Cardinals advance in playoffs

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By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- "In the first half, we were shell-shocked right away," Garrettsville Garfield High coach Matt Jordan said.
Cardinal Mooney coach P.J. Fecko saw it this way: "Our defense put us in great position to start the game, and the offense capitalized on that."
The two coaches were referring to Mooney's two interceptions on Garfield's first two offensive series that helped to stake the Cardinals to a 14-0 lead Friday night in a Division IV football playoff opener at Stambaugh Stadium.
But there were two other reasons primarily why Mooney rolled to a 35-0 halftime lead, expanded that to 42-0 in the third quarter and then, after substituting freely, wound up with a 42-21 victory to advance into the second round of play next Friday -- the offensive line and quarterback Kyle McCarthy.
Behind outstanding blocking from the Cardinals' big, front wall, the quick and elusive McCarthy streaked to two touchdowns on long runs (34 and 86 yards). McCarthy also helped set up two other scores on a another long run (85 yards) and a pass (33 yards).
The Cardinals' next opponent will be Chagrin Falls (9-2) Friday at 7:30 p.m. at a site to be announced Sunday. Chagrin Falls advanced with a 26-8 win over Massillon Tuslaw.
McCarthy piles up the yards
McCarthy wound up with 225 yards rushing in nine carries and was 1-for-2 passing for 33 yards.
"He had a lot of yards, but Kyle has been running good all year," Fecko said. "Once he gets into the open, he is extremely elusive and has speed and he gets quite dangerous."
In addition, "The offensive line controlled the game and also the [defensive line]. It allowed us to make the offense [work]."
Jordan felt that his G-Men (9-2) were out-manned.
"[Mooney] had a distinct size and speed advantage, and an advantage especially in speed. Their 11 are fster than our 11, not to mention that they are bigger," Jordan said.
Desmond Marrow and Eric Marriotti came up with the early interceptions for Mooney to set up the quick lead.
On the first play of the game, Morrow picked off a pass at the Garfield 30, and four plays later Nate Burney scored from the 1-yard line.
Then on Garfield's third play after taking the ensuing kickoff, Marriotti returned a pass interception 27 yards to a TD for a 14-0 lead after McCarthy's conversion run.
And late in the first quarter, McCarthy hit Mike Rich with a 33-yard pass to the 8-yard line. Three plays later, Rich scored from the one to cap a 42-yard, 10-play drive for a 21-0 advantage.
McCarthy runs all over
McCarthy began his long-run spree in the second quarter, ripping off TD runs of 34 and then 86 yards, both scores climaxed by Seddon's extra-point kicks.
In the third quarter, McCarthy reeled 85 yards to Garfield's 14-yard-line, and four plays later Burney went in from the 1-yard line. Liam Welsch kicked the placement to cap a seven-play, 88-yard march.
"It was extremely important to get a good start. We wanted to build momentum," said Fecko, whose Cardinals rushed for 398 yards to Garfield's 143, and enjoyed a 14-8 first-down advantage.
"Our players up front on offense and defense [made it happen]. We were able to move the ball consistently and put up points and the defense kept [Garfield] out of the end zone."
Jordan said Mooney came in with a big advantage.
"It's like comparing apples and oranges [between us and Mooney]," Jordan said. "Without question, they have a big advantage. They are used to the big games, the big-time atmosphere. They play the Benedictines and Hardings."
G-Men didn't quit
But Garfield showed it could play at the end. The G-Men staged a big, three-TD climax in about the final 5:00 of the game against the Mooney subs.
Alex Macek led the G-Men's attack with 97 yards rushing in 11 carries, while Collins was 3-for-10 passing for 27 yards with four interceptions.
kovach@vindy.com