Good saves his best for last

Andrew Good's final field goal of his prep career lifted Boardman past Mooney.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- Senior placekicker Andrew Good of Boardman said that the 16th and final field goal of his high school football career, which he kicked against Cardinal Mooney Friday night in the rain, means the most to him.
Helping to make Good a hero were quarterback Dan Ford, who was filling in for injured senior Tom Zetts; plus split end Dan Klimas, senior tight end Mike Villagrana and the entire Spartan team that refused to give up despite trailing 9-0 in the Steel Valley Conference battle.
"It was ranked the highest of all 16 of my field goals," said Good, who pumped through a 27-yard field goal with 58 seconds left to give Boardman a 10-9 win over Mooney in the regular-season finale for both teams.
"It was an excellent snap, hold and blocking," said Good, noting that "everything went perfect" on his winning kick that split the uprights and gave Boardman (6-4, 2-2) a winning record while spoiling any of Mooney's remaining playoff hopes.
The Spartans also broke a three-game losing streak, while Mooney ended 5-5, 2-2.
But Good, who kicked his third field goal of the season, emphasized that it was a team win and that, "I just did my small part."
Ford drives team
Ford drove Boardman 68 yards to Good's winning kick, completing three key passes to junior split end Josh Susany, junior tailback Brad Beck and then to Villagrana to the Mooney 12. Beck got 2 more yards before Good connected for the win.
Then Ford finished off Mooney by intercepting Ron Stoops' last-ditch pass on the final play of the game.
Mooney had taken a 9-0 lead in the first quarter on Patsy Malie's 17-yard dash on the first offensive series of the game, and Dustin Hinkle's 31-yard field goal near the end of the first period that capped an eight-play, 95-yard drive.
Malie set up his score with a 43-yard run to the 17, while Stoops' 61-yard rollout to the Boardman 17 paved the way for Hinkle's field goal.
Spartans rebound
Boardman finally got back into the game in the waning seconds of the third quarter on Ford's 26-yard scoring pass to Klimas, which was set up by Ford's 36-yard toss to Susany and capped a three-play, 61-yard drive.
"Tom Zetts wasn't able to play so I put it [the game] on my shoulder," said Ford, noting that Zetts suffered a broken collarbone in last week's game. "It was a 'win one for Tom Zetts and the entire team.' "
Ford finished with 151 yards passing on 10-for-15 and added 45 yards rushing in 11 attempts. Susany had four catches for 60 yards.
Ford also lauded Villagrana for his clutch catch that made it all happen.
"Mike Villagrana has great hands and he knows how to get open," said Ford.
Boardman rushed for 66 yards in 29 carries and had 11 first downs. But Mooney dominated the ground game behind the quick-moving Malie and Stoops.
Malie, a 5-foot-8 senior tailback, rushed for 131 yards in 24 carries, while Stoops, a junior, added 78 yards in seven tries, as the Cardinals compiled 225 yards rushing in 33 carries. Stoops was 0-for-3 passing. Mooney had 10 first downs.
kovach@vindy.com