What the Mentor Cardinals Bring To The Table This Weekend Against Ignatius
PASS FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER: Dating back to the days of Mitch Trubisky (and beyond), the Mentor Cardinals have utilized a spread offense designed to stretch opposing defenses with the pass. With senior quarterback Tadas Tadarunas at the helm, the Cardinals will not stray from the strategy this season. Tadarunas notched 188 passing yards and 2 touchdowns in the opener, a 49-14 win over Massillon. Tadarunas has plenty of weapons, plus a 6’4” frame and an arm to get the job done. In addition, Tadarunas boasts a 3.9 GPA, so he has the smarts to be a commanding field general.
SHOOT TO THRILL: Tadarunas and the Cardinals will have plenty of weapons in the passing game. Logan Shea, Steven Baird, and Derek Kleinhenz all return for their senior campaigns, giving Tadas options in the passing game. Shea and Kleinhenz caught touchdown passes of 11 and 35 yards, respectively, in last week’s win. Braeden Gefert Jr. will complete the Cardinals’ quartet of starters at wideout. Kleinhenz could be the most dangerous wideout to watch on Friday, standing at 6’3”, 190 pounds, 3 inches taller than Jett Elad and 4 inches taller than corner Cam Toppin.
MIXING IT UP: While the Cardinals rely heavily on the passing game, Mentor has used the ground game to surprise opponents. The Cardinals have a solid rushing attack this season, headed by running back Chris Edmond. While Edmond did not start last season, the 5’9”, 175 pound back has plenty of potential. The senior scored the first touchdown of Mentor’s season with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, later adding a 56-yard scamper for a score. Edmond finished with 112 rushing yards in the opener.
GET UGLY: To stop the Wildcats’ offense, the Mentor defense will have to get help from its “big uglies.” The Cardinals will employ a 3-4 scheme, with end Noah Potter, nose tackle Dan Garcar, and end Dominic DiFranco likely starting. Potter will be the player to watch, as the junior has an imposing size at end. Potter stands at 6’6”, 250 pounds, posing a challenge for the 6’7”, 330 pound Darian Kinnard at left tackle. Last season, the Wildcats rushed 48 times for 278 yards, wearing down the Cardinals. To prevent the same fate, a 49-7 loss, the Cardinals will need to stop the run.
YOUNG CARDS: The secondary might be one of the Cardinals’ most inexperienced units, with a sophomore and a junior occupying two of the starting spots. Senior Will Laganke (5’7”, 180 pounds) and junior Billy Gorka (5’9”, 165) will likely start at corner, with senior Mike Warren (5’7”, 170) and sophomore Jackson Paglio (5’10”, 165) getting the nod at safety. Gorka notched an interception last week.
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