After an undefeated non-conference run and a tough win against rival Willoughby South, the Mayfield Football team is prepared to take command of the new Western Reserve Conference.

Led by senior quarterback Mario Monastero, the Wildcats explosive offense hopes to continue their success both on the ground and through the air.

“Plenty of the teams in this conference love to establish the run as their primary source of offense,” Monastero said. “So the fact that we can pass and run the ball effectively makes it that much easier for us to score points.”

The emergence of junior running back Michael Canganelli will also be a key factor for the Wildcats success against Western Reserve Conference opponents.

“His influence rushing the ball has really opened us up for passing opportunities,” Monastero said. “His presence will easily be felt in games against teams in our conference that love to spotlight ball carriers.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the “Gang Green” defense has emerged as a unit that loves to swarm to the ball and neutralize any threat of the opposition scoring.

“We’ve got a secondary that goes hard every play,” senior safety Jordan Jones said “The speed and depth that we have at each position will be key in upcoming games against conference opponents.”

Jones, along with fellow seniors Koby Berry, Luke Bican, and Joe Favazzo are all part of a ball hawking second line of defense that loves to ruin game plans and force turnovers.

“Nothing but love for the defensive backs who graduated last year,” Jones said “But right now we’ve got more speed and awareness in this year’s secondary, which I know is going to help us win the conference!”

As a whole the team’s primary goal is to take home the conference title by playing hard in their remaining games against WRC opponents—including the upcoming matchups between the cross town rival Brush Arcs and the Homecoming game against Chardon.

“That’s been the main goal since day one is to finish on top of the conference,” senior Offensive Guard Daniel Evans III said. “And with the talent, experience, and momentum we have right now there’s nothing getting in our way.”