Someone will have a long bus ride home on Saturday night! The OHSAA was equal in finding a truly neutral site for this game.
You don't stop Mentor's offense on the field! You stop them by keeping them on the sideline while your offense scores on time consuming ball control drives. They key is you have to score!
Trubisky is a true D1 QB! I really believe Urban missed on him, I am just glad he is going to North Carolina rather than another Big 10 team! Fritts and Kriczanchik are both Juniors who will probably get D1 offers. If you rush Trubisky hard he will beat you with his legs.
Mentor's only weakness is a suspect Defense. But if they stop you more than once, you lose. The game tapes I would concentrate on are the 2 Mentor vs. St. Ignatious tapes, and the first half of the Mentor @ Brunswick game.
I have a very healthy respect for Whitmer, but I think this is Mentor's year!
Good Luck and Good Health to All!
Thought that I heard that Trubisky was offerd by Tosu and Alabama but he chose UNc instead
Thought that I heard that Trubisky was offerd by Tosu and Alabama but he chose UNc instead
I don't understand all of the aspects of the recruiting process, but it is true that Trubisky received some kind of offer from both of those schools. However, a more coveted QB from Texas (name escapes me) committed to OSU first and thus Trubisky's offer probably wouldn't have held up considering OSU was only going to take one QB in this class. I don't know what happened with Alabama.
Every year these programs have to offer more scholarships than they have, fully knowing that the majority of the offers will not be accepted by the athlete. Lets say OSU offered 30-40 scholarships, but only had room for 20. If all of those guys committed on the same day, OSU would have to negate some of those offers. That is kind of the impression I got from this process.
JT Barrett is the osu qbs name ^ trubisky will have a lot of success at UNC and i believe if he stays injury free he has nfl potential he can make all the throws and has great athleticism on top of that, why he picked NC who knows maybe for more playing time would be my best guess
Region 2 has had two champs, in back-to-back years.
Canton McKinley won out of Region 2 in 1997. They were Region 3 in 1998 and 1981*.
Lima Senior also won out of Region 2 in 1996.
You would think Toledo St. Francis DeSales won in 1984 in Region 2, but the Toledo area was Region 3 that year.
* Eds and Ignatius were also Region 3 that year (as was Marietta). Go figure that map out.
Between changes in region boundaries and changes in enrollments and/or division requirements for enrollments, it makes it difficult to compare apples to apples.
As for forecasting a low final score (24-21), it's just been my experience with the more competitive games we've been part of. I wasn't trying to knock the offense as much as give big nods to the defense. There are talented offensive players on both sides.
I just read a post on another site that may support my rationale for predicting a low scoring game. I haven't verified the information in his post, but if true, su44's research certainly supports my earlier assertion that the games at this level typically have lower scores:
excerpt from su44's post (11-23-12):
"I can also say it is highly unlikely this will be a blowout from past history of Division State semi-final games....it typically just doesnt happen. Before I make my next point I do want to say that there is absolutely no doubt Mitch Trubisky is an absolutely amazing talent and most likely a shoe-in for Mr. Football. It also cant be denied that on any given saturday with him behind center it is quite possible to put up 40 or 50 points....that being said the notion of these previous articles stating defense is outdated and no longer wins championships along with the comments of its a high powered offense that wins championships are certainly not based on factual history. Instead of just reading the articles and taking it for the "new way" football is played i decided to look at a bit of recent history. I went back and looked at the last 8 years of Division 1 football semi-final scores. I found that the facts certainly dont support the suggestion defense doesnt win championships anymore. The average combined points per game scored in the past 16 semi-final games is 34ppg...(a whopping 17ppg per team) In the past 16 division 1 semi-final games only once has the COMBINED score surpassed 50 and only 5 times has the COMBINED score surpassed 40. To me that definitely suggests that over the last 8 years anyway defense still plays a big part in division 1 football."
For those who don't get the Toledo Blade, I thought I'd share an article about a Whitmer alumnus. It has nothing to do with this game or even football (except that the actress used to be in Friday Night Lights), but thought some of you might enjoy reading this:
One thing I hope Whitmer has learned since the Hudson game, if there are five of you chasing the QB, you've screwed up. I did not expect them to fall for that.
Looking at some of the highlights of Mentors's games. The kid is no trick. He makes seams. He finds seams. Going to be fun watching Whitmer take him and his teammates on.
I just read a post on another site that may support my rationale for predicting a low scoring game. I haven't verified the information in his post, but if true, su44's research certainly supports my earlier assertion that the games at this level typically have lower scores:
excerpt from su44's post (11-23-12):
"I can also say it is highly unlikely this will be a blowout from past history of Division State semi-final games....it typically just doesnt happen. Before I make my next point I do want to say that there is absolutely no doubt Mitch Trubisky is an absolutely amazing talent and most likely a shoe-in for Mr. Football. It also cant be denied that on any given saturday with him behind center it is quite possible to put up 40 or 50 points....that being said the notion of these previous articles stating defense is outdated and no longer wins championships along with the comments of its a high powered offense that wins championships are certainly not based on factual history. Instead of just reading the articles and taking it for the "new way" football is played i decided to look at a bit of recent history. I went back and looked at the last 8 years of Division 1 football semi-final scores. I found that the facts certainly dont support the suggestion defense doesnt win championships anymore. The average combined points per game scored in the past 16 semi-final games is 34ppg...(a whopping 17ppg per team) In the past 16 division 1 semi-final games only once has the COMBINED score surpassed 50 and only 5 times has the COMBINED score surpassed 40. To me that definitely suggests that over the last 8 years anyway defense still plays a big part in division 1 football."
There have been plenty of blowouts in state semi-final games.
"Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 34F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph." -Weather.com forecast for tomorrow in Mansfield, OH.
Could this spell doom for Mentor? Will they still be able to move the ball at will being limited to shorter passes and running the ball? I think their offense is better prepared for the elements this year, and for the blitz.
"Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 34F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph." -Weather.com forecast for tomorrow in Mansfield, OH.
Could this spell doom for Mentor? Will they still be able to move the ball at will being limited to shorter passes and running the ball? I think their offense is better prepared for the elements this year, and for the blitz.
After the last 2 weeks, I think that offense would function just fine in a hurricane or snowstorm.....
In 2002, WGH beat St. Ignatius, St. Edward, Mentor, and Massillon, before finally losing to Elder in the state championship game.
I never could understand Massillon's decision to kick deep to Manninghan after taking the lead with a minute remaining. It probably cost them a state final matchup with Elder.
I don't think I've seen this shared yet (I apologize if I miss it), but I thought this was pretty sweet...
The Whitmer-Mentor game is one of MaxPreps's Top 10 football games of the week. That's pretty cool for both sides... recognition of the caliber of both teams. Congrats all around!
Their sports experts are all calling for a Mentor win (as does the poll on yappi), but our Panthers have been surprising the sports experts the entire year, so that doesn't bother me a bit.
Where could I find what Whitmer's record has been for the past 20 seasons?
I don't know where there is year-by-year account, but we have coaches' eras listed. If you look at the three coaches prior to Bell (who is in his first year as head coach), the record between 1993 and 2011 was 134-77.
Coach Bell's record is 13-0, so from 1993 to 2012 total record is 147-77.
I'm really not sure how a 20-year span is relevant.
Whitmer
1999: ?-? (1st round loss to Findlay)
2000: 7-4 (1st round loss to Massillon Perry)
2001: 2-8
2002: 5-5
2003: 9-2 (losses to St Johns in Weeks 10 and 11)
2004: 8-4 (2nd round loss to Brunswick)
2005: 2-8
2006: 9-4 (3rd round loss to Canton McKinley)
2007: 9-3 (2nd round loss to Brunswick)
2008: 4-5
2009: 9-3 (1st round loss to Canton McKinley)
2010: 12-2 (loss to Eds in state semis)
2011: 13-1 (loss to Ignatius in state semis)
2012: 13-0
Whitmer
1999: ?-? (1st round loss to Findlay)
2000: 7-4 (1st round loss to Massillon Perry)
2001: 2-8
2002: 5-5
2003: 9-2 (losses to St Johns in Weeks 10 and 11)
2004: 8-4 (2nd round loss to Brunswick)
2005: 2-8
2006: 9-4 (3rd round loss to Canton McKinley)
2007: 9-3 (2nd round loss to Brunswick)
2008: 4-5
2009: 9-3 (1st round loss to Canton McKinley)
2010: 12-2 (loss to Eds in state semis)
2011: 13-1 (loss to Ignatius in state semis)
2012: 13-0
Very interesting. What is really interesting is Whitmer's talent level has increased tremendously the last few years. Hence, great records.
Whitmer
1999: ?-? (1st round loss to Findlay)
2000: 7-4 (1st round loss to Massillon Perry)
2001: 2-8
2002: 5-5
2003: 9-2 (losses to St Johns in Weeks 10 and 11)
2004: 8-4 (2nd round loss to Brunswick)
2005: 2-8
2006: 9-4 (3rd round loss to Canton McKinley)
2007: 9-3 (2nd round loss to Brunswick)
2008: 4-5
2009: 9-3 (1st round loss to Canton McKinley)
2010: 12-2 (loss to Eds in state semis)
2011: 13-1 (loss to Ignatius in state semis)
2012: 13-0
Not disputing your information, but it conflicts a little with our football program, which shows Palka as having a 59-17 record for 2006-2011. Your numbers add up to 56-18. I honestly don't know which is right, but just wanted to note they don't agree.
Between changes in region boundaries and changes in enrollments and/or division requirements for enrollments, it makes it difficult to compare apples to apples.
Well, there's no apples and oranges problem with this...
Northwest Ohio has put only two teams in the largest division state title game since 1984 (28 years)...Lima ('96) and St. Francis ('84). Both teams won the title. So, teams from NWO only rarely win the state semi-final game IF they get that far.
Will it happen tomorrow night? Who knows. The history isn't good but Whitmer is knocking on the door three years in a row.
Very interesting. What is really interesting is Whitmer's talent level has increased tremendously the last few years. Hence, great records.
For what it's worth, the consensus pre-season among the other coaches in our league AND the local sports writers was that Whitmer had graduated out its talent and was projected to finish 3rd or 4th in our league (third according to the league, 4th according to the paper).
"Defending champion Whitmer, which also won titles in its final two years in the City League (2009-10), lost more top talent than any team in the TRAC, and no longer has head coach Joe Palka on the sideline.
Palka, who led the Panthers to five D-I playoff appearances in his six seasons, guided three league title teams, led his final two teams to the D-I state semifinals, and his 2006 squad to the regional final.
Gone from the field are two-time first-team All-Ohioans Chris Wormley and Jody Webb, and 2011 all-staters Mark Meyers and Storm Norton. Wormley is now at Michigan, Webb and Norton at Toledo, and Meyers at Michigan State."
Yesterday, in another article, The Blade had this to say:
"On the cover of The Blade’s 2012 high school football season preview section, four talented returning quarterbacks from the Three Rivers Athletic Conference were posed in front of an airplane with the headline “Air Attack.”
Whitmer senior Nick Holley was not in that picture.
But, as the season enters its 14th weekend with state playoff semifinals on tap, the Panthers’ quarterback has flown higher and is more worthy of a solo cover shot than any area player."
Coach Bell has been coaching for many years but moved up to head coach this year, and there's a reason he has been named BCSN Coach of the Year (for all fall sports, not just football), District Coach of the Year, and Blade Coach of the Year.
Coach Bell and his staff have brought the best out of the Whitmer boys who give them all they've got. The past two years, people pointed and said Whitmer had several "stars". They didn't say that this year pre-season. But Whitmer has gone undefeated as it enters the state semi-final. As the regular season ended, the Panthers are recognized as having talent on both sides of the ball.
Win, lose, or draw, this team has proven itself and has exceeded the expectations of all but the Whitmer fans who have always supported them all the way. Our Whitmer Panthers have made the Whitmer community very proud.
Attention Whitmer fans: say what you will all week on this thread about the game...but please don't predict you will "stop" or "thwart" or even "slow down" the Mentor offense. Not happening.
Ignatius and Eds both seemed to have the Cards where they wanted them in the fourth quarter...only to see Trubisky & Co. have their way the rest of the game. This Mentor offense is lethal. Unlike anything you've seen. Trubisky and Fritts are proving to be unstoppable.
Anything can happen...but if Whitmer is gonna win this one they better go for 40+ and find a way to put a whole hell of a lot of pressure on Trubisky.
One thing that is certain is mentors offense is very potent but their defense hasnt been stopping the other teams offense either. I think mentor will have trouble stopping whitmer too. The question will be can whitmers defensive line get pressure on the QB so the DBs dont have to blitz and have a better chance to stop the pass. It is going to be a very tough task for whitmer, but not impposible. I think the winner of this game is going to win it all. Going to be a very ggod game and mentor has proven they can come back so this is a game you dont want turn off.
The question will be can whitmers defensive line get pressure on the QB so the DBs dont have to blitz and have a better chance to stop the pass. It is going to be a very tough task for whitmer, but not impposible.
JT Barrett is the osu qbs name ^ trubisky will have a lot of success at UNC and i believe if he stays injury free he has nfl potential he can make all the throws and has great athleticism on top of that, why he picked NC who knows maybe for more playing time would be my best guess
I heard JT Barrett suffered a bad knee injury early in the season.
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