Mentor/St Ignatius: A Playoff Rivalry Renewed

This Friday, Mentor and St Ignatius will renew their playoff rivalry at Byers Field. This will be the 8th time the two programs have played in the playoffs. Mentor holds a narrow 4-3 edge in those games, having won three of the last four. St Ignatius held on for a 16-14 win over the Cardinals in their Week 2 battle at Mentor. In honor of Friday's game, let's look back at some history between these two programs. 

In 2003, Mentor and St Ignatius would end up playing in a memorable playoff game at Byers Field. In the months that followed that game, Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno pursued getting St Ignatius on the schedule more regularly. What began as a two-year series signed for the 2005 and 2006 seasons has been a long-standing agreement between two of the premier programs in the state. It is a friendly public/private rivalry that has been as important to high school football over the last 20 years as any in the state. The series has been especially beneficial to the growth of the Mentor football program. It is no coincidence that Mentor began turning a corner of success after regularly putting St Ignatius and other powerhouse programs on the schedule. 

The two first met in the playoffs back in 1992 in a regional final. St Ignatius easily defeated Mentor, 38-13, during one of their many state championship seasons during the 90's. Since then, the two have played each other in six playoff games. The latter five were played during seasons in which the two programs had played earlier during the regular season. In each of those five playoff games, the loser of the regular season game went on to flip the script in the playoff rematch. 

Here are my memories and recap of the past six playoff games between the Cardinal and the Wildcats:

 Mentor 31 St Ignatius 0 (2003): Coming into this game, St Ignatius was wrapping up a period of complete dominance. From 1988-2001, the Cats won nine state titles as they were led by the legendary Chuck Kyle. Mentor's 2003 group was the most dominant regular season team in program history. The defense completely suffocated QB Brian Hoyer (future NFL QB) on this evening, picking him off five times. The Mentor defense forced three fumbles and held St Ignatius to 10 net yards rushing. Some of the defensive standouts included LB Chad Mayse, LB Paul Burger, DB Tony Martucci, DB Scott Goodwin, and DB Angelo DiFranco. 1st Team All-Ohio players Thom Abbot and RB Matt Lieb punched in scoring chances set up by an aggressive and opportunistic defense. St Ignatius hadn't been dominated like that in a playoff game before, and it hasn't happened since. Most people who witnessed that game will never forget "31-0." This unforgettable game is as much a nod to the all-time status of the opponent as it was to the talented "class" of Cardinals. 

St Ignatius 23 Mentor 17 (2011): The two had met during the regular season at a packed house in Mentor for Week 3. Mentor, led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky and a five-wide offense, wreaked all kinds of havoc against the St Ignatius defense. Senior receiver Cameron Kavan put up record breaking numbers with 284 receiving yards. Trubisky and the talented bunch of receivers picked apart the secondary on their way to a 38-24 win. Entering Week 10, Mentor was the #1 ranked team in the AP poll. A surprising Week 10 loss at Twinsburg ended that, but the aspirations of a state championship were very much still in play. The biggest obstacle that would stand in the way of Mentor's hopes of a state title would be the Wildcats. The St Ignatius defense, a group that gave up no more than 20 points in their 13 games following Week 3, was not going to be denied in the second meeting. On a windy evening in Lakewood Stadium, the combination of an aggressive and talented Wildcat defense made life much more difficult for Trubisky. Wildcat legend Tim McVey, a junior at the time, was the bell-cow as he ran 38 times for for 160 yards. Mentor, a team that relied almost exclusively on the passing game in their five-wide offense, was unable to rely on a steady running game to balance out the offense. St Ignatius used blitzes, turnovers, and much better coverage to turn the tide in the rematch. The Wildcats would win the game, the region, and the state championship. 

Mentor 57 St Ignatius 56 3OT (2012): After an amazing and unexpected come back the week prior against St Edward, it was hard to believe that anything could top that. Just seven days later, Mentor and St Ignatius put on all-time memorable performance in a game that featured the "Moment of the Year" by the 2012 Cleveland Sports Awards. In the regular season, St Ignatius dominated the game (48-21) and gave Mentor their only loss. The Cats were 11-1 heading into this game, with their only loss being to St Eds. The Cardinals got off to a great start and were in control during the first half. Mentor had scored on their first four possessions of the game. They were about to score on their fifth before the Cats picked off Trubisky in the end zone, leaving the halftime score at 20-14. St Ignatius got control of the second half as they would score two touchdowns to take a 28-20 lead in the 4th quarter. Trubisky guided Mentor to a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive that included a two point conversion to Fritts. After a stop by the defense, Trubisky led the Cards on a 64-yard drive that resulted in a 35-28 lead with only 48 seconds left in the game. St Ignatius QB Mike LaManna and WR Mike Siragusa took advantage of a prevent defense and connected for a touchdown to send the game into overtime. The two juggernaut offenses, that included Ignatius all-time great Tim McVey, exchanged blows back and forth in overtime sessions until Coach Triv went for two at the end of the third overtime. A Trubisky-Fritts connection in the corner of the end zone sealed the victory for Mentor. In my opinion, that St Ignatius team was the best team that Mentor has ever beaten. Anyone who watched will never forget it. If you want some goosebumps, watch this video

Mentor 26 St Ignatius 3 (2013): The previous season, Mentor pulled off the unthinkable and knocked off St Edward and St Ignatius in back-to-back weeks in the playoffs. In 2013, the Cardinals would have that chance again. Just like the year prior, St Ignatius dominated the regular season matchup with a 26-3 win in Week 2. On a windy and snowy rematch in Week 13 at Byers Field, Mentor's defense combined with the difficult elements to completely dominate the Wildcats. Both teams struggled offensively for the majority of the first half in less than ideal weather conditions. With two minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the score was 5-3 in favor of Mentor. An Eddie Daugherty halfback pass to Corey Plavcan gave Mentor a commanding two score lead just before the half. The Mentor defense, led by All-Ohio players like Kent Berger and Justin McMahon, smothered the Wildcats to a total of 126 total yards on the night. QB Connor Krizancic had trouble throwing the ball in the elements, but made plenty of plays with his feet (167 yards rushing). 

Mentor 23 St Ignatius 21 (2017): Of Mentor's four trips to state championship games, the 2017 run was probably the most unlikely. The team was 9-1 in the regular season, but had some inconsistencies (including giving up 59 points to Euclid in Week 8) that were causes for concern. Once the clock turned November, the defense (led by junior DE Noah Potter) flipped a switch. Late in the season, senior RB Eli McDougal became one of the most unexpected stars. Running behind a big and talented offensive line, McDougal completely transformed Mentor's chances at knocking off the top teams in Ohio. After upsetting St Edward the week prior, the Cardinals found themselves facing St Ignatius in yet another pivotal Region 1 playoff game. Mentor had lost to St Ignatius in the regular season game, 41-31, in a game that McDougal was unavailable for. McDougal's 41-yard TD run on the game's opening drive put Mentor ahead and gave them some early momentum that was soon snatched away by the talented Cats. McDougal finished the game with 18 carries for 151 yards and 2 TD's. St Ignatius had leads of 14-7 and 21-14 before senior QB Tadas Tatarunas found sophomore receiver Luke Floriea to pull Mentor within a PAT from tying. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked and St Ignatius had a 21-20 lead halfway through the 4th quarter. Mentor kicker Conor McIntosh hit a 27-yard field goal with 37 seconds in the game. St Ignatius All-Ohio kicker Matthew Trickett's 52-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide as time expired to earn Triv his third straight playoff win over the legendary Chuck Kyle. This would end up being the last playoff game between the two legendary coaches. 

St Ignatius 35 Mentor 32 (2021): After Mentor won their Week 2 matchup (28-26) at home, the two programs went in pretty different directions throughout the season. St Ignatius would win six of their final eight regular season games highlighted by wins over Akron Hoban and Cincinnati St Xavier. Mentor would follow up their biggest regular season win by losing five of the next six games, finishing without a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 1997. During this playoff game, St Ignatius came out incredibly strong in building a huge 35-10 lead entering the 4th quarter. It looked like a running clock was inevitable. The running backs of the Wildcats combined for 252 rushing yards. Mentor receiver Evan Harper scored early in the 4th quarter in attempts to give the Cardinals some hopes of a comeback. The lights at Byers Field went out and the game was on pause. Upon its return, Mentor picked up where Harper left off. Two more scores (including Harper's third TD of the game) brought Mentor within a field goal with just a few minutes left in the game. The Wildcats recovered an onside kick and sealed the victory. The miracle comeback came up just short. St Ignatius would go on to win one more playoff game before falling to a talented Drew Allar led Medina Bees in a regional semifinal. It was the fifth straight time the playoff rematch went to the loser of the regular season matchup. 

Time Capsule: Mentor vs Coach Kyle

Since the 2005 season, Mentor and St Ignatius scheduled an annual regular season matchup. The only exception to these two playing every season was in 2020 as all schedules were thrown out the window due to COVID. Legendary St Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle announced that 2022 will be his final season. As we look to the final regular season game that Mentor will play against Coach Kyle, let's take a look down memory lane. The two programs have split the 16 regular season games. Here is a list of the regular season results since the 2005 series began: 

2005: St Ignatius 55 Mentor 35
2006: St Ignatius 27 Mentor 14

2007: Mentor 38 St Ignatius 17

2008: St Ignatius 28 Mentor 14

2009: St Ignatius 47 Mentor 7

2010: Mentor 18 St Ignatius 7

2011: Mentor 38 St Ignatius 24

2012: St Ignatius 48 Mentor 21

2013: St Ignatius 26 Mentor 6

2014: Mentor 37 St Ignatius 33

2015: Mentor 63 St Ignatius 56

2016: St Ignatius 49 Mentor 7

2017: St Ignatius 41 Mentor 31

2018: Mentor 28 St Ignatius 7

2019: Mentor 38 St Ignatius 31

2021: Mentor 28 St Ignatius 26

Top Five Regular Season Games

St Ignatius 27 Mentor 14 (2006): A year removed from starting this series, it was clear early on that Mentor was in for a special season. It started with a Week 1 win in Browns Stadium over a very talented Glenville team. Junior QB Bart Tanski would help guide Mentor to the state championship game. Mentor's regular season was nearly perfect that season. The Week 4 game at Byers Field saw Mentor jump out to a 14-0 lead late in the 1st quarter. The Wildcats' defense suffocated the strong Mentor offense for the last three quarters. St Ignatius scored 27 unanswered points as they outplayed Mentor on both sides of the ball. This was the lowest point total of the season for the Cardinals. The Wildcats standouts on defense included Pat Hennessey, Steve Bigach, and Emmet Lydon. 

Mentor 38 St Ignatius 24 (2011): The 2011 game featured a matchup between a Mentor team that would eventually soar to the #1 ranked team in the AP poll. St Ignatius would be the 2011 eventual state champions. Needless to say, this was a high powered matchup with loads of talent. The Mentor offense threw away the RB position and relied on a 5-out spread offense led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky. The Mentor defense featured DE Tom Strobel and LB Kurt Laseak. The Wildcats' ferocious defense allowed an average of 13.6 points per game, not including this Week 3 loss. But on this night, the Mentor offense was clicking on all cylinders as Trubisky threw for nearly 500 yards. A trio of standout receivers (Cameron Kavan, Brandon Fritts, and Conner Krizancic) had their way in the Ignatius secondary. Kavan had a team-record 283 receiving yards. St Ignatius would turn the tables and win the rematch in the regional final. 

Mentor 63 St Ignatius 56 (2015): In hindsight, neither of these teams ended up meeting the pre-season hype or expectations set before them. Mentor finished with an 8-4 record that included a Week 12 loss to St Edward. St Ignatius went on miss the playoffs for just the second time since the late 80's. But at the time this game was played, this offensive explosion made it an unforgettable evening. Entering the game, Mentor and St Ignatius were the top ranked teams in the Cleveland-area. The game featured over 1,400 yards of total offense from both teams. Sophomore QB Tadas Tatrunas had a night to remember with a record 523 passing yards. Receiver Jason Blizzard surpassed Cameron Kavan's single game receiving record (also set against St Ignatius) with 342 yards. Both teams moved the ball and scored at will. The Wildcats were led by QB Dennis Grosel's 415 passing yards and six touchdowns. But it was Mentor that got the last score with 8 seconds left in a game that ultimately became the difference between one team making the playoffs and one team sitting at home in Week 11.

St Ignatius 41 Mentor 31 (2017): QB Kyle Hall came away with a super performance in throwing for 291 yards and three touchdowns in guiding St Ignatius to a key victory. The two-back tandem of Mark Bobinski and Jahadge Floyd each rushed for over 100 yards. Mentor's Tadas Tatarunas, a three-year starter, threw for 341 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in defeat. This would be Mentor's only loss in the regular season. St Ignatius was considered a favorite to win in Division I before Mentor won a regional final rematch. 

Mentor 38 St Ignatius 31 (2019): In what would be the final game between former Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno and St Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle, fans were treated to one of the most entertaining games in the series. Mentor found themselves down 31-17 at the end of the 3rd quarter. St Ignatius senior Connor Cmiel had a memorable evening as he scored in a variety of ways that included two special teams touchdowns. An opportunistic Mentor defense and a strong running attack helped the Cardinals score three unanswered touchdowns in the final frame to earn the comeback win. QB Ian Kipp (175 yards passing, 134 yards rushing) improved his record to 4-1 against "the Saints" (St Edward and St Ignatius) with this win. Senior RB Brian Trobel joined Kipp in running for over 100 yards in this game. 

For a trip down memory lane for the playoff games between these two programs, click on this link here

2022 Pre-Season All- GCC

The Greater Cleveland Conference has a lot of returning talent for the 2022 season. Here are some of the top players on the heels of the season opening. 

Offense

QB Scotty Fox/Jacob Snow, Mentor - This talented duo, in whatever ways they are used, should give Mentor the advantage at the QB position in the league. Fox, just a sophomore, already has an offer from Bowling Green. Snow has shown flashes of stellar play since starting in the 2020 state semifinal game. 

RB EJ Taylor, Solon - After a junior season (1,400+ yards and 17 TD's) that earned him First Team All-District, expect Taylor to be one of the best backs in the state. 

WR Brennen Schramm, Medina - The First Team All-Ohio receiver became Drew Allar's top target as he hauled in 82 catches for 1,333 yards and 14 TD's in 2021.

WR Joel Kpassou, Solon - The Ball State commit stood out for the Comets last year as he was recognized for First Team All-District. 

WR Jamal Jefferson Jr., Euclid - A rising junior in the state, Jefferson has offers from Ball State and Kent State. 

WR Jordan Stapleton, Mentor - Having the most returning production and experience for the Cardinals, expect a big year for Stapleton in Mentor's pass-heavy offense.

OL Colin Van Rooy, Strongsville - The 6'5, 300-pound tackle is one of the top at his position in Ohio as he started opposite Clemson-commit Blake Miller last season. Van Rooy follows Miller to the ACC by committing to Pitt. 

OL Michael McClure, Mentor - The senior tackle has the most size (6'4, 275) and experience returning on the Cardinals' offensive line.  

OL Sean Houser, Brunswick - College football is in the future for this big (6'4, 270) starting tackle for the Blue Devils. 

OL Myshaun Turner, Euclid - The 6'6, 290-pound lineman will anchor Euclid's offensive line. Turner has an offer from Akron. 

OL Patrick Gillespie, Medina - The returning starter at center, Gillespie (6'4, 265) was a key part of an offensive line that was instrumental in Medina's dynamic 2021 offense. 

Defense

DL Brenan Vernon, Mentor - A starter since a freshman, Vernon (6'5, 270) is one of the top recruits in the 2023 class as he is committed to Notre Dame. 

DE Chase Smith, Euclid - Finished with 11 sacks last season as he earned some All-District recognition. 

DT Jamari Holmes, Solon - An impactful two-way player for the Comets that is a three-year starter. Holmes has offers to D2 colleges like Lake Erie and Wheeling.  

DE Ryan Lawson, Mentor - Playing with Vernon, expect Lawson to help be a part of the top defensive line in the league.

LB Michael Novak, Strongsville - A three year starter with college football in his future, Novak will be a leader on defense for the Mustangs this season.

LB Ryan Merrill, Euclid - A three-year starter, Merrill has earned a First Team (2020) and Second Team (2021) All-District selection in two varsity seasons. 

LB Collin Orosz, Mentor - A key standout and sure tackler last season, Orosz earned Second Team All-District honors for his strong play. 

DB Caleb Pohto, Mentor - After a standout season with a team-high five interceptions, Pohto is one of the top defensive talents in the GCC. 

DB Branyan Nichols, Brunswick - A two-way starter as a running back, Nichols is one of Brunswick's most important returning players. 

DB Charlie Bubonics, Solon - A two-way standout for the Comets, Bubonics is a playmaker in the secondary to go along with his stellar play at quarterback.

DB Brian McQuaide, Solon - Another dynamic player on both sides of the ball for Solon, McQuaide is one of the top juniors in the league.

2022 Region 2 Preview

 

Region 2 Teams Preview

Wednesday at 7:00 at Copley HS: Green (23-2) vs Akron Hoban (17-8) 

Thursday at 7:00 at Copley HS: 8:00 - St Edward () vs Massillon Jackson (23-3) 

 Green (10-2 in the Federal League, 20-2 in regular season, 23-2 overall)

The Bulldogs were in this position three years ago when they reached the regional round for the first time in school history in 2019. Green had one of the best regular seasons in Northeast Ohio. Playing in one of the top big school basketball leagues in the state, Green established themselves as the team to beat in the Federal League with wins over Jackson, Lake, Hoover, and Canton McKinley. They also owned wins over three very talented teams (St Ignatius, Richmond Heights, and Hoban) that are still playing in the tournament. Coach Mark Kinsley has several milestones in his 20+ years at his alma mater, highlighted by a perfect regular season in 2014-15 and the regional runner-up in 2019. Green is starting to establish themselves as one of the top programs in the area. Their path to a district title began with a sectional final win over Kent Roosevelt (61-32) that set up a third matchup this season against league foe, Canton McKinley. The Summit County Bulldogs stopped the Stark County Bulldogs, 51-38. In a rematch with one of the top teams in their area, Green closed out their second district title in four seasons by defeating Stow.  

Senior forward Zach Oddo earned the Federal League's Player of the Year award a season after being a Second Team All-District player as a junior. The 6'6 Oddo led the team in points and rebounds while being second on the team in assists. He recently became a 1,000-point scorer and will be remembered as one of the best players in program history. Senior guard Trey Martin, a DII Offensive Player of the Year in football, is a leading scorer for the Bulldogs. As a freshman, Martin was a rotational player on Green's last district title team that featured his older brother, Kaleb. The duo of Oddo/Martin are as experienced and talented as any at the Region 2 tournament. Sophomores Brady Rollyson and Jarret Taylor are a key part of the present and future for the Bulldogs. The 6'2 Rollyson is also a standout baseball player. Taylor is a 6'4 forward that brings size and athleticism into the front court. 

Coach Mark Kinsley earned the Coach of the Year honors three times in the past five seasons in the competitive Federal League. This district title was Kinsley's second in four seasons. 

Biggest regular season wins: St Ignatius, Hoban, Solon, Richmond Heights, Medina, Stow, and Jackson

Regular season losses: Hoover and Jackson

 

Hoban (15-7 in regular season, 19-7 overall)

Of all the teams that made it to this regional, Hoban may have been the biggest surprise. The Knights were the 5th highest seed at the Twinsburg District. They hadn't won a district title in 14 years, and never in Division I. During the regular season, Hoban had some ups and downs as they finished with a 15-7 record. The team was certainly battle tested as they played some of the area's best teams (SVSM, Green, Jackson, and Solon). Hoban has appeared to find their stride late in the season as they are currently riding a ten game winning streak that includes four tournament wins. Their path to the district title began with a sectional semifinal win over Cuyahoga Falls (70-34). In the sectional final, Hoban entered as the underdog to the second highest seeded team at the Twinsburg tournament. The Knights had one of their most impressive wins of the season in knocking off Hoover, 63-46. Hoban continued their winning ways with a district semifinal win over Aurora. In the district final, hot shooting and continued lockdown defense gave the Knights a win over Jackson (62-49). It was the second time during the tournament that Hoban "upset" a higher seeded team from the Federal League. The Knights held their four tournament opponents so far to an average of just 41.7 points per game. 

Unlike the other teams at the district, the Knights are a group led by underclassmen. Super sophomore Jonas Nichols, a mainstay on the team from the start as a freshman, is one of the top players in the 2024 class in the area. The 6'2 guard is often the leading scorer. Junior guard Logan Vowles is a talented shooter that can be a big difference maker. He hit four three-pointers in the win over Hoover. A week later, he shot 6-8 from three-point range to help Hoover defeat Jackson in the district final. Junior guard Will Scott gives the Knights another scorer in the back court. Up front, look for 6'6 junior Andrew Griffith to be a strong inside presence on both ends of the floor. Junior Jayvian Crable is a 6'3 forward that rounds out the heavy emphasis on underclassmen in the starting lineup. As we see a contrast between Hoban's youth and the experience of some of the other teams remaining in the tournament, we will see how the lack of seniors impacts the rest of their tournament run. 

Coach TK Griffith is in his first year as principal of the school in addition to his duties as coach. Griffith is in 29th season for his alma mater and has well over 400 victories. 

Biggest regular season wins: Jackson, Benedictine, Massillon, ISA and Dalton

Regular season losses: Green, Youngstown East, Gilmour, Maple Heights, Solon, Walsh Jesuit, SVSM

Mentor (7-3 in the GCC, 16-6 in regular season, 20-6 overall)

Mentor won their 16th district title since Coach Krizancic took over the program. The 2013 state champions are making their fifth trip to regional play in the last six seasons. During the regular season, Mentor went 16-6 and finished tied at the top of the league standings with Solon. Sweeping Brunswick and a late-season win over Solon helped secure a share of the GCC title. Their path to the district crown included a pair of comfortable sectional wins against Lakeside (108-50) and University (74-37). The district semifinal against Mayfield was a battle from start to finish. The Cardinals overcame a herculean effort from Mayfield's Hayden Nahara (game-high 32 points) to finish with a 75-68 victory. Collins had a team-high 17 points in the win. The district final saw Mentor go up against the heavy favorite Brush Arcs, the top overall seed in the three DI East districts. Playing without the District Player of the Year Elmore James, Brush was shocked by the Cardinals in a 62-46 loss. Mentor started the game with an early 19-4 explosion led by sophomore Ian Iopollo's four three-pointers in the 1st quarter on his way to a game-high 17 points. Mentor hit 13 three-pointers for the game as they cruised to possibly their most unexpected district championship seasons. 

Mentor is led by senior Sean Collins (15 ppg), a Second Team All-District selection. Collins is the only one on the roster that was in the rotation on last year's team that advanced to the state semifinals. A quiet reserve a season ago, Collins has become the team's go-to scorer and leader. Fellow senior Jake Ferrito helps handle some point guard duties and has been the team's most dependable three-point shooter. Junior Ryan Iopollo has been a "jack of all trades" this season as he has taken on the roles of point guard, knock down shooter, and often defending the opposing team's best guard. The two sophomores in the starting lineup (Ian Iopollo and Matthew Biddell) are capable of a big scoring night with their versatile offensive games both inside and out. Ian Iopollo showed his value to the team with five three pointers in Mentor's district final win over Brush. In that district final, Mentor rarely went to their bench. Senior guards Austin Kiggins, Nick Farley, and Mike Harrison are available to provide some depth if the moment is needed.  

Coach Bob Krizancic has enters the regional tournament with 699 wins in his career that are highlighted by his two state championships (1995 with Girard and 2013 with Mentor). 

Biggest regular season wins: Solon, Medina, Brunswick (twice), Glenville, and Rhodes

Regular season losses: Cincinnati Princeton, Pickerington Central, Solon, Chaney, Medina, and Strongsville 

 

St Edward (17-5 in regular season, 20-5 overall)

The Eagles were voted the top overall seed at the three-district pool of teams at the DI West super district. They handed a very talented Brush team one of their only losses of the season. Wins over Lutheran East and Glenville (a pair of teams that won their district) also stand out. But as always, no wins during the regular season matter more than defeating their longtime rival, St Ignatius. The Eagles swept the season series with the Wildcats, proving themselves to be one of the elite teams in Northeast Ohio once again. The Eagles cruised through the early rounds of the tournament with convincing wins over Berea-Midpark (80-51) and Midview (66-33). This set up a district final clash with the Medina Bees, a program that has won district titles the previous two seasons. St Eds controlled the game from the start as they held the Bees scoreless through most of the 1st quarter. Defense was the difference as the Eagles limited Medina to just 26 points in the first half. Michael Bova was the leading man once more for the Eagles as he had a game-high 21 points. Zyion Freer-Brown (10 points) was the only other Eagle who scored in double digits. Five different St Edward players hit a triple as the Eagles would hold off a late surge and defeat the Bees, 65-52.

Few programs in NEO have the kind of cache and success in the 2000's as the St Edward Eagles. The talent on this team may be a bit unheralded compared to some of the Flannery's past teams, but there is still plenty of talent wearing the green and gold. It starts with senior point guard Michael Bova, one of the top players in the area. The 6'2 guard averaged 19 points per game and will continue his career playing Division I college basketball at Bellarmine. Bova earned First Team All-District honors during his junior and senior seasons. After averaging 26 points per game in last year's tournament, Bova has a strong case as being the best player in this region. Another player on the Eagles roster that will be playing at a high level of college basketball next season is Jair Knight, a Marist commit. Knight and Bova give the Eagles one of the more talented backcourt duos in the state. Zyion Freer-Brown, a standout linebacker on the football team, is also a key player to watch. Cameron Grant is a 6'7 junior forward that can be a load to handle in the front court. Myles Reynolds is another talented senior guard that provides another scorer and solid defender. 

Coach Eric Flannery just picked up his 500th career victory as the head coach for the Eagles. Flannery is one of the country's elite high school coaches as he has been involved with a variety of Team USA coaching opportunities. His 26 seasons have included 20 district titles, 10 regional titles, and two state titles (1998 and 2014). 

Biggest regular season wins: St Ignatius (twice), Brush, Lutheran East, Solon and Glenville

Regular season losses: Richmond Heights, Reynoldsburg, SVSM, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, and DeMatha (MD)

Mentor/Brush Basketball Time Capsule

Mentor and Brush will play Saturday night at Euclid for the 12th time since 2003 - seven of those are in district finals. Most games were extremely competitive and close. As someone who has been at every single one of these games, I have summed up some of the big names and events from the games. Between my own memory and research, be prepared for plenty of information on the recent history basketball between Mentor and Brush:

2003 District Final: Mentor 71 Brush 62
Mentor's 2003 team had a talented senior class that were a part of three straight district titles at Euclid and a regional final appearance in 2002. All-Ohio guard Eddie Zienkowski led the way for Mentor. Brush had a couple of very talented players, Marcel Frost and Ray Mosby. Mosby and Zienkowski went toe-to-toe answering one big shot for another all night long. Frost was a talented post player for Brush that went on to OSU as a tight end.


2004 Sectional Final: Brush 60 Mentor 55
Brush was led by E.B. Davis, a standout sophomore that was the younger brother of Cavalier Ricky Davis. After his brother got traded from the Cavs, Davis left the NEO area and went on to play at Oak Hill and eventually in college at a couple different DI schools. Mentor had a super sophomore of their own in Adam May. In the 2000's, this was one of only two times (2007 was the other) that Mentor did not make it to the district level of the tournament. This was also the only time Brush has beaten Mentor at the Euclid tournament in the 2000's. Due to a punishment from the OHSAA over a violation with missing school for an out of state tournament, Mentor was without their head coach for this loss. Therefore, Coach Krizancic is undefeated against Brush at the Euclid district tournament. 


2005 Sectional Semifinal: Mentor 75 Brush 71
A year after losing to the Arcs, Mentor beat Brush in the only time they met in the first round of the tournament. By this point, E.B. Davis left Brush. Mentor would lose in the district semifinals this season to Kenston.


2008 District Semifinal: Mentor 81 Brush 73
Brush was coming off an upset of St Ignatius in the sectional final. A young and talented sophomore,  Nate Tait, was a big part of that upset. The 2008 Mentor team was young and very small. Cole Krizancic was starting as a freshman. Sophomore PG Jaron Fritts and senior guard Joey Meyer were also under six foot guards that started. Mentor defeated Brush in the semifinal and then went on to defeat Glenville in the district final. This would be the first of three consecutive seasons that Tait's season would end with a district tournament loss to the Cardinals.


2009 District Final: Mentor 59 Brush 50
As a junior, Nate Tait erupted across the NEO basketball scene. He was one of the finest guards in Ohio and would be the News-Herald's Player of the Year. Tait finished the game with 40% of Brush's total points, but it wasn't enough. For the second season in a row, Brush's season ended at the hands of Mentor. Junior guard Jaron Crowe led Mentor with 23 points. It was the first of what would be four straight district final matchups between the two schools.


2010 District Final: Mentor 88 Brush 73
This may have been the most exciting and talented offensive team Mentor has ever had. They were led by senior guard Jaron Crowe (the Cleveland.com POY this season), all-time leading scorer Cole Krizancic, and future Mr. Basketball Justin Fritts. This trio of guards was as good on the high school level as you will ever find. They all had 20+ points in this game and they combined for 73 of the 88 points. Brush senior Nate Tait gave everything he had, but just couldn't overcome Mentor during his career. Tait struggled in this game, only scoring 15 points. Sophomore Pharaoh Brown and freshman Curtis Oakley (nephew of Charles Oakley) played well and gave Brush something to look forward to in the post-Tait days. Mentor hit 28 of 30 free throws in the game to help give them separation. Mentor would go on to beat Avon Lake and upset St Edward at the CSU regional to give the program their first ever trip to the state tournament.


2011 District Final: Mentor 76 Brush 67
Mentor replaces the departed Jaron Crowe with transfer Collin Barth to maintain a crazy-good backcourt trio. Barth joined Cole Krizancic and Justin Fritts to help lead of the top teams in Ohio. Oakley/Brown combined for 41 points for the Arcs. Amazingly, Cole was able to match their scoring all by himself with a career-defining performance of 41 points in a district final. The senior guard hit five three-pointers in the game. Fritts was second on the team in scoring this night with 16 points. Mentor defeated Berea in the regional semifinal before falling to Garfield Heights in the final.


2012 District Final: Mentor 76 Brush 72
Of the four straight district finals these two played from 2009 to 2012, this was by far the most nerve-wrecking for Mentor. Behind the strong physical play of Pharaoh Brown (24 points and 24 rebounds) and Curtis Oakley, Brush found themselves in great position to cut down the nets. With Brush out to an 11-point lead, Mentor dug deep and outscored the Arcs 24-9 in the 4th quarter. Once again, Brush struggled at the free throw line (10-26), which essentially cost them the game. With a foundation of a state championship team (a year away) playing with Mr Ohio Justin Fritts and steady senior PG Danny Wallack, this was one of the best teams Mentor has put on the floor. Fritts (24 points) and Wallack (17) led the way for Mentor. This was the 4th straight district final win over the Arcs, and 5th straight win overall against the Arcs at Euclid.


2018 District Semifinal: Mentor 65 Brush 61
Brush, featuring a young and talented core, came up a little short against Mentor's deep senior-laden team. Mentor's Shane Zalba had a big time performance with a game-high 22 points, including nine in the 4th quarter. Tadas Tatarunas also chipped in nine big 4th quarter points. Brush was led by Tyler Williams (18 points), Andre Harris (16), and DJ Dial (12). Mentor went on to the district final before losing to a very talented Solon team.


2019 District Final: Mentor 77 Brush 73
There have been some big time battles over the years between the two, and this was as big as any. The crowd was probably the largest it has been too. Brush was loaded with talent, led by senior guards DJ Dial and Andre Harris. Junior John Hugley is one of the top recruited big men in the Midwest. Mentor's talented trio (Luke Floriea, Chad Rogers, and Luke Chicone) were up to the task. Mentor grabbed the lead at the end of the 1st quarter and never let it escape. Luke Floriea had one of the best big games I have seen a Mentor player have. Floriea scored 30 points, including perfect on all of his three-point attempts. He attacked the hoop, hit his free throws, and was the emotional leader on the court in what was one of the very best district wins ever for Krizancic/Mentor. Hugley led the Arcs with 20 points.


2020 District Final: Mentor 71 Brush 69
The 2019 game was a difficult one to live up to, and yet these two talented teams found a way to do it. Brush returned All-Ohio star John Hugley (Pitt commit), one of the most highly recruited big men in the country. Hugley, 35 points and 15 games in this district final, proved to be one of the most dominant individual players Mentor has ever gone up against. Super sophomore Elmore James scored 23 for the Arcs. Together, they helped build a multiple possession lead early in the 4th quarter. Mentor's super trio of Luke Floriea, Chad Rogers, and Luke Chicone still had another big moment left in the tank as all three scored 20+ points for the Cards. Clutch shotmaking by Mentor legend Floriea and critical free throws by Chicone (YSU basketball commit) helped bring Mentor out of a 4th quarter deficit. Mentor closed the game by hitting 11 of 14 free throws in the final quarter to seal the victory, which was their 13th district title in 18 seasons under Coach Krizancic.

Mentor/St Ignatius - A Playoff Rivalry Renewed

This Friday, Mentor and St Ignatius will renew their playoff rivalry at Byers Field. This will be the 8th time the two programs have played in the playoffs. Mentor holds a narrow 4-3 edge in those games, having won three of the last four. St Ignatius held on for a 16-14 win over the Cardinals in their Week 2 battle at Mentor. In honor of Friday's game, let's look back at some history between these two programs. 

In 2003, Mentor and St Ignatius would end up playing in a memorable playoff game at Byers Field. In the months that followed that game, Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno pursued getting St Ignatius on the schedule more regularly. What began as a two-year series signed for the 2005 and 2006 seasons has been a long-standing agreement between two of the premier programs in the state. It is a friendly public/private rivalry that has been as important to high school football over the last 20 years as any in the state. The series has been especially beneficial to the growth of the Mentor football program. It is no coincidence that Mentor began turning a corner of success after regularly putting St Ignatius and other powerhouse programs on the schedule. 

The two first met in the playoffs back in 1992 in a regional final. St Ignatius easily defeated Mentor, 38-13, during one of their many state championship seasons during the 90's. Since then, the two have played each other in six playoff games. The latter five were played during seasons in which the two programs had played earlier during the regular season. In each of those five playoff games, the loser of the regular season game went on to flip the script in the playoff rematch. 

Here are my memories and recap of the past six playoff games between the Cardinal and the Wildcats:

 Mentor 31 St Ignatius 0 (2003): Coming into this game, St Ignatius was wrapping up a period of complete dominance. From 1988-2001, the Cats won eight state titles as they were led by the legendary Chuck Kyle. Mentor's 2003 group was the most dominant regular season team in program history. The defense completely suffocated QB Brian Hoyer (future NFL QB) on this evening, picking him off five times. The Mentor defense forced three fumbles and held St Ignatius to 10 net yards rushing. Some of the defensive standouts included LB Chad Mayse, LB Paul Burger, DB Tony Martucci, DB Scott Goodwin, and DB Angelo DiFranco. 1st Team All-Ohio players Thom Abbot and RB Matt Lieb punched in scoring chances set up by an aggressive and opportunistic defense. St Ignatius hadn't been dominated like that in a playoff game before, and it hasn't happened since. Most people who witnessed that game will never forget "31-0." This unforgettable game is as much a nod to the all-time status of the opponent as it was to the talented "class" of Cardinals. 

St Ignatius 23 Mentor 17 (2011): The two had met during the regular season at a packed house in Mentor for Week 3. Mentor, led by junior QB Mitch Trubisky and a five-wide offense, wreaked all kinds of havoc against the St Ignatius defense. Senior receiver Cameron Kavan put up record breaking numbers with 284 receiving yards. Trubisky and the talented bunch of receivers picked apart the secondary on their way to a 38-24 win. Entering Week 10, Mentor was the #1 ranked team in the AP poll. A surprising Week 10 loss at Twinsburg ended that, but the aspirations of a state championship were very much still in play. The biggest obstacle that would stand in the way of Mentor's hopes of a state title would be the Wildcats. The St Ignatius defense, a group that gave up no more than 20 points in their 13 games following Week 3, was not going to be denied in the second meeting. On a windy evening in Lakewood Stadium, the combination of an aggressive and talented Wildcat defense made life much more difficult for Trubisky. Wildcat legend Tim McVey, a junior at the time, was the bell-cow as he ran 38 times for for 160 yards. Mentor, a team that relied almost exclusively on the passing game in their five-wide offense, was unable to rely on a steady running game to balance out the offense. St Ignatius used blitzes, turnovers, and much better coverage to turn the tide in the rematch. The Wildcats would win the game, the region, and the state championship. 

Mentor 57 St Ignatius 56 3OT (2012): After an amazing and unexpected come back the week prior against St Edward, it was hard to believe that anything could top that. Just seven days later, Mentor and St Ignatius put on all-time memorable performance in a game that featured the "Moment of the Year" by the 2012 Cleveland Sports Awards. In the regular season, St Ignatius dominated the game (48-21) and gave Mentor their only loss. The Cats were 11-1 heading into this game, with their only loss being to St Eds. The Cardinals got off to a great start and were in control during the first half. Mentor had scored on their first four possessions of the game. They were about to score on their fifth before the Cats picked off Trubisky in the end zone, leaving the halftime score at 20-14. St Ignatius got control of the second half as they would score two touchdowns to take a 28-20 lead in the 4th quarter. Trubisky guided Mentor to a game-tying 80-yard touchdown drive that included a two point conversion to Fritts. After a stop by the defense, Trubisky led the Cards on a 64-yard drive that resulted in a 35-28 lead with only 48 seconds left in the game. St Ignatius QB Mike LaManna and WR Mike Siragusa took advantage of a prevent defense and connected for a touchdown to send the game into overtime. The two juggernaut offenses, that included Ignatius all-time great Tim McVey, exchanged blows back and forth in overtime sessions until Coach Triv went for two at the end of the third overtime. A Trubisky-Fritts connection in the corner of the end zone sealed the victory for Mentor. In my opinion, that St Ignatius team was the best team that Mentor has ever beaten. Anyone who watched will never forget it. If you want some goosebumps, watch this video

Mentor 26 St Ignatius 3 (2013): The previous season, Mentor pulled off the unthinkable and knocked off St Edward and St Ignatius in back-to-back weeks in the playoffs. In 2013, the Cardinals would have that chance again. Just like the year prior, St Ignatius dominated the regular season matchup with a 26-3 win in Week 2. On a windy and snowy rematch in Week 13 at Byers Field, Mentor's defense combined with the difficult elements to completely dominate the Wildcats. Both teams struggled offensively for the majority of the first half in less than ideal weather conditions. With two minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the score was 5-3 in favor of Mentor. An Eddie Daugherty halfback pass to Corey Plavcan gave Mentor a commanding two score lead just before the half. The Mentor defense, led by All-Ohio players like Kent Berger and Justin McMahon, smothered the Wildcats to a total of 126 total yards on the night. QB Connor Krizancic had trouble throwing the ball in the elements, but made plenty of plays with his feet (167 yards rushing). 

Mentor 23 St Ignatius 21 (2017): Of Mentor's four trips to state championship games, the 2017 run was probably the most unlikely. The team was 9-1 in the regular season, but had some inconsistencies (including giving up 59 points to Euclid in Week 8) that were causes for concern. Once the clock turned November, the defense (led by junior DE Noah Potter) flipped a switch. Late in the season, senior RB Eli McDougal became one of the most unexpected stars. Running behind a big and talented offensive line, McDougal completely transformed Mentor's chances at knocking off the top teams in Ohio. After upsetting St Edward the week prior, the Cardinals found themselves facing St Ignatius in yet another pivotal Region 1 playoff game. Mentor had lost to St Ignatius in the regular season game, 41-31, in a game that McDougal was unavailable for. McDougal's 41-yard TD run on the game's opening drive put Mentor ahead and gave them some early momentum that was soon snatched away by the talented Cats. McDougal finished the game with 18 carries for 151 yards and 2 TD's. St Ignatius had leads of 14-7 and 21-14 before senior QB Tadas Tatarunas found sophomore receiver Luke Floriea to pull Mentor within a PAT from tying. Unfortunately, the kick was blocked and St Ignatius had a 21-20 lead halfway through the 4th quarter. Mentor kicker Conor McIntosh hit a 27-yard field goal with 37 seconds in the game. St Ignatius All-Ohio kicker Matthew Trickett's 52-yard field goal attempt sailed just wide as time expired to earn Triv his third straight playoff win over the legendary Chuck Kyle. This would end up being the last playoff game between the two legendary coaches. 

St Ignatius 35 Mentor 32 (2021): After Mentor won their Week 2 matchup (28-26) at home, the two programs went in pretty different directions throughout the season. St Ignatius would win six of their final eight regular season games highlighted by wins over Akron Hoban and Cincinnati St Xavier. Mentor would follow up their biggest regular season win by losing five of the next six games, finishing without a winning record in the regular season for the first time since 1997. During this playoff game, St Ignatius came out incredibly strong in building a huge 35-10 lead entering the 4th quarter. It looked like a running clock was inevitable. The running backs of the Wildcats combined for 252 rushing yards. Mentor receiver Evan Harper scored early in the 4th quarter in attempts to give the Cardinals some hopes of a comeback. The lights at Byers Field went out and the game was on pause. Upon its return, Mentor picked up where Harper left off. Two more scores (including Harper's third TD of the game) brought Mentor within a field goal with just a few minutes left in the game. The Wildcats recovered an onside kick and sealed the victory. The miracle comeback came up just short. St Ignatius would go on to win one more playoff game before falling to a talented Drew Allar led Medina Bees in a regional semifinal. It was the fifth straight time the playoff rematch went to the loser of the regular season matchup. 

Mentor Moments: Quarterback Surprises

Over the weekend we saw freshman quarterback Scotty Fox put together a night to remember with 375 passing yards and five touchdowns. He is the backup to injured starter Jacob Snow. In true "Snow-like" fashion (who was a sophomore super sub in the state semifinal last year), Fox is raising some eyebrows with his play the last two weeks. Fox, starting just his second game, showed a lot for a 14 year-old thrust into a tough spot. Needless to say, the future looks bright for Mentor between Snow and Fox. Here is a list of some of the other "out of nowhere" performances from a young QB at Mentor.  

Mitch Trubisky (Week 1 regular season vs St Edward, 2010)

It is well known that Mentor legend Mitch Trubisky went on to become a success in high school (Mr. Football in 2012), in college (record setting QB at UNC), and in the NFL (#2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft). His high school career took off in the 2011 and 2012 seasons, but his first shot took place as a sophomore starting Week 1 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in 2010. The opponent would be none other than St Edward, a team that would eventually go on to finish as a 15-0 state champions. At the time, Trubisky was splitting QB duties with Colton Wallace. With Mentor down 21 points early in the first half, Trubisky's emergence from backup to on the field helped Mentor mount a comeback. In the second half, Trubisky connected with Wallace on a touchdown pass and engineered another touchdown drive that brought Mentor with a chance to tie in the final minute of the game. On second and goal from the five-yard line, St Edward forced a fumble and sealed a 35-28 win. The seven-point loss was the closest any team got to beating the Eagles all season. Considering the success we saw Trubisky achieve over the next ten years, it is no surprise that his first varsity moment was a memorable one. 

Click HERE for the Cleveland.com article on the game

Matt Eiswerth (Week 1 regular season vs Erie McDowell, 2013)

The shoes to fill for replacing Trubisky in the 2013 season couldn't be bigger. While eventual starter Conner Krizancic was dealing with some challenges in adjusting to a position change, sophomore Matt Eiswerth ended up taking the majority of the snaps in August. That would include getting a lot of action in Week 1 against Erie McDowell. Mentor found themselves down 16-0 in the 1st quarter. Eiswerth had a memorable debut as he threw for a record-tying five touchdown passes - two of which were to Krizancic when he was playing wide receiver. Two other touchdown passes were to Mentor legend Brandon Fritts. All in all, Eiswerth was the engineer behind Mentor's 44-30 win over McDowell. As good as Eiswerth's debut was, Krizancic was the ultimate answer at the QB position that season. Mentor would finish 9-1 in the regular season and advanced to a state title game with Krizancic (Ohio's Offensive POY in DI in 2013) leading the way. Eiswerth ended up being more mystery than legend as we never saw his career develop on the football field. He hung up his football gear and concentrated on baseball following this 2013 football season. But it would have been interesting to see how Eiswerth could've developed as QB in Mentor's system in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. 

Click HERE for the News-Herald article on the game

Tadas Tatarunas (Week 2 regular season vs St Ignatius, 2015)

Tatarunas won the battle for starting QB as a sophomore entering the 2015 season. After a solid debut in Week 1, Tatarunas caught the attention of the entire state with a stunning Week 2 performance against St Ignatius. Mentor and St Ignatius entered the game as the #1 and #2 teams on Cleveland.com/Plain Dealer. If you like offense, you got your money's worth and then some as the two teams combined for 17 touchdowns and over 1,400 total yards of offense. Tatarunas was the winning QB thanks to his unforgettable production: 25-35 passing for 523 yards and 4 TD's. His favorite target on the evening was record-setting receiver Jason Blizzard, who was highlighted in an earlier entry for top wide receiver performances. With the game tied at 56 late in the 4th quarter, Tatarunas scrambled and hit Malik Porter in the end zone with 8 seconds to play to win the unforgettable game. Tatarunas had a super sophomore season that saw him earn All-Ohio status. He finished his career as one of the all-time great players in program history, which included guiding the 2017 team to the state final. But anyone that followed Tatarunas for those three years will peg that record-breaking performance early in his sophomore season against St Ignatius as his most memorable game. 

Click HERE for the Cleveland.com article on the game

Ian Kipp (Week 1 against St Edward, 2018)

Like his predecessor, Kipp earned the opportunity to start from the beginning of his sophomore season like Tatarunas. Right off the bat, Kipp was faced with a challenging task as Mentor began the season with games against St Edward and St Ignatius. In Week 1 against the Eagles (the eventual state champs of that season), Kipp shocked the area with a big time performance and victory. Kipp developed into quite a passer during his time at Mentor, but early in his career he was more known for his ability to run. Behind a talented and experienced offensive line featuring Ryan Jacoby (Ohio State commit) and Nick Samac (Michigan State commit), Kipp ran the ball 19 times for 175 yards and two TD's. He finished the game incredibly efficient with his arm as well, throwing for 114 yards and 14-18 passing. Over his career, Kipp would throw for over 2,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons. As a junior, Kipp earned Ohio's Offensive Player of the Year award in Division I. In a shortened senior season, Kipp threw for 2,048 yards and 26 TD's. Kipp earned a scholarship at Kent State, won nine playoff games, and finished with a 5-2 record against St Ignatius/St Edward. Those accolades leave Kipp as one of the best players to ever put on a Mentor uniform, but it all started with a stunning debut performance and win against a championship St Edward squad. 

Click HERE for the Cleveland.com article on the game

Jacob Snow (State Semifinal against Pickerington Central, 2020)

Out of all the debuts listed, the experience that Jacob Snow had was quite different. In 2020, he was a sophomore who spent the season being the starting QB on the JV team. During the week of the state semifinal game, there was concern with some of the players (including star QB Ian Kipp) regarding COVID contact tracing. Just a day or two before the game, Snow was given notice that he would be starting in the state semifinal against a very talented Pickerington Central team. These Tigers are the same program that knocked off Mentor in big games in the 2017 state championship and the 2019 state semifinal. Their roster was littered with college talent and plenty of experience from a state championship the season before. From the start of the game, Mentor appeared to be overmatched. Pickerington Central ran for a 92-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to give them a 21-0 lead. Without Mentor's All-Ohio QB, the game looked like it would be a blowout. Jacob Snow had other ideas in mind. He would eventually settle in and help engineer a comeback. Snow threw two second half touchdowns that helped bring Mentor to within one score on both occasions. Mentor would ultimately lose the game (38-31), but Snow earned major respect and attention for his play. Snow finished the game with 193 passing yards, 45 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. While Snow is currently injured, his story is still not done being written. 

Click HERE for the Cleveland.com article on the game