FOOTBALL Mooney rushes past Aquinas, 24-3

The Cardinals didn't get rolling until the second half for their second victory.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- For one half, the Mooney High football team did its best to stage a Labor Day Giveaway Sale for St. Thomas Aquinas.
But once the Cardinals got their hands on the football midway through the third quarter, Mooney's vaunted rushing attack took charge for a 24-3 victory Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium.
"We were persistent [on offense]," Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. "Our defense playing well put us in some good situations where we could grind it out. Sooner or later, we got cracking."
Three early fumbles
The only reason the game hadn't reached blowout status in the first 15 minutes were Mooney's three lost fumbles in Aquinas territory. The Cardinals also committed the first half's only four penalties.
Nate Burney raced 60 yards with the opening kickoff before the ball was stripped from his grasp at the Aquinas 33.
On Mooney's second possession, Eric Mariotti burst threw the Knights' line for pickups of 17 and 20 yards. But Mike Rich lost the ball at the Aquinas 16.
The Cardinals broke the scoreless deadlock after Knights punter Jon Thoma's boot rolled to the Mooney 11.
Mooney fullback Eric Mariotti capped his 126-yard quarter with an 89-yard touchdown run. Quarterback Kyle McCarthy helped spring Mariotti with a flying block.
"I knew someone had come by, but I didn't know who," said Mariotti who finished with 162 yards on 12 carries.
"When I found it was Kyle, I was like 'good job, buddy -- that's my senior quarterback out there making a block.' He's a tough, all-around kid."
"I was in the right position at the right time," McCarthy said. I saw this guy chasing down Eric and I was just trying to get to him in time. Luckily, I did."
Burney's extra-point kick gave Mooney a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
The Knights' woes escalated when Burney's kickoff bounced away from the Aquinas kick returners. Josh Moffie's recovery had the Cardinals poised for a knockout blow.
McCarthy burst through the Knights' defense for a 22-yard pickup to the 1. But two plays later, Mariotti fumbled.
Cardinals get safety
Three plays later, Mooney's lead grew to 9-0 when Marcus Williams was nailed in the end zone by Mooney safety Mike Cook.
In the third quarter, things grew tense for the Cardinals when Aquinas ran the first 13 offensive plays of the second half.
Facing 4th and inches at the Mooney 11, the Knights sent out their field goal unit and were penalized for delay of game. John Rice then booted a 32-yard field goal to cut the Mooney lead to 9-3.
Long scoring drive
The Cardinals responded with a long scoring march that was boosted by an Aquinas unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
During the 12-play march, Rich had a 20-yard run while McCarthy had a 16-yard pickup. Rich capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Burney's conversion run put Mooney ahead, 17-3, with 9:40 to go.
After Knights quarterback Jason Chessler threw three incomplete passes, Mooney sealed the game with a seven-play scoring drive.
Seemingly contained on the Mooney sideline for a loss, Burney eluded a grab to his facemask and reversed himself for a 26-yard score.
williams@vindy.com