The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kick off high school football with our special section
Kirtland faces Lake Catholic, Mentor travels to Medina and Chardon battles North. John Kampf looks at the top games involving area teams. Plus, the Way We See ’Em.
KIRTLAND AT LAKE CATHOLIC
What: Nonconference game When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium Last year’s result: Did not
play Last year’s records: Kirtland 15-0, Lake Catholic 4-6 On the airwaves: WHKAM 1420
For the record: The Hornets come into the game having won 30 games in a row, including a Division VI state championship in 2018 and a Division V crown in 2019. The Hornets’ regularseason winning streak is at 31 games, dating to a Week 9 loss to Cuyahoga Heights in 2016 . ... Kirtland returns first team Division V All-Ohioans in RB Mason Sullivan and OG Kiki Grman. The run-oriented Hornets will also see Danny Davidson, Nick Schwartz, Anthony DeMarco and others running the ball . ... Third-team All-Ohioan CB Joey Grazia and LB Carson Andonian lead the physical defense . ... Lake Catholic is led by senior dual-threat QB Joe Malchesky. He has a young skill set around him, but look for Tyler Seacrist to get a lot of carries. OL Sean Gibbons is a veteran leader in the trenches. The Cougars’ front seven is strong and physical, led by linebackers Simon Taraska and Ryan Joy.
MENTOR AT MEDINA
What: Greater Cleveland Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Ken Dukes Stadium Last year’s result: Mentor 63, Medina 7 Last year’s records: Mentor 13-1, Medina 7-4
For the record: The Cardinals are under the tutelage of first-year head coach Matt Gray, but goals remain high. All-Ohio QB Ian Kipp returns for his senior season after throwing for 2,314 yards and rushing for 849 last year. Riley Coughlin ran for more than 600 yards last year in a backup role and is ready to carry the load this year. Hutch Baird is the most experienced receiver. The offensive line, led by Hunter Colao, Tommy Shea and Stan Zalewski, should be formidable. Defensively, the front four is nasty, with Greg Predina, Brenan Vernon and Preston Cardina bringing experience to the table . ... For Coach Larry Laird’s Bees, Drew Aller threw for 1,802 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. Ryan Gillespie is an experienced QB, too. The Bees run a five-wide, pass-happy offense, which means this game could take forever when you consider Mentor’s propensity to throw the ball, too. Receivers Luke Hensley, Jajuan Jackson, Matt Spatny and Ben Butler can cause matchup problems for teams.
NORTH AT CHARDON
What: Western Reserve Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Memorial Field Last year’s result: Chardon 47, North 7 Last year’s records: Chardon 10-3, North 3-7
For the record: Don’t expect many passes, with both offenses geared to run the ball. Chardon advanced to a Division III regional final a year ago and returns a slew of letterwinners from that team. QB Drew Fetchik has a stable of running backs behind him such as James Pettyjohn, Sean Carr, Evan Ash, Vince Ferrante, Cade McDevitt and others. Receivers Brady Toth and Nathanael Sulka are both in the 6-5 range and can go up and get the ball . ... North counters with a mammoth offensive line of its own, including 315-pound Ethan Spoth and 320-pound Ryan Baer. The Rangers have a fast and slippery QB in Chris Molica and a fast group of running backs as well . ... The two keys to this game are 1) whoever plays better run defense will have the upper hand, and 2) whoever wins the battle in the trenches will win. This should be a physical bloodbath.
SOUTH AT RIVERSIDE
What: Western Reserve Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Riverside Stadium Last year’s result: Riverside 26, South 7
Last year’s records: Riverside 4-6, South 6-4
For the record: Both teams are coming off solid 2019 campaigns and return a ton of talent. South returns 34 letterwinners, while Riverside returns 24 . ... The visiting Rebels have a star back in junior Ira Sampson. The 6-foot, 220-pounder is big, physical, durable and fast. South will look to establish the run and then let sophomore QB Colin Quinlan go to work in the passing game. He has many targets, including senior Vince D’Eusanio. ... Riverside returns more starters than South. QB Dom Ludlow is a seasoned leader and all four of his starting receivers back, as well as running back Cayman Locher. Put a big, experienced offensive line in front of them and the Beavers are going to be a load to contend with this year . ... Riverside has a side advantage on the lines that South will have to contend with.
MADISON AT GENEVA
What: Non-conference game When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: SPIRE Institute Last year’s result: Geneva 22, Madison 19
Last year’s records: Geneva 8-2, Madison 4-6
For the record: This rivalry has been close for the last number of years. The Eagles won by three last year, the Blue Streaks won, 22-14, in 2018, and Madison took a 28-21 win in 2017. This is shaping up to be the same type of game. Both teams sustained heavy graduation losses last spring, so a big key here will be which team grows up the fastest in the season opener . ... The visiting Blue Streaks are led by senior Austin McCourt (a 1,000-yard rusher last year) and versatile Brad McKeon. First-year QB Michael O’Brien has a lot of talent, but is green . ... The Eagles return two-way battering ram Charlie Taylor (FB-DE) and quarterback Ben Scibona. Keep an eye on junior Brady Peet, who steps into a larger offensive role this year after focusing primarily on defense last season . ... Both teams have a lot of newcomers in the trenches, too . ... Run defense and whoever avoids youthful mistakes will be big keys here.
CARDINAL AT BERKSHIRE
What: CVC Valley Division game When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: William A. Reed
Field Last year’s result: Berkshire 47, Cardinal 33
Last year’s records: Berkshire 6-4, Cardinal 4-6
For the record: The Kinsman Cup usually finds itself at or near the end of the schedule for these two Geauga County teams. This year, it’s the lidlifter. Berkshire took last year’s game in an offensive shootout, and this year’s edition might be more of the same. ... Jacob Brown returns to pilot the Berkshire offense. Evan McDermott is back at RB and two experienced receivers in Blake Jenkins and Hunter Gifford return. The Badgers’ offensive line, with three starters back, is big and physical. Two-way starter Lucas Stoddard (6-4, 220) is a hand full . ... Cardinal returns their QB, too, in senior Joey Soltis. RB Ethan Detweiler can fly. Brandon Collins also has experience at RB. The Huskies, like the Badgers, feature a big, physical and experienced offensive line. ... This could be another high-scoring affair. A turnover here or there — or a key defensive stop — could change the complexion of the game.
BENEDICTINE AT WARREN HARDING
What: Nonconference game When: 7 p.m., Aug. 28 Where: Warren Mollenkopf Stadium Last year’s result: Did not
play Last year’s records:
Benedictine 10-2, Warren Harding 7-3
For the record: Both teams were Division II playoff teams a year ago . ... The Bengals are led by senior QB Ronnie Schultz, who threw for 1,887 yards and 23 touchdowns last year. With receivers like Chris Gales, Angelo Lott and Terrance Hollon around him, the talent is there for a wide-open attack. The big offensive line is anchored by Robert Morris commit Luke Beltavski. Kicker Ivan Shuran is one of the best in the area, if not the state . ... The Raiders return senior quarterback Elijah Taylor. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is getting MidAmerican Conference looks and can throw and pass. Senior LB-RB Emarion Perkins (6-0, 190) is a big playmaker on both sides of the ball. DE Jabari Felton is only 6-1, 198 but is fast coming off the edge.