Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 10)

This is the tenth and final in a series of previews of Mentor's 2014 opponents.  

Week 10

Who:  Strongsville

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  October 31 at 7:00

Opposing Coach:  Larry Laird (1st season at Strongsville, 17-6 record as head coach)
History:  Since the two started playing regularly in 2006, Mentor is 7-2 against Strongsville

Looking Back…

Legendary coach Russ Jacques stepped down after last season's 5-5 season.  Strongsville hit a rough patch from 2009-2011, so last season was actually a pretty positive step.  Last season in Week 10, the Mustangs gave Mentor all they could handle in the first half before the Cards pulled away 45-19.  Strongsville was undefeated (5-0) against teams with losing records and 0-5 against teams with winning records.  LB Clay Carusso and OL Brandon Bailey were among the standouts that graduated.  

Schedule…

One half of Strongsville's schedule are a group of five teams that combined for a 15-35 record.  The Mustangs won all of those games last year.  Lake Catholic, Berea, Parma, Medina, and Twinsburg are important games for Strongsville to win again.  The other half of the schedule were against 5 playoff teams.  Strongsville lost all of those games.  Besides Mentor, the toughest games on the schedule will be Hudson and Cleveland Heights.  Just like last season, the games against Solon and rival Brunswick will make or break the season.  If they want to make the playoffs, the Mustangs will need to win one - if not both of those games.

2014 Strongsville Outlook…

Larry Laird, the mysterious coaching magic man, is a big part of the season.  Laird has spent one season at Medina and one at Avon Lake.  Laird took the teams to the playoffs in both seasons (winning three playoff games) and stepped down after his lone season both times.  What will happen with Laird at Strongsville?  He steps in with a good and deep senior class.  Senior QB Bobby Cole (over 3,000 career passing yards) has been starting since he was a sophomore and could be one of the top at his position in NEO.  Cole will have some big and experienced guys protecting him on the line.  Returning skill players include RB Dominic Lombardo (778 yards in 2013) and WR Drew Robertson (608 yards).  Senior DE Austin Platt (6'3, 255) is one of the standout players on defense.  Platt had 10 sacks in the last five games of the season.  LB Kylen Bailey (110 tackles) and DB Zach Kahn are other key players on defense.  The Mustangs will aim for their 12th playoff appearance and first since 2008 if they can win a few NOC Valley games.  

Opponent Preview: Hudson (Week 9)

Week 9

Who:  Hudson

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Hudson Memorial Stadium

When:  October 24 at 7:00  

Opposing Coach:  Ron Wright (29-7 at Hudson)

History:  Last year, Mentor defeated Hudson 38-14 in what is their only meeting

Looking Back...

Hudson (10-2 overall) finished the 2013 regular season with a 9-1 record and ended up in 2nd place (behind Mentor) in the competitive NOC Valley.  Mentor defeated Hudson 38-14 in Week 9 last season.  The Explorers defeated four playoff qualifiers (Brecksville, Stow, Brunswick, and Solon) during their regular season and were the No. 3 seed in Region 1.  Hudson defeated Toledo Whitmer, 31-7, in the first playoff game.  Hudson played St Ignatius in Week 12 in what was the biggest game in the program's history.  An injury to star QB Mitch Guadagni during the 3rd quarter stalled Hudson's early lead.  St Ignatius won 28-17.  While the majority of the key players on offense last year were juniors, the two most valuable players on defense were seniors - LB Ben Hart and DB John Zucarro.  Both were 1st team all-district.  

Schedule...

Hudson’s non-league schedule includes Euclid, Uniontown Lake, and Brecksville.  These three teams combined for a 20-10 record in 2013.  Hudson will be challenged, but should be able to start off 3-0 once again.  The two NOC crossovers are Stow (10-2) and Cuyahoga Falls (2-8).  Hudson;s toughest task will be the NOC Valley schedule.  The league as a whole will be better than last season.  Wins against Strongsville, Brunswick, and Solon will not come as easy as they did last year, but Hudson is right there with Mentor as the favorites in the league.  

2014 Hudson Outlook...

The success starts with three-year starter QB Mitch Guadagni.  The 6'3 senior has committed to Toledo after throwing for over 2,000 yards in each of the last two seasons.  Guadagni was also the leading rusher for the Hudson offense.  Guadagni should be one of the most complete QB's in Ohio.  His main targets this season will be returning receivers Colton Whited and Reid Robinson.  Whited (1st-team All-Ohio in 2013) led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns last season.  Hudson also brings back a lot of talent and experience on both lines.  Senior Dylan Carlson is a three-year starter on the offensive line. The defense will be strong in the front seven, led by LB Matt Rightnour and DE Grant Elffers.  A lack of experience in the defensive backfield is one of the only concerns.  This senior class is a good one.  Outside of St Edward, no big school in NEO brings back as much talent and depth as Hudson.  They are good enough to beat Mentor, win the NOC Valley, and win some games in November.  

Next:  Strongsville (Week 10)

Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 8)

Week 8

Who:  Solon

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  October 17th at 7:00

Opposing Coach:  Jim McQuaide (95-32 at Solon, 171-94 overall)

History:  Mentor leads the overall series 11-9.  Solon leads the regular season series 9-7, but Mentor has won all four playoff meetings (2002, 2006, 2007, 2011).

Looking Back…

Solon (6-5 in 2013) has struggled for the last two seasons, going just 11-10 (0-1 in playoffs).  After an up and down season in 2013, the Comets fell to Westerville Central (55-7) in the first round of the playoffs.  Mentor won 35-0 during Week 8 at Solon.  It was one of their top defensive games of the season.  As for Solon, their biggest wins on the season were against playoff teams Kenston and Brunswick.  Some key players will need to be replaced.  Brandon Reynolds, a standout defensive end, was the leader of the line and led the team in tackles-for-loss.  RB Antwain Hamilton (leader in rushing yards and touchdowns) and WR Kollyn Crenshaw were the standouts at the skill positions.  The offensive line graduated a few key starters.  

Schedule…

The Comets will open the season with games against Kenston, Shaker Heights, and South.  All three made the playoffs last season.  In my opinion, Weeks 1-3 will make or break Solon's season.  Mayfield and Valley Forge are the NOC crossovers.  Both teams are improved from last season, but Solon will be the favorite.  The NOC Valley schedule also includes Hudson, Brunswick, Twinsburg, and Strongsville.  Overall, Solon’s schedule has six returning playoff teams.  If Solon can find a way to at least get a split in those games, they will put themselves in good position to return to the playoffs.  

 

2014 Solon Outlook…

Solon brings back their two QB's, Ryan Gallagher (over 1,000 passing yards last season) and Matt Laubscher.  Both have been getting varsity reps at QB since their sophomore seasons.  Experience and depth at the position will be a big advantage for Solon.   Hamilton, 1,000-yard rusher last season, will be missed at the RB position.   Look for Gil Barksdale and Melvin Jackson to be the primary ball carriers.  Both were productive on varsity even though Barksdale was a sophomore and Jackson was a freshman.  The top 5 receivers for the Comets last season were seniors.  That will be a key position they need to reload.  Defensively, Solon's top returnees are LB John Sensibaugh (three-year starter) and DE Tyree Seals.  Sensibaugh was the leading tackler for Solon for the second straight season.  Seals was second on the team in tackles-for-loss.  LB Alex Brown (3rd in tackles last season) and junior DL Ben Peterson (a starter since he was a freshman) are other top returning players on defense.  If the Comets can establish a consistent offense, the team should be able to return to the playoffs.  

Next:  Hudson (Week 9)

Opponent Preview: Brunswick (Week 7)

Week 7

Who:  Brunswick

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley Division) game

Where:  Brunswick Auto Mart Stadium

When:  October 10th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach:  Luke Beal (5th season at Brunswick, 24-17 record)

History:  Mentor has won all three regular season meetings as NOC members.  Mentor also won the playoff game last season, 42-0.  The teams played in the 2007 state semifinal, in which Mentor won 39-14.  

Looking Back...

Brunswick finished 6-5 last season as they fell to Mentor in the first round of the playoffs. The Blue Devils best win last season was against Elyria, another playoff team in Region 1.  Brunswick had a tough schedule that included losses to Mentor, Hudson, and Fitch - three of the top teams in NEO last season.  The Cards outscored the Blue Devils 85-3 in the two games.  Brunswick sneaked into the playoffs as the 15 seed in light of a 6-4 record.  Brunswick had 8 players receive all-district recognition.  All but one of those players were seniors.  WR/DB Zach Parker, LB Elijah Galloway. and DL Justin Boey are among the standouts that graduated.  

Schedule...

Brunswick has five teams (Mentor, Fitch, Solon, Elyria, and Hudson) on the schedule that made the 2013 playoffs.  Rivalry games with Strongsville and Medina are always key to the season.  The NOC Valley schedule will be more challenging than last season.   Games against Normandy (0-10), Padua (4-6), Medina (3-7), and Twinsburg (2-8) are very probable wins.  How the Blue Devils perform against Elyria, Solon, and Strongsville will be the difference between making the playoffs or not.   

2014 Brunswick Outlook...

Coach Beal's teams have steadily improved to finish 5-5, 6-4, and 7-3 in his first three seasons.  Brunswick's 6-4 record last season was a step back in terms of wins, but they did make the playoffs.  Most of the prominent players from last season have graduated, but there are 40 upcoming seniors on this team that are ready to contribute.  The Blue Devils return six starters on each side of the ball, so experience will be on their side.  This is a deep and experienced group led by returning QB Steven Ficyk (6'4, 215).  The senior threw for over 1,600 yards last season and 14 TD's.  He will be key to the team's success.  RB/WR Joe Pinzone (439 all-purpose yards last season) and WR/TE Ethan Engelka (6'3, 218) return to give Ficyk some talented targets.  DL Tom Knuff (6'2, 285) is the best returning lineman. 

Next Preview:  Solon (Week 8)

Opponent Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 6)

Week 6

 

Who: Shaker Heights

What:  Northeast Ohio Conference crossover game

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium

When: October 2nd at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Jarvis Gibson (4th season at Shaker, 16-14)

History:  Mentor and Shaker played annually in the Lake Erie League from 1993 to 2010.  Mentor held a slight edge (9-7) during that time.  Mentor won 52-14 last season.  The two will soon be together in three different leagues (LEL, NOC, GCC) over a 5 year period starting next season.  Mentor and Shaker will join Solon, Strongsville, Elyria, Brunswick, Medina, and Euclid in the Greater Cleveland Conference beginning in the 2015-16 season.  

Looking Back...

Shaker Heights is coming off a very successful back-to-back stint.  After finishing 8-2 in 2012, the Red Raiders found their way into the expanded Region 1 playoffs (for the first time since 2005) as the 16 seed.  It ended up with a 49-0 defeat from St Edward, but it was another step in the process of Gibson building the program.  Shaker graduated 8 seniors that signed with DI college football programs.  In spite of their talent on the field, Mentor was able to put it to Shaker Heights at home with a 52-14 win.  

Schedule...

Shaker has kicked their schedule up a notch or two from last season.  The Red Raiders still have University (2-8 in 2013) to open the season.  But they have replaced JFK and Cleveland Central Catholic with Solon and Avon Lake - two of the premier programs in the Cleveland area for many years.  The NOC River (the middle division) has long been the most equally balanced in terms of competition.  Mayfield, North Royalton, Medina, Elyria, and Stow join Shaker in the River.  Normandy (0-10 last season) and Mentor are the NOC crossovers.  Shaker will really have to earn their way back to the playoffs with this schedule.  

2014 Shaker Heights Outlook...

Coach Jarvis Gibson has helped bring some excitement back to the Shaker football program.  Last season's playoff appearance combined with the success of the individual talent made for a memorable run.  But with last year's team being featuring seniors so heavily, there wasn't a lot of opportunities for the underclassmen.  Shaker will have their hands full in replacing players such as DE Joe Henderson (Tennessee), OL Ja'Marez Brown (Cincinnati), and WR Odell Spencer (Cincinnati).  All of their top skill players on offense (including QB Brian Jones) have graduated.  Gibson will have his hands full this year by putting a lot of last year's JV players into key positions on the team.  Among the few returning players with varsity experience are WR Marcus Carthon, RB Jeff Massey, and linemen Gary Harris/Jerson Gaskins.  Look for senior Adin Leibovich to be the starting QB.  One thing that will help is the incoming transfer of RB Casimier Mitchell (1,000-yard rusher for Lakewood last season).  

Next Preview:  Brunswick (Week 7)

Opponent Preview: Brush (Week 5)

This is the fifth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2014 season.

Week 5

Who:  Brush

What:  NOC Crossover

Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium

When:  September 26th at 7:00pm

Opposing Coach: Josh Wells (3rd season, 14-6 record)

History:  Mentor and Brush played last season for the first time since their old GCC days.  Mentor won the offensive battle 62-43.

Looking Back...
Last season Brush had a successful season as they finished 7-3 and went to the Region 3 playoffs.  The Arcs lost to top seeded Glenville (DII state runners-up) in the first round.  The Week 5 game at Brush last season was certainly one of the most challenging regular season games of the season for the Cards.  The high powered Brush offense caught Mentor sleeping as they jumped out to a commanding 28-7 lead.  Mentor eventually played up to their potential on both sides of the ball as they went on a 55-7 run.  The game was a wakeup call for the Mentor defense.  After surrendering 43 points to Brush, the Cards gave up just a total of 53 points over the next 8 games.  

Schedule...
Besides Mentor, Brush plays only two teams that had winning records in 2013.  The schedule sets up nicely as Brush plays in the least competitive division of the NOC.  The nonleague games are Padua, Lakeside, and Kenston.  The schedule provides a lot of opportunities for wins.  Key games on the season are Kenston (made playoffs last season), local rival Mayfield, and Garfield Heights (7-3 last season).  A win over Brush should mean a good amount of computer points for Mentor.  

2014 Brush Outlook...
Brush has a lot of talent to replace from last season.  QB Stephen Shorts, WR Ugochhukwu Onunwor, RB Javari Gill, and top lineman Jonah Harper were among the standouts on a very talented offense.  Brush returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.  As the Arcs look to build on that appearance, the cupboard is hardly bare.  LB Matthew Draper (6'1, 215) - a transfer from Glenville - is the most talented player on the Brush roster.  Draper has several DI offers that include Kentucky, Louisville, and Cincinnati.  RB Darryl McCluney (6'3, 215) was one of the leading rushers (754 yards, 8 TD's) for the Arcs last season.  WR Jordan Overton (offers from several MAC schools) made an impact on the offense last season as a sophomore.  Finding a replacement for the dynamic Shorts will be a big key to their season.  If they can do that, a return to the playoffs is within reach.

Next Preview:  Shaker Heights (Week 6)

Opponent Preview: Twinsburg (Week 4)

Week 4

Who: Twinsburg
What:   Northeast Ohio Conference (Valley) game
Where:  Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium
When:  September 19th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Joe Schiavone (3rd season at Twinsburg, 15-15 record)
History:  An original NOC member, Twinsburg joined the Valley division (2011) at the same time Mentor joined the conference.  Twinsburg upset a 9-0 Mentor team (No. 1 in AP poll at the time) in the 2011 regular season finale, 38-35.  Mentor has outscored Twinsburg by a total score of 90-0 the past two seasons.

Looking Back...

Twinsburg (2-8 in 2013) had its first losing season since 2007.  Their schedule was brutal (played seven playoff teams), and the Tigers were in a rebuilding season.  The Week 4 game at Twinsburg was called early in the second half due to severe storms and a 49-0 Mentor lead.  It was a coming out party for a Mentor offense that didn't really get on track early in the season.  The Cards put up over 400 yards of offense in barely over a half of football.  Twinsburg did improve throughout the season.  After averaging just 8 points a game in the first half of the season, the Tigers scored 20+ in four of their last five games.

Schedule...

Seven of the Tigers’ opponents made the playoffs last season.  Twinsburg maintains one of the toughest schedules of any team in Division II.  Their nonleague slate includes Aurora, Nordonia, and Avon - three teams that will all be serious contenders for a state title.  Twinsburg is stuck in the most competitive division in the NOC with the big school Valley Division.  Playing Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Hudson, and Strongsville makes it very difficult to pick up wins in a rebuilding process.  Garfield Heights (7-3 last season) and North Royalton are the league crossovers on Twinsburg's schedule.

2014 Twinsburg Outlook...

Twinsburg took a major step back last season and it won't be easy to climb back up.  Twinsburg used a lot of seniors in key spots last year, including their QB (Mike Peelman), All-District receiver (Tailin Johnson), and top defensive players (DE Cameron Dial and LB Jacob Turray).  One of the most talented returning starters is Darius Jones, a threat on offense as a receiver or getting carries out of the back field.  Other top returning starters include DB/RB No'ah Edwards (2nd leading rusher in 2013) , DB/WR DeVonte Washington (younger brother of former QB stud Jalen Washington), RB Deyonte Groce, and LB Joe Leondarides (3rd leading tackler last season).  Considering the difficult schedule and a continued dropoff in talent/depth, it is tough to see Twinsburg winning any more than 1 or 2 games this season.

Next Preview:  Brush (Week 5)