This is the third of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2017 season. See the Week 3 preview (St Ignatius) here.
Week 3
Who: Glenville Tarblooders
What: Non-league game
Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium
When: September 8th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Ted Ginn Sr. (21st season)
History: Mentor and Glenville played regularly beginning in the late 90's through 2006. In the 2000's, Mentor and Glenville played nine times (including playoff games in 2006 and 2007). Mentor holds a slight 5-4 edge during that stretch. Overall, Mentor leads the series 11-5. The last time these two teams met was in a memorable 2007 Region 1 final at Lakewood in which Mentor won, 41-40.
Looking Back...
Glenville was one of the state's most successful programs over the last 20 years, making the playoffs 15 times since 1999. The Tarblooders reached their peak in reaching the 2009 DI state championship game. When dropping down to DII, Glenville also was the state runners-up in 2013. Since that season, Glenville has taken a step or two back. The number of BCS recruits is down. The number of playoff wins (three total since 2013) is down. The class of 2017 saw 18 players sign with a program to continue their playing days. Most of them were not Division I colleges. Last season, the Tarblooders went 0-4 against teams not in the Senate League. That included a Week 11 loss (21-7) to Anthony Wayne. Among the senior standouts included RB Demerius Goodwin (Morgan State), WR Coby Bryant (Cincinnati), and All-District lineman Teeshawn Turpin (Tenn-Martin).
Schedule...
Glenville plays in the Senate Athletic League. The Tarblooders haven't lost a league game since the 90's. The league made up of Cleveland public schools has rarely even posed a challenge to Glenville. In order to make up for the lack of harbin points in the league, Ginn has consistently scheduled some grueling non-conference games. Along with Mentor, Glenville plays St Edward and Euclid - two playoff teams in from 2016. The Tarblooders found a way to make the playoffs despite going 0-3 in non-conference play last season. With declining enrollment and competitive balance, Glenville now finds themselves in Division III for the first time. In a new division and region, they don't want to take any chances by starting 0-3 again. In order to guarantee the playoffs, Glenville will need to find a way to win one of those three games. They should easily win all seven league games, which makes them an important opponent for Mentor in terms of potential computer points.
2017 Glenville Outlook...
Glenville had seven players receive All-District recognition in 2016. All of them were seniors. Reloading is nothing new to Ginn as he routinely has to replace most of his impact players and starters. Offensively, it always helps to bring back your QB. Senior Xander Spikes return for the Tarblooders. Speedy receiver and track star Bryan West gives Spikes a great target. WR Carlton Swopes also returns.
Glenville's season will be defined by how they stack up in their non-conference schedule and how they perform in November. Compared to the previous times Mentor played Glenville, the Tarblooders will not be littered with future Big Ten players all over the field. But this is no easy game for Mentor. Glenville will be one of the toughest outs in DIII this year.
Next Preview: Strongsville (Week 4)
Monday, August 7, 2017
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Opponent Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)
This is the second of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2017 season. See the Week 1 preview here.
Week 2
Who: St Ignatius Wildcats
What: Non-league game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 1st at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Chuck Kyle (35th season, 11 state titles)
History: Mentor and St Ignatius are entering their 13th game in this series. St Ignatius has an edge (7-5) over the Cardinals in the regular season. Since Mentor has won three of four against the Wildcats in the playoffs since 2003, Triv and Kyle are 8-8 against one another. The definition of a long, even series.
Looking Back...
During Week 2 last fall, a close halftime game really got away from Mentor in the second half to the eventual state runners-up. St Ignatius completely dominated the second half on their way to cruising to a 49-7 win, the most lopsided score in the series. The Wildcats had close to 300 yards on the ground, led by Mark Bobinski.
Schedule...
Gone is the two-year experiment of including the three Parma schools on the schedule. This should help provide Ignatius with a lot more harbin opportunities. The Wildcats have 3/4 of the rugged Cincinnati GCL league (St Xavier, Moeller, and Elder) on the schedule. Rival St Edward is always a huge Week 10 matchup. Two-time state champion Hoban is a big way to open the season. On top of those big five games, Detroit Central Catholic (the only regular season loss for Ignatius last season) also returns. The "easy" games on the schedule include 2016 playoff teams like GlenOak and Euclid. Rounding off the schedule includes a prep team from Canada. All in all, this is a very grueling stretch that should allow Ignatius to be in the mix to make the playoffs as long as they can get 5 wins.
2017 St Ignatius Outlook...
St Ignatius had a run to the state finals last year before coming up short (27-20, 2OT) to their Jesuit brethren from the other side of the state. The loss to St Xavier was only Chuck Kyle's second state championship game loss in 13 tries. With the talent and loyalty to seniors, every year the Wildcats have to reload. QB Patrick Ryan and RB Jimmy Andrews are among the graduates on offense. Mark Bobinski returns for his senior year after sharing RB duties with Andrews last year. Bobinski had a big game against Mentor last year and should be the focal point of the offense. Senior receiver Connor Kennedy is due for a big season. Two seniors (Kyle Hall and Danny Alexander) are vying for the starting QB spot. Alexander was the backup last season and got varsity reps during some of the wins. Darian Kinnard (6'6, 320) and John Jamieson (All-District in 2016) return to bring some size, talent, and experience on the line.
Defense was the strength of the state runners-up and they have to replace a deep group of linebackers and linemen. The front six in their vaunted 3-3 stack defense were all seniors last season. In the secondary, a couple starters do return. Kennedy will play both sides of the ball and join the secondary. All-district kicker Matthew Trickett returns and he will be a valuable returning part of the offense/special teams. St Ignatius' goals are pretty simple: winning a state championship. Defensively, there are some unknowns. But expect the Wildcats to be the most challenging opponent on Mentor's schedule. Possibly by a wide margin.
Next Preview: Glenville (Week 3)
Week 2
Who: St Ignatius Wildcats
What: Non-league game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 1st at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Chuck Kyle (35th season, 11 state titles)
History: Mentor and St Ignatius are entering their 13th game in this series. St Ignatius has an edge (7-5) over the Cardinals in the regular season. Since Mentor has won three of four against the Wildcats in the playoffs since 2003, Triv and Kyle are 8-8 against one another. The definition of a long, even series.
Looking Back...
During Week 2 last fall, a close halftime game really got away from Mentor in the second half to the eventual state runners-up. St Ignatius completely dominated the second half on their way to cruising to a 49-7 win, the most lopsided score in the series. The Wildcats had close to 300 yards on the ground, led by Mark Bobinski.
Schedule...
Gone is the two-year experiment of including the three Parma schools on the schedule. This should help provide Ignatius with a lot more harbin opportunities. The Wildcats have 3/4 of the rugged Cincinnati GCL league (St Xavier, Moeller, and Elder) on the schedule. Rival St Edward is always a huge Week 10 matchup. Two-time state champion Hoban is a big way to open the season. On top of those big five games, Detroit Central Catholic (the only regular season loss for Ignatius last season) also returns. The "easy" games on the schedule include 2016 playoff teams like GlenOak and Euclid. Rounding off the schedule includes a prep team from Canada. All in all, this is a very grueling stretch that should allow Ignatius to be in the mix to make the playoffs as long as they can get 5 wins.
2017 St Ignatius Outlook...
St Ignatius had a run to the state finals last year before coming up short (27-20, 2OT) to their Jesuit brethren from the other side of the state. The loss to St Xavier was only Chuck Kyle's second state championship game loss in 13 tries. With the talent and loyalty to seniors, every year the Wildcats have to reload. QB Patrick Ryan and RB Jimmy Andrews are among the graduates on offense. Mark Bobinski returns for his senior year after sharing RB duties with Andrews last year. Bobinski had a big game against Mentor last year and should be the focal point of the offense. Senior receiver Connor Kennedy is due for a big season. Two seniors (Kyle Hall and Danny Alexander) are vying for the starting QB spot. Alexander was the backup last season and got varsity reps during some of the wins. Darian Kinnard (6'6, 320) and John Jamieson (All-District in 2016) return to bring some size, talent, and experience on the line.
Defense was the strength of the state runners-up and they have to replace a deep group of linebackers and linemen. The front six in their vaunted 3-3 stack defense were all seniors last season. In the secondary, a couple starters do return. Kennedy will play both sides of the ball and join the secondary. All-district kicker Matthew Trickett returns and he will be a valuable returning part of the offense/special teams. St Ignatius' goals are pretty simple: winning a state championship. Defensively, there are some unknowns. But expect the Wildcats to be the most challenging opponent on Mentor's schedule. Possibly by a wide margin.
Next Preview: Glenville (Week 3)
Monday, July 17, 2017
Opponent Preview: Massillon (Week 1)
Here is the first of my previews of Mentor opponents for the 2017 season. Throughout July and August, I will post some info on each opponent starting in Week 1 with Massillon.
Week 1
Who: Massillon Tigers
What: 2017 regular season opener
Where: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
When: August 25th at 7:30pm
Opposing Coach: Nate Moore (3rd season at Massillon, 12-9 record)
History: Massillon leads the overall series 6-5 after Mentor's victory last year. Mentor's biggest win before the 2000's was in 1968 as they upset the Tigers, 19-0. The two split a six game series from 2005-2010 and resumed playing last season.
Looking Back...
Mentor and Massillon are two of the top football programs in NEO. They had an exciting back-and-forth series for six seasons before having a five-year hiatus due to scheduling conflicts. The teams resumed their competitive series last year as the Cards won at home, 57-31. Massillon, a Division II school, finished the regular season 8-2 and returned to the playoffs. Mentor was the 9th seed in Region 1, just barely missing the playoffs. Last year's game saw Mentor RB Isaiah Gullick have his best game of the season. Gullick, now graduated, had 238 yards and 5 TD's. The offensive-powered game saw over 800 yards of offense and 88 points. Massillon's receiver Austin Jasinki had a record-setting night with 15 receptions, 222 yards, and some big plays on defense.
Schedule...
Half of the Tigers' 2016 schedule were playoff teams. Their 4-1 record against those teams helped secure Massillon's 23rd playoff appearance. The Tigers' schedule has a couple changes from last year, but all of the big names return. The first four games (Mentor, GlenOak, Warren Harding, and Ursuline) will set up the season. Massillon will look to try and at least split those games if they want to make the playoffs again. The Week 10 rivalry game with McKinley defines their season. Other games include Fitch, Akron SVSM, and Akron Firestone. New teams to the schedule are Bedford (DII playoff team in 2016) and Canisius (NY), a team that went 7-2 last season. This is certainly one of the most challenging schedules of any team in Division II. The Tigers will be tested, especially in the first few weeks.
2017 Massillon Outlook...
Jasinski (1,834 all-purpose yards and 19 TD's), QB Seth Blankenship (1,819 passing yards and 24 TD's), and a large group of All-District lineman are among the key players that graduated. Jasinski accounted for more than half of the total receptions and more than 2/3 of the receiving yards and TD's. He will be sorely missed. WR Austin Kutscher was second on the team in receptions (16), yards (244), and receiving TD's (4) last year. The senior has a lot of experience and will look to be the go-to receiver in 2017. Junior LB Jamir Thomas has been a standout defensive player for the Tigers dating back to his freshman season. After leading the team in tackles as a freshman, Thomas was 2nd in tackles. Thomas led the team in rushing yards (561) and rushing TD's (10). RB/LB Louis Partridge is a fellow junior who could take a big step forward in 2017. Partridge (484 yards, 7 TD's) shared RB duties with Thomas. He should continue to see time on both sides of the ball as Moore looks for play makers on offense. Anthony Ballard and Kameron Simpson are key returning starters on defense.
The Tigers are light on returning impact players and will have difficulty getting as many wins (8) as last year. It might be a transition season for the Tigers unless they can find an serviceable replacement at QB and get close to duplicating the size/talent on the lines last season.
Next Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)
Week 1
Who: Massillon Tigers
What: 2017 regular season opener
Where: Paul Brown Tiger Stadium
When: August 25th at 7:30pm
Opposing Coach: Nate Moore (3rd season at Massillon, 12-9 record)
History: Massillon leads the overall series 6-5 after Mentor's victory last year. Mentor's biggest win before the 2000's was in 1968 as they upset the Tigers, 19-0. The two split a six game series from 2005-2010 and resumed playing last season.
Looking Back...
Mentor and Massillon are two of the top football programs in NEO. They had an exciting back-and-forth series for six seasons before having a five-year hiatus due to scheduling conflicts. The teams resumed their competitive series last year as the Cards won at home, 57-31. Massillon, a Division II school, finished the regular season 8-2 and returned to the playoffs. Mentor was the 9th seed in Region 1, just barely missing the playoffs. Last year's game saw Mentor RB Isaiah Gullick have his best game of the season. Gullick, now graduated, had 238 yards and 5 TD's. The offensive-powered game saw over 800 yards of offense and 88 points. Massillon's receiver Austin Jasinki had a record-setting night with 15 receptions, 222 yards, and some big plays on defense.
Schedule...
Half of the Tigers' 2016 schedule were playoff teams. Their 4-1 record against those teams helped secure Massillon's 23rd playoff appearance. The Tigers' schedule has a couple changes from last year, but all of the big names return. The first four games (Mentor, GlenOak, Warren Harding, and Ursuline) will set up the season. Massillon will look to try and at least split those games if they want to make the playoffs again. The Week 10 rivalry game with McKinley defines their season. Other games include Fitch, Akron SVSM, and Akron Firestone. New teams to the schedule are Bedford (DII playoff team in 2016) and Canisius (NY), a team that went 7-2 last season. This is certainly one of the most challenging schedules of any team in Division II. The Tigers will be tested, especially in the first few weeks.
2017 Massillon Outlook...
Jasinski (1,834 all-purpose yards and 19 TD's), QB Seth Blankenship (1,819 passing yards and 24 TD's), and a large group of All-District lineman are among the key players that graduated. Jasinski accounted for more than half of the total receptions and more than 2/3 of the receiving yards and TD's. He will be sorely missed. WR Austin Kutscher was second on the team in receptions (16), yards (244), and receiving TD's (4) last year. The senior has a lot of experience and will look to be the go-to receiver in 2017. Junior LB Jamir Thomas has been a standout defensive player for the Tigers dating back to his freshman season. After leading the team in tackles as a freshman, Thomas was 2nd in tackles. Thomas led the team in rushing yards (561) and rushing TD's (10). RB/LB Louis Partridge is a fellow junior who could take a big step forward in 2017. Partridge (484 yards, 7 TD's) shared RB duties with Thomas. He should continue to see time on both sides of the ball as Moore looks for play makers on offense. Anthony Ballard and Kameron Simpson are key returning starters on defense.
The Tigers are light on returning impact players and will have difficulty getting as many wins (8) as last year. It might be a transition season for the Tigers unless they can find an serviceable replacement at QB and get close to duplicating the size/talent on the lines last season.
Next Preview: St Ignatius (Week 2)
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Opponent Preview: Strongsville (Week 8)
This is the eight of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:
Week 8
Who: Strongsville
What: Greater Cleveland Conference game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: October 13th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Larry Laird (3rd season at Strongsville, 28-15 record as a head coach)
History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 9-2. Strongsville won two meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).
History: These two have played every season since 2006. During that time, Mentor leads the series 9-2. Strongsville won two meetings in 2008 (including a playoff rematch).
Looking Back…
Last year's game at Pat Catan Stadium was in doubt until late in the 4th quarter. The Mustangs were forced to start a freshman QB after dealing with some injuries. Mentor would pull away with a 35-24 win. During the season, Strongsville got off to a 4-1 start that included a big win over Hudson (DII state semifinalist). The second half of the schedule featured four GCC playoff teams. Strongsville lost to all of them and finished the season 5-5. The Mustangs snapped a six-game losing streak against rival, Brunswick.
Schedule…
The Mustangs have one of the toughest nonleague schedules in the GCC. All three are against DII opponents, but it is still challenging. Avon (10-2 in 2015) has won 10+ games in six straight seasons. They are one of the top DII programs in NEO. Hudson was 11-3 last season and would go on to win Region 3. Brush (1-9) is the third nonleague opponent. Overall, Strongsville has six 2015 playoff teams on their schedule. Since 2009, Strongsville has a 1-26 record against Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Euclid, and Elyria.
2016 Strongsville Outlook…
After two decent seasons (6-4 in 2014 and 5-5 in 2015), Strongsville has their hands full in 2016. If they can manage to not have a losing record, it would be a very successful season for Coach Laird. After starting mostly seniors last year, this will be a rebuilding year. QB Ryan Robertson and RB Zach Kahn were among the key seniors on last year's team.
The good news is that Strongsville's sophomore class is super after finishing 10-0 as freshman last season. QB Johnny Majors got promoted late in the season and landed the starting varsity job as a freshman. Majors played well against Mentor and will be a big key to Strongsville's hopeful climb up the DI ladder over the next few years. Considering the reliance on a sophomore class, overcoming a very tough schedule will mean the Mustangs will take some lumps. They are a year away from really competing with the top of the league.
Next: Brunswick (Week 9)
The good news is that Strongsville's sophomore class is super after finishing 10-0 as freshman last season. QB Johnny Majors got promoted late in the season and landed the starting varsity job as a freshman. Majors played well against Mentor and will be a big key to Strongsville's hopeful climb up the DI ladder over the next few years. Considering the reliance on a sophomore class, overcoming a very tough schedule will mean the Mustangs will take some lumps. They are a year away from really competing with the top of the league.
Next: Brunswick (Week 9)
Friday, July 29, 2016
Opponent Preview: Medina (Week 7)
This is the seventh of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:
Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid
Shaker Heights
Solon
Week 7
Who: Medina Bees
What: GCC Game
Where: Ken Dukes Stadium
When: October 7th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Dan Sutherland (5th season at Medina, 11-29 record)
History: Mentor easily won both games when the two teams were in the same division of the NOC in 2011/12. Last year, Mentor won 42-20 at home against the Bees.
Looking Back...
Medina took a small step in the right direction last season, finishing 4-6. They began by winning two of their three non-conference games by a combined score of 118-19. Only a 27-24 hiccup in Week 2 against Kenston prevented a 3-0 start for Medina. The Bees won Week 4 against Elyria (a 2015 playoff team). After that, they lost five of their final six in the GCC. Shaker Heights was the lone win during that stretch.
Schedule...
Medina's non-conference schedule is the same as last season. They open up at Lakewood (1-9 in 2015), a must-win for the Bees. Kenston (3-7) and Wadsworth (3-7) struggled last season, but should see some improvement. Half of the GCC teams made the playoffs last season. If the Bees can find a way to win one of those games, it would be a big step in the right direction. Local rivals Strongsville and Brunswick are season-defining games.
2016 Medina Outlook...
Big and talented RB Jimmy Daw (6'4, 215) is a three-year starter and a key part of Medina's success. Daw, a 1st-team All-District back in 2015, has offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, and Iowa State. Senior QB John Curtis (6'4, 205) and Dylan Fultz, the top receiver from 2015, also return on offense. On paper, Medina looks to be in good shape on that side of the ball.
Defensively, the Bees will need some improvement. In their five GCC losses, Medina gave up at least 35 points in all of them. The majority of the starters return, so experience will be on their side.
Medina does have an experienced group returning, but they will still have trouble cracking the top half of the league. Making the playoffs would be a huge stretch, but finishing with at least 5 wins is a possibility.
Next Preview: Strongsville (Week 8)
Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid
Shaker Heights
Solon
Week 7
Who: Medina Bees
What: GCC Game
Where: Ken Dukes Stadium
When: October 7th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Dan Sutherland (5th season at Medina, 11-29 record)
History: Mentor easily won both games when the two teams were in the same division of the NOC in 2011/12. Last year, Mentor won 42-20 at home against the Bees.
Looking Back...
Medina took a small step in the right direction last season, finishing 4-6. They began by winning two of their three non-conference games by a combined score of 118-19. Only a 27-24 hiccup in Week 2 against Kenston prevented a 3-0 start for Medina. The Bees won Week 4 against Elyria (a 2015 playoff team). After that, they lost five of their final six in the GCC. Shaker Heights was the lone win during that stretch.
Schedule...
Medina's non-conference schedule is the same as last season. They open up at Lakewood (1-9 in 2015), a must-win for the Bees. Kenston (3-7) and Wadsworth (3-7) struggled last season, but should see some improvement. Half of the GCC teams made the playoffs last season. If the Bees can find a way to win one of those games, it would be a big step in the right direction. Local rivals Strongsville and Brunswick are season-defining games.
2016 Medina Outlook...
Big and talented RB Jimmy Daw (6'4, 215) is a three-year starter and a key part of Medina's success. Daw, a 1st-team All-District back in 2015, has offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, and Iowa State. Senior QB John Curtis (6'4, 205) and Dylan Fultz, the top receiver from 2015, also return on offense. On paper, Medina looks to be in good shape on that side of the ball.
Defensively, the Bees will need some improvement. In their five GCC losses, Medina gave up at least 35 points in all of them. The majority of the starters return, so experience will be on their side.
Medina does have an experienced group returning, but they will still have trouble cracking the top half of the league. Making the playoffs would be a huge stretch, but finishing with at least 5 wins is a possibility.
Next Preview: Strongsville (Week 8)
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Opponent Preview: Solon (Week 6)
This is the sixth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:
Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid
Shaker Heights
Week 6
Who: Solon Comets
What: GCC Game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 30th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Jim McQuaide (110-40 at Solon, 196-102 overall)
History: This is one of the top big school rivalries across NEO. Mentor leads the overall series, 12-10. Solon leads the regular season series 10-8, but the Cards have won all four playoff appearances.
Looking Back...
Solon snapped a five game losing streak to Mentor as they picked up an impressive 42-35 win last season at Stewart Field. Solon won a share of the GCC and made the playoffs. The Comets won their first playoff game since 2011 - a 19-9 win over Olentangy Liberty. Solon's season was ended by Stow in Week 12. It was a solid 2015 for the Comets.
Schedule...
Solon brings back neigborhood foes Aurora (9-2 last season) and Twinsburg (1-9). The Comets beefed up their non-conference schedule by adding Stow, the team that ended their season in 2015. The Bulldogs were 13-1 last season and return 18 starters. Week 3 will be a huge game at Stewart Field. In the GCC, big games that stand out are longtime rival Mentor and Euclid, the only GCC team to defeat the Comets in 2015. Since 2004, Solon is 29-1 against Shaker, Strongsville, Medina, and Elyria. Brunswick is down.
2016 Solon Outlook...
QB Johnny Mooney was a thorn in Mentor's side last season. Mooney was one of the most productive QB's across the state. Mooney has graduated, but Solon brings back 17 starters. Senior Joe Bubonics is the front runner to succeed Mooney. There are some talented and experienced skill position players returning. Receivers Jake McCurry and Darryl Sinclair make quite the dynamic duo. After an injury-plagued junior season, Melvin Jackson should be the primary ball-carrier for what should be a more run-oriented offense than a season ago. Jackson showed some serious flash as a sophomore. Andrew Mason and Devon Brown both return after being the leading rushers last year. Solon has plenty of options on offense. Miami (OH) recruit Chris Glaser leads an experienced offensive line. There will likely be a drop off in the passing game, but the talent surrounding the new QB will be second to none in the GCC.
Defensively, the Comets should be strong. Last year the Comets held five opponents to less than 10 points. The majority of last year's starters return. Solon often puts some of their better athletes on both sides of the ball. McCurry, Bubonics, and Sinclair will start in the secondary. LB Matt Brown was the leading tackler from last season. Jacob Gross is an impact player returning on the defensive line.
Solon will be the favorite to win the GCC and should be able to put themselves in position to be winning football games in November.
Next Preview: Medina (Week 7)
Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid
Shaker Heights
Week 6
Who: Solon Comets
What: GCC Game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 30th at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Jim McQuaide (110-40 at Solon, 196-102 overall)
History: This is one of the top big school rivalries across NEO. Mentor leads the overall series, 12-10. Solon leads the regular season series 10-8, but the Cards have won all four playoff appearances.
Looking Back...
Solon snapped a five game losing streak to Mentor as they picked up an impressive 42-35 win last season at Stewart Field. Solon won a share of the GCC and made the playoffs. The Comets won their first playoff game since 2011 - a 19-9 win over Olentangy Liberty. Solon's season was ended by Stow in Week 12. It was a solid 2015 for the Comets.
Schedule...
Solon brings back neigborhood foes Aurora (9-2 last season) and Twinsburg (1-9). The Comets beefed up their non-conference schedule by adding Stow, the team that ended their season in 2015. The Bulldogs were 13-1 last season and return 18 starters. Week 3 will be a huge game at Stewart Field. In the GCC, big games that stand out are longtime rival Mentor and Euclid, the only GCC team to defeat the Comets in 2015. Since 2004, Solon is 29-1 against Shaker, Strongsville, Medina, and Elyria. Brunswick is down.
2016 Solon Outlook...
QB Johnny Mooney was a thorn in Mentor's side last season. Mooney was one of the most productive QB's across the state. Mooney has graduated, but Solon brings back 17 starters. Senior Joe Bubonics is the front runner to succeed Mooney. There are some talented and experienced skill position players returning. Receivers Jake McCurry and Darryl Sinclair make quite the dynamic duo. After an injury-plagued junior season, Melvin Jackson should be the primary ball-carrier for what should be a more run-oriented offense than a season ago. Jackson showed some serious flash as a sophomore. Andrew Mason and Devon Brown both return after being the leading rushers last year. Solon has plenty of options on offense. Miami (OH) recruit Chris Glaser leads an experienced offensive line. There will likely be a drop off in the passing game, but the talent surrounding the new QB will be second to none in the GCC.
Defensively, the Comets should be strong. Last year the Comets held five opponents to less than 10 points. The majority of last year's starters return. Solon often puts some of their better athletes on both sides of the ball. McCurry, Bubonics, and Sinclair will start in the secondary. LB Matt Brown was the leading tackler from last season. Jacob Gross is an impact player returning on the defensive line.
Solon will be the favorite to win the GCC and should be able to put themselves in position to be winning football games in November.
Next Preview: Medina (Week 7)
Monday, July 18, 2016
Opponent Preview: Shaker Heights (Week 5)
This is the fifth of my previews of Mentor's opponents for the 2016 season. Here are the other previews:
Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid
Week 5
Who: Shaker Heights Raiders
What: GCC Game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 23rd at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Jarvis Gibson (7th season at Shaker, 22-38 regular season record)
History: Mentor and Shaker have been in two leagues together over the years. The Cards lead the series 12-7 that dates back to the LEL days. Mentor has won eight in a row in the series. Shaker's last win against Mentor was in 2004. In a game that was much closer than the final score, Mentor prevailed 35-12 against Shaker last season.
Looking Back...
The Raiders had a tough opening season in the Greater Cleveland Conference. After starting the season 3-0, Shaker went 0-7 in GCC play. The most competitive loss in league play was against Brunswick (31-14). Shaker did outscore their three non-conference foes 111-9 as the highlight of their season.
Schedule...
The non-conference schedule is completely different from the one Shaker was so successful with last season. New on the schedule are Skyline from Michigan (4-5 record last year), John Adams (3-7), and Bedford (5-5). This is the easier part of the schedule and one that Shaker has to take advantage of. The Raiders are at the bottom of the GCC and will have to claw their way out of the basement. With teams like Mentor, Solon, Elyria, Euclid, etc. - Shaker will have their hands full winning in league play.
2016 Shaker Outlook...
Junior QB Jamir Dismukes returns to lead the offense. Dismukes showed some flashes of being a big time playmaker last season against Mentor. Dismukes has some talented receivers returning, including speedster Terrance Colvin and junior Micah Hills. Colvin is dangerous on special teams as well.
LB Jaylin Garner is another super junior on the roster. Garner (6'2, 230) has been offered by Cincinnati and is being recruited by Big Ten schools. He may be an impact player on offense as well.
Shaker is not short on talent and potential on offense. But putting it together to win games against a rugged GCC schedule remains to be seen. This is probably another losing season for the Raiders.
Next Preview: Solon (Week 6)
Massillon
St Ignatius
St Xavier
Euclid
Week 5
Who: Shaker Heights Raiders
What: GCC Game
Where: Jerome T Osborne Stadium
When: September 23rd at 7:00pm
Opposing Coach: Jarvis Gibson (7th season at Shaker, 22-38 regular season record)
History: Mentor and Shaker have been in two leagues together over the years. The Cards lead the series 12-7 that dates back to the LEL days. Mentor has won eight in a row in the series. Shaker's last win against Mentor was in 2004. In a game that was much closer than the final score, Mentor prevailed 35-12 against Shaker last season.
Looking Back...
The Raiders had a tough opening season in the Greater Cleveland Conference. After starting the season 3-0, Shaker went 0-7 in GCC play. The most competitive loss in league play was against Brunswick (31-14). Shaker did outscore their three non-conference foes 111-9 as the highlight of their season.
Schedule...
The non-conference schedule is completely different from the one Shaker was so successful with last season. New on the schedule are Skyline from Michigan (4-5 record last year), John Adams (3-7), and Bedford (5-5). This is the easier part of the schedule and one that Shaker has to take advantage of. The Raiders are at the bottom of the GCC and will have to claw their way out of the basement. With teams like Mentor, Solon, Elyria, Euclid, etc. - Shaker will have their hands full winning in league play.
2016 Shaker Outlook...
Junior QB Jamir Dismukes returns to lead the offense. Dismukes showed some flashes of being a big time playmaker last season against Mentor. Dismukes has some talented receivers returning, including speedster Terrance Colvin and junior Micah Hills. Colvin is dangerous on special teams as well.
LB Jaylin Garner is another super junior on the roster. Garner (6'2, 230) has been offered by Cincinnati and is being recruited by Big Ten schools. He may be an impact player on offense as well.
Shaker is not short on talent and potential on offense. But putting it together to win games against a rugged GCC schedule remains to be seen. This is probably another losing season for the Raiders.
Next Preview: Solon (Week 6)
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