Published: Sunday, September 17, 2006
Good 2nd quarter helps lift Mooney
Warren Harding cut the deficit to 21-13 before falling 28-13.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN — The Cardinal Mooney High football team is as good as advertised but received a good test from Warren Harding Saturday at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Mooney took advantage of two Harding turnovers and an outstanding offensive display by quarterback Dan McCarthy to score 21 points in the second quarter, then hung on to defeat the Raiders 28-13 in a Steel Valley Conference game.
A 17-play, 70-yard Mooney drive that ate up 8:35 of the fourth quarter sealed the victory. Mike Zordich rushed on 11 of those plays for 59 yards before McCarthy snuck in from a yard out with 2:27 to go.
Making a statement
"That drive showed teams that we will keep fighting," said Zordich who finished with 89 yards and two touchdowns. "Teams know who's getting the ball and what we are doing, but we still do it. That's how we play."
Mooney let the Raiders get back into the game by committing two turnovers in the second half that led to Harding scores and cut the Cardinals' lead to 21-13 early in the fourth quarter.
McCarthy was sacked on the second play of the fourth quarter and fumbled. Warren's Tyon Flowers picked up the loose ball and rambled 27 yards for a touchdown with 11:09 remaining.
"We were fortunate to get this win in turning the ball over three times," Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. "We showed that we still have a long way to go to be the team we want to be.
After a scoreless first quarter in which both teams turned over the football, the Division IV Cardinals (ranked first in the state in this week's Associated Press poll) got into sync on both sides of the football to make their presence felt by the Div. I Raiders.
Stiff defense
The Cardinals held off Warren's most serious early threat after McCarthy was intercepted by Sidney Glover and marched down to the Mooney 21.
Mooney's defense stiffened and held on downs, and then the Cardinals got untracked offensively.
McCarthy led the Cardinals on a 12-play, 76-yard march to the end zone. The junior ran for 47 yards on the drive and completed a 12-yard pass to Mike McGlone that set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Zordich.
On the ensuing kickoff, Herron fumbled and kicker Mark Babyak recovered on the Raiders 42-yard line to set up another scoring drive.
Mooney traveled 42 yards in eight plays before McCarthy scored on al 7-yard run set up by an outstanding block by Zordich at the 5.
The Cardinals defense forced another Raiders punt and Mooney offense went to work with 3:10 left in the half and the ball on their own 22.
Advance via air
McCarthy connected on a 30-yard pass to Zordich followed by a 22-yard scoring strike to Tim Marlowe with 35 seconds left in the half.
In the third quarter, McCarthy was intercepted by Herron and the senior returned it to Mooney's 1 yard line. Herron, who rushed for 120 yards on 19 carries, tallied from a yard out to get the Raiders' first touchdown.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Warren Harding cut the deficit to 21-13 before falling 28-13.
By CHUCK HOUSTEAU
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
WARREN — The Cardinal Mooney High football team is as good as advertised but received a good test from Warren Harding Saturday at Mollenkopf Stadium.
Mooney took advantage of two Harding turnovers and an outstanding offensive display by quarterback Dan McCarthy to score 21 points in the second quarter, then hung on to defeat the Raiders 28-13 in a Steel Valley Conference game.
A 17-play, 70-yard Mooney drive that ate up 8:35 of the fourth quarter sealed the victory. Mike Zordich rushed on 11 of those plays for 59 yards before McCarthy snuck in from a yard out with 2:27 to go.
Making a statement
"That drive showed teams that we will keep fighting," said Zordich who finished with 89 yards and two touchdowns. "Teams know who's getting the ball and what we are doing, but we still do it. That's how we play."
Mooney let the Raiders get back into the game by committing two turnovers in the second half that led to Harding scores and cut the Cardinals' lead to 21-13 early in the fourth quarter.
McCarthy was sacked on the second play of the fourth quarter and fumbled. Warren's Tyon Flowers picked up the loose ball and rambled 27 yards for a touchdown with 11:09 remaining.
"We were fortunate to get this win in turning the ball over three times," Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. "We showed that we still have a long way to go to be the team we want to be.
After a scoreless first quarter in which both teams turned over the football, the Division IV Cardinals (ranked first in the state in this week's Associated Press poll) got into sync on both sides of the football to make their presence felt by the Div. I Raiders.
Stiff defense
The Cardinals held off Warren's most serious early threat after McCarthy was intercepted by Sidney Glover and marched down to the Mooney 21.
Mooney's defense stiffened and held on downs, and then the Cardinals got untracked offensively.
McCarthy led the Cardinals on a 12-play, 76-yard march to the end zone. The junior ran for 47 yards on the drive and completed a 12-yard pass to Mike McGlone that set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Zordich.
On the ensuing kickoff, Herron fumbled and kicker Mark Babyak recovered on the Raiders 42-yard line to set up another scoring drive.
Mooney traveled 42 yards in eight plays before McCarthy scored on al 7-yard run set up by an outstanding block by Zordich at the 5.
The Cardinals defense forced another Raiders punt and Mooney offense went to work with 3:10 left in the half and the ball on their own 22.
Advance via air
McCarthy connected on a 30-yard pass to Zordich followed by a 22-yard scoring strike to Tim Marlowe with 35 seconds left in the half.
In the third quarter, McCarthy was intercepted by Herron and the senior returned it to Mooney's 1 yard line. Herron, who rushed for 120 yards on 19 carries, tallied from a yard out to get the Raiders' first touchdown.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
The Cardinal Mooney High football team is as good as advertised but received a good test from Warren Harding Saturday at...
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