MENTOR, Ohio – It couldn’t have started or ended any better for the Mentor Cardinals. Amidst a capacity home crowd on homecoming night, it took the hosts four plays to find the end zone.
Mentor quarterback Ian Kipp accounted for four touchdowns – all in the first half – and the Cardinals defense stifled visiting Medina in posting a 63-7 victory in Greater Cleveland Conference action.
On a night in which Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno was presented with a banner commemorating his 200 career wins, his team picked up right where they left off a week ago – with a dominant victory.
“Our kids came out and battled in practice this week and we did what we needed to do,” said Trivisonno. “I was happy with our effort. We have to keep improving as we go along.”
On the first play from scrimmage, a bad snap caused a Medina fumble, and Mentor recovered. Three plays later, Kipp connected with Luke Floriea for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. Mentor (5-0, 2-0 GCC) never looked back, scoring on six of its seven first half possessions to build a 42-0 lead at the break. Kipp threw for two scores – both to Floriea – and ran for two, while running back Brian Trobel added two on the ground.
“It all comes down to practice. We all get along with each other, and correct each other when we’re wrong,” said Kipp, who finished the night 9-for-18 for 101 yards, while adding 89 on the ground. “When we do our jobs it makes it easier.”
The Cardinals, ranked atop the Division I AP state poll, piled up 521 yards of offense – 372 in the first half – including 420 on the ground. Trobel, returning from injury a week ago, led the way with 184 yards and two scores on 18 carries – all in the first 24 minutes. Junior Riley Coughlin added 106 yards on 17 rushes.
“I wanted it bad. Being out one week is like being out six weeks for me,” said Trobel. “I just wanted to go out there and perform tonight. … We’re getting more confident and better day by day, and working hard at practice.”
Just as the offense was clicking, so too was the Mentor defense. Medina, who came in averaging 400 yards of offense and 30 points per contest, was held to 183 yards. The Mentor defense didn’t allow a third or fourth-down conversion (Medina was a combined 0-for-9), and forced two turnovers.
“We challenged our defense all week long. We knew Medina was going to play hard and our kids came out and played great,” continued Trivisonno. “I was pleased with our effort and how we executed tonight.”
The Battling Bees best opportunity came at the start of the second quarter. Trailing 14-0, the visitors had a first-and-goal from the Mentor 5. Despite three consecutive defensive holding penalties, the Cardinals defense stood, keeping Medina out of the end zone.
On the following possession, Kipp capped a 95-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2, to give the Cardinals a three-score lead. Then, in the final five minutes of the first half, the Cardinals found the end zone three times – one from Kipp on a two-yard keeper and two from Trobel – one from eight and another from 30 yards, to extend the lead, 42-0.
With the running clock in motion to start the second half, Mentor backup quarterback Charlie Hawley and sophomore running back Nick Farley each added seven-yard touchdown runs.
Medina (3-2, 0-2) prevented the shutout when sophomore quarterback Drew Allar connected with Drew Hensley for a 48-yard touchdown with a little over a minute to go.
Just as the game started, it ended in style for the hosts. On the ensuing kickoff, Mentor junior Aiden Buckley found a crease and raced 90 yards for the touchdown and the exclamation point.
Both teams continue conference play on the road next Friday, as Mentor travels to Solon, while Medina heads to Elyria.
Austin Opfer is a freelancer from Cleveland.