Opponent Preview: St Edward (Week 3)

This is the third of my previews for Mentor's 2020 opponents. See the Week 2 opponent preview on St Ignatius here

Week 3

Who: St Edward Eagles

What: Non-conference

Where: Jerome T Osborne Sr Stadium

When: September 11th at 7:00pm 

Opposing Coach: Tom Lombardo (6th season at St Edward, 55-11 record, 144-49 overall coaching record with three state titles)

History: Mentor and St Edward split a regular season series in 2009 and 2010. With a series renewal in 2017, Mentor has won the past two regular season games. The two have split eight playoff meetings since 2003. The winner of that respective playoff game went on to win the region all eight times and advance to the state final in six of those those eight years. The Cardinals and Eagles have played 12 times (regular season and playoffs) since 2003, with Mentor having a 7-5 advantage.

Looking Back...

The Eagles finished with an 11-2 record (9-1 regular season) in 2019. Their only losses were handed to them in late game heroics by the Cardinals. The season opened with a 29-28 loss to Mentor. But the Eagles won their next 11 games and proved to be as talented as any team in the state last year. After convincing playoff wins over Medina and Euclid, a 36-35 (OT) regional final loss at the hands of Mentor ended Lombardo's hope for a 4th state title as a head coach. The Eagles' regular season was highlighted with wins over Cincinnati Elder (the eventual state runners-up) and rival St Ignatius. Mentor was the thorn in what was otherwise a very successful season. The regional final saw Mentor come back from a 21-7 halftime deficit to eventually tie the game, force overtime, and win on a two point conversion. RB Joey Formani (Bowling Green), WR Montorie Foster (Michigan State), OL Brian Kilbane (Bowling Green), OL Ronan Chambers (Akron), DE Jeff Pietrowski (Michigan State), DB's Logan/Lawson Nash (Penn), and DE Alex Colangelo (Robert Morris) are graduated seniors that will earned scholarships to play DI football. QB Connor O'Malley and WR Mackenzie Wainwright (chose baseball over football offers) are also talented graduates from a loaded 2019 offense. Last year's Eagles were as good of a team that Mentor has ever beaten.

Schedule...

The schedule is once again filled with some of the very best programs in Ohio (St Ignatius, Hoban, Elder, and Moeller) along with a mix of out of state teams. Those four Ohio programs have combined for 24 state championships. Moeller (2-8 in 2019) did struggle last season, but they shouldn't be down long. The Eagles have to make two trips to Cincinnati, always a difficult challenge. Elder, the runners-up in Division I last season to Pickerington Central, is back on the Eagles' schedule. Euclid is one of the best teams in NEO and they will be looking to avenge their Week 12 loss to the Eagles. Benedictine returns to the schedule. HD Woodson (D.C.), Canada's Football North, and Landover Royalty Institute (MD) round out the 2020 schedule. This schedule is filled with a healthy mix of very tough games as well as some very winnable games. The schedule will prepare the Eagles a November run, but it isn't too daunting as to be a road block for making the playoffs. 

2020 St Edward Outlook...

Over the last ten years, the Eagles have been the dominant big school program in Ohio. Their four state championships (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018) were tops in Division I. If not for Mentor knocking off incredibly talented Eagles' squads (2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019), they might have had five or six state championships last decade. As for 2020, look for St Eds to reload and become one of the top teams in the state. Offensively, the Eagles have to replace nearly every key position. Junior Christian Ramos is the favorite to replace O'Malley at QB. Replacing 1st Team All-Ohio back Joey Formani will be senior Malachi Watkins, who got some varsity carries last season. Watkins rushed for over 200 yards last season as the backup. At receiver, the player that returns with the most varsity experience is Joel Castleberry, who had 7 catches for 90 yards and two TD's as a sophomore last season. Lineman Chris Moran and Thomas Aden are returning starters on the offensive line. A lot of the pressure on offense will be put on the arm and legs of the highly touted Ramos. If the first year QB can establish himself as a consistent dual threat weapon, that will go a long way toward the Eagles' offensive success. 

While the Eagles are a little green (no pun intended) in some key spots on offense, they should be sharp as always on defense. Senior LB CJ Hankins is the leader of the defense as a three-year starter that played a key role on a state championship defense in 2018. Hankins is an athletic inside linebacker with offers to play at Akron and Kent. Junior DE Trey Bixby (6'5, 245) was one of the leading tacklers on the team as he was a part of a big and talented defensive front that included All-Ohio end Pietrowski. Bixby is one of the top Ohio recruits in the 2022 class with offers that include Michigan State, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. Cade Castro (6'2, 250) had 34 tackles a season ago as a rotational interior lineman. Senior corner Jaylen Castelberry is the lone returning starter from a very talented 2019 secondary. Led by a super duo of Hankins/Bixby, expect the Eagles to be one of the top defensive teams in the state. 

Region 1 has gone through the Eagles for most of the past decade. Expect 2020 to be no different. A lot of talented players at key positions have graduated, but St Edward has plenty of talent and depth to reload. This will be a state championship caliber defense that will be big and talented up front. If the offense can successfully plug in some youth/inexperience, this is the team to watch out for come November.


Next Preview: Solon (Week 4)