Mentor Defense Impenetrable in 49-0 Homecoming Shutout

On a night with plenty of Homecoming-related festivities, the Mentor football team was all business.

The Cardinals scored six first-half touchdowns en route to a 49-0 win over visiting Parma in a Northeast Ohio Conference interdivisional game Friday at .

A week after his team , Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno was please with the Cardinals’ effort coming out of the gate against the Redmen.

“Much better,” he said. “I was pleased with our effort and our focus going in. Much better than last week.”

Mentor (5-0) removed all doubt early. On their first possession, the Cardinals needed just four plays – all of which went for at least 10 yards – to score. Running back Nick Kovach hammered his way up the middle on runs of 15 and 20 yards, with the latter resulting in a touchdown. Kovach finished with 53 yards on seven carries, with two rushing TDs.

“We wanted work on a few things today,” Trivisonno said. “We tried to get it back in the backfield and do some things out of the one-back set. Nick Kovach did a great job coming in and moving the ball for us. That was nice to see.”

Quarterback Mitch Trubisky had another solid night, completing 11 of 18 passes for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns in two quarters before heading to the bench as Mentor’s reserves took over in the second half.

Brandon Fritts (71 receiving yards, two touchdowns) and Conner Krizancic (58 yards, 1 TD) each caught four passes to lead the Cardinals.

The Mentor defense was equally sharp. An interception by senior defensive back Bill Pullman gave Parma (2-3) the ball at the Mentor 30-yard line. The Redmen failed to gain any yards on their ensuing three plays and were sacked for a 15-yard loss on fourth down.

Parma didn’t cross midfield again until the final minute of the fourth quarter. The Redmen finished with just six first downs and 65 net yards of offense, and were 0-for-12 on third down. Mentor’s defense recorded eight tackles for loss in the first half alone.

“We got after it this week,” said senior defensive end , whose night was highlighted by a sack/forced fumble in the second quarter. “Our coaches wanted a big game out of us because we haven’t been proving ourselves lately. I think we made a statement tonight.”

Mentor will have plenty of momentum entering NOC Valley Division play next week at home against Brunswick, which rallied past Garfield Heights in the fourth quarter Friday, 35-34, to remain unbeaten. The Cardinals and Blue Devils last met in the Division I state semifinals in 2007, a game won by Mentor.

“Brunswick’s a very good team,” Strobel said. “We’re looking to get after it. We’ve got to step it up this week and get ready for them.”