Mentor Football Team's Offense Produced Big Points in 2011

If you liked ’s high-powered, five-wide receiver attack in 2011 that scored around 40 points per game, you’ll be pleased to learn it’ll return for 2012 – and it might be even better.

Head football coach Steve Trivisonno designed the offensive game plan around his personnel for this past season, and its success led the Cardinals to an 11-2 record, a top ranking in the state poll and the top ranking in the Plain Dealer’s Top 25 poll for a time.

The Cardinals earned a three-way share of the Northeast Ohio Conference Valley Division title with its in the regular-season finale, 38-35, at Tiger Stadium on Oct. 28. With a 4-1 conference record, .

That loss dropped Mentor from the state’s top ranking but didn’t prevent them from earning the Division I, Region 1 top seed in the playoffs where the and for the second time to reach the regional final.

Mentor’s high-powered offense in the windy conditions at Lakewood Stadium last Saturday in the regional final, a game the Cardinals lost, 23-17.

Still, most of the essential members of that attacking force will return next season.

Junior quarterback returns along with wide receivers Brandon Fritts, Connor Krizancic and Jeff Foreman.

Trubisky won the Division I offensive player of the year award and threw for 41 touchdowns with 13 rushing scores.

Trivisonno might tweak the offense a bit with a little more balance from time to time, but he sees no reason to change its essential nature. After all, why mess with success?

“I thought it worked out very well for us. Anytime you can get into the regional finals and have a chance to win it, that’s pretty good. You’re one of eight (teams), and that’s not a bad year. We’ve got to figure out the wind a little bit better, but we’re going to continue with it and get better as we go to it next year,” Trivisonno said.

While significant parts of the offense will be staying, much of the defense will be going. The Cardinals will lose leaders like Michigan recruit , Tyler Koshiol, Nick Kirschner, , and Jack Hanley, among others, to graduation.

As is often the case, Mentor will have plenty of young men to reload the varsity squad.

"We’ve got a great group of young kids coming up. Defensively we’ve got two young defensive ends (Kent Berger, Von Maddox) who are going to be great. Some good young linebackers are coming up. We’ve got some great young talent with a great freshman team and an excellent JV team, so we’ll be pretty good again.”