The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Big plays on D lead Cardinals
Sophomore defensive back Noah Gladish watched when Mentor fell to Pickerington Central in the 2017 Division I state championship game.
A year later, he’s embraced an opportunity to play an active role in the Cardinals’ pursuit of a state title.
Mentor opened its 2018 postseason with a 38-7 win over Strongsville on Nov. 2. Alone, Gladish outscored the Mustangs’ offense.
The Cardinals led by a score when Gladish stepped in front of a pass and returned it 21 yards for a score. He iced Mentor’s win in the fourth quarter with a second pick-six.
“This is incredible,” Gladish said. “Last year, they came up a little short and I’m glad to be on the team helping them out to get there again.”
Mentor advances to a D-I Region 1 semifinal against Canton McKinley at a site to be determined.
Sophomore starting quarterback Ian Kipp returned from a shoulder injury to complete 15 of 21 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Mason Trubisky led the Cardinals’ receivers with six catches for 60 yards. Mentor’s defense forced four turnovers and allowed 222 yards.
As far as a regional quarterfinal goes, the Cardinals accomplished everything Coach Steve Trivisonno needed to see. He was most encouraged by Kipp’s return after he did not play in Mentor’s final three games.
Kipp kept a handful of plays alive with his feet and made strong throws on the run. His two touchdowns were splash plays. Kipp connected with Charlie Gallo down the left sideline for a 63-yard score then hit Luke Floriea over the middle for a 61-yard score later in the first half.
“He looked pretty good,” Trivisonno said of Kipp. “He took some shots, which is kind of what I wanted to see. We did what we needed to do, so I was pleased.”
Strongsville began the game with possession and Mentor forced a three-andout. Brian Trobel capped the Cardinals’ first drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Mentor converted once on fourth down and twice on third down to sustain its drive.
Kipp’s 17-yard pass to Trubisky on third down set up the team’s first score. After James Pedley and Noah Potter sacked Tyler Wolters on fourth down, Gallo scored two plays later for a 14-0 Mentor lead.
Early in the second quarter, Gladish’s first pick-six put the Cardinals up, 21-0. Mentor’s pressure flushed Wolters out of the pocket and forced him to throw on the run. Gladish stepped in front of his pass to the sideline and continued into the end zone.
Floriea caught a pass with less than four minutes to play in the quarter and raced past the Mustangs’ defense for a 61-yard score. Mentor led, 28-0, at halftime.
Wolters’ 64-yard touchdown pass to Joe Gillette put Strongsville on the board in the second half. Kipp’s 31-yard pass to Nolan Vernon set up Conor McIntosh’s 31-yard field goal. Gladish closed out Mentor’s win with 1:17 to play in the fourth quarter when he intercepted Wolters at midfield and returned it 53 yards to the end zone.
The Cardinals’ defensive backs spent the week preparing for the doublemoves Strongsville’s receivers would try to use on their routes.
Twice, Gladish recognized Wolters would throw his way and pounced.
“I was looking for it the whole game,” Gladish said. “We were talking about it in practice all week, waiting for it. I knew it was going to happen.”
Wolters completed 21 of 34 passes for 210 yards. He threw a touchdown and three interceptions. Gillete finished with 132 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
After Mentor defeated Strongsville during the regular season, Coach Lou Cirino understood the task at hand Nov. 2.
“You have to play perfect football,” Cirino said. “Every kid has to be assignment-sound and be perfect. You can’t miss a tackle, you can’t miss an assignment on offense and they don’t do that.”