The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Browns are taking on Williams’ personality
If only the Browns could hit the rewind button and start the season over again with Gregg Williams as their head coach, Freddie Kitchens as their offensive coordinator, Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback, Nick Chubb as their starting running back, Greg Joseph as their kicker, Greg Robinson as their left tackle and package it all into the aggressive approach they took against the Atlanta Falcons – how different the AFC North standings might look today.
The Browns on Nov. 11 played their most complete game in four years to beat the Falcons, 28-16, and in the process snapped their four-game losing streak and the Falcons’ three-game winning streak. The last time they turned in such a total effort was Nov. 6, 2014, when they beat the Bengals, 24-3, on a Thursday night in Cincinnati.
Players cracked jokes after beating the Falcons. That hasn’t happened since – I might have forgotten a time or two, but that hasn’t happened often since the Frank Minnifield and Hanford Dixon days 30 years ago.
“I just woke up feeling really dangerous,” Mayfield said mysteriously after completing 17 of 20 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns in his best day as a pro.
Mayfield was not sacked and the Browns did not turn the ball over.
In Division III, Kenston (11-1) will square off against Canfield (11-1) at Warren Mollenkopf Stadium for the Region 9 title. Kickoff there will be 7 p.m.
In Division VI, Kirtland (12-0) will face Mogadore (11-1) for the Region 21 crown in a rematch of last year’s semifinal game. The Hornets and Wildcats will meet up at Aurora’s Veterans Stadium for a 7 p.m. clash.
While Mentor and Kirtland, each of which were state runner-up teams last year, are familiar to this situation, Kenston is not. This is the first time in 23 years that Kenston is in the regional championship game.
The last time it happened, current Kenston coach Jeff Grubich was a senior at Kenston’s rival Chagrin Falls.
“Twenty-three years, back in 1995,” Grubich said. “I remember all those Kenston guys — Jon Wervey, Andy Ruhle, Tyson Walter — all good dudes who are still in the area. I hated them at the time, but now I’m in Bomber Country. It’s a great time for all of us.”
Grubich said Wervey, who is the transportation business, has already contacted him offering buses to Mollenkopf Stadium for the landmark game.
Grubich is no stranger to regional and state-level games. He is a former assistant coach on Coach Steve Trivisonno’s Mentor program.
“It’s been eight years since I’ve had a chance to be in a game like this,” Grubich said. “When you’re at Mentor, you grow accustomed Kenston’s Anthony Valocchi (20) helps bring down a Buckeye ballcarrier on Nov. 9.
to it. I’m like a giddy little schoolboy right now. I’m so ready. I told the kids if I had my way, we’d be out practicing now. I can’t wait to get out with our dudes, bust our butts and attack this big challenge ahead of us.”
While Kenston is in a new situation, Mentor and Kirtland are in familiar situations on a few fronts. Not only do both teams often make deep postseason runs, but they are also facing opponents they have faced recently.
Mentor defeated St. Edward, 42-39, in the regular-season opener this year. And Kirtland defeated Mogadore, 34-28, in a regional semifinal a year ago.
Mentor also gets to play on a familiar turf, as the Cardinals defeated Euclid earlier this season at Euclid Community Stadium.
“Everybody is excited about getting back and having a chance to win a regional championship,” Trivisonno said. “It was a great atmosphere last year against St. Ignatius, and I’m sure it will be again against Ed’s. Let’s get back to work
and get ready to go.”
Trivisonno said St. Edward exploited his team’s pass coverage in the first meeting of the season, something his team will want to shore up for the rematch.
He said sophomore quarterback Ian Kipp is nearly back to 100 percent from a shoulder injury that sidelined him three weeks late in the season, but that junior running back Brian Trobel likely won’t be 100 percent the rest of the way. Trobel (ankle) ran for 75 yards and two scores in the semifinal win over Canton McKinley.
“Defense is going to be the biggest key,” Trivisonno said. “This is the best offense we’ve seen. They were great the first time we played them. It’s going to be a challenge, especially on defense.
“It was a barn-burner the first time we met this year, and I’m sure it will be again.”
LaVerde is expecting a similar barn-burner type of game against Mogadore. It was that way last year, too,
when the only thing that saved the Hornets from defeat was a Mogadore player dropping the ball on his way to the end zone with what likely would have been the game-winning score.
“It was 22-22 at halftime and they hit a bomb over our heads and were running in to win the game,” LaVerde said. “And their kid dropped the ball, fortunately for us.”
Kirtland is 6-3 all-time in regional championship games, a record that will receive a stern test against the Wildcats.
Kirtland is coming off a 35-0 win over Creston Norwayne. The Hornets have given up only 32 points in 12 games and have yet to give up a rushing touchdown.
“I tell ya what, Mogadore beat two really good teams in Columbia and McDonald,” LaVerde said. “And they handled Rootstown pretty easily, too. They’re not real big — they’re smaller and quicker than what we just saw in Norwayne. But, boy, they execute their offense very, very well. That’s an impressive team to watch on film.”
Kirtland has some history at Aurora’s Veterans Stadium. The last time the Hornets played there was in 2012 in a 38-37 win over Youngstown Ursuline in a regional final.
“We were down, 24-0, at the half and I can remember being sad for our kids,” LaVerde said. “We were 12-0 and I wanted to show people how good they were, and we were down 24-0 and had eight total yards and no first downs at the half.
“We scored 38 points in the second half, had 400some yards, and won. That place was jumping. That’s one of the funnest games I’ve ever been part of.”