Mooney healthy for game Saturday

The Cardinals haven't had everybody healthy since the fifth game of the season.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Want to hear something scary?
"This is probably the first week since Game 5 that we're going to have everybody," said Cardinal Mooney High football coach P.J. Fecko.
Fresh off a 51-7 rout of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, the Cardinals (9-2) will finally be at full strength when they play Akron Manchester (10-1) Saturday at Uniontown Lake High School.
"Our guys got back on track [Saturday] night and we got back into a little bit of a rhythm," Fecko said. "Hopefully that continues this week."
Junior guard Demetrius Fambro (6-foot-1, 310 pounds), who missed the CVCA game, will be back against Manchester, solidifying a line that averages 283 pounds. Center Colin Chambers (6-0, 245), a two-year starter and co-captain who is getting looks from I-AA schools, and guard George Clarke (6-4, 285) are the only seniors and the best of the bunch. Tackle Ishmaaily Kitchen (6-5, 310), a junior, has not allowed a sack this season, has 23 pancake blocks and is getting looks from Big Ten schools.
Junior Mike Madsen (6-6, 274) starts at the other tackle position, while junior Zach Dietz (5-10, 233) alternates with Clarke.
Rushing leaders
The group has opened up holes all season for senior Nate Burney (260 attempts, 1,698 yards, 17 TDs) and quarterback Derrell Johnson (61 attempts, 845 yards, 7 TDs). Johnson missed four games to injury before returning in a week 10 loss to Columbus Watterson.
"He's back in playing shape and he's adjusted after missing so much time," Fecko said of Johnson. "He'll be even more adjusted this week."
Johnson (6-3, 202), who has also thrown for 420 yards, is one of the team's most highly-recruited players, getting offers from Iowa, North Carolina and Cincinnati.
Burney (5-9, 180) has gotten looks, but no offers yet.
"He probably won't get offered early, but he'll get offers after the season," Fecko said. "What will happen is, once people commit, something will open. You have to wait until things fall into place."
Defensive back Desmond Marrow, who verbally committed to Miami (Ohio) before the season, is the leader of a Cardinal defense that has held opponents to 15 points per game -- no small feat with Mooney's schedule.
"The thing is, we worry about ourselves and our team and getting better every week," Fecko said. "That's our focus."
scalzo@vindy.com