STAMBAUGH STADIUM Defense leads Mooney win 19-13

Nate Burney took care of the offense against St. Vincent-St. Mary.
By GREG GULAS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- Nate Burney rushed for 152 yards, scored a touchdown and kicked two field goals as the Cardinal Mooney High football team posted a 19-13 victory over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday at Stambaugh Stadium.
After allowing 49 points last week against Cleveland Benedictine, Mooney (5-2) coach P.J. Fecko was quick to note that a solid week of practice did wonders in preparing for the Cardinals' next opponent.
"Kudos to our seniors because they pulled our team together on Monday, then made sure that they worked hard and improved throughout the week," Fecko said.
"Our defense did a great job in setting the tone of the game for us tonight," he added. "They provided excellent field position, and while we should have come up with more than just two field goals for the better part of the first half, I was pleased with our offensive effort as the game progressed."
Sets up first score
A 30-yard punt return by Kyle McCarthy set up the first scoring opportunity for the Cardinals midway through the opening quarter.
The Irish (4-4) defense stiffened, allowing Mooney just six yards on three plays. When Burney made the first of his two field goals from 24 yards out, the Cardinals took a 3-0 lead.
Desmond Marrow then picked off an errant Blaise Meeker pass, returning it 43 yards to the Irish 21. A personal foul on the Irish then placed the ball at the St. Vincent-St. Mary 10-yard line, setting up the Cardinals' second scoring opportunity.
Three plays netted a minus one-yard and Burney's 28-yard field goal attempt was wide left. An illegal procedure call on the Cardinals prior to the snap, however, gave Burney a second chance. He made the best of the opportunity by connecting on a 33-yard field goal for a 6-0 Mooney advantage just 56 seconds into the second quarter.
Cardinals led at halftime
McCarthy's three-yard scamper at the 1:03 mark then gave the Cardinals a 12-0 margin (the run failed), a lead they would hold at intermission.
"We lost containment a couple of times, made two critical mistakes early and you just can't do that if you expect to win," Irish coach Keith Wakefield said. "This to me was a typical Cardinal Mooney team -- tough, one that executes and is well-schooled in the basics. I like playing them."
A 45-yard run by Jarin Bryant at the 5:40 mark of the third quarter cut the Cardinal lead to 12-6, but Burney's one-yard scamper at 10:12 of the final stanza increased the Mooney margin to 19-6.
Irish close gap
Meeker then hooked up with Bryant on a 25-yard scoring pass with 4:25 remaining to cut the Mooney lead to 19-13, but that was the closest the Irish got the rest of the way as the Cardinals ran the clock out, holding the ball for the final 10 plays of the contest.
"What is amazing to me is that there was only one turnover the entire night in a steady downpour," Fecko said. "Burney did an excellent job, as did all of our backs, of holding onto the football as the game progressed.
"The rain was heavy at times and it got colder as the game went on so we had to run the football more," Fecko added. "Nate will be the first to tell you that the offensive line did a great job for us tonight."
Burney had 152 yards on 29 carries, while the Cardinals rushed for 247 yards on 56 carries.
The Irish managed just 98 yards on the ground and 146 total offensive yards. Mooney held its opponent to just 42 yards on 21 total plays in the first half.
The Cardinals held a 17-6 advantage in first downs.