Mentor Cardinals Football Team Dominates Brunswick

It's fair to say the Mentor Cardinals (5-1) have found their rhythm.

In their last three games they have accrued 149 points. Friday night, they dominated a tough Brunswick squad 49-21.

"As a team, it was our best performance of the season," Mentor Head Coach Steve Trivisonno said.

Cardinals quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw for five touchdowns and ran for another. That would be a career night for many quarterbacks. For Trubisky and the Cardinals offense, this is becoming typical.

"Just another day at work," Trivisonno joked, when asked about Trubisky's performance. Then he added, "He's a special player. What more can be said?"

However, as with every game this season except last week's shutout against Parma, the Cardinals allowed the other team to score first.

The Blue Devils (4-2) marched down the field on a 19-play drive in the first quarter, capping it with a touchdown.

While Trivisonno praised his defense for shutting down Brunswick later in the game, he said he wants to break his team's habit of letting their opponent score first.

"It's a bad pattern," he said.

The Cardinals tied the game at 7-7 with Trubisky's 3-yard touchdown pass to running back Nick Delisa.

However, Brunswick were able to pull ahead again after a 3-yard touchdown run from Nick Roberts.

Then the Cardinals started playing their game, scoring 42 consecutive points. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils would not find the end zone again until there was 1:17 left in the fourth quarter and the game was effectively over.

Trubisky spread the ball around to many of his favorite targets throughout the game. He threw a screen pass to Conner Krizancic that became a 33-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Then, Krizancic caught a 25-yard touchdown pass later in the game.

Trubisky threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Delisa to cap the Cardinals' opening drive of the third quarter.

"He's a great player," Trivisonno said of Delisa. "What's special about him is he sat until his senior year. Now he's getting playing time and he's making the most of it."

Wide receiver Brandon Fritts also caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Trubisky.

Running back Dan Wenzel had a 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a 49-14 lead.

The Cardinals defense also deserves some recognition. They contained a Brunswick offense that gave other teams, including Lake Catholic, fits this season.

One specific fourth quarter stand showed the solidity of the Cardinals' defense after some first-half jitters. With about eight minutes left in the game, the Cardinals stopped Brunswick four times while they were inside the 5-yard line.

"I think they played real well after the first quarter," Trivisonno said of his defense.