By Sean Duffy
Mentor, OH– Week 7, Really!?, Week 7 already?! Hard to believe but the 2023 High Football Season is now in its final stages. Now is the time that teams look to solidify not only their conference championship aspirations but also their playoff positions. Our Week 7 spotlight game features an interesting GCC Matchup, The Shaker Heights Red Raiders are 6-0, and look to climb the ranks of the GCC and the Division II, Region 5 with a victory over Division I opponents starting with Mentor. Mentor’s 2023 Season has been an interesting one, at 3-3 the Cardinals are in the middle of the Division I, Region 1 standings and will need to use these next four games to gain needed momentum as they attempt a deep playoff run. A solid GCC slugfest in Medina as a Spotlight Game? YES PLEASE!!!
Mentor would dominate the 1st quarter scoring 14 points thanks to two TD pass from QB Scotty Fox. The first a 12 yd connection to WR Justin Hodge, the second a 40 yd strike to WR Evan Calderwood, the score at the end of the first quarter was 14-0 in favor of Mentor.
Shaker Heights would have a roller coaster of a second quarter as they would score on a 5 yd TD pass from QB Abdullah Ahmad to Trey McNutt midway through the quarter, cutting the Cardinal lead 14-7. Mentor’s Scotty Fox would again find the end zone through the air, this time connecting with Austin Van Huss from 20 yds out, Mentor now led 21-7. The Red Raiders would fumble the ensuing kickoff, leading to a Cardinal field goal by Dylan Tackett, Mentor now led 24-7. Assisted by a personal foul penalty on Mentor, The Red Raiders would score as the first half came to an end, Ahmad would connect with Kamren Jackson for a 36 Yd score; a missed extra point made the score 24-13 at half time
Shaker Heights would claw their way to within 3 thanks to a 15 yd TD pass from Ahmad to Trey McNutt for the second time in the contest, a successful two-point conversion made the score 24-21 midway through the third quarter. Scotty Fox would lead another successful TD drive capped off by a 17 yd screen pass to RB Jackson Farley, a missed extra point made the score 30-21 with 1:36 left in the third quarter. The Red Raiders would again fail to secure the ensuing kickoff and would set up Mentor deep in Shaker Heights territory. Three plays later Scotty Fox would find Justin Hodge for the second time in the game, this time for a 17 yd touchdown pass. At the end of the third quarter Mentor led 37-21.
Shaker Heights would again answer the bell, scoring midway through the the fourth quarter on a 4 yd TD run by RB Cornell Beard, Beard would also catch the two-point conversion attempt, Mentor now led 37-29 with 5:17 remaining in the game. After forcing a Cardinal punt, the Red Raiders were driving into Mentor territory looking to knot the score. However, the Cardinals defense would come up with a huge fourth down stop to turn the ball over on downs. Scotty Fox would connect with Evan Calderwood two plays later for a 56-yard touchdown pass and that would spell the end for any hopes of a comeback. Mentor would come away with a 44-29 victory.
The loss is Shaker Heights’ first of the season as they are now 6-1 overall. The Red Raiders were led offensively by QB Abdullah Ahmad who had three touchdown passes in the game. WR Trey McNutt caught two TDs and WR Kamren Jackson had a TD reception, and RB Cornell Beard contributed with a rushing touchdown and two 2pt conversions. Shaker Heights will look to rebound in Week 9 as they host Strongsville.
The win improves Mentor’s overall record to 4-3. The Cardinals were led offensively by QB Scotty Fox who had six touchdown passes in the game. WRs Justin Hodge and Evan Calderwood had two touchdown receptions respectively, WR Austin Van Huss and RB Jackson Farley each had a touchdown reception. Mentor will look to keep the winning train on the tracks in week 8 as they host BrunswicK
So long from Mentor
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