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)