FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Mooney's 1987 squad overachievers

The Cardinals became the first team in Ohio history to win state titles in three divisions.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Chris Vecchione picked up his cell phone in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, and -- after about a quarter-second of thought -- blurted out the defining quality of Mooney's 1987 state title team.
"Best defense Mooney ever had," Vecchione said.
Biased? Sure. Confident? Definitely. Accurate? Probably.
What the Cardinals did to opposing offenses that season was staggering. They gave up just 39 points in 13 games, recorded nine shutouts -- including five straight at one point -- and gave up just 10 points in four playoff games.
Not bad, eh?
"Mooney always had high expectations when it came to football back then, but I don't think a lot of the general public expected us to win a state title that year," Vecchione, who earned first-team Division III all-state honors as a defensive end that season, said. "But we were confident within our football family that we could do it."
The Cardinals went 12-1 that season. Their lone loss came against Cleveland St. Joseph -- which had future NFL players Desmond Howard and Elvis Grbac -- in the second game.
Winning it all
Mooney then won 11 straight, capping the dream season with a 30-7 win over Elyria Catholic in the state final to become the first team in Ohio history to win state titles in three different divisions.
"We dedicated that game to the senior class that had lost the state championship game two years [previously]," Vecchione said of the 1985 team, which lost in the state final to Galion, 6-0. "We seniors were part of that team, but we were just sophomores. We were not as involved."
Led by quarterback Kevin Meger -- who went on to become the Mid-American Conference player of the year at Toledo -- the Generals were 13-0 and averaged more than 37 points per game.
Mooney held them to just 118 yards and scored 23 points in the second half to pull away.
"I never expected the '87 team to win it," Bucci, who retired after the 1999 season, said. "The thing that sticks out in my mind is that they were a team of overachievers."
Quarterback Ray Allen finished the season 32-of-78 for 538 yards and three touchdowns and added 346 yards rushing with five touchdowns.
Running backs Eddie Thomas (1,255 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Dean Cicorreti (1,063 yards, nine touchdowns) ran behind a punishing Mooney offensive line that included three first-team All-Steel Valley Conference players (Ed Sewruk, Bryan Lyons and Rodney Strichek).
Vecchione was one of 10 Cardinals who earned first-team All-SVC honors that season. Vecchione also went on to play at YSU, helping the Penguins to their first national championship in 1991.
Close-knit team
"My time at Mooney was a little more passionate and a little more special," Vecchione said. "I guess it's because of the bond I had growing up for four years with the same kids and having that goal in front of you. I think you have a little more of an emotional bond."
And that bond still continues. When one of the players, Frank Bafunno, got married this season, about 90 percent of the team attended the ceremony.
"It was almost like a class reunion," Vecchione said.
Several coaches -- past and present -- also attended, but one was missing. Defensive coordinator Ron Stoops, the architect of all four of Mooney's state championship defenses, suffered a heart attack in a game at Boardman in 1988 and died that night.
Mooney never made it back to a state final, and when Bucci was asked if he thought the 1987 team would be his last to win a championship, he shook his head.
"Absolutely not," Bucci said. "I never imagined it would be the last."
scalzo@vindy.com