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Cardinals ride a winning wave
First-half blitz keys Mentor win
Sunday, November 12, 2006 Bob Fortuna
Plain Dealer Reporter
Three minutes, 14 seconds doesn't seem like much time in a 48-minute football game. However, it was just enough time Saturday afternoon to give Mentor new life and end Glenville's season.
It took that little time for the Cardinals to score 16 points to take a 23-13 halftime lead on their way to a 29-19 Division I, Region 1 semifinal victory over Glenville at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The victory moved Mentor (11-1) to the next step, a regional title matchup against Warren Harding (9-3) to be played Friday or Saturday at a site to be named today.
"We fell down a little bit early, but this team is really even-keeled," said Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno. "They don't get too high or too low, and there were a lot of big plays by a lot of guys."
Mentor began its rally from a 13-7 deficit on Kevin Harper's 24-yard field goal, pulling the Cardinals within 13-10. The Cardinals regained possession three seconds later when Harper's onside-pooch kick was scooped up by senior Lee Brooks on Glenville's 23.
Keyed by a 10-yard, Bart Tanski-to-Steve Orkis pass, the Cardinals took the lead for the first time when Bill Deitmen scooted 2 yards off left tackle. But the Cardinals weren't done.
Brandon James made sure of that.
It was James who put the ball back into his team's hands five plays later when he intercepted a Jermale Hines pass and returned it 33 yards to the Tarblooders' 35. It was one of four turnovers committed by Glenville (10-2).
"In practice, Coach told me give them nothing deep, nothing over my head, so I just had to play the defender in front of me," said James, a 6-3, 195-pound senior. "They tried to get me to bite inside, but I just wouldn't bite."
James struck once more on the ensuing play, hauling in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Tanski 17 seconds before intermission.
"It was a skinny post," said James. "Coach told me to give him a little hard step to the outside, to get [the defender] to turn. I just beat him on the inside."
Mentor kept a firm hold on momentum well into the second half.
Tanski, who gained a team-leading 42 yards rushing, found a wide-open Steve Orkis on a deep post over the middle for a 44-yard score. It was the 10th play of an 89-yard drive and widened the Cardinals' gap to 29-13 with 5:04 remaining in the third quarter.
After coming up empty on his five attempts, Tanski settled down to complete 16 of 30 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns. James caught six passes for 80 yards, Orkis and Tyler Schutz had four receptions each for 75 and 68 yards, respectively, while Mike Popelas grabbed two passes for 15 yards.
