High school football: In front of national audience, Medina beats Mentor for first time

MENTOR — The rest of the nation found out what everyone in the state and, more specifically, the Greater Cleveland Conference already knew. The Medina football team is good. Really good. It came on national television when ESPN2 aired the Bees' 35-14 league win over Mentor. For those used to watching Medina (7-0, 3-0), it was business as usual. Put the Bees on television with the media giant airing it and they ball out. Stick them in a park with no lights and they ball out. It doesn't matter. Medina is going to come to play. "It was super fun," Bees quarterback Drew Allar said. "Mentor has a historic program. They've always been a public powerhouse. It's a great program win, too. Just like last year, beating St. Edward and St. Ignatius in the playoffs, this should help the program boost itself." The four-time reigning GCC champion Cardinals (3-4, 0-2) couldn't do much to stop the Bees while losing to them for the first time in 10 meetings. "The first six games, we knew we were just preparing for this game," defensive end Andrew Delac said. "It was, 'Don't be happy. We have the team up north coming up.' This whole week we didn't say their name. We respect them, but we couldn't go another year without winning. "This was for every athlete that ever played Medina football. This means so much because we finally beat them. We finally beat the team up north. To do it on national TV just added to it. It hasn't hit me yet that we were on national TV, but it amazes me that we put on a show and me and my teammates had a great game." Game balls could have gone everywhere. Delac tipped a pass on Medina's opening drive that Ryan Farrell returned to the 3-yard line, setting up a touchdown by Allar two plays later. As if that wasn't enough, Delac hit the arm of Jacob Snow (15-for-29, 209 yards, 4 INTs) in the second quarter and Nick Manley picked the ball off. Isaiah Perry and Matt Hamula joined the pick parade and Farrell added two sacks. Allar did Allar things, as the Penn State commit went 23-for-37 for 307 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Brennan Schramm (7 catches, 79 yards, 2 TDs), Ben Butler (5, 115, 1) and Michael Rodak (5, 37, 1) were the main targets, and Allar added 27 yards on seven carries with a score. "We approached it as another game, but it was super cool to showcase our talent," Allar said. "We have so many kids that have Division I talent. I think tonight they played really well and it helped get their name out there." Almost as importantly, the Bees answered the bell when Evan Harper (23 carries, 134 yards, 2 TDs) cut the spread to 14 points with 8:29 left in the fourth quarter. Allar orchestrated a 10-play, 70-yard drive and hit Schramm from 14 yards with 4:49 left to ice things. "That one was huge," Medina coach Larry Laird said. "At that point, you couldn't let them have a sense that they were back in the ballgame. Going right back down there and scoring did that." The win pushed Medina to 7-0 for just the third time in school history (1942, 1997). A win next week over Brunswick will not only clinch at least a share of a conference title for the first time since 1973, but move the program to 8-0 for the first time. "I know Brunswick is a great team," Allar said. "They have a great coach, and I've played and known all those guys growing up. It's going to be a tough battle. We're looking forward to the challenge." Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com. Medina 35, Mentor 14 MEDINA &emsp;&emsp;14 7 7 7 — 35 MENTOR &emsp;&emsp; 7 0 0 7 — 14 First Med — Drew Allar 1 run (Nick West kick), 8:10. Men — Evan Harper 13 run (Matt Moegling), 6:02. Med — Michael Rodak 20 pass from Allar (West kick), 3:20. Second Med — Brennan Schramm 17 pass from Allar (West kick), 10:31. Third Med — Ben Butler 36 pass from Allar (West kick), 4:21. Fourth Men — Harper 1 run (Moegling kick), 8:29. Med — Schramm 14 pass from Allar (West kick), 4:49.