STATE CHAMPION Mooney -- 1987

Coach: Don BucciSeason record: 12-1, 3-0 Steel Valley ConferenceSchedule:
Regular season
28Ashtabula011Cleveland St. Joseph207Fitch38Canton McKinley07Boardman615Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary020Cincinnati St. Xavier014Ursuline025Chaney0
Playoffs
21Wickliffe021Struthers323Elyria Catholic030Thornville Sheridan7
Notable players: Mooney's first team All-SVC players included defensive end Chris Vecchione (a first-team all-state selection who also played on YSU's 1991 national title team), center Rodney Strichek (Mount Union), quarteback Ray Allen (Indiana State), defensive back Jamie Austin (YSU), linebacker Jim Napoli, fullback Dean Cicoretti (played baseball at YSU), linebacker Mike Guerrieri, tackle Ed Sewruk (Kansas State), defensive tackle Dave Tabaka and guard Brian Lyons. Junior linebacker Jamie Mendez was second-team all-SVC and made several All-America teams as a DB at Kansas State; junior defensive back Marcus Coleman also made second team all-SVC and played at Georgia Tech when it split the national title with Colorado.Notebook: Mooney became the first team in history to win titles in three divisions (A, AA, III). This was the Cardinals' fourth and final state title -- the most of any area team. After this season, Mooney was 16-4 in the playoffs with four titles and one runner-up finish. The Cardinals' defense had allowed just 16 points in the five title games. Defensive coordinator Ron Stoops passed away the next season in a game at Boardman and Mooney never again made it past the state semifinals. Head coach Don Bucci retired after the 1999 season, after losing to Ironton in the Division IV state semifinals.
-- Joe Scalzo