Mayfield Football Coach Pleased With Move to Division II

Don't expect Larry Pinto to reminisce about the Wildcats' Division I years any time soon.

The Mayfield High School football coach seemed more than comfortable with the OHSAA's reorganization of football divisions that places the Wildcats in Division II. It marks the end of a period when his team was "a small fish in a big pond," the coach said.

"A lot of times those D-I schools are twice the size (of Mayfield's program)," Pinto said. "I always tell our guys that (the opposing team) can only play 11 like we can, but what happens is we have five or six kids playing both ways and special teams. Over the course of a season, that can wear you down.

"This fits us better."

Mayfield was one of several teams to move down to Division II. That list also includes notables like Glenville, Avon Lake and Willoughby South.

View the full list here.

Pinto said Mayfield should enter each season with a better shot at the playoffs under the new setup. He said it felt like the team was fighting for the final playoff spot from the beginning of last season because of the stout competition. The wildcats finished last year at 6-4 and lost to top-ranked St. Edward, 55-27.

"No disrespect, but there's a difference between playing St. Edward and some of the D-II schools we'll be facing."

Pinto said the team will have its hands full replacing 18 starters as it prepares for the 2013 season. The team is returning just two tackles, a running back and defensive end, but optimism is high.

"We have a brand new weight room, locker room and a new stadium," he said. "Kids are showing up and getting after it, so hopefully some of these other kids will step to the forefront."