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WEEK TWO: Previews
Thursday 09-02-2010 11:32pm ET
 VS.  # 10 Mayfield Wildcats VS. Willoughby South Rebels
Friday, Sept. 3 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ South Football Stadium
Over the past 11 years Mayfield and Willoughby South have become very familiar with each other, having played every season since 1999. Over the past decade the series between the Wildcats and Rebels has been full of great games, but it has certainly had its fair share of blowout victories. One of those blowouts occurred last season at Mayfield’s Municipal Stadium when Larry Pinto’s Wildcats dismantled the Rebels 40-18. Following the loss, head coach Matt Duffy’s squad went on to win seven of their final eight games, but fell less than one computer point short of making the playoffs. If Willoughby South had beaten Mayfield, they would have definitely qualified for the postseason; instead they were home last November. The Rebels have not forgotten last year’s week two thrashing, and this season they have a realistic shot of avenging that loss. The host Rebels tallied 61 points in the first half of last week’s 61-27 win over Alliance, and while Mayfield certainly has a better defense than the Aviators; Willoughby South proved they can score at any time. In leading his team to victory, senior quarterback Ray Russ threw for 225 yards going 7-for-11 through the air and tossed three touchdown passes. His favorite target is wide receiver Aaron Lindgren, but Russ will need to share the wealth this week as the Wildcats’ defensive unit is too tough for just one guy to beat them. Running the football is obviously an option for the Rebels, but Mayfield’s defensive line, led by Rob Razzante and Joe Valente is very big up front. Mayfield quarterback Caden Loew is not as dangerous as Russ; however he has more weapons around him which might make him more effective. He threw four touchdown passes in his first start under center, but having targets like Chuck Zavarella, Stefan Rood and Ray Guerrini definitely helps. The Mayfield defensive unit was hit hard by graduation, but new guys have stepped in, and were key in not letting a speedy Bedford team run wild in week one. Friday night’s game is one of the most evenly matched contests between these two public schools in the past decade. We are calling it a toss up game, however if the Rebels make it an offensive shootout, the Wildcats may not have the tools offensively to keep up.
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# 7 Mentor Cardinals VS. Strongsville Mustangs
Friday, Sept. 3 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Pat Catan Stadium
A must-win game in week two? It sounds weird and maybe even unrealistic, but when your schedule still consists of opponents like No. 2 Solon, Massillon Washington, Willoughby South, Warren Harding, No. 9 St. Ignatius and No. 8 Euclid like the Mentor Cardinals’ does, you begin to understand why this Friday night at Pat Catan Stadium might just be a must-win game for head coach Steve Trivisonno’s team. The Cardinals fell just short of a comeback in week one as they fell to No. 4 St. Edward 35-28 in the Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but they must regroup quickly because starting 0-2 with their docket of games in 2010 could make it virtually impossible to make the playoffs. One thing is for sure, they will be without star defensive end Tom Strobel who suffered an injury to his trachea in last week’s game. The injury will sideline Strobel up to six weeks, an injury the Cardinals’ defense simply cannot afford, especially after giving up 35 points a week ago with the talented junior on the field. The good news for Mentor is their high-octane no huddle offensive attack can score on any defense, while their opponent, Strongsville, mustered just five points in a week one loss to No. 8 Euclid, and have yet to visit the end zone. The Mustangs will look to get the offense going with running back Matt Bianco behind a veteran-laden offensive line, however if that does not work, quarterback Austin Pritchard needs to throw the ball down field. Senior tight end Ray Hamilton is a nice target, but head coach Russ Jaques needs some wide receivers to step up. If Strobel was playing, we would give the advantage to Mentor, but since he isn’t this could be a toss up. Don’t forget the Mustangs did hold a talented Panthers squad to nine points. Colton Wallace should be more comfortable under center this week and when you add that to the 1-2 combo of running backs Mike Korecz and Ricky Hanzlik it is easy to understand why the Cardinals should be able to find the end zone early and often. The goal for Mentor should be trying to make this game an offensive shootout, because if it is, they should prevail on the road. However, if Jaques’ squad can keep Friday night’s game a low scoring affair as they did in week one, they have a shot to improve their record to 1-1.
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# 6 Akron Archbishop Hoban Knights VS. Walsh Jesuit Warriors
Friday, Sept. 3 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Conway Memorial Stadium
This Friday night at Conway Memorial Stadium it will truly be the tail of two completely different teams. While both teams do have talented defenses, Jerry Rardin’s Warriors are very fundamental and rarely make mistakes, while Ralph Orsini’s Knights will try to use their speed and athleticism to run up the score. Both teams come in following big week one victories, and will look to earn a huge chunk of computer points knowing that both teams should make the playoffs come November. Walsh Jesuit will look to move their offense against one of the toughest defenses in the state of Ohio regardless of division with senior quarterback Connor Cook and junior running back Ryan Jun. Cook, a Michigan State recruit, and Jun run behind a very talented offensive line and the minute defenses focus on the ground attack, Cook goes to the air where wide receiver Tyler Starkey has been his favorite weapon so far in this early season. However, Friday night will certainly be strength vs. strength as defensive end Greg McMullen and the Knights’ defensive unit is very quick to the ball and has the ability to score even on the other side of the football. Quarterback Dan Hinton should be able to guide Archbishop Hoban, as the Warriors graduated a ton of talent on the defensive side of the football, but that will certainly be the key. So who will win? All signs point to Orsini’s Knights beating the Warriors for the second year in-a-row. However, Rardin is one of the best coaches around and may just have a game plan on how to score on this talented Knights defensive unit. This could be the classic case of a “good defense always beats a good offense,”…but if Walsh Jesuit controls the clock but can somehow make it an offensive shootout, the Warriors have a chance to upset the Knights on Friday night.
WEEK TWO: Power 11 Rankings
Monday 08-30-2010 12:54pm ET
 1. Glenville Tarblooders: The Tarblooders remain atop the WTAM Power 11 poll for week two following a 28-21 comeback victory over Warren Central Saturday night in Indianapolis, IN. How would the Warren Central Warriors match up with teams here in the WTAM Power 11? The eight-time 5A Indiana State Champions would rank anywhere from No. 2 to No. 4 and heading into this showdown they were ranked No. 23 in the country. It is important to note just how good Warren Central is, because Glenville will not play a local team until week three against Shaw, yet right now they are worthy of the top spot in this poll. The Tarblooders scored on the Warriors with just 11 seconds remaining in the contest on a two-yard touchdown run by 6-6, 225 lbs. senior quarterback Cardale Jones to win the game. Had Glenville not scored when they did, Warren Central would have likely won in overtime considering the Tarblooders defense was worn down and their special teams unit had missed two extra points and a field goal earlier in the game. Nevertheless, last year’s Division I runner-up put their speed and athleticism to the Warriors for 48 minutes and it proved to be enough. While the Warrior defense contained Glenville running back Robert Walton Jr., Jones continuously hurt the opposition through the air and on the ground accounting for 257 of the offense’s 300 total yards. While senior linebacker Andre Sturdivant led the Tarblooder defense, the game ball may actually go to senior wide receiver Shane Wynn who returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, while also hauling in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jones. This week it’s another national powerhouse foe for Glenville as they head down I-71 to Columbus where they take on Dwyer at Ohio State. Week 2 vs. Dwyer (FL) 9/6.  2. Solon Comets: One thing about Solon head coach Jim McQuaide that separates him from other coaches throughout Northeast Ohio and throughout the country for that matter, is he would never make an opposing team look bad. He certainly had the opportunity Friday night at Stewart Field when his Comets hosted Shaker Heights and took advantage of four first-half turnovers to take a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. Instead of pumping up Ohio University recruit running back Kyle Hammonds’ stats or putting up 72 points, McQuaide elected to go to his third and fourth string underclassman the entire second half which resulted in Hammonds scoring just two touchdowns while rushing for 44 yards and the Comets winning over the Red Raiders 35-0 respectfully. Besides an early Shaker Heights drive the Solon defensive unit was solid, showing flashes of the Comets defense that only allowed 10.1 points per game last season. And while the defense may not boast superstar talent like former Comets Scott Greenberg, Steve Watson, Marc Leighton, Steve Valentino or Phil Hallman, senior linebacker Jovon Johnson’s 75-yard interception return for a touchdown was pretty impressive and something this Solon defensive unit can build off of. With all due respect to Shaker Heights, the Comets will likely receive a better test this week when they welcome in Columbus’ Worthington Kilbourne to Stewart Field. Scheduling conflicts forced Solon to schedule the Columbus high school, but it could be just what the doctor ordered as the Comets get ready to head to No. 7 Mentor in week three for a showdown with the Cardinals. Week 2 vs. Columbus Worthington Kilbourne 9/3.  3. Lake Catholic Cougars: In the opening week WTAM Power 11 rankings we admitted a No. 6 preseason ranking for head coach Mike Bell’s Cougars might be a snub, and we were right. Lake Catholic was quick to show they belong among the top teams in the area after beating No. 9 St. Ignatius 28-21 in the nightcap of the Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The good news for the Cougars is they won over the Wildcats……the better news is they could have won by even more. While the Lake Catholic defense shut down a young, but talented St. Ignatius offense, senior running back Richie Sanders rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns powering the Cougars to victory. One of Sanders’ touchdowns was a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown and another was a 62-yard scamper to the end zone, showing he is full of big play potential behind a veteran-laden offensive line led by Florida recruit Chase Hounshell. While question marks surrounded first-year quarterback Bryan Blondeaux, the senior looked comfortable in the pocket, especially when he found wide receiver Tommy Michals for an eight-yard touchdown pass. There is no doubt, Sanders’ running ability allows Blondeaux to open up the passing attack, but it seems like the perfect combination for this Cougar bunch that can score seemingly at any time. This Friday night at Jerome T. Osborne Sr. Stadium Lake Catholic opens up the home portion of their 2010 schedule with Benedictine, who is coming off a solid 30-13 victory over NDCL. On paper the Bengals certainly don’t look as talented as the Cougars, but you can guarantee Art Bortnick’s squad hasn’t forgotten about last year’s 35-0 home drubbing that Lake Catholic put on them. Week 2 vs. Benedictine 9/3.  4. St. Edward Eagles: Talk about making a statement. The Eagles make the biggest jump in the WTAM Power 11 this week going from No. 8 last week to No. 4 following an impressive 35-28 upset win over No. 7 Mentor in the opening contest of the Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday. And to think that St. Edward quarterback Kevin Burke almost didn’t start due to an intense summer quarterback competition with junior Henry Hilow, but second-year head coach Rick Finotti certainly made the right choice. Burke is what powered the offense, as the senior threw for 105 yards while rushing for 119 yards and three touchdowns. Burke’s ability to both run and pass confused a talented Mentor defense, which allowed Eagles running back Terrell Bates to run wild behind the most talented offensive line in Ohio, led by junior Kyle Kalis and Geoff Mogus. Bates finished with 99 yards rushing and a touchdown. Defensively St. Edward still has some work to be done, but defensive end Deonte Gibson and linebacker Avery Bailey showed the Eagles have the playmakers to make things happen on the defensive side of the football. That was evidenced by a Bailey interception and Gibson constantly putting pressure on the Cardinals backfield throughout the afternoon. This is a very balanced Eagles football team than can play with anyone in the WTAM Power 11, but with a schedule that features Youngstown power Cardinal Mooney, as well as all three Cincinnati powerhouses (Xavier, Elder and Moeller) and a week ten match up with No. 9 St. Ignatius; St. Edward can’t afford to stack up losses if they want to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Week 2 vs. Penn Hills (PA) 9/3.  5. Maple Heights Mustangs: On Friday night following the game between Maple Heights and Nordonia, the scoreboard at brand new Boliantz Stadium read 26-14 in favor of the Mustangs. Anyone there knows it was much closer than that. So much closer than the 12-point deficit that head coach Todd Filtz’ squad would have dropped a spot or two in this week’s poll had more teams in front of them been victorious, but that was not the case. The Division II state runner-up played sloppy and let Nordonia hang around too long before finally scoring with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter. And when the Knights fumbled on fourth down with two seconds left on the game clock the Mustangs padded their lead scoring a touchdown with no time on the clock. Blaming the close score due to an injury to Mustangs quarterback Shaq Washington is fine, but before he got hurt Maple Heights still trailed the Knights 7-6 in the second quarter. Andre Stubbs did well filling in for the hurt Washington under center, but the hero was senior running back DeVonte Ransom who rushed for 180 yards and a touchdown. Couple in Stubbs and Ransom’s efforts along with a defensive unit that swarmed to the football all night and it’s obvious as to why Maple Heights is still ranked No. 5 even without their star player. One thing is for sure, this Friday against lowly Normandy at Byers Field, Washington shouldn’t feel he has to rush a come back, the Mustangs should be just fine without him. Week 2 vs. Normandy 9/3. 6. Akron Archbishop Hoban Knights: In week one of the WTAM Power 11 we specifically pointed out that Archbishop Hoban has one of the better defensive units in the state of Ohio regardless of division and that it could very well be the reason head coach Ralph Orsini’s team wins many football games in 2010. Well on Thursday night at Dowed Field the Knights wasted little time proving us right as they defeated a scrappy Akron Garfield bunch 30-13 in the season opener. With the Knights up 17-13 and the clock ticking in the fourth quarter the Rams began a drive with under nine minutes to go that they hoped could carry them to an upset of Archbishop Hoban. However, Orsini’s squad wasn’t in the mood for any close calls; Akron Garfield quarterback Darius Hoisten dropped back to pass, but while scrambling away from defenders junior defensive end Greg McMullen stripped the ball, and once it popped out, safety Nate Greczanik scooped up the football and ran it in 19 yards for a touchdown. Add in an extra point from Hoban kicker Tyler Gerwig and the score became 24-14, a lead the Knights would never relinquish. The Rams moved the ball in the first half and scored the game’s first touchdown, but Archbishop Hoban did what they will probably do all season, make adjustments. And once adjustments were made, Akron Garfield did earn a first down in the second half. Despite the night belonging to the defense, senior quarterback Dan Hinton was solid, along with wide receiver Trevor Oldham. The Knights’ rough docket of games continues this week when they invade Cuyahoga Falls to take on a very good Walsh Jesuit football team. Week 2 vs. Walsh Jesuit 9/3. 7. Mentor Cardinals: The old axiom, “Too little, too late” must have been ringing in head coach Steve Trivisonno’s ears Saturday afternoon as he watched his Cardinals fall to No. 4 St. Edward 35-28 in the opening contest of the Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Defensively Mentor could not contain the Eagles offense early in the game and on the offensive side of the football the Cardinals waited too long to open up their playbook. Following a 9-yard touchdown run by St. Edward quarterback Kevin Burke, the Eagles led 35-14 in the waning minutes of the third quarter. Suddenly Trivisonno knew something had to change, but the deficit was too much. When he finally did elect to put quarterback Colton Wallace at receiver and sophomore Mitch Trubisky under center the Cardinals offense responded scoring two unanswered touchdowns. The loss dropped Mentor’s record to 0-1 on the season, but they will need to regroup this week as they head to Strongsville to take on the Mustangs at Pat Catan Stadium. Contrary to reports in the preseason, the Cardinals still run the no-huddle shotgun offense and were clocked against St. Edward at getting plays off every 12-14 seconds. Mentor’s problem is their two best offensive weapons play the same position in senior running backs Mike Korecz and Ricky Hanzlik. This factor makes them a very one dimensional team, that is still dangerous with re-directions and draw plays; but with the schedule the Cardinals play, they need to air out the football more if they even want to smell the postseason. Week 2 vs. Strongsville 9/3.  8. Euclid Panthers: If the WTAM Power 11 poll was based on how a team wins, Euclid may never be mentioned as a team to even watch for. The good news for Tom Gibbons’ squad is we merely look at talent and wins and losses. While Thursday night’s 9-5 victory over Strongsville at Sparky DiBiasio Stadium wasn’t anything majestic, it was hard nosed athletic football that has become synonymous with the Panthers the past three seasons. Sure, at times they lacked fundamentals and other times they even seemed lackadaisical, but the bottom line is Euclid got the “W” against an improved Mustangs football team. In order to beat the Panthers opposing defenses must contain quarterback Chuck Bradford who is a dual threat to both run and pass; Strongsville pretty much did that. The only problem is they forgot about Euclid senior running back Allen Crawford, who rushed for a game-high 131 yards, and also returned the game’s opening kick off 52 yards to set up a Mike Ruscin 39-yard field goal. Yes, the Panthers have a field goal kicker. How important is that? Just ask No. 1 Glenville or No. 5 Maple Heights. Led by linebacker Jamaal Henry, the defensive unit swarms to the football and has big play potential. And if you think 5-8, 155 lbs. cornerback Josh Kitchen is a weakness offenses can attack, simply ask Russ Jaques…Kitchen’s interception on the 7-yard line with 1:33 remaining the fourth quarter sealed the victory for Euclid. This week the Panthers travel to Judy Kirsch Field where the Brunswick Blue Devils are looking for an upset; it will be another tough test for Euclid, but they better get used to it, they have about seven more tough opponents. Week 2 vs. Brunswick 9/3.  9. St. Ignatius Wildcats: Year after year, season after season we see head coach Chuck Kyle reload with talent, however there are times every once in awhile where the word “rebuild” can actually be associated with St. Ignatius football. Right now, this is one of those times. In Saturday night’s 28-21 loss to No. 3 Lake Catholic in the Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Wildcats showed their youth, but played better than even we expected. It is easy to just call this a down year for Iggy, but when you really begin to look at what the Wildcats actually lost this offseason, a 28-21 loss to one of the better teams in Ohio regardless of division isn’t all that bad. Don’t tell Kyle or his team that, but it’s true. In Saturday’s loss, St. Ignatius featured 11 new faces of the defensive side of the football. Couple that factor with a new quarterback and no running back Bobby Grebenc, who left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury, and you begin to understand the process of rebuilding a perennial power. Now, while the defense did struggle to contain Lake Catholic’s Richie Sanders, junior quarterback Matt Hoyer was impressive throwing three touchdown passes, two of which went to his favorite target, wide receiver David Joseph. Sophomore wide out Tim McVey also caught a touchdown pass. This Friday the Wildcats head to Bedford’s Bearcat Stadium, where they should get an opportunity to correct some of the things that gave them problems in their opening week loss to the Cougars. And believe it or not, it is already a must-win game for St. Ignatius. With opponents on their 2010 docket of games much stronger than Bedford, the Wildcats cannot afford an upset this week. The scary thing is, they play a Bearcats team that is much improved under first-year head coach Sean Williams. While the Bearcats did lose 29-19 to No. 10 Mayfield in week one, it was a game they could have won, and also gained 333 yards offensively on a tough defense. Most seasons St. Ignatius would probably use this game as tune-up for week three. If that is their attitude heading into Friday, an 0-2 record is what they’ll likely be staring at. Week 2 vs. Bedford 9/3. 10. Mayfield Wildcats: Losing 17 starters is never easy for any high school team. Just ask St. Ignatius who lost 16 starters and opened up week one with a loss. Mayfield lost one more than Chuck Kyle’s squad, but despite playing a weaker opponent in the opening week of the regular season it is clear Larry Pinto’s Wildcats have reloaded. On Friday night at Mayfield’s Municipal Stadium the Wildcats got by upset-minded Beford 29-19 and proved they belonged in the WTAM Power 11 yet again. Giving up 333 yards defensively is something Pinto knows his team will have to fix if they are going to have any success this season, but the fact that junior quarterback Caden Loew looked as comfortable under center in week one as any Wildcats quarterback since Chad Breeden is a good sign. Loew was 9-of-18 through the air for 172 yards, and threw four touchdowns in his debut; two of them to his top target Chuck Zavarella. Heading into this season there was concern whether Zavarella was the only offensive weapon for the Wildcats, but touchdown receptions from Stefan Rood and Ray Guerrini quickly ended any speculation to those questions. Again Mayfield is big up front and will likely have an advantage in the trenches this season regardless of who they play. There is no doubt though, roles have been reversed for the Wildcats. Any time you think of the green and black attack you think of the defensive side of the football. In week one Bedford exposed weaknesses for Mayfield’s defensive unit; the good thing is the Wildcats finally have an offense that can put up points up on the scoreboard. If they are eventually able to put everything together on both sides of the football, this will be a hard team to beat come playoff time. For now though, this Mayfield offense needs to score points, because their opponent this week Willoughby South, is coming off a 61-27 win over Alliance, and they have no problem putting the ball in the end zone. Week 2 vs. Willoughby South 9/3.  11. Avon Eagles: Talk about putting yourself on the map. That is what Avon did Friday night as they dismantled former WTAM Power 11 member Avon Lake 21-3. The Shoremen were ranked No. 10 last week after reloading with talent this offseason and were projected to have yet another great season; somebody forgot to tell Avon head coach Mike Elder and his Eagles. Early on Avon trailed Avon Lake 3-0 as expected, but what happened over the next 40 minutes certainly was not. The Eagles went on to score 21 unanswered points and it should have been more. Avon senior quarterback Cody Schroeder was 11-for-18 through the air for 188 yards, while throwing two touchdown passes. And while Schroeder was certainly a big reason for the Eagles’ upset victory, having the two fastest guys on the field on his team in sophomore wide receiver Ralph Smith and junior wide out Matt Eckhardt certainly helped. Smith and Eckhardt scored on touchdown receptions of 54 and 47-yards that seemed to deflate a shocked Shoremen defense. Avon is very balanced offensively as Schroeder can hurt teams through the air, but senior running back Patrick Furnas, who had the third Eagles touchdown, compliments a dangerous passing attack. Unlike St. Edward, Avon’s offensive line isn’t filled with household names like Kyle Kalis or Geoff Mogus, but the front five certainly dominated in the trenches Friday opening up holes and giving a good amount of pass protection. And let’s not forget, the Eagles defensive unit held a talented Avon Lake team to just three points. The common thought may be, “Well this Avon team won’t last long in the WTAM Power 11.” Trust us, the Eagles are as balanced as anyone in this poll and when you add in a cupcake schedule the remainder of the season, you begin to realize that Avon going 10-0 in the regular season is not an unrealistic possibility. Week 2 vs. Wellington 9/3.
Other teams to watch for: Twinsburg Tigers, Willoughby South Rebels, Kent Roosevelt Rough Riders, St. Vincent – St. Mary Fighting Irish, Benedictine Bengals, Nordonia Knights, Stow Bulldogs and Westlake Demons.WEEK ONE: Previews
Friday 08-27-2010 12:15am ET
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# 6 Lake Catholic Cougars VS. # 4 St. Ignatius Wildcats
Saturday, Aug. 28 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Cleveland Browns Stadium
This showdown between the Wildcats and Cougars will be the nightcap of the 2010 Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium and it promises to be an action packed contest. In most seasons this match up would favor St. Ignatius, because while Lake Catholic has been solid, competing with head coach Chuck Kyle’s squad takes a certain level of play that the Cougars simply could not reach due to personnel. This season it’s a different story. So much of a different story that head coach Mike Bell’s squad may actually be the favorite this Saturday night. While the Wildcats have the best resume in Northeast Ohio and have dominated Division I for years; Lake Catholic, a Division II program is good enough to compete with every team in Region I. The Cougars return 17 starters from a team that went all the way to the Division II State Semifinals last season, including running back Richie Sanders, who in week five suffered a season ending broken collarbone injury. Even without their best player (Sanders), Lake Catholic still went deep into the postseason. But this week he is back, and that’s why this Cougar bunch may just be the best team the Lake County school has ever had. St. Ignatius is the complete opposite of their upcoming opponent. The Wildcats graduated 18 starters and could be in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. This Iggy team is reminiscent of the 2002 and 2005 teams that also lost a ton of talent to graduation, but barely made the playoffs. The Wildcats will look to control the clock with a steady ground attack led by running back Bobby Grebenc. St. Ignatius must run the football, because while tight ends Blake Thomas and Zach Strippy, along with wide receiver David Joseph are solid targets, quarterback Matt Hoyer will be throwing against one of the top defensive backfields in the state, led by Cougars seniors Anthony Urbania and Connor Briggs. If Kyle’s squad can run the football and control the clock, they may have a chance of avoiding an upset, but on paper things certainly favor Lake Catholic. The Cougars veteran-laden offensive line holds the edge in the trenches and when you couple that with a full dose of Sanders pounding the football it is not a good combination for the Wildcats. The only way St. Ignatius wins this contest is if it’s a low scoring affair that becomes a defensive battle, because they simply don’t have enough weapons to score consistently on the Cougars, while Lake Catholic has potential to get in the end zone every offensive series.
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# 3 Mentor Cardinals VS. # 8 St. Edward Eagles
Saturday, Aug. 28 Kickoff at 3:00 P.M. @ Cleveland Browns Stadium
Following this opening week of the high school football season there are nine more weeks of the regular season followed by five weeks of the playoffs. In those final 14 weeks we may not see a more evenly matched game than the first contest of the Charity Game at Cleveland Browns Stadium Saturday afternoon between the Eagles and Cardinals. It will likely turn into a defensive football game, but that is merely because both teams have two of the best defenses in Northeast Ohio. While St. Edward is led by defensive end Deonte Gibson, Mentor is led by junior Tom Strobel and both will hope to lead their defenses against two offenses that seem shaky. The Eagles have not announced who will start at quarterback between senior Kevin Burke and junior Henry Hilow, but both of them will try to guide an offense that struggled at times last season. Offensively things will start with running back Terrell Bates, and while yes, Bates is certainly talented, he will be even better behind maybe the best offensive line in the state of Ohio. The problem for St. Edward is passing the football. They are definitely a run first team, because their ground attack is so good, but also because they are not too effective when airing out the football. It is something head coach Steve Trivisonno’s Cardinals will try to take advantage of, but they also have some offensive head aches. While running backs Mike Korecz and Ricky Hanzlik return, the offense will run more under center, instead of the shotgun-option look it has the past nine years. Couple a new-look offense with a lack of depth at wide receiver and you begin to understand why this could be a defensive-type game. So, who wins? The edge has to be with Rick Finotti’s Eagles. Yes, they could struggle to put points on the board early, but overall their defensive unit is better than Mentor and they have the ability with Bates and a huge offensive line full of studs to control the clock and pound the football. That is not to say, Mentor will lose. They too will try to control the clock with a dangerous 1-2 combo at running back. But heading in, the more balanced team looks to be St. Edward, and it’s a win the program desperately needs.
VS.
Strongsville Mustangs VS. # 11 Euclid Panthers
Friday, Aug. 27 Kickoff at 7:00 P.M. @ Sparky DiBiasio Stadium
The Mustangs and Panthers have played twice the past two seasons and in both contests the games came down to the final possession of the game, this Friday night at Sparky DiBiasio Stadium in Euclid we expect that trend to continue. In the 2008 playoffs Strongsville got by Tom Gibbons’ squad 35-28 in the first round of the postseason. The following year in 2009, the Mustangs and Panthers met again to open up the regular season at Pat Catan Stadium and Euclid escaped with a 21-14 win. You could never find two teams more opposite than Russ Jaques’ fundamentally sound Mustangs and Gibbons’ athletically gifted scrappy bunch, but that is what makes this game so fun. While Strongsville will make a game time decision on who will start between quarterbacks Zach Sedivy and Austin Pritchard, the Panthers know their offensive catalyst is senior quarterback Chuck Bradford. Bradford is a dual threat to both run and pass, but if defenses completely shift their focus to him, running back Allen Crawford has the ability to make them pay. The offensive line is suspect for Euclid, but Bradford is good enough to scramble until he finds targets down field, and if he finds wide receiver Mike Wynn the Mustangs could be in trouble. The one advantage Strongsville does have is depth. If they can keep things close early on and use Iowa bound tight end Ray Hamilton to move the ball down field it will help the green and white’s chances. Late in games last season Gibbons’ squad continually got tired due to a lack of depth, so if the Mustangs keep things close throughout the night, come fourth quarter they have a real good shot of getting by this Panthers bunch. However, for three quarters the advantage belongs to Euclid on their home turf. They should not only be able score, and score often on Strongsville, the Panthers defensive unit has the speed and intensity to shut down a suspect Mustangs offense. If it is close heading into the final quarter of play, Jaques’ squad could upset the Panthers…but this one could already be over after 36 minutes.
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