Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 6)

Week 6

Who: Brunswick Blue Devils 

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: September 24th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Mark Pinzone (5th season at Brunswick, 18-21 record)

History: Mentor has won twelve in a row (including playoff wins in 2014 and 2021) over Brunswick since the two joined the same league in 2011. One of the biggest games in the history of both programs was a state semifinal matchup in 2007 that pitted two all-time greats at their respected programs: Bart Tanski and Sean Bedevelsky. Mentor defeated Brunswick, 39-14, and went on to their second straight DI state championship game. 

Looking Back...

Last season, Brunswick put up a much improved effort against Mentor in the playoff loss (37-21) after getting shutout, 38-0, in the regular season game. After a great 15-year run under legendary coach Rich Nowak that included multiple league championships and two regional titles, the Blue Devils are taking some positive steps toward building a winning program again. Pinzone has helped guide the Blue Devils to consecutive winning seasons, including a very successful 2020. Brunswick earned one of their biggest regular season wins in years against county rival (and eventual regional finalist) Medina. They had playoff wins against Jackson and Canton McKinley. The latter of which was an impressive upset (27-14) over the the Bulldogs, who were the #3 seed in Region 1. It advanced Brunswick to the regional semifinal, their first appearance in that round since 2008. The 2020 season was led by a large group of impactful seniors like lineman Tomas Rimac (West Virginia), QB Jake Scherette, and a trio of talented linebackers: Andrew Haber, Kyle Scherette, and Quintyn McKinley. 

Schedule...

One big addition to the schedule is DII power Avon, a program that has won Region 6 for four straight seasons. The game with the Eagles will be Brunswick's most challenging non-conference game. Hudson and Olmsted Falls are on the schedule. The two are among NEO's better DII programs. Brunswick also has Highland and Toledo Waite on the schedule. In the league, the GCC is down to just five league games. The Blue Devils have had their hands full against the trio of Mentor, Euclid, and Solon since the GCC formed in 2015. During the past six seasons, Brunswick is 0-18 against these three teams that have routinely finished at the top of the league. Duplicating last year's surprise win against Medina will be especially more difficult this season as the Bees are one of the frontrunners in Region 1. Longtime league rival Strongsville is Brunswick's best opportunity for a league victory. 

2021 Brunswick Outlook...

After a season-ending injury to QB Jake Scherette, Ethan Fritz was given the difficult job of trying to replace the two-year starting captain. Fritz handled the responsibility well and helped guide Brunswick to back-to-back playoff wins. During the upset victory over McKinley, completed 10 of 16 passes for 121 yards. This was a week after a three touchdown effort in a playoff win over Jackson, which was Brunswick's first postseason win since 2008. Connin Som and JD Serwatka return at receiver. Both will provide Fritz with some playmaking ability that will keep opposing defenses on their toes. The offensive line will be led by the sole returning starter, tackle Evan Sevastos. Last season, Sevastos started at right tackle and earned all-league honors. Sevastsos, a talented two way athlete, is coming off a junior season that saw him qualify for the state wrestling tournament. With some experience in big games behind him, expect the Blue Devils to rely more on their experienced QB along with the Som/Serwatka duo will give the offense a boost.

Defensively, the Blue Devils were very good last season. The vast majority of their defense were seniors, but the cupboard is not bare. In the secondary, the Blue Devils bring back David Hamrick - a First Team All-District defensive back. The Blue Devils utilize a lot of two way players. Som is another potential impact player in the secondary. He made a big impression in the win over McKinley by returning an interception for a score early in the game. The secondary should be a unit of strength as safety Luke Petrowski also is a returning starter. The Blue Devils will have some big shoes to fill at linebacker at defensive end. Even while the program is moving in the right direction, the league is incredibly tough at the top and there is no time for rebuilding. In order to have a winning season for the third consecutive season, the first year starters on defense and the offensive line will need to step up. 

Next Preview: Medina (Week 7)

Opponent Preview: Football North (Week 5)

Week 5

Who: Clarkson Football North (Canada)

What: Non-league game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium 

When: September 17 at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Larry Jusdanis

History: Mentor welcomed our neighbors from the North during 2019 in a storm-shortened game that could only get one half of play before it was called. Mentor won the game, 28-15. Due to COVID, the two were unable to play each other last season.

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. Unable to cross the border in 2020, Football North didn't have the kind of season they were hoping. Games against US teams were all cancelled. They normally play a rugged schedule, including a bunch against some of the top teams in Ohio. Overall, their record in 2019 was 3-6. But they found a way to win a couple games against Ohio teams (St Ignatius and Lorain) while having competitive losses against Mentor and Elder. Football North spent the last 12 months focusing on practice, training, scrimmages, attending camps, etc. 

Schedule...
Due to their chase of playing high profile teams, Football North has one of the most grueling schedules in North America. In the past few years, the Ohio teams on their schedule are among the four best programs in the state: St Ignatius, St Edward, St Xavier, and Mentor are among the typical scheduled teams. For 2021, only Mentor and St Edward remain. They also play some top notch programs from other states. Due to their demanding schedule, wins are not easy to come by. 

2021 Football North Outlook...
Unlike a lot of HS football teams, the number one score card for Football North is not necessarily wins and losses. The development and promotion of players to make it to college football is their top priority. Because of that, their roster is almost entirely filled with guys that are aiming to play some level of college football (either in the states or in Canada) in their future. It starts at the all-important position of QB. Callum Wither (6'4, 210) has joined Football North this season. Wither was offered by a handful of programs in the MAC before committing to play quarterback at Ohio University. RB Omarion Martin (9 carries for 66 yards and a TD as sophomore against Mentor in 2019) is primed for a big 2021. Martin boasts an offer from Central Michigan. Fellow back Donavin Milloy is another talented player to watch out for. Milloy recently got an offer from UMass and will be a key playmaker on this offense. Football North is not short on size and speed at the receiver position. Micah Dennie is a speedster with an offer from West Virginia. Football North has plenty of size and talent on the lines. Mateo Lucero (6'5, 285) and Vincent Ramolli (6'8, 335) are a couple of starting linemen that have both been offered by Texas State. 

On defense, there is plenty of college talent on the field. It starts at the all-pivotal defensive end positions. Football North has some good ones. Ishmael Findlayter is a 6'4, 230-pound defensive end with multiple DI offers. Kumail Khilji (6'4, 245) is at the other end position and he isn't far behind with the offers. There is plenty of size up front on both sides of the ball. 

It can't be denied that there are a lot of individually talent players on this roster. They have many guys that will be playing college football. On an individual level, Mentor won't have the kind of talent that Football North has. But Mentor's advantages will include consistency, depth, and continuity. It will be a very interesting matchup. 

Next Preview: Brunswick (Week 6)

Opponent Preview: North Allegheny (Week 4)

 This is the third of my previews for Mentor's 2021 opponents. See the Week 3 opponent preview on St Edward here

Week 4

Who: North Allegheny Tigers

What: Non-conference

Where: North Allegheny's Newman Stadium

When: September 10th at 7:30pm 

Opposing Coach: Art Walker (200+ wins, two state titles at North Allegheny)

History: Mentor and North Allegheny have no history of playing one another. This will be the first time Mentor has played a team from Pennsylvania since a home-and-home series with Erie McDowell back in 2012 and 2013. North Allegheny, about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh, has three football state championships (1990, 2010, and 2012).

Looking Back...

The Tigers won their first six games in an abbreviated season before matching up against Pittsburgh's Central Catholic in a big November postseason matchup. The Tigers, playing in the big school division in Pennsylvania, lost in the WPIAL championship to Central Catholic by a score of 38-24. The lone loss of the season prevented North Allegheny from advancing to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. There were seven players that earned First Team all-league selections. Six of those were seniors. Key graduates from last season that will move on to play college football this fall include receiver Khalil Denkins (Penn State) and linebacker Nate Hoke (BYU). 

Schedule...

Mentor is not the only Ohio team on North Allegheny's schedule. Pickerington Central, a team with two recent state championship, is hosting North Allegheny in Week 2. The rest of the schedule includes Pennsylvania teams, the majority of which are in WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League). One of the big games on the schedule for the Tigers will be a season-defining game against Central Catholic. The Week 10 game with Seneca Valley, a team North Allegheny knocked off in the playoffs last season, is also a big one.  

2021 North Allegheny Outlook...

North Allegheny is led on defense by a very talented edge rusher in Jacob Porter (son of former Steeler Joey Porter). Porter (6'3, 210) has multiple DI offers after an all-conference season in 2020. He was a state-qualifier in the 100 meter dash, so expect a lot of size, strength, and speed off the edge. Michael Dorn is another big body on the defensive front that should help solidify a strong line. Kolin Jenkins (brother of Khalil and son of former NFL player Darnell Dinkins) should be a playmaker on both sides of the ball a season after starting at corner. Jenkins should see some opportunities to help the offense too. On offense, the team graduated its most dangerous playmaker (Khalil Dinkins) and the starting QB (Greg Philips). Along with possibly using the younger Jenkins on offense, the Tigers do bring back a big and dangerous weapon in Dwayne Taylor (6'5, 205) at receiver. JR Burton is a returning starting running back from 2020, so his presence brings some stability to the offense. North Allegheny is a team that likes to run the ball, so expect Burton to be a focal point of the offense. This will be an interesting challenge for a Mentor program that isn't accustomed to making long trips. The last time they went on the road this far was a 2015 matchup in Cincinnati against St Xavier. 

Next Preview: Football North (Week 5)

Opponent Preview: St Edward (Week 3)

This is the third of my previews for Mentor's 2021 opponents. See the Week 2 opponent preview on St Ignatius here

Week 3

Who: St Edward Eagles

What: Non-conference

Where: First Federal Lakewood Stadium

When: September 4th at 7:00pm 

Opposing Coach: Tom Lombardo (7th season at St Edward, 60-13 record, 149-51 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 two of the last three regular season games. The Eagles overcame a two score 4th quarter deficit in winning last year's game, 28-24. 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 13 times (regular season and playoffs) since 2003, with Mentor having a 7-6 advantage.

Looking Back...

The Eagles finished with a 5-2 record (including playoffs) in the shortened 2020 season. Their only regular season loss was to Hoban, the eventual DII state champions. St Edward had big regular season wins over Mentor, St Ignatius, and Massillon (2020 DII state runners-up). In an unprecedented COVID season where the OHSAA shifted their playoff format, the Eagles earned the respect of Region 1 coaches by being voted the #1 seed in the playoff draw. After a comfortable 42-0 win in their first playoff game against GlenOak, the Eagles were upset in the regional quarterfinal by Medina. The 35-31 victory by the Bees was part of a historic playoff run that saw Medina advance to the regional final by knocking off St Edward and St Ignatius in consecutive weeks. The surprising loss snapped a streak of ten straight seasons where the Eagles advanced to at least the regional semifinal round. St Edward had nine players that were named to the All-District First and Second teams. All but one of them were seniors. The talented graduates include CJ Hankins (a key starting linebacker on the 2018 state title team), CB Jaylen Castleberry, and a group of stellar linemen (Thomas Aden, Chris Moran, Charles Calhoun, and Caden Casto). 

Schedule...

The schedule is once again one of the most daunting in the state. Big games with some of Ohio's best DI programs (St Ignatius, Mentor, Moeller, and Elder) will test the Eagles as always. St Edward has won the last three games with their rival, St Ignatius. Cincinnati area powers Moeller and Elder are two of the most successful big school programs in Ohio history, but the Eagles have dominated the series as of late. St Edward is 18-2 against the pair since 2010, including winning ten straight games against Moeller. The top two teams from Division II (Hoban and Massillon) are back on the schedule. Toledo Central Catholic (a three time state champion) is a new addition. The Ohio teams on their schedule have combined for 28 state titles (and 18 state runners-up) in the playoff-era. The rest of the schedule includes non-OHSAA team Bishop Sycamore, Rock Creek Christian (Maryland), and DC's Washington Wilson. The schedule will prepare the Eagles for a November run.

2021 St Edward Outlook...

Since 2010, the Eagles have been the dominant big school program in Ohio. Their four state championships (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018) during this stretch is tops in Division I. If not for Mentor knocking off some very talented Eagles' squads (2012, 2013, 2017, and 2019), they might have five or six state championships over the last decade. Despite graduating a lot of valuable seniors, St Edward figures to still be one of the top teams in the state.

Senior Christian Ramos returns at QB after getting plenty of valuable starting experience a season ago. Ramos is a talented multi-sport athlete that has committed to play baseball at Bowling Green. He showed his grit in guiding the Eagles to a comeback win at Mentor last season along with leading the team to wins over Massillon and St Ignatius. Ramos should be one of the more dangerous dual threat QB's in the area. The passing game should see some improvement with the growth of Ramos along with returning receiver Connor Goodall (6'3, 180). Dynamic playmaker Joel Castleberry, a standout in all three phases, is another potential target. Talented back Daniel Enovitch returns after a season in which he shared carries with now-graduated Malachi Watkins. Enovitch had one of his best games of the season against Mentor last year, rushing for a team-high 132 yards. Enovitch should be one of the top running backs in the area now that he will be getting the bulk of the carries behind the usually large and talented Eagles offensive line. Up front, lineman Joe Lavelle (Second Team All-District in 2020) is a key returning starter. The offense should be in good shape with a nice mix of talent and experience. 

A large reason for the rise of St Edward over the past dozen seasons has been their defense. While they experienced some hits from graduation at all three lines of the defense, this should still be one of the top defenses in the area. It starts at the edge with the big and talented DE Trey Bixby. A starter since he was a sophomore, Bixby (6'5, 235) is a Minnesota recruit and considered one of the top at his position in the Midwest. Zyion Brown was one of the leading tacklers and returns to lead the linebackers. In the secondary, Castleberry and Jack Riley are returning starters. With a handful of talented returning starters from 2020, expect this group to once again be one of the top defenses in the state. 

Region 1 has gone through the Eagles for most of the past decade. Expect 2021 to be no different. This should be a pretty balanced team with key pieces returning on both sides of the ball. This should be as difficult as any game on Mentor's schedule. 

Next Preview: North Allegheny (Week 4)

Opponent Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)

 This is the second of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2021 season.  See the Week 1 preview here.

Week 2

Who: St Ignatius Wildcats

What: Non-league game

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When: August 27th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Chuck Kyle (39th season, 360-99-1 overall record, 11 state titles)

History: Mentor and St Ignatius paused their 15 year consecutive run due to complications with scheduling in a COVID season in 2020. Mentor has an 8-7 edge in the regular season series that started up in 2005. The Cardinals have won four of the last five playoff matchups with the Wildcats that included memorable wins in 2003, 2012, 2013, and 2017. This has shaped up to be one of the most entertaining rivalries over the past 20 years. 

Looking Back...
During an unprecedented 2020 campaign, St Ignatius had a later start to the season than most teams. With just three regular season games against OHSAA opponents, St Ignatius scheduled three of the very best (St Edward, DII state runner-up Massillon, and DI state champion St Xavier). The Wildcats went 0-3 in those games, but still made a strong impression in the playoffs. St Ignatius knocked off Mentor's GCC rivals (Solon and Euclid) in consecutive playoff wins. Facing a third GCC team (Medina), the Wildcats' season ended with a 33-26 regional semifinal loss. Among the 2020 graduate standouts are First Team All-District players like DE Bennet Adler (Akron), LB Aidan Hubbard (Northwestern), and OL Gus Salopek. Safety Emmett Hanna (Boston College) and LB Aidan Conway were also key starters on defense that have graduated. 

Schedule...
St Ignatius routinely has one of the most grueling schedules in Ohio, and this season is no exception. Home games against two Ohio state champions (St Xavier and Hoban) from 2020 highlight the biggest challenges on the schedule. St Edward, Moeller, Springfield, Euclid, and Mentor round out the daunting part of the Wildcats schedule that includes some of the best teams from the state. St Edward, a program with four state titles since 2010, is once again on the short list of being a state championship contender. Springfield has won Region 2 and advanced to the state semifinals each of the past two seasons. Maryland powerhouse Mount St Joseph (2019 state champs), River Rouge (Michigan), and Canada's Football North are also on the schedule. River Rouge was a runner-up in DIII in Michigan last season after winning a state title in 2019. Football North, also an opponent on Mentor's schedule, has some of the best football players in all of Canada. Needless to say, Chuck Kyle's squad will be battle tested once they enter the playoffs. 

2021 St Ignatius Outlook...
Offensively, there are key returnees that should give the Wildcat faithful some optimism. During the tenure of legendary coach Chuck Kyle, the QB position has been a position of strength in building the dynasty. Senior QB Joe Pfaff is coming off a shortened season that saw him experience success as a starter headlined by guiding St Ignatius to a couple of impressive playoff wins. Pfaff (6'5, 190) is a big and talented QB that has college football in his future. Senior WR Steven Bodamer is one of the returning targets for Pfaff. Another returning starter that finished with a strong 2020 is RB Marty Lenehan. He earned Second Team All-District as he became a workhorse for the St Ignatius offense. Lenehan proved his value in consecutive playoff wins against Solon (19 carries for 171 yards and 3 TD's) and Euclid (233 total yards and 2 TD's). Lenehan should be one of the top at his position in NEO. Being able to return players at the key positions of quarterback and running back should be a great boost for the offense. Up front, the line is led by returning starter Ashton Montgomery (6'3, 300). Montgomery is the only returning starter on the line, but plenty of talent and size are waiting in the wings. Behind Pfaff, Lenehan, and the typically strong Wildcat line - look for a balanced offense to be the strength of the team to start the season. 

There are a few more questions on defense than offense. St Ignatius was especially senior-heavy on that side of the ball last season. Most of their key defensive stars have now graduated, but the Wildcats often reload well on that side of the ball. Safeties Griffin Taliak and Braeden Lair are returning impact players in the Wildcats five-man secondary. Expect the safety position to be a position of strength. Up front, nose tackle Tommy Wasinski returns to bring some size and stability to the defensive line after the graduation of Adler. The defense lacks experience, but will likely be one of the better defenses Mentor will see all season. 

As usual, expect this to be one of the toughest games on Mentor's schedule. St Ignatius is not entering the season as the Region 1 favorite, but they are still one of the most accomplished high school programs in the country. 

Next Preview: St Edward (Week 3)

Opponent Preview: Canton McKinley (Week 1)

This is the first of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2021 season. I will be adding new opponent previews throughout the summer. 

Week 1

Who: Canton McKinley

What: Non-league game

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

When: August 20th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Antonio Hall (first year as head coach)

History: Mentor has some playoff history with McKinley, headlined by a program-defining state semifinal win (18-13) in 2006. More recently, the Cardinals had playoff wins against the Bulldogs in 2018 (36-6) and 2019 (34-13). The two haven't met in the regular season since McKinley's 1997 state championship season, a year in which Mentor was shutout 49-0. Those Pups earned USA Today's #1 ranking in their final national poll for that season. 

Looking Back...
In the shortened season, McKinley went 4-2. They had wins against Federal League foes GlenOak, Jackson, Hoover, and Lake. Their success and reputation earned them the #3 seed in the expanded Region 1 playoff field. During the first week of the playoffs, McKinley cruised to a 54-32 win over Berea-Midpark. It looked like a foregone conclusion that Mentor and McKinley would meet for a third straight time in the playoffs. However, the Bulldogs were upset by Brunswick (27-14) during the second round. Among the graduates from their 2020 team is talented QB Elijah Wesley, a recruit for the University of Toledo. Other departed seniors from last year's team include RB's Rob Jones and Brandon Foster along with a trio of All-District defenders from the secondary: Jonah Lytle (Toledo recruit), Nehemiah Stovall, and Brian Pinkey. Receiver Xavier Black was a third member of McKinley's 2021 class that will be continuing football as a scholarship player at Toledo. 

Schedule...
As a part of the Federal League, McKinley will play six of their ten games in conference. The Bulldogs are 20-3 against the Federal League since 2017. They haven't lost to Jackson, Hoover, Lake, or Green since 2014. GlenOak has won just two games over the past three seasons. The Bulldogs should be favorites in those five games. McKinley's biggest obstacle to an undefeated league championship is Massillon Perry, a team they are just 1-6 against since 2014. The non-conference schedule is highlighted by the annual Week 10 showdown with Massillon. McKinley has dropped five straight games in this historic rivalry. The other two teams on the schedule are Fitch and Wayne. Fitch is coming off a 7-1 season. Wayne is a very successful program from the Dayton area with four DI state runners-up. McKinley's schedule has a good balance of local rivals, traditional playoff programs, and some very winnable games. The schedule will leave them battle tested for the playoffs. 

2021 Canton McKinley Outlook...
Few big school programs in Ohio have the kind of cache that Canton McKinley has. With one of the nation's highest win totals (851 and counting) along with 38 playoff wins, nine regional titles, and three state championships - the Bulldogs have earned the respect they have been given. As for this season, it would be difficult to talk about the 2021 Bulldogs without first pointing out the challenges faced by the program. In the aftermath of a controversial situation that led to the dismissal of the coaching staff, Athletic Director Antonio Hall stepped in to become the interim head coach. Adding to that upheaval is the replacement of key members on offense such as Wesley and other starters at receiver and running back. The offensive line is also needing to replace most of their starters, but Third Team All-Ohio tackle Stefan Monahan (6'8, 295) does return. This will be a season of starting over in multiple ways on offense with a change in coaching and the need to reload at nearly every position.

Defensively, it starts with three star linebacker Mani Powell (6'3, 225). As a junior, Powell earned a Co-Defensive POY award for the Northeast Inland District. He currently has around a dozen college offers that include Michigan, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, and Boston College. He will be one of the players to watch for the Bulldogs this season. Safety Harold Fannin Jr. is another returning impact player on defense. McKinley did graduate a lot of starters on defense, so this side of the ball will also have to reload. 

Next Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)