mr. Football Mitch Trubisky (478 passing yards, 98 rushing yards, six total TD's) helped orchestrate the miracle comeback as Mentor found themselves down 56-35 late in the third quarter. The Cardinals kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, essentially putting the ball in the hands of Trubisky and the talented offense. On this night, junior WR Brandon Fritts (14 catches for 243 yards) was a man among boys. He hauled in all four of Trubisky's touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score with 33 seconds left. Without a doubt, this game was the most exciting comeback in Triv's career. If you want to get some goosebumps, watch this video.

Mentor 57 St Ignatius 56 3OT (2012): After the amazing and unexpected come back the week prior, 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, and were about to score on their 5th 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 more goosebumps, watch this video

Mentor 26 St Ignatius 6 (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 26-6 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 41 St Edward 38 (2013): In 2012, St Eds was undefeated and the No. 1 ranked team in Ohio. They were probably even more talented the following season when Mentor met the Eagles in this state semifinal game. St Eds gave eventual state champion Moeller their only loss of the season in Week 9. If the 2012 St Ignatius team was the best Mentor had defeated, these Eagles were probably the second best. Alex Stump (Ohio State), the Dowell twins (Michigan State), and Shaun Crawford (Notre Dame) were among the two-way players that talented QB Brett Kean had at his disposal. This memorable game at Akron InfoCision Stadium saw two juggernaut teams go back and forth. Mentor's Eddie Daughterty had over 200 all-purpose yards. Receiver Brandon Fritts continued his postseason success against the Eagles as he hauled in 9 catches for 178 yards and a TD. All-Ohio QB Connor Krizancic threw for 353 yards and ran for 129 more. His touchdown run with just over 3 minutes remaining gave Mentor a commanding 41-31 lead. It was another big time performance for one of Mentor's all-time great athletes. The two teams combined for 1,161 yards of offense. 

Mentor 23 St Ignatius 21 (2017): Of Mentor's four runs 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. 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. 

Triv's Top Playoff Wins (2000-2009)

With over 30 playoff wins under Coach Triv's belt, it wasn't easy to narrow down a top ten. The ten wins I chose had to do with a combination of the quality of the opponent, the stakes of the game, and the memorable "wow" factor. For the record, I was in attendance for all ten of the games chosen. Here are the "First Five" in chronological order: 

Mentor 24 Solon 17 2OT (2002): Mentor had started a series with Solon in the late 90's and routinely got beaten by significant margins. The two met earlier in September during a highly anticipated regular season showdown. The Comets absolutely stuffed the Cardinals, a high-scoring offense that scored 42+ points in eight games that season, by a score of 21-3. In the playoff rematch, one that Triv predicted would take place, Mentor found themselves in a somewhat similar position. The offense was struggling, being kept off the scoreboard through the first three quarters as Mentor trailed 10-0 halfway through the 4th quarter. QB Thom Abbott shook off a nightmarish season so far against the Comets (6 interceptions and one fumble) in order to help Mentor climb back into the game. RB Matt Lieb plunged into the endzone with 2:07 left in the 4th quarter. After a quick three and out forced by a stingy Mentor defense, the ball was back in Abbott's hands. A field goal sent the game to overtime, where Abbott had a couple more tricks up his sleeve to set up Triv's first trip to a regional final.

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 eight 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. 

Mentor 34 Warren Harding 24 (2006): Coming into this Region 1 final, Mentor was 0-5 in regional final appearances. The two most recent were incredibly painful losses. In 2002, Mentor fell 14-7 to Warren Harding. In 2003, Mentor lost in overtime (10-7) to St Edward. The Raiders had upset the Region 1 favorites (St Edward) the week before, which set up this regional final at historic Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon. Harding was led by future Ohio State back Dan "Boom" Herron. The Mentor offense (featuring QB Bart Tanski and WR's Brandon James/Tyler Schutz) got a lot of the attention, but the defense was one of the best ever at Mentor. Faced with the task of trying to limit a talented back like Herron, Mentor's defense was up to the task. A defensive front of Brady DeMell, Steve Matas, Fred Hale, and Shane Molder were key parts of the playoff run that got Mentor to their first state final. This particular win wasn't a monumental comeback or in need of some memorable late game heroics, but this was an important win for Triv and the program as a whole.

Mentor 18 Canton McKinley 13 (2006): If you were at this game, you will never forget the Bill Deitmen (RIP) play that put Mentor ahead with 33 seconds left. Down by a point late in the 4th quarter with the season on the line, legendary QB Bart Tanski checked down to find his All-Ohio RB wide open at the 12-yard line. Deitmen caught the pass and took it into the end zone to give the Cardinals an 18-13 lead. Mentor's defense was led by a furious front four that helped hold off McKinley's last attempts at knocking off the Cards. Mentor's offense, especially their running game, was held in check for a lot of the game by the Bulldogs. But when a big play was needed - the future Mr. Football knew exactly who to turn to. Tanski finished the game with 214 passing yards and two TD's. Deitmen had Mentor's first touchdown of the game with a 5-yard scoring plunge in the first half. The win sent Mentor, and Coach Triv, to their first ever state championship game. In looking back at all of the playoff victories, the magnitude of this win is hard to top. 

Mentor 41 Glenville 40 (2007): Mentor came into the 2007 season with a bit of a chip on their shoulder following a heartbreaking overtime loss in the 2006 state championship. The offense was loaded as they brought back Tanski, (the eventual 2007 Mr. Football), a strong group of receivers (Tyler Schutz, Steve Orkis, and Mike Popelas), and an All-Ohio left tackle in Brad Bednar.  Expectations were high, and a loss in the regional rounds would have been disappointing. Under Coach Ted Ginn Sr., Glenville was one of the most explosive teams in Ohio. Their ability to make plays on offense, defense, and special teams kept Mentor on their toes all night. In a back and forth regional final at Lakewood, the Cardinals found themselves down 40-38 with about 4 minutes left in the game after Glenville's Cardale Scott returned his second 99-yard kickoff return for a score. On the final possession of the game, Tanski (23-36, 295 yards) guided Mentor down near the goal line with seconds left. OHSAA record setting kicker Kevin Harper hit the game-winning field goal as time expired to earn the Cards back-to-back regional titles for the first time in program history. 

Honorable Mention: Brunswick (state semifinal win in 2007)

I will release the rest of my top ten, featuring games from 2010-2018, at a later time. 

Ranking the 2019 Schedule

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

The Big Ones...

1. St Edward (Week 1): The team that knocked off Mentor in 2018 returns on the schedule for a Thursday night showdown in Lakewood. Mentor graduated three All-Ohio linemen that are all playing in the Big Ten this season. The Cards will be tested up front on both sides of the ball against the talented Eagles. DE's Jeff Pietroksi (Michigan State commit) and Alex Colangelo return to give Mentor's mostly new starting offensive line a challenge right out of the gate. Junior LB CJ Hankins should be one of the best at his position in the area. Their secondary will be top notch, led by twins Lawson and Logan Nash. Defensively, there may not be a stronger team in Ohio. St Eds graduated their dynamic offensive trio of QB Garrett Dzuro, WR Quintel Kent, and RB Jordan Castleberry. It is hard to imagine the Eagles will be as good at any of those positions in Week 1 as they were when Mentor last played them in the regional final. But the Eagles reload at the skill positions well, featuring RB Joey Formani and WR Mackenzie Wainwright this season. New QB Conor O'Malley will be protected by a big and talented offensive line, led by 6'4, 275-pound tackle Brian Kilbane (Bowling Green commit). The Eagles have had the most success in Division I this decade, which includes four state titles since 2010. These two football juggernauts have split six playoff matchups since 2010. On top of everything else, this is Week 1 on the road. This game will be the most challenging task on Mentor's schedule. 

2. St Ignatius (Week 2): Year in and year out, St Ignatius has been the most consistent obstacle on Mentor's schedule since the two started playing in 2005.  Coach Kyle and Trivisonno will meet for a 15th and final time in the regular season. Kyle has an 8-6 edge in the regular season, but Triv's 4-1 record in the playoffs against Ignatius gives Mentor a 10-9 edge overall. The game will be at home, which helps. I don't expect the Cats to be quite as good as St Edward right out of the gate, but they will be close. RB Jack Welsch and WR Connor Cmiel are due for big senior seasons after making key contributions to the offense a season ago. Both players should see time on defense as well. Offensively, St Ignatius will build around a strong running game while acclimating a new QB. The offensive line returns three starters: 6'3, 285-pound Nick Schwitzgebel (2nd team All-District), 6'3, 295-pound Tony Georges (Akron commit), and 6'3, 270-pound Owen Keane. The Cats are not shy about using the tight end to block the edge or run a route for a big play across the middle. They have a good one in Sam Daugstrup (6'5, 285). Offensive line will be a major strength for the Cats. A lot of their success will fall on the arm of first-year starting QB Griffin Hanna. Defensively, they return two talented starting LB's, but they will sorely miss LB Tommy Eichenberg (Ohio State). If Mentor comes into this game 0-1, the pressure to win will be extra surmountable. 

Tier 2...

3. Solon (Week 6): Solon is very capable of beating Mentor (again) and winning the league. Solon's offense has some talent, starting with a strong running attack featuring junior Khalil Eichelberger. He should be a 1,000+ yard rusher in 2019. QB Pat McQuaide is a junior with a ton of varsity experience. He is due to take a big step forward this season. The Comets graduated their biggest playmaker at receiver, but some experience does return. Solon has a dominant defensive end in junior Najee Story, who has offers from Alabama and Ohio State. He will be a big factor in determining Solon's success on defense this year. LB RJ Howard and DB Grant McCurry give the defense some talented senior leaders on defense. Solon has been a mainstay on the schedule for 20 years and they remain one of Mentor's main rivals. After losing three out of the last four to the Comets, this is a game Mentor can never take lightly. Along with the game against Euclid, this will help determine the winner of the GCC. 

4. Euclid (Week 9): On paper, Euclid had possibly their most talented team in program history last season. Even against a Mentor team dealing with key injuries to QB Ian Kipp and RB Brian Trobel, Euclid came out on the short end. Don't be mistaken though, the Panthers are still one of the top teams in NEO. Coach Jeff Rotsky has led a bit of a football renaissance since arriving in 2015. He will make sure they are up to the task. QB Dion Valentine returns with some big game experience. He threw for roughly 1,600 yards and 22 TD's in 2018. His top target (WR Dre'von Lindsay) did graduate, but don't be surprised if Euclid has some game-breaking talent at the receiver position. Senior Jaabir Mujihad (600 rushing yards) had a strong season in a limited role behind starter Brandon Wright (now at Michigan State) a season ago. Junior Atiba Fitz is a playmaker at any/every position on the field. A couple big and talented starting lineman do return. Defensively, the Panthers graduated nearly every starter. Mentor's offense will be their strength, so that matchup could be a decided advantage for the Cardinals. Since 2000, Mentor is 9-0 at home against Euclid.

Minor Challenge...

5. Clarkson Football North (Week 3): It is hard to say what to expect from this Canadian prep team. They might be the 3rd or 4th best team on Mentor's schedule in terms of individual talent, but they don't possess the depth and continuity that the Ohio schools on the schedule have. Football North has some big lineman that will be playing DI college football, including Justin Stevens (6'6, 285) and Tyrell Lawrence (6'7, 370). There is some talent at QB as they have an FCS-level commit in Quincy Vaughn (Old Dominion). A few other guys on the team have offers at the FCS or FBS level. They might be Canada's best team, but football north of the border is still a far cry from the top teams in Ohio. Football North was somewhat competitive against the big boys of Ohio last year, losing by an average of 13 points per game to Cincinnati powers Moeller, Elder, and St Xavier. Last year they beat a winning Ohio team in Lorain (6-4 in 2018) as well as a state champion from Pennsylvania. But Football North got beaten pretty good by St Ignatius (45-13) and their defense gave up 38+ points in six straight games at one point last season.

6. Strongsville (Week 10): The Mustangs graduated a lot of seniors last year from their first playoff team in 10 years. There is still some hope for optimism, led by some strong returning lineman on both sides of the ball. Mentor has 10 straight wins over Strongsville, but some of those games were competitive for a stretch. These two meet up in the final game of the regular season. Mentor's defense, which has a lack of varsity experience right now, should be well established by that point. The flow of this game will ride a lot on the improvement of Strongsville QB Tyler Wolters, who could be making his 15th varsity start by Week 10. The Mustangs have some strength up front, led by left tackle Blake Miller (6'6, 300). 

7. Medina (Week 5): Last year the Bees narrowly missed out on the playoffs due to a grueling schedule. This season, they aim to win some more of those difficult games to try and make it to Week 11. Mentor is still probably the biggest challenge on their schedule. The Bees have to replace a record-setting QB from 2018. There is some talent on an offense that features junior receiver Luke Hensley. The five-wide offense coach Larry Laird used from a season ago could pose a challenge to Mentor's defense. The Cards haven't lost to Medina in six games since they began playing in the same league earlier this decade. 

Running Clock...

8. Shaker Heights (Week 8) 
9. Elyria (Week 4)
10. Brunswick (Week 7)

Mentor is 19-1 against these three teams since 2005. The lone loss was against Elyria (27-24) in 2015. Most of the games haven't been very close, and there is no reason why any of these games should be close this season. Mentor outscored these three 128-6 in 2018. None have the talent, depth, or experience to match up with the top teams of the GCC. All of these coaches are still in the process of building the program. Elyria and Shaker have new coaches, some talent, and growing excitement. Elyria was winless a season ago while Shaker (5-5) surprised quite a few. Brunswick (1-9) took a step back in 2018 after a 5-5 first season with Pinzone.

Next Blog: Triv's Top Playoff Wins (2000-2009)

Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 10)

Week 10

Who: Strongsville Mustangs (7-4 in 2018)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Pat Catan Stadium

When: November 1st at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Lou Cirino (3rd year at Strongsville, 59-36 overall coaching record)

History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 12-2. Strongsville won both meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch). Mentor beat the Mustangs twice last season, including the playoffs. 

Looking Back…

Mentor defeated Strongsville 45-20 in the regular season. They followed that up by with a 38-7 win in Week 11. The playoff win was the Cardinals' 11th straight win over the Mustangs. After Strongsville had a 2-8 season in 2016, Cirino has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back winning seasons, including making the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Strongsville had four players (all seniors)make 1st/2nd team All-District in 2018, all were seniors. 

Schedule…

The Mustangs' nonleague schedule consists of Berea, Hudson, and Brecksville. After finishing 3-0 to start the season last year, the schedule sets up nicely once again. Berea (5-5 in 2018) was the only one of the three that didn't have a losing record a season ago. Hudson (2-8) and Brecksville (0-10) had unusually down seasons in 2018. Considering the grind that is the GCC schedule, it is imperative that the Mustangs win these first three if they want a shot at returning to the playoffs. In the league, Strongsville has gone 4-3 each of the past two seasons. Mentor, Euclid, and Solon will once again be challenging opponents. Since 2009, the Mustangs are 0-27 against the Big Three of the GCC. They should be favorites against Shaker, Elyria, and Brunswick. The game that could make or break their season is Medina. 

2019 Strongsville Outlook…

Last year's senior class was hyped as being one of their strongest in many years at Strongsville. It was good enough to get the Mustangs in the playoffs for the first time in a decade. The coaching staff has to find a way to maintain some level of success after graduating so many varsity contributors, including a handful of three-year starters. Offensively, it always helps to bring back a QB with experience. During the second half of the season, Tyler Wolters was inserted into the starting role behind center. Wolters helped guide Strongsville to four straight wins to close the regular season. RB Garrett Clark is given the responsibility of taking over for Taylor Griffin, the talented starting back the previous two seasons. One of the strengths of Strongsville will be up front. Their offensive line has a good combination of size, experience, and potential. Sophomore Blake Miller (6'6, 300) has a handful of offers already, including teams from the Big Ten and Big 12. A couple other starters on the line also return. 

Defensively, Andrew Keating (6'3, 215) is a talented defensive end that is coming off a strong 2018 season. Keating received honorable mention All-District last season and he will be counted on to be the primary pass rusher this season. Miller played on the defensive line last season as a freshman, so he should see some action on both sides of the ball. Garrett Clark had stood out as linebacker in 2018, but will also be counted on to play both ways. Strongsville aims to make a name for themselves in the trenches this season. If they can do that, a return to the playoffs is not out of the question. 

Next: Ranking the Schedule 

Opponent Preview: Euclid (Week 9)

Week 9

Who: Euclid Panthers

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 20th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jeff Rotsky (5th season at Euclid, 34-14 record)

History: Mentor and Euclid have been on each other's schedule for many years in conference and out of conference. The Cardinals have a 25-17 record in the overall series. Dealing with injuries to key offensive players, Mentor had a huge 29-7 road win at Euclid.

Looking Back...
The Panthers finished 8-2 in the regular season, including 6-1 in a competitive conference. Their biggest wins were against Solon, Glenville, and Lorain. Euclid's three losses (including playoffs) were to the big boys of Region 1: St Ignatius, Mentor, and St Edward. After shutting out Fitch 35-0 in Week 11, Euclid lost to St Edward in the regional semifinal. Rotsky has pushed the program forward, but the continued thorn in their side would be St Ignatius/St Edward. The Panthers are 0-6 against those two since 2015. Euclid has a storied past, but last year might've been their most talented team ever. Eight offensive/defensive starters made either 1st or 2nd team All-District in 2018. All were seniors. 

Schedule...
Euclid has a schedule filled with few holes as only two opponents had a losing record in 2018. The non-conference portion features Glenville (8-2 in 2018) and Canton McKinley (9-3). Both of those teams won their league last season and are two of the most consistently strong programs in NEO. The third non-conference games is against Buffalo Canisius (NY), a program that was 5-5 last year. Over the past four seasons, Euclid has beaten either Mentor or Solon every year. Winning at least one of those games puts the Panthers in great playoff positioning as well as giving themselves a chance to win at least a share of the league title. Euclid is 19-1 against the rest of the league (Strongsville, Medina, Elyria, Shaker, and Brunswick) since the current form of the GCC formed in 2015. The lone loss was in 2016 to a Medina playoff team. 

2019 Euclid Outlook...
QB Dion Valentine (1590 yards 22 TD's in the regular season) returns to lead the Panther offense. Valentine brings some big game experience with a playoff win under his belt as well as a hard fought effort against eventual state champions, St Eds, in Week 12. Last year's top two playmakers (RB Brandon Wright and WR Dre'von Lindsay) have graduated, but the cupboard is hardly bare. RB Jaabir Mujihad got plenty of action last year as he often split carries with Wright or had to take over due to injury. Mujihad rushed for over 600 yards last season in somewhat limited action. Atiba Fitz is an exciting player for Euclid that can make plays at multiple positions - running back, receiver, and in the return game. As a sophomore, Fitz had two scores against St Edward last year in the regional semifinal. John Brown is the lone returning offensive lineman, but that has been a position that has reloaded well since Rotsky took over. Kicker Mamadou Mbaye, 2nd team All-District in 2018, returns to give a boost to special teams.

Defensively, the Panthers graduated pretty much every starter and impactful player. They had a trio of seniors (Sean Jackson, Jaylen Jacobs, and Chris Parker) that were among the best group of linebackers in the state. Safety Job Rand was part of a talented group of defensive backs that graduated. The only place with experience on defense is up front, led by tackles Ty'Wann Johnson and two-way lineman John Brown. LB Andre Tillman got some experience last year and could be one of the leaders on a new defense. 

Before Rotsky came, Euclid hadn't won a playoff game since 1993. In his four years, he has guided the Panthers to playoffs every season and already has four playoff victories. His critics are plenty, but his results have been impressive. Euclid has done very well in the league and expect that to remain the same in 2019. Expect a 5th straight playoff appearance behind a reloaded roster that will compete with Mentor and Solon for the top of the league. 

Next Preview: Strongsville (Week 10)

Opponent Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 8)

Week 8

Who: Shaker Heights Raiders (5-5 in 2018)

What: GCC Game

Where: Russell Rupp Stadium

When: October 19th at 2:00pm

Opposing Coach: Alex Nicholson (1st season at Shaker)

History: Mentor and Shaker have been in two leagues together over the years. The Cards lead the series 15-7 that dates back to the LEL days. Mentor has won eleven in a row in the series. Shaker's last win against Mentor was in 2004. 

Looking Back...
The Raiders had a much improved season last year (5-5 overall, 3-4 GCC), which unexpectedly became former coach Jarvis Gibson's last. They began the season 5-1 before closing the season on a four game losing streak to the GCC playoff teams. The biggest wins on the season were against Benedictine and Medina. Mentor beat the Raiders pretty easily at home in Week 7, 45-6. LB Kenai Cooper was the lone Raider on 1st Team All-District. Nasir Rashid (Air Force) and RB Rasheen Ali were 2nd Team. All three were seniors. 

Schedule...
Of all the teams in the GCC, Shaker has one of the tougher non-conference schedules. Benedictine, a traditional power, was a team the Raiders managed to beat in 2018. But the Bengals will be a challenge. Garfield Heights, undefeated in 2018, is new to the schedule. Longtime local rival Cleveland Heights, 7-3 last season, returns to the football schedule for the first time in several years. Shaker always has their hands full in the league. In the first three years of playing in the GCC, Shaker had total of four league victories. Last year showed some promise with three league wins. In 2018, the GCC looks to pretty strong once again. On paper, this is a very challenging schedule for the Raiders. 

2019 Shaker Outlook...
One of the biggest changes for Shaker this year will be a new coach for the first time since 2011. Nicholson inherits a challenging schedule in what will be Shaker's final season as a member of the Greater Cleveland Conference. The Raiders agreed to return to the Lake Erie League beginning in 2020-21. The Raiders graduated their two best playmakers on defense (LB's Cooper/Rashid), their offensive MVP (Ali), and starting QB (Will Schinabeck) from a season ago. 

On offense, look out for RB Victor Ford Jr to effectively step into the starting role. Ford showed his playmaking ability last season on offense and defense. WR Avery Dunn (6'4, 215) has a few DI offers from MAC schools. Nick Ferguson (6'4, 290) leads the offensive line. He has an offer from Toledo, with likely more to come. Defensively, DB Cameron Jones is a three year starter and was honorable mention All-District in 2018. LB DreShawn Carter is also a three year starter. If Nicholson can get the most out of his players, the Raiders should be able to compete to win some league games. Matching or surpassing their five wins from 2018 will be incredibly difficult. 


Next Preview: Euclid (Week 9)

Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 7)

Week 7

Who: Brunswick Blue Devils (5-5 in 2017)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: October 11th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Mark Pinzone (3rd season at Brunswick, 6-14 record)

History: Mentor has won nine in a row (including a playoff win in 2014) over Brunswick since the two joined the same league in 2010. One of the biggest games in the histories of both programs was a state semifinal matchup in 2007. Mentor defeated Brunswick, 39-14. 

Looking Back...

From 1995-2009, Brunswick had 12 playoff appearances that included multiple league championships and two regional titles. Pinzone followed up a solid first season with a very tough 2018. The Blue Devils finished 1-9 after a 5-5 season the year before. Mentor shutout Brunswick (35-0) last season. Offensively, the Blue Devils scored 7 or less points in seven of their ten games. They only scored more than 17 points once - a 31-0 against Elyria. The last thing Brunswick wants to do is to look back on 2018. 

Schedule...

In non-conference, Brunswick has three different opponents from 2018. Lorain (6-4 in 2018), North Royalton (4-6), and Rhodes (2-8). These are all games that the Blue Devils should be competitive, and quite possible have chances to win. A 2-1 start before league play would not be surprising. Brunswick struggled in league play last year, as their only victory was against winless Elyria. The top of the league is going to be a daunting challenge for the Blue Devils. League games against Shaker, Elyria, and rival Strongsville will make or break their season. 

2019 Brunswick Outlook...

QB Jacob Scherette returns after starting last season as a sophomore. He was used more in a running role than passing. If there is some hope for Brunswick to improve in 2019 on offense, the running game will need to be a strength. All-district tackle Tomas Rimac (6'6, 280) will lead the offensive line. Defensively, the team is going to need to get some consistency if they are going to try and build back into becoming a program that can make the playoffs. For this season, there are a few winnable games. But against the top of the league, expect this to be another challenging season for the Blue Devils. 


Next Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 8)

Pre-Season All GCC Team

Offense

QB Ian Kipp, Mentor - All eyes will be on the talented dual threat junior QB (1,427 passing yards, 12 TD's in 2018) that has several DI offers

RB Brian Trobel, Mentor - The deepest position in the league, Trobel stands out as a 1st Team All-Ohio back with over 1,400 yards and 28 TD's

RB Khalil Eichelberger, Solon - As a sophomore, Eichelberger was the workhorse as he ran for nearly 1,000 yards to go along with 12 TD's

WR Luke Floriea, Mentor - One of the top slot receivers in Ohio, the Boston College commit has been an impact player since his sophomore season

WR Luke Hensley, Medina - As a sophomore, he was one of the leading receivers on a record setting offense last year

WR Justin Luke, Mentor - The second leading returning receiver behind Floriea, expect a big season as Kipp should air it our more in 2019

OL Blake Miller Strongsville - The 6'6, 300-pound sophomore already has a handful of DI offers, including Indiana and Iowa State.

OL Hunter Colao, Mentor - Started at guard as a sophomore last season, will transition to tackle in 2019

OL John Brown, Euclid - The lone returning starter from a big and talented offensive line a season ago

OL Tomam Rimac, Brunswick - The 6'6, 280-pound senior was the lone Blue Devil with any All-District recognition in 2018

OL Nick Ferguson, Shaker - This big (6'5, 320) and athletic junior, who also plays basketball, has an offer from Toledo

Defense

DE Najee Story, Solon - Solon's defense will start up front with this talented junior who has offers that include Alabama and Ohio State

DT Ty'wan Johnson, Euclid - The senior tackle is a key returning starter up front for the Panthers

DE Noah Nunn, Medina - The 6'3, 220-pound senior was 1st Team All-District for the Bees last season

DE Andrew Keating, Strongsville - The 6'3, 215-pound senior was one of the Mustangs' biggest defensive playmakers a season ago

LB Jackson Paglio, Mentor - After transitioning well to linebacker in 2018, the three-year starter will continue to be a central part of Mentor's defense

LB RJ Howard, Solon - A talented athlete on both sides of the field that makes his presence known by getting into the backfield to make plays

DB Grant McCurry, Solon - The two-way standout led the Comets in interceptions and was the leading tackler in the secondary in 2018

DB Noah Gladish, Mentor - One of three returning starters from the secondary, the junior had a breakout game against Strongsville in Week 11 with two pick-sixes

DB Cameron Jones Jr., Shaker - The three year starter received All-District honorable mention in 2018

DB Atiba Fitz, Euclid - Dangerous in all three facets of the game, the junior standout will be one of Euclid's top playmakers

Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 6)

Week 6

Who: Solon Comets

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Solon Stewart Field

When: October 4th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jim McQuaide (133-50 record at Solon, 219-112 overall)

History: These two power programs have played every season since the late 90's. Mentor narrowly leads the overall series, 13-12. Solon leads the regular season series 12-9, but the Cards have won all four playoff matchups (2002, 2006, 2007, 2011). 

Looking Back...
In a series that has seen some ebbs and flows, Solon has lately been getting the better of Mentor as they have won three of the last four games. That included last season's 29-28 overtime win at the JTO, spoiling Mentor's hopes of their first undefeated season since 2003. Solon had an 8-2 regular season that included the Comets winning their first six games. Solon followed up one of their most impressive regular season wins under McQuaide with a narrow win over Shaker and an upset loss to Medina. The Comets lost in the first round of the playoffs to Canton McKinley, 28-15. Solon graduated several All-District talent, including OL/DT Nate Leskovec (Harvard), WR Trevon Raphael, LB Jeff Barnett (Ashland), OL Ron Carr (Duke), DE David Marbury, and DE Nick Close. 

Schedule...
Solon maintains a smart non-conference schedule filled with winnable games against nearby teams that all have experienced some level of recent success.  All three (Twinsburg, Stow, and Hudson) play in the Suburban Conference. Hudson (3-7 in 2018) had an unusual losing season after seven straight playoff appearances from 2011-2017. Twinsburg finished 5-5 last year after several losing seasons in a row. Stow, a team with four playoff appearances since 2013, has beaten the Comets three of the last four meetings. Solon has every reason to believe they can start 3-0, but it won't be a walk in the park. In the league, the Comets have done fairly well in the GCC. They have split their eight games against fellow top dogs Mentor/Euclid since the league was formed in 2015. Since 2004, Solon has gone 38-4 against Shaker, Strongsville, Medina, and Elyria. The Comets have lost to Medina the past two years, so that is a game they would certainly like to right. Solon should be favorites in at least 7 or 8 of the games on their schedule. 

2019 Solon Outlook...
Solon had put a couple sophomores in prominent positions last season. Now as experienced juniors, QB Pat McQuaide and RB Khalil Eichelberger will be counted on to lead the offense. McQuaide completed 48% of his passes last year and ended up with 1,144 yards and 12 TD's. Eichelberger rushed for 900 yards and 15 TD's last season. While they bring back their starting running back, the Comets did graduate their biggest playmakers at receiver. Ethan Wong (10 catches, 153 yards, 4 TD's) is the most experienced returning wideout. Grant McCurry and Ethan McGhee were experienced varsity players last year that should be important parts of the offense in 2019. After easing into the position, Solon's offense will rise and fall on the arm of McQuaide. The majority of the starting offensive line, led by Leskovec/Carr, will need to be replaced. Expect the running game to be solid, but the passing game will need to be efficient in order for Solon to beat Mentor, win the league, and be a threat in the Region 1 playoffs. Disappointing ending aside, the team Mentor saw in Week 8 last season played like a playoff team. 

For the last 20 years, Solon has been one of the most consistently good teams defensive side of the ball in Northeast Ohio. That side of the ball will need to continue to be a strength, even though they graduated a lot of talent. The defensive line took a big hit with Leskovec, Marbury, and Close. The good news is they bring back another standout from the Comets' 2021 class. Junior Najee Story, offered by Ohio State and Alabama, is one of the most highly recruited players at his position in country. Story (6'4, 235) will command a lot of attention by opposing lines. At linebacker, expect RJ Howard to have a big season. He played extremely well (17 tackles) in the upset win over Mentor in 2018. Grant McCurry, like his older brothers before him, returns as a standout in the Comet secondary. Solon did lost the majority of their defensive starters, but some good pieces return. Not to mention, the coaching staff has done a great job at preparing the "next man up" on that side of the ball. 

Solon will be one of Mentor's toughest games as usual. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Comets still undefeated by the time Mentor travels to Stewart Field in Week 6. The league title and lots of computer points should once again be at stake in this highly anticipated rivalry matchup.

Next Preview:  Brunswick (Week 7)

Opponent Preview: Medina (Week 5)

Week 5

Who: Medina Bees (5-5 in 2018)

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: September 27th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (4th season at Medina, 18-14 record)

History: Mentor has played Medina six times in league play since 2011, winning all six. Last season, the Cardinals won on the road by a score of 49-10. 

Looking Back...

Medina had one of the toughest schedules in Ohio last season. They faced only one two teams with losing records. Their three non-conference opponents were a combined 25-5. They also had to deal with a top four in the GCC that was as strong as ever. The Bees started off the season 2-1 before a five game losing streak halted their season. They won their final three, which included a big win over Solon, to climb to .500. The Bees were just a fraction of a point away from making the playoffs on the strength of their wins over Cleveland Heights (7-3 in 2018), Highland (8-2), and Solon (8-2). QB Ryan Fischer, WR Chris Kelly, and OL Ralph King are among the All-District standouts that graduated. Fischer set the single season team record for passing yards last season. 

Schedule...

According to simulation guru Drew Pasteur, Medina had the 7th toughest schedule in Division I last season. For 2019, the schedule is the same. This is the biggest obstacle to a hopeful season for the Bees. The non-conference portion features three tough opponents that all won 7+ games in 2018. Medina did beat Cleveland Heights and Highland last season, but both of those teams will be stiff challenges out of the gate. In Week 3, the Bees have Wadsworth - a team that was undefeated in the regular season in 2018. That is followed by games against Euclid and Mentor, the favorites in the GCC. The first half of Medina's schedule has teams that combined to go 42-8 last season. Finding a way to survive the first five will be the difference between Medina being in playoff contention or not. If they can start at least 2-3, the second half of the schedule is much friendlier. From start to finish, Medina has one of the tougher schedules in Ohio. 

2019 Medina Outlook...

Medina was a senior-laden team in 2018, but their football numbers are growing and their JV/freshman teams were strong last season. Laird has helped move the football program in the right direction. One of the top returning players is WR Luke Hensley, who had a standout sophomore season in 2018. Hensley will be a top target for the new QB. Joining Hensley on offense is returning reciever Kaedin Andrasik, who had a solid season in 2018. Ryan Gillespie (6'4, 225) was the backup last year as a sophomore. The 6'4 lefty looks to be in line to take over for last year's record-setting QB, Ryan Fischer. Laird transitioned last year's offense to a five-out set without a RB. It is unknown if that same offense will carry over into 2019 with some new faces at QB and WR. 

Defensively, it starts up front with DE Noah Nunn (6'4, 225). Nunn was a 1st Team All-District player last season that also could see some snaps on offense if a tight end is called for. LB's Nathan Spatny and Ethan Silvis are key returning starters that should help bring strength to the front seven. The Bees will need to improve some on defense last year after surrendering 35 points per game during their five game losing streak in 2018. 

Next Preview: Solon (Week 6)

Opponent Preview: Elyria (Week 4)

Week 4

Who: Elyria Pioneers

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Ely Stadium

When: September 20th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Devlin Culliver (1st season at Elyria)

History: Mentor and Elyria were in the LEL together in the late 90's and early 2000's. After a 13 year absence of playing, the two met up as GCC members in 2015. Elyria beat Mentor at home (27-24) that season. The Cards won the past three games against the Pioneers, averaging 55 points per game. 

Looking Back...
Nearly four years removed from one of the biggest wins in program history, Elyria has been on a down spiral ever since. After making the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2013-2015, Elyria has fallen on hard times. The Pioneers are just 4-27 since that Week 10 win over Mentor in 2015. Last season was Coach Sean Arno's second and last season, as they were just 1-19 since 2017. They were shutout four times last season and the defense gave up 40+ points in eight games. The last thing Elyria wants to do is look back. 

Schedule...
The Pioneers begin the season with Midview (2-8 in 2018) and Bedford (1-9), a couple of teams that struggled last season as well. Bedford's only win last year was against Elyria. Lorain (6-4) is the toughest of the Pioneers' non-conference schedule. Elyria has finished last in the GCC the past three seasons. They were winless in 2018 and the closest league loss was by 23 points. Competing in league games, let alone finding a win or two, will not come easy. 

2019 Elyria Outlook...
Elyria's third coach in four seasons is hoping to turn some things around. Devlin Culliver takes over the program after coaching a few different area programs (Shaw, Harvey, Maple Heights) over the past 20 years. Culliver coached Shaw in the early 2000's before heading over to Harvey in 2006. Culliver guided Harvey to a 15-15 record in three seasons, which included two league titles. He returned to coaching in 2012 at Maple Heights, where he had guided the Mustangs to a 2014 playoff berth. Elyria is the first DI coaching job for Culliver. Under a new coaching staff, Elyria has to climb out of the basement of the GCC now in order to approach where the program was earlier this decade under coach Kevin Fell. Elyria did open up a brand new stadium last year, so this will be Mentor's first trip to the newest stadium in the GCC.

It looks like linebacker should be a position of strength for the Pioneers. Seniors Ben Doehr and Michael Knapp are returning starters that received All-District recognition in 2018. DE/TE Tyren Lee (6'6, 255) is a big two way player that also received some league and district honors last season. Halfway through the season, Elyria had a QB change as sophomore Daylan Sharlow was inserted during the Shaker Heights game. He held onto the job the rest of the season and showed some potential. This year, Sharlow is a junior QB with a good amount of varsity experience. Some other skill players got time as sophomores in 2018, such as WR Jesse Stephens and RB Jaheim Atkinson. This should help provide Sharlow with some familiarity. It will be a transition year for the Pioneers and new coach, Culliver. After an 0-10 season, they will be looking to take baby steps toward returning to being a winning football program. The first two weeks of the season are the most likely places for Elyria to find some victories. If they start 0-2 against Midview (2-8 last year) and Bedford (1-9), it could be a very long season. 

Next Preview: Medina (Week 5)

Triv's Top Regular Season Wins (2011-2018)

In honor of Coach Trivisonno's final season as Mentor head coach, I took a trip down memory lane to highlight the top ten wins over his career. The first five were highlighted here. Here is the rest of the top ten, in date order:

Mentor 38 St Ignatius 24 (2011): The 2011 Mentor team can easily be forgotten when thinking of Triv's all-time great teams due to them not winning the region - something that five other Mentor teams have done. But this team was really, really good. The offense threw away the RB position and relied on a 5-out spread offense led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky. The defense featured DE Tom Strobel and LB Kurt Laseak, two of the very best Triv has coached on that side of the ball. This group gave St Ignatius, the eventual state champions, all they could handle. 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. This is the first of two times that Mentor would have a win over a soon-to-be state champion.

Mentor 44 Solon 20 (2011): No team has played Mentor more times than Solon since Triv became coach. Of all the regular season wins over the Comets, this is the one that stands out most. It was a Thursday night. Both teams were 6-0, the top ranked teams in NEO. A packed house at Solon Stewart Field in front of a large and lively crowd. The game was live on Fox Sports Ohio - a showcase night for both teams as they had tens of thousands of HS football fans across the state watching. Mentor jumped out to an early lead and never really let up. The Trubisky-led offense, which also featured Brandon Fritts and Conner Krizancic, was on full display for the entire state to see. The Comets (10-2, both losses to Mentor) were a good football team, nearly upsetting the Cards in a November rematch. Mentor showed on this televised night that offense was truly destined for greatness. On the strength of quality wins like St Ignatius and Solon, the team would soon become the No. 1 ranked team in the AP poll for the first and only time in Triv's career.

Mentor 63 St Ignatius 56 (2015): These two friendly rivals have squared off 19 times since 2003. 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 the game was played, this win was as exciting and fulfilling as any in the series. 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. 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.

Mentor 42 St Edward 39 (2018): Last season, Mentor was coming off a surprising state final run that really began with an upset over the Eagles in the regional semifinal. These two met in Week 1 in a highly anticipated matchup. Mentor was breaking in first year starters at key positions, like sophomore QB Ian Kipp and junior RB Brian Trobel. Running behind a strong offensive line, the Cardinals churned out 386 yards on the ground as they ran the ball down the Eagles' throat. After a modest offensive night through three quarters (Mentor held a 21-14 lead), the two teams exploded for 46 4th quarter points. Mentor was mostly in control as the Eagles scored a last second touchdown to close the gap at the end. Kipp was excellent in his debut - efficient with his arm (14-18, 114 passing yards) and dangerous with his legs (192 rushing yards). Trobel finished with 192 yards and 4 TD's. This was followed by a 21-7 win at Byers against St Ignatius, making it arguably the most successful back-to-back regular season stretch in Mentor history. The Eagles would eventually beat Mentor in a November regional final rematch and win their 4th state title. This was the second regular season win that Triv had over an eventual state champ. 

Mentor 29 Euclid 7 (2018): This game was probably the most hyped Mentor/Euclid showdown in many years, maybe ever. Both teams were looking strong as Region 1 contenders. Mentor was coming off a stunning 29-28 overtime loss at home the prior week. During that Solon game, Mentor lost QB Ian Kipp to injury. Star RB Brian Trobel was also dealing with an injury. Heading into Mentor's first game at Euclid's beautiful new stadium, things weren't looking good. With the offense unable to be at full strength, the game was put in the hands of Mentor's defense. They answered the call by stuffing Euclid's strong running attack, which featured talented Michigan State-bound RB Brandon Wright. For the game, Euclid had just 118 yards on the ground. Junior defensive back Marco Toth was responsible for three turnovers. Luke Floriea was Kipp's replacement at QB as the offense did enough to get the job done. RB Varney Spansel spelled Trobel and got in the endzone twice. Considering the talent of the opposition and the injuries to two key players, it was one of the most impressive regular season wins under Trivisonno. The win helped secure Mentor's standings near the top of the region as well as win the GCC. 

Coming Soon: Triv's Top Ten Playoff Wins

Opponent Preview: Clarkson Football North (Week 3)

This is the third of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2018 season.  See the Week 2 preview (St Ignatius) here

Week 3

Who: Clarkson Football North (Canada)

What: Non-league game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium 

When: September 13th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Jusdanis

History: Mentor has absolutely zero history with Clarkson Football North. This is believed to be the first time that Mentor is playing a team from Canada. 

Looking Back...
Football North is a Canadian football academy school that aims to be a big time attraction for the best of the best in Canada, and even some players from the United States. As they look to establish a talented roster, the program tries to put themselves on the map by playing quite a daunting schedule. Last season, Football North played several teams from Ohio: Moeller, Elder, St Xavier, St Ignatius, and Lorain. They went 1-4 in those games (beating Lorain), but Football North was pretty competitive in some losses. The closest was a 21-13 loss to Region 4 runner-up, Elder. Overall, the team finished 6-6. The biggest win on the year was against Erie Cathedral Prep, a state champion last season. 

Schedule...
Due to their chase of high profile status, Football North maintains their high profile schedule. Half of their schedule are Ohio schools: St Ignatius, St Edward, Elder, St Xavier, Lorain, and Mentor. If last year was any indication, don't expect a whole of computer points to come from Football North. They do play a 12 game schedule, but only 10 will be included in the computer point calculations. Cathedral Prep (PA), a two-time defending state champion, is back on the schedule. They also play one of the IMG Academy teams, Maryland powerhouse Saint Frances (a team that beat them 64-6 last season), and their partner school - St Joseph Football North. Football North managed to finish 6-6 last year, but this schedule is even tougher than last year. 

2019 Football North Outlook...
Due to the nature of being a Canadian school as well as being a type of football academy where players often come and go, it isn't easy at this point to project what Football North will bring to the table. For instance, last year's star RB (Brendan Barrow) has transferred for his senior season to a school in Florida. Barrow has several DI college offers. In terms of individual talent, this team will still have some. QB Quincy Vaughn, named the team's MVP in 2018, is a 6'4 senior that has committed to play at Old Dominion. Fellow QB Callum Wither already has a few MAC offers before his sophomore season has even started. Justin Stevens (6'6, 285) is an offensive lineman that has a few offers from MAC schools. Tyrell Lawrence (6'7, 370), who boasts an offer from Tennessee, is another huge offensive lineman. On defense, 6'1, 185-pound DB Peter Kemeni recently committed to play football at Ohio University. 

It can't be denied that there is some quality individual talent on this roster. They have several guys on their roster that will be playing college football. But throwing together a bunch of individual pieces doesn't work out so well in a team-oriented game like football. Mentor, and all of the Ohio teams they play, will have a huge advantage in continuity and consistency. Football North has bit off more than they can chew when it comes to the schedule, but wins and losses aren't as concerning for them as they are for Ohio teams. This is a game that was scheduled out of desperation on Mentor's part. Clearly, very few teams in NEO want any part of the Cardinals. Football North will get to showcase their team to a lot of talented teams across Ohio. Getting victories will be tough to come by. This is a game that Mentor should win, but not one that will generate much in terms of computer points. 

Next Preview: Elyria (Week 4)

Triv's Top Regular Season Wins (2000-2010)

In February, the legendary Steve Trivisonno announced that 2019 would be his last as coach of the Cardinals. Coach Triv, a Mentor graduate, began coaching here in 1997. Over his past 22 seasons, Mentor has experienced 166 regular season wins, 31 playoff wins, five Region 1 titles, and four state runner-ups, and two Mr. Footballs. With the many regular season wins under Coach Trivisonno's belt, it wasn't easy to try and pick out a top ten. 

For the regular season, the wins I chose were games that were important for a variety of potential reasons. Maybe it was a win over an elite quality opponent. Maybe it was a program-defining win that helped give Mentor football some additional cachet. Maybe it was gutting out a big road win despite injuries. Or maybe, it was just one of those unforgettable, record-setting victories. 

In date order, here is the first part of my list of the most memorable regular season victories:

Mentor 48 Glenville 33 (2002): During the season, Triv touted the 2002 team as the best Mentor team since the 60's. The 2002 Glenville team featured plenty of stars highlighted by an electric trio of defensive backs headed to Ohio State: Ted Ginn Jr., Donte Whitner, and Dareus Hiley. Mentor had not been competitive in the previous few years against Ted Ginn Sr.'s dynamic and speedy squads. But this year, things were different. QB Thom Abbott picked apart that uber-talented secondary on his way to 359 passing yards. The game was played over two days due to Friday night thunderstorms. The win would catch the attention of the area as the offense (engineered by offensive coordinator Don Anderson, RIP) was making a name for itself. The win over Glenville was the biggest exclamation to their 9-1 regular season. It was also the first step in showcasing that this offense would become the most efficient and aggressive passing attack in Ohio of the last 20 years.

Mentor 78 Chardon 7 (2003): Mentor has had a lot of great teams since Trivisonno took over. Due to the success of four state runner-ups, it would be disrespectful to say that 2003 (Region 1 runner-up) was the best. But it is tough to deny that the 2003 group was the most dominant in program history. To put it in perspective, here are the most amount of points given up in one game by some of the state finalist teams: 2007 gave up 52 to Massillon, 2013 gave up 55 to Moeller, and 2017 gave up 59 to Euclid. In 13 games (including playoffs), the 2003 defense gave up 65 total points. Plain and simple, this was by far the best defensive team to ever put on a Mentor Cardinal uniform. The absolute dominance of Chardon was the most memorable win of the regular season. The Hilltoppers came into the game state-ranked and would later go on to win Region 5 on their way to a DII state semifinal. That Chardon team was no slouch, but they were no match for the most dominant team in program history. Mentor used four different QB's, so they were hardly trying to run up the score. It was a win that summed up the way the majority of games went during that special season.

Mentor 19 Massillon 7 (2006): Before the 2000's, the greatest win in program history was a 19-0 upset of the mighty Massillon Tigers back in 1968. When you think of Ohio football, Massillon should quickly come to mind. Beginning in 2005, Mentor began upgrading their non-conference schedule. One of those teams they ended up playing for six straight years was Massillon. In 2006, these two met for the first time at Jerome T Osborne Stadium. The game was broadcasted on Fox Sports Ohio and it was an important game for both teams, as they entered with identical 3-1 records. The year before, Massillon was a state runner-up. The 2006 Mentor team, led by QB Bart Tanski, would later that season reach the state final. The game was scoreless at halftime. Massillon RB/WR Brian Gamble, a two-time All-Ohio player, got Massillon on the board first in the 3rd quarter. In front of a packed house, Mentor's defense stuffed the Tigers most of the evening. The offense scored just enough. Mentor picked up a signature win over the winningest program in Ohio football history.

Mentor 38 St Ignatius 17 (2007): As stated above, Mentor started to beef up their schedule in 2005. The first big name that was announced was the mighty St Ignatius Wildcats. The first game had great anticipation, but Chuck Kyle's squad had defeated Mentor rather easily in 2005. Then the Cats followed that with a surprising upset the following season. This 2007 victory over St Ignatius was sweet for a lot of reasons, but one is that it was the first regular season victory against the most successful big school program of the last 30 years. Mentor came into this one as the defending Region 1 champions and state runners-up. St Ignatius was undefeated and the No. 2 ranked team in the AP poll. Mentor was searching for an important statement victory. Boy did they get one with a three touchdown beat down of one of the state's best. The game was tied 10-10 at halftime before QB Bart Tanski (2007 Mr Football) began engineering several big  drives in the second half to secure the win in front of one of the biggest crowds ever at Mentor.

Mentor 48 South 47 (2010): This rare Lake County clash was one of the more entertaining regular season games in the Triv-era. The Cardinals were 1-3 entering the Week 5 showdown with the undefeated and high-scoring Rebels. QB Mitch Trubisky was just a sophomore, so the team was much more reliant on running (behind senior RB Mike Korecz) than passing. The Rebels were the passing team that season, led by All-Ohio QB Ray Russ. South averaged 50 points a game during the regular season as Russ would throw for 391 yards and 5 TD's in this game. Mentor's running attack churned out 333 yards to help fuel a second half comeback. A couple Kurt Laseak interceptions were difference-makers. This loss was the only blemish on one of the best regular seasons in South football history. It gave Mentor a big computer point jolt and they ran the table to make the playoffs before falling to eventual state champion, St Edward, in a competitive Week 11 game. This game, and the the winning streak that followed, helped set up the best era (2011-2013) of Mentor football.

I will release the rest of my top ten, featuring games from 2011-2018, at a later time.