Week 3 Preview: St Xavier

History...

These two teams have only played each other once - and it was on the grandest of stages: the 2007 Division I state championship game. Fawcett Stadium was cold and wintry that night. St Xavier made the game feel even colder as they handed Mentor a 27-0 shutout. Since the resurgence of the program (especially the offense) in the early 2000's, that was the only time Mentor had a goose egg on the score board. The St Xavier 2007 team is widely considered one of the top Ohio teams of the last 25 years. It was the last game for Mentor's Mr. Football QB Bart Tanski. Not a good memory for Mentor fans.

Last Week...

Mentor played at home and knocked off St Ignatius in a wild 63-56 game. It featured several lead changes, over 1400 yards of total offense, several broken records, and 17 offensive touchdowns. It was a night to remember for many at the JTO.

The premier public/private rivalry in NEO is Mentor/St Ignatius. The premier public/private rivalry in SWO is St Xavier/Colerain. Coincidentally, both games were in Week 2. Unlike the offensive explosion in Lake County, the boys in Cincinnati had a defensive slugfest. Colerain won the game, 13-10, in overtime. Instead of 1,400 yards of offense, it was closer to 400. Instead of 17 touchdowns, there were just a couple. Regardless of the contrast, both games lived up to the hype.

What to Expect...

Heading into the season, I expected St Xavier to stand out on offense. They had a lot of returning talent. The Bombers scored 50 points in the first half of their Week 1 game with Covington Catholic (KY). Colerain found a way to slow down the Bombers in Week 2 as St X was limited to just 46 passing yards. The Bombers were committed to the run. Senior RB Sean Prophit is the go-to back as he had 75 of the team's 155 total rushing yards. Junior QB Sean Clifford, already a Penn State commitment, was limited to just seven completions. 

St X will look to run the ball to set the tone, but don't be surprised if they open up their passing game more as Mentor comes to town. Unfortunately, Mentor didn't show much ability to stop the long ball. That should lead to the coaching staff trying to take advantage of their talented QB and skill players. Senior TE Noah Davis (Michigan State commit) will be a tough matchup for Mentor linebackers.

Mentor showcased their offense in a big way during Week 2. The trio of QB Tadas Tatarunas, WR Jason Blizzard, and RB Alex Mathews are getting some serious attention across the state. This balanced offense was clicking on all cylinders against St Ignatius. Considering the history of strong defense from St Xavier coach Steve Specht, the Cardinals will need to be on the top of their game. St X runs a similar defensive scheme as St Ignatius. The 3-3 stack defense is well suited to contain an active passing game. The ability to use 5 defensive backs who are comfortable in coverage will make it more difficult for Tatarunas to find an open receiver. 

In order to win this game, Mentor will need to establish the running game. With just a three-man defensive front, it is imperative that Mentor's offensive line wins that battle. If Mathews can get to the second level of the defense, he is tough to bring down with his combination of strength and speed. Mentor's line will be key in opening up options for the passing game. If Tatarunas has the kind of time he did against St Ignatius, you can bet that Mentor will have a successful night on offense.

This is a classic clash of great offense versus great defense. In the past, Mentor has overcome some strong and talented defensive teams (see St Ignatius and St Edward in 2012 and 2013). Both of those teams had senior All-Ohio QB's. Tatarunas has been much better than expected, but the Bombers present his biggest challenge yet.

Prediction...

Mentor got a big confidence boost with their Week 2 win over St Ignatius (their fourth win over the Cats in the last five games). St Xavier presents a different kind of challenge. Their offense isn't built like St Ignatius. After surrendering multiple quick touchdown drives last week, that is good news for Mentor. The "long ball" is not in the offensive scheme for the Bombers. That works in Mentor's favor. But don't expect St Xavier to be content with passing the ball just 14 times like they did in Week 2. They will likely open up the offense a bit and challenge a Mentor defense that has a lot to prove.

While St X should have one of the top defenses in Ohio, Mentor has a reputation of being one one of the top offenses. It works in Mentor's favor to have played an opponent like St Ignatius the last 10 years. Their 3-3 stack defense is the same scheme as St Xavier. Mentor has been able to exploit that scheme over the years. At other times, it has been a ruthless assault on the Mentor QB. How will Mentor's line react to the blitzes? We shall see. 

Because St Xavier doesn't appear to have the kind of offensive threat that St Ignatius did, I don't expect this game to be in the 50's or 60's. If 35 or so points wins this game (and I think it will), I predict Mentor gets their first and wins this game. 

Prediction: Mentor 38 St Xavier 35

Week 2 Recap

Test #1 is Passed...

Mentor got through the scrimmage season with some important things. The coaching staff identified the winner of the QB competition. The offense and defense got to see a variety of opponents and systems. The Cardinals came out of scrimmage season mostly injury-free. After a solid "dress rehearsal" scrimmage against Hoover and a successful Week 1 against Boardman, it was time for the real test. St Ignatius and St Xavier, two of the elite programs in Ohio, awaited Mentor during Weeks 2 and 3. Going into those games, many (including yours truly) felt Mentor was going to be fortunate to win one of those games. They proved some doubters wrong with a wild and satisfying 63-56 win over the Wildcats. The first test was not perfect (it can't be when you surrender 600 yards and 8 TD's), but it was definitely a passing grade. The win takes some pressure off Test #2 in Cincinnati this week. 

Record Setting...

What can you say about the offense on a night where they score 9 touchdowns and pile up record-setting numbers? QB Tadas Tatarunas, RB Alex Mathews, and WR Jason Blizzard are quite a "Big Three" for this electric offense.  Tataruans finished with 523 passing yards and 4 TD passes. The sophomore broke the single-game passing record set by 2013 Mr. Football Mitch Trubisky. Senior WR Jason Blizzard's 342 receiving yards also set a school record. 

Did that look like a typical St Ignatius defense? No. But to pile up those kind of numbers against a legendary coach like Chuck Kyle makes the records even more impressive. 

Check out this story about ridiculous stats from the game for more.

Fair to Compare?

Did Brandon Fritts was a physical freak and a matchup nightmare. Connor Krizancic was everything you want out of a slot receiver and more. Size, speed, great hands, and elusiveness. Eddie Daugherty was as electrifying of a receiver as you will find. All received DI scholarships to play the receiver position. Go back a little farther and All-Ohio receivers Brandon James and Tyler Schutz were key playmakers that helped bring Mentor to back-to-back state championship games. Blizzard is off to a ridiculous start, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He might not have the overall high school career or college opportunity that some of the above receivers had, but look out for any single-season receiving records. Blizzard is on his way to a magical and memorable season. 

Don't Forget...

Tatarunas and Blizzard set the records. But without a steady offensive line protecting the QB, those opportunities for record-setting numbers aren't there. The line also did a good job in opening holes for an active running game. With 42 carries, the running options helps balance out the strong passing game. On his first and only carry, Frank Toth exploded for a 52-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game. Alex Mathews was a workhorse with 31 carries for 235 yards and 3 TD's. Senior WR Malik Porter had a super game that was overshadowed by Blizzard. Porter had 7 catches for 137 yards and 2 TD's. He was Tatarunas' target for the go ahead score with 0:08 left. Watch that play (over and over) right here:

How about the D?

I was taught if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all. 

But seriously, the defensive play of the game came when senior safety Michael Ballentine came up with a huge interception in a tie game late in the 4th quarter. It put the ball in the hands of the Mentor offense, which is exactly what they had hoped to do. 

What's Next?

Mentor travels to Cincinnati this week for a game with St Xavier. This is a rematch of the 2007 state championship game. Look for a preview later in the week. 

Week 2 Preview: St Ignatius

History...

These two teams have played each other 13 times since 2005. Coach Kyle and Coach Trivisonno are very familiar with one another. St Ignatius has the 6-4 edge in the regular season series. The two teams played each other three straight years in Week 13. Mentor won two out of three. Last season, Mentor had their highlight win of the season with a 37-33 win at Byers. 

Last Week...

Mentor played at home to a Boardman team that couldn't match up at all in 2014. But this year's Spartans are a more talented bunch. The Cardinals did put them away with a 38-7 final. See my Week 1 review for more details and thoughts.

St Ignatius had a much easier time than Mentor in Week 1. In Part 1 of their trio of games with Parma schools, the Wildcats easily defeated Normandy at Byers Field. The Cats were clearly the superior team and it showed as they raced off to early and commanding leads of 21-0 (after 1st quarter) and 49-0 (halftime). The final score (63-7) was an example of generosity by the Wildcats. The entire varsity roster got some action in Week 1. 

All in all, neither team got tested at all in their opening game.

What to Expect...

The strength of both teams is offense. Mentor has a track record of developing successful QB's, skilled receivers, productive running backs, and effective offensive lines. Their system has produced many All-Ohio players over the years. Sophomore QB Tadas Tatarunas had a great varsity debut with over 300 passing yards and four total TD's. Mentor's balanced offensive attack will help keep St Ignatius on their toes. A couple of seniors, WR Jason Blizzard and RB Alex Mathews, are two of the area's best at their respective position. These two players will have to find a way to stand out against an Ignatius defense that will be well prepared to limit their big plays. 

Mentor's offensive line is always challenged against the Wildcats' talented defenders and diverse blitzing schemes. The line will have to be on top of their game as they look to open up some holes for Mathews a little better than they did last week. Pass protection was great against Boardman. St Ignatius will be a much more difficult task for the line as well as the decision making of Tatarunas.

Heading into the season, the biggest perceived strength of St Ignatius was their passing game. The line is anchored by a rare three-year starter (Notre Dame commit Liam Eichenberg). Senior QB Dennis Grosel is expected to take a jump to the next level after a productive junior season. The top receivers (Jack Cook and Cal Grbac) returned. Historically, St Ignatius has been able to pass the ball with a good amount of success on Mentor. 

The success in throwing the ball will be predicated on the threat to run the ball. The Cats have some weapons in the backfield with the speedy James Norris as well as junior Jimmy Andrews. There are plenty of weapons to go around for Coach Kyle. Trying to exploit Mentor's inexperience on defense will be the No. 1 objective for Grosel and company. Mentor's best hopes are to see continued improvement in the secondary as well as counting on the defensive ends to get some pressure on Grosel. If he has plenty of pass protection, Grosel will surely be able to pick apart Mentor's defense with his talented receivers. 

Both teams are known for their offense right now. But it will take a good defensive game plan and effort to win this game. 

Prediction...

This is not an ideal matchup for Mentor so early in the season. The good news is the game is at home, but talent and experience are going to matter more than homefield advantage. The last time St Ignatius had an opportunity against a sophomore QB at Mentor, the results were highly in their favor. It is not easy to figure out the Ignatius' defensive scheme. Tatarunas will have his hands full with decision making in addition to execution. 

If Mentor can get a senior-level performance out of Tatarunas, they have a real shot to win. But that is asking a lot out of a 10th grader. Mentor's defense showed some spots of excellence last week against Boardman. But overall, I don't know that Mentor will be able to overcome the obstacles of this talented and experience St Igantius offense.

Prediction: St Ignatius 35 Mentor 24

Week 1 Recap

Blizzard Warning...

I think all future Mentor opponents will get the message loud and clear: watch out for a Blizzard. Sorry for the cliche, but the senior receiver has made his name known. In the scrimmages and during Week 1, Blizzard has been the No. 1 target for the passing game. He delivered a super performance (11 receptions for 228 yards and 2 TD's) against Boardman that helped catapult the offense to a 38-7 win. Blizzard was effective as an outside threat last season. With Eddie Daugherty now playing college ball, there was an opening at the slot position. Blizzard has moved over to fill in for Daugherty and the results have been spectacular so far. When defenses focus on Blizzard, it will be up to the other receivers to step up. From what I have seen so far, I think they are capable of doing that. 

Strong Debut for QB...

Let's face it. Mentor's success over the last 15 years has been about the QB play as much as any position on the field. Most of the QB's since 2001 have been All-Ohio and/or DI scholarship QB's. A few have made starts as sophomores. Matt Eiswerth had 5 TD's in Week 1 two years ago as a sophomore. Eventual Mr. Football QB's Bart Tanski and Mitch Trubisky both started as sophomores. Neither had a passing performance as 10th graders like we saw from Tadas Tataruans on Friday. The 6'4 sophomore threw for 309 yards and three TD's in his debut. Tatarunas, who also had a rushing TD, was pretty effective running the ball when it was needed. There is no question he did a good job in Week 1. Nobody is perfect, but he made a lot of good throws that were right on the money. His decision making looked good as well. It is way, way too early to make any kind of comparisons to Mentor's recent Mr. Football QB's. But it was a good start for what is hopefully a successful three-year career as signal caller. 

Don't Forget Mr. Mathews...

Senior RB Alex Mathews has been hyped in the preseason as the focal point of the offense. When you have a sophomore QB, the offense was expected to count on riding Mathews to success. Boardman was ready for that kind of game plan. They did what they could in stacking the box to take away the running game. Mathews had a hard-earned 105 yards rushing. After one game, it appears the offense is going to be balanced enough to keep teams from stacking the box too much. That will help provide Mathews with more openings in the defense. His combination of strength and speed should continue to be a worry to opposing defenses. 

Getting Defensive...

My first three notes have been offensive to those who believe defense deserves some credit. Let's not forget the defense. They didn't get a shutout as they might have hoped, but there were some bright spots. For one, it was good to see Billy Hudson out there. The four year letterman has been a mainstay on the defensive line. His size, strength, and technique make him a load for opposing offensive lines. Aside from Hudson, sophomore cornerback Logan Shea had a solid performance. He was giving up about 8 inches to Boardman receiver Travis Koontz. Shea did a great job on him all night. That included a game-changing interception close to halftime. Boardman was driving on Mentor's side of the field as Shea picked off a pass near the 20-yard line. The offense marched down the field to give the Cardinals a secure 17-0 lead at halftime. 

GCC Recap...

Solon, Strongsville, and Brunswick all lost to strong DII programs. It was surprising to see that trio go 0-3 in Week 1. Their opponents were a strong group. Aurora (2010 state champs), Avon (No. 7 team in Cleveland.com/NEOMG), and Highland are three of the top teams in NEO - regardless of division. Still, it would be good for the league if these three can get it going. 

Euclid had a 19-13 halftime lead over a highly regarded Glenville team. But the second half was all Glenville as the Tarblooders beat the Panthers 32-19. This was a good start for Rotsky and Euclid. They could develop into Mentor's top challenger in the league if they can build on this.

Elyria (31-7 over Avon Lake), Shaker Heights (21-9 over University), and Medina (56-13 over Lakewood) all got Week 1 victories. That (along with Mentor's win) gave the GCC a mediocre 4-4 weekend. 

Mentor's other opponents (St Ignatius and St Xavier) both picked up easy victories in Week 1. St Ignatius pummeled Normandy 63-7 and St X routed Covington Catholic (KY) 57-7. 

Coming Soon...

Speaking of St Ignatius, that is Mentor's Week 2 opponent. A preview of the game will come later this week. 

Hoover Scrimmage Recap

Mentor hosted Hoover last night for one half of mostly "game-like" conditions. The only difference between the format of last night's scrimmage and this Friday's game against Boardman was no punt/kick returns. After two quarters of play, Mentor outscored Hoover by a score of 35-14.

After scoring five touchdowns in a similar kind of scrimmage format last week against Massillon, the offense continues to be clicking on all cylinders. Senior RB Alex Mathews had another good performance. He picked up several big runs as the Colgate recruit used his combination of speed and strength. Mathews' biggest runs were a 17-yard TD run and a 30-yard run that set up a Tatarunas rushing score. The running game was working well as three different players rushed for long TD runs. Backup RB (and starting LB) Frank Toth had one carry for a 39-yard TD run. 

QB Tadas Tatarunas continues to improve. The game plan was mostly conservative for the sophomore, but it was effective. Screen passes were executed well. Most of the passing game involved short passes. Malik Porter took one of those screen passes to the house for a 45-yard catch-and-run. That score was set up by a well executed fake punt. 

It wasn't all short passes. Tatarunas hit senior receiver Jason Blizzard for a long pass in the endzone. As the season progresses, I expect the confidence of Tataruans to improve. That should lead to more aggressive play calling. 

The offensive line gave Tatarunas good protection while they also opened up holes for the running game. Overall, the offense had another solid night.

Defensively, it was widely known that Mentor struggled against Massillon in last weekend's scrimmage. Mentor's defense surrendered six touchdowns in just two quarters. Last night went much better. Hoover was not as skilled or athletic as Massillon, but it was still a positive step. 

In five possessions, Hoover had one sustained drive (led to a score) against Mentor's defense. Mentor's defense set the tone by forcing three-and-outs on Hoover's first two drives. The defensive line was active in stopping the run. The secondary did just enough to stop any kind of consistent passing game. Hoover's third drive ended with an interception by senior safety Kenny Cook. The linebackers made some plays as well. 

Hoover's second touchdown score was against the backup defense with seconds left in the scrimmage. Considering Mentor's defense was basically without three starters, this was a good step forward from the second scrimmage. Still some work to do, but the defense should continue to improve when they get Billy Hudson back. 

It was a good tune-up for Week 1 against Boardman. 

Preseason All GCC Team

Offense

QB - Johnny Mooney (Solon): Solon's version of ¨Johnny Football¨ is set for a breakout 2015 season after a productive junior campaign (1,113 passing yards, 13 TD's, and 3 INT's).

RB - Alex Mathews (Mentor): The Colgate recruit (938 yards and 15 TD's in 2014) has been an important part of the last two Mentor teams. Mathews will be the focal point of the offense to start the season.

FB - Jimmy Daw (Medina): Daw is a big back that also plays LB for the Bees. He had several 100-yard games last season as a sophomore. Daw already has an offer from Bowling Green.

WR - Jason Blizzard (Mentor): The small but speedy senior moves to slot receiver this year after a very productive junior season that saw him boast 40 catches, 702 yards, and 8 TD's.

WR - Aaron Berry (Euclid): Berry was 2nd team All-District and all-league performer for the Panthers last season.

WR - Jake McCurry (Solon): Also a standout on defense, McCurry led the Comets in receptions and yards last season. He will be the primary target for the Comets.

OL - Conner Mundy (Strongsville): This big senior tackle (6'3, 275) is likely to get some college offers soon.

OL - Gary Harris (Shaker): Harris is a three-year starter for the Raiders and has been an all-league performer.

OL - Kevin Birchall (Mentor): The senior tackle (6'4, 225) is the anchor of Mentor's line.

OL - Chase Strayer (Mentor): Strayer (6'2, 245) is a versatile lineman that is transitioning from center to tackle.

OL - Vince Galassi (Strongsville): The 6'4, 300-pound lineman has been a key part of Strongsville's line since he was a sophomore.

Defense

DE - Simeon Lawrence (Elyria): Lawrence had 128 tackles (28 for loss) and 11 sacks as a junior.

DT - Billy Hudson (Mentor): The leader of Mentor's defense has been a varsity contributor since he was a sophomore. Hudson is a dominant force in the middle of the defensive line. 

DE - Xavier Johnson (Shaker Heights): Shaker's defensive line will be led by the big and athletic senior lineman that is a sack machine.

LB - Zach Mason (Elyria): The senior had over 200 tackles last season.

LB - Zack Lesko (Solon): The three-year starter is the leading returning tackler for the Comets.

LB - Alex Zacharyasz (Strongsville): The three-year starter has 167 career tackles.

LB - DeAngelo Levert (Mentor): Levert is one of only a few returning starters on defense for the Cardinals. He will look to build on a productive junior season.

DB - Anthony Johnson (Euclid): The Cleveland Heights transfer has more college offers than anyone in the GCC.

DB - Gil Barksdale (Solon): The gifted athlete excelled on offense and defense last season.

DB - Zach Kahn (Strongsville): A three-year starter on defense who will also be one of Strongsville's top playmakers on offense.

DB - Keon Williams (Euclid): Part of a deep and talented defensive backfield at Euclid.

Strength of Schedule

After spending the last four weeks researching Mentor's ten opponents, I did my best to rank the games in terms of their difficulty. Enjoy.

The Big Ones...

1. St Xavier (Week 3): The Bombers last played Mentor in the 2007 state championship. The two have never met in the regular season, let alone in Cincinnati. St X is widely considered one of the top programs in Ohio. This year will be no exception. They are loaded on offense with size and talent. QB Sean Clifford is a Notre Dame commit. Top receivers (including Michigan State commit Noah Davis) and lineman also return. A potential star at RB, Sean Prophit, completes the balanced approach. Defensively, St X has been as consistent as any team in the state. Their 3-3 stack defense is the same scheme that St Ignatius runs. On pure talent alone, few opponents in Ohio would be as tough of a test as St Xavier. Throwing onto that a long trip to Cincinnati makes this the most challenging game on the season for the Cardinals.

2. St Ignatius (Week 2): Having played every year since 2005 (and three additional times in the playoffs), this has become the top public-private rivalry in Ohio. St Ignatius leads the regular season series 6-4 and Mentor has won three of the four playoff matchups in the 2000's. Overall, the series is as even as it gets. It is no coincidence that the football program elevated after years of scheduling the premier Ohio football power. This is always an important game for Coach Triv and the Cardinals to see how they stack up. The Wildcats are loaded on the offensive side of the ball. QB Dennis Grosel, WR's Cal Grbac/Jack Cook, and tackle Liam Eichenberg are part of what could be the top passing offense in Ohio. This will be an incredibly challenging game. The only reason I put this below the St X game is due to travel. Even though Mentor has fared well at Byers Field, having the game in Lake County is always an advantage.

Tier 2...

3. Solon (Week 6): The Comets have long been one of, if not the number one football rival for Mentor. After a long non-conference series, multiple playoff matchups, and being together in two different leagues - it is no secret that Mentor's success rides on the Solon game. The Comets have been down the past few years (zero playoff wins), but this season should be a couple steps forward. Offensively, they are loaded with returning skill players: QB Johnny Mooney, RB Melvin Jackson, WR Jake McCurry, and the dynamic Gil Barksdale. There are some questions on defense, but that side of the ball has been consistently good for many years. Expect the GCC crown to be decided in Week 6. Solon could very well knock off the Cardinals for the first time since 2010.

4. Elyria (Week 10): Elyria has finished 7-3 four seasons in a row. This will be the toughest conference schedule the Pioneers have faced in years. Maintaining at least 7 wins will be a challenge, but one I predict they will reach. Elyria has a lot of returning starters from a playoff team. Key skill players on offense return - like leading receiver Kyle Ringer and 1,000-yard rusher Chris Atkinson. Elyria should be big, skilled, and experienced in the front seven. They have a hall of fame coach and they get Mentor on grass in Week 10. Many elements that work in Elyria's favor. Besides Solon, I expect this to be the most challenging league game for Mentor.

Minor Challenge...

5. Brunswick (Week 9): The Blue Devils are difficult to judge right now. The most obvious reason is because they are replacing every starter from last season. Brunswick is a proud program with many years of success. But under the new coaching regime, the Blue Devils haven't even won a playoff game. Last year's team was good. The 2015 group will take a couple steps back. 

6. Strongsville (Week 8): Coach Laird had a positive season last year with the Mustangs. They had their first winning season since 2008. However, a lot of starters were part of a deep and experienced senior class. Strongsville does have some key guys returning, including QB Ryan Robertson and RB Zach Kahn. Mentor doesn't always play well at Pat Catan Stadium over the years.

7. Euclid (Week 4): Under Coach Rotsky, the Panthers should have a bit of a fire under their belt. The talent in the school combined with the incoming transfers makes Euclid a potentially dangerous team in the GCC. But sometimes it takes a couple years for the players to really catch on to a new coach and system. I expect Euclid to give Mentor more of a challenge than in recent past, but this is a game Mentor should win.

Running Clock...

8.  Boardman (Week 1): I expect Boardman to look improved this season. But some improvement won't be enough to keep this game close. Mentor's offense was a matchup nightmare for Boardman and I don't expect this year to look any different. Mentor's defense is going to take some lumps early as they have many first-year starters. But Boardman doesn't have enough talent on offense to seriously exploit Mentor's youth.

9. Medina (Week 7): The potential at Medina was seen in 2010 as they made the playoffs and knocked off Canton McKinley. But that success was short lived. The Bees have struggled to get wins in the old NOC River. They are going to be underdogs almost every week in the GCC until the program can see a major shift in numbers, talent, and confidence.

10. Shaker (Week 5):  The Raiders are Mentor's most serious challenge in the league...on the basketball floor. While Jarvis Gibson is taking the program forward, they just are not ready to compete with Mentor or the top of the GCC. It doesn't help that Shaker has lost some of their top returning players to other schools both near and far.

Next: Preseason All GCC Team