COMING CLOSE | Mooney -- 1981
Coach: Don Bucci
Record: 10-1
Schedule:
Regular season
31Chaney0
16Detroit (Mich.) Brother Rice13
14Penn Hills (Pa.)7
13Warren Western Reserve0
21Ursuline6
35Boardman14
34Howland0
14Cleveland St. Ignatius9
12Fitch7
Playoffs
49Steubenville0
17Cleveland Benedictine21
Notable players: First team all-SVC players that season included tackle John Thomas (Georgia Tech), guard Tim Muhall, center Bob Maggs (a Parade All-American who went to Ohio State), running back Steve Johnson (Michigan), defensive back Mark Kachmer, defensive end Brian Delahunty, defensive tackle Jim Mullen (YSU), linebacker Mike Giambatista (YSU), linebacker Jim Fordyce (Akron), defensive back George Saadey, kicker Jack Kohl. Junior tight end Rick Shepas, a second-team selection, went on to star at YSU and now coaches at Massillon Washington. Junior quarterback Jon Saadey (Yale) is Mooney's all-time leading passer.
Notebook: Mooney played Detroit Brother Rice at the Pontiac Silverdome. Rice, which was led by quarterback Dave Yerema (Michigan State) and wideout Paul Jokisch (Michigan), was the defending Michigan state champions and lost only to Mooney in 1981. The Cardinals won Division II state titles in 1980 and 82. Johnson had 108 yards rushing and Kachmer added 86 yards and two touchdowns for Mooney against Benedictine. Kachmer led Mooney with 1,009 yards and 13 TDs. Johnson, who was injured part of the season, added 709 yards after gaining 1,474 his junior year. The Cardinals held the Bengals to minus-16 yards rushing, but Benedictine quarterback Paul Hrisko had 258 yards passing and three touchdowns -- two to Rick King. Benedictine beat Trotwood Madison in the state final for its second straight championship.
Special thanks: To Terry Fagan, for his help throughout the Vindicator state championship series.
-- Joe Scalzo