Mentor's dominating 38-14 win over previously unbeaten Hudson was easily their top performance of the year. The Explorers came to Mentor with an 8-0 record and the top spot in the Region 1 computer rankings. The Cardinals clearly showed they are playing on another level than even the strongest of their league foes.
NOC Dominance
Mentor is wrapping up their third season in the Northeast Ohio Conference. During that time, they have a 13-1 record against the NOC Valley and a 19-1 overall record against NOC teams. The lone blemish was in Week 10 in 2011 at Twinsburg. In the 19 wins, the 24-point margin of defeat by Hudson is the closest any team got. Hudson had an impressive year in the Valley (going 3-0 against Solon, Strongsville, and Brunswick) - but Mentor is in a league of their own.
Krizancic
If not for the recent string of Mr. Football QB's - we in Mentor may appreciate Conner Krizancic a little more. He is having a fantastic season. After a slow start due to an apparent dead arm, Krizancic has come into his own and his playing his way as an All-District QB. Who would have thought that 6 or 7 weeks ago? After Week 3, Krizancic was 23-38 passing for 219 yards and 2 touchdowns. Lately, he is able to do better than that in a single game. On the season, the senior has 2,662 combined yards (passing, rushing, and receiving) to go along with 32 touchdowns.
Defense
The offense was good on Friday. But the defense continued their strong play as well. Hudson came into this game with a much hyped QB in Mitchell Guadagni. He certainly showcased a strong and accurate arm. Guadagni was able to bust a couple of big runs. But the defense made sure it wasn't five or six big plays with his legs. Overall, Guadagni was held in check - and that is all you can ask out of your defense. The defensive line did their part in forcing Guadagni to make quick throws. The secondary was led by some big pass break ups by seniors Kiyah Powell and Keith McCormick. Senior LB Justin McMahon had another strong performance that included an interception. The defense is continuing to improve each week. Opponents will not be putting up big numbers on this defense in November.
Making the most of it
Senior receiver Jake Berardinelli has had very few opportunities in the first eight games of the season. Most of his reps came when the game was already over. He was recovering from an injury at the beginning of the season and lost his starting spot. Berardinelli certainly earned that spot back for the rest of the season with his stellar play on Friday. The 6'1, 200-pound target was effective at coming up with a big play when needed most. With opposing defenses are focused on the legs of Krizancic and RB Eddie Daugherty as well as the deep receiving threats in Fritts/Plavcan - the opportunity to shine is there. In the past two games, Berardinelli has 7 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. He has rushed for 43 yards on just four carries as well.
Computer Points
Mentor now sits at No. 2 in the Region 1 computer rankings. I project the Cards to finish no lower than that as long as they take care of business against Strongsville (5-4) this week. That means a home game in Week 11 and (hopefully) a favorable draw. Mentor's most likely first round opponents are Toledo Whitmer (remember them?), Massillon Jackson, and Shaker Heights. All should be decided by Saturday. Check www.joeeitel.com/hsfoot for the latest.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Mentor/Hudson Preview
With a game this big, it deserves its own preview. To my knowledge, this is the first time Mentor and Hudson have played each other. Could it get much bigger than this? The Explorers are having one of their best seasons in school history. They have the opportunity to take on the defending Region 1 champs and prove they belong with the top teams in Division I.
Hudson
Hudson (8-0) is the top team in Region 1 in the computer points standings. They didn't get there by accident. The Explorers have given Brecksville and Stow their only losses of the season. They also own signature wins over Brunswick and Solon.
Hudson's defense has given up no more than 17 points all season. Stow/Brecksville (each have a 7-1 record) scored only 7 points a piece on Hudson in regulation - Brecksville ended up with 14 total in 2OT. The Explorers are allowing just under 10 points per game. Their defense is led by LB Ben Hart, DB John Zuccaro, DL Charles Behal, DB Matthew Rightnour, among others.
On offense, it starts and ends with talented QB Mitchell Guadagni. The 6'2 junior had a stellar season in 2012 and is showing the area that he will be playing on Saturdays after he graduates from Hudson. Guadagni has an offer from Buffalo, and more are sure to come over the next several months. Aside from his 1,459 yards and 15 TD's in the air - Guadagni is the leading rusher with 580 yards and 4 touchdowns. It is rare that Mentor goes up against a team that has superior QB play. This might be one of those rare occasions. Joining Guadagni in the back field are RB's Dean Miller and Ben Hart. WR Jared Ruffing (29 catches for 441 yards) is the No. 1 target.
Mentor
The Cardinals (7-1) have been on a roll since the St Ignatius loss in Week 2. Over the last six games, the defense has posted three shutouts and also held Brunswick to just a field goal. The offense has scored 35 or more against every opponent except St Ignatius. QB Conner Krizancic is having a strong season. RB Eddie Daugherty is helping to balance the offense. Overall, Mentor is proving to be pretty balanced on both sides of the ball.
Mentor's signature wins so far are against Solon (35-0), Brunswick (45-3), and Shaker Heights (56-14). Standouts on defense include DE Kent Berger, DT Nico Lautanen, and LB Justin McMahon. Overall, the defensive line has been the most consistent unit of the entire team. This is not the 2012 defense that got their teeth knocked in week after week in the playoffs.
Matchup
Many will point to the QB battle as the key deciding factor of the game. It may be. I think Hudson needs to have superior QB play to win. Mentor shouldn't be as reliant on that factor. If Krizancic outplays Guadagni, Mentor should win. But I think the Cardinals have a little more talent in other areas and could still win the game if Guadagni proves to be a more talented signal caller.
I look for Mentor's strong defensive line to be a bigger key to the game than Krizancic. The boys up front need to put pressure on Guadagni and (more importantly) come up with some big sacks or tackles near the line of scrimmage when he is on the run. As stated, Guadagni is Hudson's leading rusher in attempts and yards. He will be throwing or running on 80-90% of the plays. If the defensive line can have a big game, it will go a long way.
On offense, Mentor needs to establish their running game. Krizancic is an effective runner that is good for at least a couple huge plays with his legs. If RB's Daugherty/Mathews can move the chains and take some pressure off the passing game, Mentor's offense should be able to shine. Hudson has some talent and experience in the secondary. They will likely be focused on stopping WR Brandon Fritts. If that happens, the Cardinals could use a big game from his counter part, Corey Plavcan.
Prediction
Hudson has proven to be a good defensive team. So has Mentor. Hudson has a dynamite QB that can kill opponents with his arm and his legs. So does Mentor. This will be a very tough matchup. Although we may find that Hudson has a more talented QB, I think Mentor has the better overall team.
Mentor 28 Hudson 17
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Week 8 Review
Mentor's defense was dominant from start to finish as the Cards improved to 7-1 with a 35-0 road victory over rival Solon. The Comets dropped to 4-4. Mentor improved their record to 11-9 in the series and they now have won 9 of the past 11 games against Solon. The defensive line was at their very best. Kent Berger, Nico Lautanen, Delvon Maddox, Billy Hudson, and Trevor Morrison all made their presence known. QB Conner Krizancic didn't have his usual accuracy, but he did still manage 264 passing yards and 122 rushing yards.
Defense Shines...Again
The defense came up big again. It wasn't just the shutout. It was the way the shutout happened. Mentor had three early fumbles that put the defense in tough positions. But they answered the call and stuffed the run very well. For the night, Solon had just 39 yards on 36 carries. Solon had just two first downs in the entire first half.
The shutout is the third of the season. Last year, it was an exception when the defense played well. This year, it is an exception when they don't play well. The 1st quarter against McDowell and the first half against Brush are the only major bumps in the road over 32 quarters of play. It was the most impressive and dominant defensive performance I have seen from Mentor in years. The Comets are a likely playoff team. The last time Mentor's defense shutout a playoff team was in 2007...in Solon...against the Comets.
Tough at home
Solon has been very good at home over the years. Since 2002, Solon is 56-8 at home. Mentor accounts for half of those home losses. The Comets are 2-4 against Mentor and 52-4 against everyone else.
Offense
The offense wasn't as efficient as we have seen them lately. Even though the defense kept Solon in check all night, the Mentor offense couldn't find any consistency. Yes, they scored 35 points. But it was not easy. The game was just 14-0 until a Krizancic to Plavcan touchdown strike in the 3rd quarter. Since 2011, Mentor has scored 30+ points in 33 of 35 games. The only team to hold them under 30 did it twice. Can you guess who it was?
What's ahead?
Defense Shines...Again
The defense came up big again. It wasn't just the shutout. It was the way the shutout happened. Mentor had three early fumbles that put the defense in tough positions. But they answered the call and stuffed the run very well. For the night, Solon had just 39 yards on 36 carries. Solon had just two first downs in the entire first half.
The shutout is the third of the season. Last year, it was an exception when the defense played well. This year, it is an exception when they don't play well. The 1st quarter against McDowell and the first half against Brush are the only major bumps in the road over 32 quarters of play. It was the most impressive and dominant defensive performance I have seen from Mentor in years. The Comets are a likely playoff team. The last time Mentor's defense shutout a playoff team was in 2007...in Solon...against the Comets.
Tough at home
Solon has been very good at home over the years. Since 2002, Solon is 56-8 at home. Mentor accounts for half of those home losses. The Comets are 2-4 against Mentor and 52-4 against everyone else.
Offense
The offense wasn't as efficient as we have seen them lately. Even though the defense kept Solon in check all night, the Mentor offense couldn't find any consistency. Yes, they scored 35 points. But it was not easy. The game was just 14-0 until a Krizancic to Plavcan touchdown strike in the 3rd quarter. Since 2011, Mentor has scored 30+ points in 33 of 35 games. The only team to hold them under 30 did it twice. Can you guess who it was?
What's ahead?
Mentor (7-1) hosts undefeated Hudson (8-0) on Friday. Both teams have clinched a playoff berth. Both are certain to host in Week 11. If Hudson can win, they will likely be the top overall seed in Region 1. If Mentor can win, they will not only guarantee their third straight NOC league title, but they will garner a lot of computer points. St Edward and St Ignatius are clearly the top two teams in Region 1. The winner of this game will clearly put themselves in the top three in the region. Hudson junior Mitchell Guadagni is the top QB Mentor has played all season. The undefeated Explorers have surrendered just 79 points in eight games. This is the best defense Mentor has played since St Ignatius. This will be a very well attended game. This is Hudson's biggest regular season game in many years...maybe ever. Come early.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Week 7 Review
With Mentor scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions and gaining an early 14-0 lead, the game had blowout written all over it. But Brunswick buckled down and held Mentor out of the end zone for several drives in a row. The offense did eventually catch fire as the Cards exploded for a 45-3 win. Senior QB Conner Krizancic is continuing to look better and better. Krizancic finished with 220 yards in the air and 91 rushing yards. Krizancic threw for three touchdowns and rushed for two more.
Defense Shines
While the offense gets plenty of attention (and deservedly so), this was a game where the defense deserves a lot of credit. When your offense scores 45 points, one might think it doesn't matter what defense is out there. But the game was a two score game until midway through the third quarter. While the offense was a bit inconsistent, the defense was steady and consistent throughout the game. Brunswick, primarily a running team, had trouble moving the chains against the talented Mentor front seven. The secondary was able to stay on top of their toes and make big plays when needed. Senior CB Kiyah Powell broke up multiple passes on critical plays.
Fritts/Plavcan Play Big
Whether it is admitted or not, it has to be a frustrating season for senior receiver Brandon Fritts. After compiling All-Ohio numbers as a sophomore and junior, Fritts (a North Carolina recruit) had just one touchdown in the last five games. With Krizancic playing QB, opposing defenses are able to focus more on Fritts. Adjusting to a new QB can take some time too. In the win against Brunswick, Fritts had his best game of the season with five catches for 82 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Fellow senior wideout Corey Plavcan also had a strong game with four catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Mentor's offense will be at its best when Fritts/Plavcan are causing havoc for opposing defenses.
Computer Points
According to Joe Eitel (a trustworthy source on computer points), Mentor is currently No. 6 in Region 1. Not only is Mentor safely in a playoff spot, but they are probably one win away from clinching a home game. The last three games against Solon (4-3), Hudson (7-0), and Strongsville (5-2) provide lots of computer point opportunities to move higher. If Mentor can continue to win each week, they should be on the top two or three seeds in Region 1.
What's ahead?
Mentor will make a trip to Solon (4-3) to take on a Comets team that is coming off a humbling 42-14 loss to Hudson. You better believe that Solon will be in a fowl mood when Mentor comes to town on Friday. The Comets are Mentor's top rival in my opinion. The two have played every season since the late 90's - including four playoff games. Mentor has a slight edge in the overall series. If Solon brings their best, this will be a very competitive and entertaining football game.
Defense Shines
While the offense gets plenty of attention (and deservedly so), this was a game where the defense deserves a lot of credit. When your offense scores 45 points, one might think it doesn't matter what defense is out there. But the game was a two score game until midway through the third quarter. While the offense was a bit inconsistent, the defense was steady and consistent throughout the game. Brunswick, primarily a running team, had trouble moving the chains against the talented Mentor front seven. The secondary was able to stay on top of their toes and make big plays when needed. Senior CB Kiyah Powell broke up multiple passes on critical plays.
Fritts/Plavcan Play Big
Whether it is admitted or not, it has to be a frustrating season for senior receiver Brandon Fritts. After compiling All-Ohio numbers as a sophomore and junior, Fritts (a North Carolina recruit) had just one touchdown in the last five games. With Krizancic playing QB, opposing defenses are able to focus more on Fritts. Adjusting to a new QB can take some time too. In the win against Brunswick, Fritts had his best game of the season with five catches for 82 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Fellow senior wideout Corey Plavcan also had a strong game with four catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Mentor's offense will be at its best when Fritts/Plavcan are causing havoc for opposing defenses.
Computer Points
According to Joe Eitel (a trustworthy source on computer points), Mentor is currently No. 6 in Region 1. Not only is Mentor safely in a playoff spot, but they are probably one win away from clinching a home game. The last three games against Solon (4-3), Hudson (7-0), and Strongsville (5-2) provide lots of computer point opportunities to move higher. If Mentor can continue to win each week, they should be on the top two or three seeds in Region 1.
What's ahead?
Mentor will make a trip to Solon (4-3) to take on a Comets team that is coming off a humbling 42-14 loss to Hudson. You better believe that Solon will be in a fowl mood when Mentor comes to town on Friday. The Comets are Mentor's top rival in my opinion. The two have played every season since the late 90's - including four playoff games. Mentor has a slight edge in the overall series. If Solon brings their best, this will be a very competitive and entertaining football game.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Week 5 Review
After experiencing quite a scare being down 28-7 early in the 2nd quarter, Mentor went on a 55-7 tear and defeated a talented Brush Arcs team. The final score (62-43) resembled a lot of high school basketball games. QB Conner Krizancic put together another strong performance in the win with 423 combined passing/rushing yards.
Slow Start
The first two possessions of the game went perfectly for Mentor. The defense stuffed Brush on three consecutive running plays and forced a punt. The Cardinals offense picked up where they left off against Twinsburg and drove down the field for a touchdown. The next 12 minutes or so of football went nothing like anybody would have expected. Brush's offense exploded for touchdown drives on four straight possessions. Mentor's offense struggled to find any rhythm for the rest of the 1st quarter. Before you knew it, Mentor found themselves down by three touchdowns. It felt reminiscent of the slow start against Erie McDowell in Week 1 when Mentor found themselves down 16-0 early in the game.
Electric Offense
After a mostly ineffective opening quarter, the offense erupted with five touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to help give Mentor a 42-35 halftime lead. Krizancic was effective with his arm and his legs. RB/WR Eddie Daugherty (188 total yards and 4 TD's) continues to give opposing defenses problems whether he is carrying the ball out of the back field or running a route across the middle of the field. Daugherty led the team with 10 catches. The Krizancic to Corey Plavcan (5 receptions for 96 yards and 2 TD's) connection was very smooth. It is good to see Krizancic and the offense continue to grow each week.
Computer Points
According to Joe Eitel (a trustworthy source on computer points), Mentor is currently No. 11 in Region 1. Remember that in the expanded playoffs, Region 1 now consists of 35 teams where 16 will make the playoffs. It shouldn't be a question of if Mentor can make the playoffs, but positioning for a home playoff game and one of the top seeds is the goal. The four teams Mentor has beaten so far have a combined record of 6-14. The next four teams (Shaker, Brunswick, Solon, and Hudson) are 15-5. There are lots of computer point opportunities to be had. If Mentor can take care of business and finish no worse than 8-2, they should have no problem hosting in Week 11.
What's ahead?
Shaker Heights (4-1) is back on Mentor's schedule for the first time since the two played in the LEL. This is the most important Mentor-Shaker matchup since the playoffs and league were on the line in a 2004 game at Mentor. That was the only time since 2000 that Mentor came up short against the Raiders. Shaker is coming off their first loss (14-6) of the season to an undefeated Stow team.
Slow Start
The first two possessions of the game went perfectly for Mentor. The defense stuffed Brush on three consecutive running plays and forced a punt. The Cardinals offense picked up where they left off against Twinsburg and drove down the field for a touchdown. The next 12 minutes or so of football went nothing like anybody would have expected. Brush's offense exploded for touchdown drives on four straight possessions. Mentor's offense struggled to find any rhythm for the rest of the 1st quarter. Before you knew it, Mentor found themselves down by three touchdowns. It felt reminiscent of the slow start against Erie McDowell in Week 1 when Mentor found themselves down 16-0 early in the game.
Electric Offense
After a mostly ineffective opening quarter, the offense erupted with five touchdowns in the 2nd quarter to help give Mentor a 42-35 halftime lead. Krizancic was effective with his arm and his legs. RB/WR Eddie Daugherty (188 total yards and 4 TD's) continues to give opposing defenses problems whether he is carrying the ball out of the back field or running a route across the middle of the field. Daugherty led the team with 10 catches. The Krizancic to Corey Plavcan (5 receptions for 96 yards and 2 TD's) connection was very smooth. It is good to see Krizancic and the offense continue to grow each week.
Computer Points
According to Joe Eitel (a trustworthy source on computer points), Mentor is currently No. 11 in Region 1. Remember that in the expanded playoffs, Region 1 now consists of 35 teams where 16 will make the playoffs. It shouldn't be a question of if Mentor can make the playoffs, but positioning for a home playoff game and one of the top seeds is the goal. The four teams Mentor has beaten so far have a combined record of 6-14. The next four teams (Shaker, Brunswick, Solon, and Hudson) are 15-5. There are lots of computer point opportunities to be had. If Mentor can take care of business and finish no worse than 8-2, they should have no problem hosting in Week 11.
What's ahead?
Shaker Heights (4-1) is back on Mentor's schedule for the first time since the two played in the LEL. This is the most important Mentor-Shaker matchup since the playoffs and league were on the line in a 2004 game at Mentor. That was the only time since 2000 that Mentor came up short against the Raiders. Shaker is coming off their first loss (14-6) of the season to an undefeated Stow team.
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Week 4 Review
In barely over a half of football, the Cardinals dominated Twinsburg their 49-0 win. The game was called after one possession in the 3rd quarter when lightning filled the skies. There were lots of positives to take away from the win. It is also fair to put into perspective that Twinsburg is currently 0-4 and it is difficult to say how good they are. For what its worth, their four opponents so far are 15-1.
Krizancic's Rise
Privately, I had some concerns about senior Conner Krizancic running the offense. During the scrimmage season and the first couple regular season games, Krizancic shared duties with sophomore QB Matt Eiswerth. Krizancic had mixed results. He was mostly used as a running threat. As a fan, it was difficult to see the offense lose Conner at receiver, a position in which he is a top 5 or 10 talent in the entire state. We saw first hand that Eiswerth can play with his 5 touchdown passes in Week 1. We also saw that the two QB system failed miserably against a very talented team like St Ignatius. At that point, it seemed the best chance for the offense to succeed was to stick to one QB. Unfortunately, neither had any varsity experience at the position. The coaches went with Conner and this the Week 4 win over Twinsburg showed a lot of reasons why.
Stellar Offense
The offense was pretty close to perfect on this night. The opponent was not exactly stellar, but this was a big step from Week 3. Rather than sticking to a safe and rather predictable offense (that still would have likely been successful), Mentor's offense went for big and usually were able to hit. Krizancic looked significantly better than any other time I have seen him. After a pretty pedestrian 127 passing yards on 23 attempts, Krizancic threw for 227 yards on just 11 attempts. This went along with his usual effective running game that included a 76-yard touchdown run. What stood out from Week 3 to Week 4 was a passing game was anything but safe. Several strikes down the field to Brandon Fritts, Corey Plavcan, and Eddie Daugherty were right on the money. Daugherty continues his offensive terror. It was especially good to see Fritts and Plavcan make big plays.
Future is bright
The strength of the current senior class is obvious. But don't sell the younger guys short. The defensive tackles use a rotating trio of underclassmen. All three (sophomore Billy Hudson and juniors Trevor Morrison/Nico Lautanen) have been very effective in stopping the run and getting to the QB. Junior LB J.D. Matsko is a mainstay on the defense after getting some starts in 2012 as a sophomore. We know what sophomore QB Matt Eiswerth and junior RB/WR Eddie Daugherty are capable of. Junior receiver Kyle Tankovich has 7 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Look for that production to really blossom as Krizancic continues to stay at QB. Sophomore RB Alex Mathews has 114 all purpose yards and 3 TD's so far. Projected starter Jerrell Jackson, injured to start the season, got his first carry of the season to start the half against Twinsburg. It was a beautifully ran 30 yard touchdown.
What's ahead?
Mentor will play an NOC crossover at Brush, a 2-2 team that has lost a couple of games in the closing minutes. The Arcs have more talent than Twinsburg or Euclid, so if the defense can continue their shutout streak it would be very impressive.
Krizancic's Rise
Privately, I had some concerns about senior Conner Krizancic running the offense. During the scrimmage season and the first couple regular season games, Krizancic shared duties with sophomore QB Matt Eiswerth. Krizancic had mixed results. He was mostly used as a running threat. As a fan, it was difficult to see the offense lose Conner at receiver, a position in which he is a top 5 or 10 talent in the entire state. We saw first hand that Eiswerth can play with his 5 touchdown passes in Week 1. We also saw that the two QB system failed miserably against a very talented team like St Ignatius. At that point, it seemed the best chance for the offense to succeed was to stick to one QB. Unfortunately, neither had any varsity experience at the position. The coaches went with Conner and this the Week 4 win over Twinsburg showed a lot of reasons why.
Stellar Offense
The offense was pretty close to perfect on this night. The opponent was not exactly stellar, but this was a big step from Week 3. Rather than sticking to a safe and rather predictable offense (that still would have likely been successful), Mentor's offense went for big and usually were able to hit. Krizancic looked significantly better than any other time I have seen him. After a pretty pedestrian 127 passing yards on 23 attempts, Krizancic threw for 227 yards on just 11 attempts. This went along with his usual effective running game that included a 76-yard touchdown run. What stood out from Week 3 to Week 4 was a passing game was anything but safe. Several strikes down the field to Brandon Fritts, Corey Plavcan, and Eddie Daugherty were right on the money. Daugherty continues his offensive terror. It was especially good to see Fritts and Plavcan make big plays.
Future is bright
The strength of the current senior class is obvious. But don't sell the younger guys short. The defensive tackles use a rotating trio of underclassmen. All three (sophomore Billy Hudson and juniors Trevor Morrison/Nico Lautanen) have been very effective in stopping the run and getting to the QB. Junior LB J.D. Matsko is a mainstay on the defense after getting some starts in 2012 as a sophomore. We know what sophomore QB Matt Eiswerth and junior RB/WR Eddie Daugherty are capable of. Junior receiver Kyle Tankovich has 7 catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Look for that production to really blossom as Krizancic continues to stay at QB. Sophomore RB Alex Mathews has 114 all purpose yards and 3 TD's so far. Projected starter Jerrell Jackson, injured to start the season, got his first carry of the season to start the half against Twinsburg. It was a beautifully ran 30 yard touchdown.
What's ahead?
Mentor will play an NOC crossover at Brush, a 2-2 team that has lost a couple of games in the closing minutes. The Arcs have more talent than Twinsburg or Euclid, so if the defense can continue their shutout streak it would be very impressive.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Week 3 Review
Mentor's 36-0 win at Euclid was the first step in their quest to move on and improve from the Week 2 loss to St Ignatius. The offense and defense were very effective. Mentor was up 14-0 early in the game after running just four offensive plays. The scoring couldn't keep up with that kind of pace, but overall it was a strong display of Mentor's running attack.
QB Question is Answered
After weeks of witnessing Conner Krizancic and sophomore Matt Eiswerth receive relatively equal reps, it appears the coaches are moving in the direction of using a single QB instead of two. Conner Krizancic (12-23 passing for 127 yards, one TD) took every meaningful snap behind center on Friday night. He wasn't asked to do much with arm since he was effective using his legs (64 yards and a TD on 11 attempts). It was the most comfortable I have seen Conner play the position. While it hurts the offense to lose such a talented receiver, hopefully the senior captain will make up for it with stellar play at QB. Mentor's history shows that success comes behind not just a good QB - but a great, All-Ohio (and sometimes Mr. Football) QB. It is asking a lot of Krizancic, or any QB on the roster, to live up to the standards of Thom Abbot, Bart Tanski, and Mitch Trubisky. Mentor will have to find other ways to achieve great success besides a 3,000-yard passing QB.
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie...
Junior RB Eddie Daugherty (155 yards and 2 TD's) did a terrific job running the ball and is clearly the MVP on offense through three games. Daugherty had a couple standout touchdown runs in the first half. When the offensive line can provide a hole for Daugherty to get past the first level of defenders, he is a serious home run threat. One thing that was missing in the Ignatius loss was a commitment to Daugherty and the running game. Mentor's offensive identity (especially with Krizancic at QB) is a running team. The small, but speedy back is a big key to the offense.
Defense
Euclid is not a stellar offensive machine by any means. But a shutout is a shutout. The Mentor defense did what they were supposed to do and outplayed a struggling Euclid offense. The defensive line continued to be the standout unit. DE Delvon Maddox had a key sack and interception. DT Nico Lautanen spent a lot of time in the Euclid backfield pressuring/sacking QB Ryshon Johnson as well as helping to stop the run. DE Kent Berger and DT's Trevor Morrison and Billy Hudson were also effective. Let's not forget that the 2012 defense had two shutouts in the regular season before giving up an average of 50 ppg in the playoffs. The defense can't settle for a shutout in Week 3.
What's ahead?
Mentor travels to Twinsburg, the place of one of the most heartbreaking regular season losses. In 2011 the Tigers upset the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Cardinals in Week 10. Twinsburg (0-3) has had trouble so far with their grueling non-conference schedule. It gets no easier with Mentor coming to town.
QB Question is Answered
After weeks of witnessing Conner Krizancic and sophomore Matt Eiswerth receive relatively equal reps, it appears the coaches are moving in the direction of using a single QB instead of two. Conner Krizancic (12-23 passing for 127 yards, one TD) took every meaningful snap behind center on Friday night. He wasn't asked to do much with arm since he was effective using his legs (64 yards and a TD on 11 attempts). It was the most comfortable I have seen Conner play the position. While it hurts the offense to lose such a talented receiver, hopefully the senior captain will make up for it with stellar play at QB. Mentor's history shows that success comes behind not just a good QB - but a great, All-Ohio (and sometimes Mr. Football) QB. It is asking a lot of Krizancic, or any QB on the roster, to live up to the standards of Thom Abbot, Bart Tanski, and Mitch Trubisky. Mentor will have to find other ways to achieve great success besides a 3,000-yard passing QB.
Eddie, Eddie, Eddie...
Junior RB Eddie Daugherty (155 yards and 2 TD's) did a terrific job running the ball and is clearly the MVP on offense through three games. Daugherty had a couple standout touchdown runs in the first half. When the offensive line can provide a hole for Daugherty to get past the first level of defenders, he is a serious home run threat. One thing that was missing in the Ignatius loss was a commitment to Daugherty and the running game. Mentor's offensive identity (especially with Krizancic at QB) is a running team. The small, but speedy back is a big key to the offense.
Defense
Euclid is not a stellar offensive machine by any means. But a shutout is a shutout. The Mentor defense did what they were supposed to do and outplayed a struggling Euclid offense. The defensive line continued to be the standout unit. DE Delvon Maddox had a key sack and interception. DT Nico Lautanen spent a lot of time in the Euclid backfield pressuring/sacking QB Ryshon Johnson as well as helping to stop the run. DE Kent Berger and DT's Trevor Morrison and Billy Hudson were also effective. Let's not forget that the 2012 defense had two shutouts in the regular season before giving up an average of 50 ppg in the playoffs. The defense can't settle for a shutout in Week 3.
What's ahead?
Mentor travels to Twinsburg, the place of one of the most heartbreaking regular season losses. In 2011 the Tigers upset the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Cardinals in Week 10. Twinsburg (0-3) has had trouble so far with their grueling non-conference schedule. It gets no easier with Mentor coming to town.
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