cardzfan1234
Well-known member
Mentor finished the 2024 season as GCC champions, redeemed two losses to St Ignatius from the previous season, and went 10-0 for just the third time since the 1970's. All in all, couldn't have asked for much better out of the regular season. In the playoffs, Mentor took care of business before ultimately falling to the Region 1 standard: St Edward.
The Cardinals had a lot of individual accolades highlighted by 1st Team All-Ohio selections like QB Scotty Fox, RB Jackson Farley, and OL Landry Brede. Justen Hodge, Spencer Barninger, Julian Solis, and Dylan Tackett earned 2nd Team All-Ohio. Austin VanHuss earned 3rd Team honors. Fox (a West Virginia commit), Barninger, Solis, VanHuss, Tackett, and Caiden Clair highlighted a strong senior class that will be missed.
I called 2024 a "put up or shut up" year for Coach Matt Gray. Sure, the loss to St Eds was disappointing because it was a very winnable game. Mentor hasn't won a region title since 2020, Gray's first season. This four year stretch without a Region 1 title is the longest in twenty years. 2024 was by far their most realistic chance to win the region since 2020. But overall, Gray led the team to a very good season and I am going to give credit to the coaching staff.
Offensively, the biggest question mark on the team is at QB. Since 2000, Mentor has had a very steady line of excellent QB play. Almost every offseason, it is pretty clear who the next QB is and that player is usually one of the top talents in the state. After the graduation of Fox, there is a big hole that needs to be replaced. Rumors of potential transfers to play the position exist. But looking at the current roster, Fox's backup (Brogan Jones) is the most likely player to take over as starter. The offensive line was a consistent strength of the team. Landry Brede (6'6, 285), JoJo LoDuca (6'3, 270), Colin Prichard (6'5, 270), and Gibril McLendon (6'3, 265) return as they will be part of the biggest and potentially most talented offensive lines Mentor has had. Brede is an All-Ohio talent that will be headed to the Big Ten. LoDuca also has DI offers. The return of Jackson Farley is a significant boost to an offense that will be replacing their All-Ohio QB. Farley had an excellent 2024 and big things are ahead for his senior season behind that line. Dominic Burns is another solid back that will provide depth at the position when he spells Farley in short stints. While Mentor is graduating three of their four receivers, they do return their most talented and productive one: Justen Hodge. Since coming onto the scene as a freshman catching a TD pass in a playoff win over Medina, Hodge has demonstrated a lot of big play potential. Whomever is the new QB will have an elite talent at receiver in Hodge.
Defensively, the team put together another good season. The strength of the team was in the front seven, especially at middle linebacker with Barninger and Clair. Those two had tremendous seasons and leave a big hole at the position. Ben Schenk is the lone returning starter at linebacker. Up front, Chase Coleman and Logan Hollis are returning starters on the defensive line. Xavyion Dunn is a corner that usually gets the toughest receiver assignment. He is back and will be a three-year starter in a secondary that will be replacing the other three starters.
On paper (depending on how the Week 1 game gets scheduled), this is a team that should have no less than 9 regular season wins. The St Ignatius game looks to be the toughest, which might make the Wildcat faithful chuckle. Maybe that is just a reality of a GCC that is very down. Cleveland Heights was by far Mentor's toughest conference test, but they graduated a lot of talent and are losing their most valuable culture builders in their coaches Mac and Hicks. Strongsville will probably be the game that determines the league as I don't have much confidence in Medina bouncing back.
I have the same expectations for 2025 as I did for 2024. I expect Mentor to beat every team before them in the regular season and Region 1 playoffs except St Edward, who should be tougher in 2025 than the team Mentor played last month. How the QB position is settled will be the difference between a good team that can just get through an easy schedule versus a team that is a legitimate Region 1 contender to the Eagles.
Schedule:
Week 1 @ Olmsted Falls
Week 2 @ Erie McDowell (PA)
Week 3 (H) Cleveland St. Ignatius
Week 4 @ Brunswick
Week 5 (H) Medina
Week 6 @ Cleveland Heights
Week 7 (H) Strongsville
Week 8 (H) Shaker Heights
Week 9 @ Lorain
Week 10 (H) Euclid
The Cardinals had a lot of individual accolades highlighted by 1st Team All-Ohio selections like QB Scotty Fox, RB Jackson Farley, and OL Landry Brede. Justen Hodge, Spencer Barninger, Julian Solis, and Dylan Tackett earned 2nd Team All-Ohio. Austin VanHuss earned 3rd Team honors. Fox (a West Virginia commit), Barninger, Solis, VanHuss, Tackett, and Caiden Clair highlighted a strong senior class that will be missed.
I called 2024 a "put up or shut up" year for Coach Matt Gray. Sure, the loss to St Eds was disappointing because it was a very winnable game. Mentor hasn't won a region title since 2020, Gray's first season. This four year stretch without a Region 1 title is the longest in twenty years. 2024 was by far their most realistic chance to win the region since 2020. But overall, Gray led the team to a very good season and I am going to give credit to the coaching staff.
Offensively, the biggest question mark on the team is at QB. Since 2000, Mentor has had a very steady line of excellent QB play. Almost every offseason, it is pretty clear who the next QB is and that player is usually one of the top talents in the state. After the graduation of Fox, there is a big hole that needs to be replaced. Rumors of potential transfers to play the position exist. But looking at the current roster, Fox's backup (Brogan Jones) is the most likely player to take over as starter. The offensive line was a consistent strength of the team. Landry Brede (6'6, 285), JoJo LoDuca (6'3, 270), Colin Prichard (6'5, 270), and Gibril McLendon (6'3, 265) return as they will be part of the biggest and potentially most talented offensive lines Mentor has had. Brede is an All-Ohio talent that will be headed to the Big Ten. LoDuca also has DI offers. The return of Jackson Farley is a significant boost to an offense that will be replacing their All-Ohio QB. Farley had an excellent 2024 and big things are ahead for his senior season behind that line. Dominic Burns is another solid back that will provide depth at the position when he spells Farley in short stints. While Mentor is graduating three of their four receivers, they do return their most talented and productive one: Justen Hodge. Since coming onto the scene as a freshman catching a TD pass in a playoff win over Medina, Hodge has demonstrated a lot of big play potential. Whomever is the new QB will have an elite talent at receiver in Hodge.
Defensively, the team put together another good season. The strength of the team was in the front seven, especially at middle linebacker with Barninger and Clair. Those two had tremendous seasons and leave a big hole at the position. Ben Schenk is the lone returning starter at linebacker. Up front, Chase Coleman and Logan Hollis are returning starters on the defensive line. Xavyion Dunn is a corner that usually gets the toughest receiver assignment. He is back and will be a three-year starter in a secondary that will be replacing the other three starters.
On paper (depending on how the Week 1 game gets scheduled), this is a team that should have no less than 9 regular season wins. The St Ignatius game looks to be the toughest, which might make the Wildcat faithful chuckle. Maybe that is just a reality of a GCC that is very down. Cleveland Heights was by far Mentor's toughest conference test, but they graduated a lot of talent and are losing their most valuable culture builders in their coaches Mac and Hicks. Strongsville will probably be the game that determines the league as I don't have much confidence in Medina bouncing back.
I have the same expectations for 2025 as I did for 2024. I expect Mentor to beat every team before them in the regular season and Region 1 playoffs except St Edward, who should be tougher in 2025 than the team Mentor played last month. How the QB position is settled will be the difference between a good team that can just get through an easy schedule versus a team that is a legitimate Region 1 contender to the Eagles.
Schedule:
Week 1 @ Olmsted Falls
Week 2 @ Erie McDowell (PA)
Week 3 (H) Cleveland St. Ignatius
Week 4 @ Brunswick
Week 5 (H) Medina
Week 6 @ Cleveland Heights
Week 7 (H) Strongsville
Week 8 (H) Shaker Heights
Week 9 @ Lorain
Week 10 (H) Euclid
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