It was a Division I regional quarterfinal disguised as a state championship.It was a first-round playoff game between two teams that shouldn’t have had to face one another until the first weekend in December in Canton.That was the tremendous high school football game St. Edward and Mentor put out there for everyone to see Saturday at Lakewood Stadium.A slugfest...
It was a Division I regional quarterfinal disguised as a state championship.
It was a first-round playoff game between two teams that shouldn’t have had to face one another until the first weekend in December in Canton.
That was the tremendous high school football game St. Edward and Mentor put out there for everyone to see Saturday at Lakewood Stadium.
A slugfest is what it was. It was a slugfest that St. Edward won, 35-21, in front of an estimated crowd of 8,500 chilled fans. It was closer than the final score indicates.
And is St. Edward vs. Glenville really six days away?
St. Edward’s heralded ground game and its even more heralded defense paved the way for it to remain undefeated and to take another step in the school’s fervent desire to win a state football title.
The Eagles (11-0) beat the Cardinals with a decisive second half, icing the game on an 8-yard touchdown run by senior Reggie Terrell with 3:58 remaining. Terrell’s run, which capped an 11-play, 54-yard drive, gave St. Edward a 35-14 lead. The Eagles’ defense came up with the big stops when needed.
“I’d like to credit Mentor on a great game — two games, really,” St. Edward coach Rick Finotti said, referring to his team’s 35-28 victory in the first game of the season. “They had a great plan. They are the toughest team we’ve played, and I know they were facing some adversity over there.”
The Cardinals played with heavy hearts following the unexpected death of junior defensive back Brandon Shima on Thursday.
A prayer and moment of silence were held before the game.
The St. Edward trio of Terrell and fellow seniors Terrell Bates and Kevin Burke combined to rush for 305 yards, with Bates gaining 122 yards on 19 carries, Terrell getting 98 on 12 attempts and Burke picking up 85 on 18 rushes. Bates and Terrell each had two touchdowns, and Burke completed 13-of-17 for 151 yards, including s 16-yard touchdown pass to Colin McManamon to open the scoring in the first quarter. Terrell gained 50 of his yards on five carries in the fourth quarter.
“We had to get back to running the ball, getting what we call those 8- and 9-yard chunks,” said Finotti. “The X-factor in that is Kevin. He can run and throw the ball equally.”
It’s not as if Mentor didn’t have its share of stars. Senior Colton Wallace scored two of Mentor’s touchdowns on short runs and caught five passes for 60 yards. Sophomore quarterback Mitch Trubisky completed 14 of 21 passes for 147 yards and gained 23 yards on the ground. Senior Mike Korecz ran for 95 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
“It was a great effort by our kids,” said Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno, whose team fell to 7-4. “They gave it everything they had for as long as they could.”
St. Edward ran 22 plays in Mentor territory in the first half en route to a 14-7 lead. The Eagles struck first after junior Tom Lally recovered a fumble at the Cardinals’ 41-yard line, and Burke connected with McManamon with 1:57 to go in the first quarter.
“There wasn’t a time in that game when we could relax,” said Burke. “When I don’t have to run, it takes pressure off me. I can give it to Reggie or Terrell, and our offensive line opens up the holes.”
Mentor retaliated when it put together a 13-play, 79-yard drive that started with 1:50 to go in the first quarter and culminated when Wallace went up the middle for the final 5 yards. Trubisky completed passes of 18 yards to Warren Ashton and 14 to Wallace to highlight the drive.
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