COLUMBUS Watterson air game dismantles Mooney

Billy Griffin threw four TD passes to hand the Cardinals their second loss.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
COLUMBUS -- Despite 220 yards on 25 carries by Mooney tailback Nate Burney, the Cardinals were overwhelmed Friday by a solid passing game by Bishop Watterson quarterback Billy Griffin.
Griffin completed 12 of 18 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns as Watterson defeated Mooney, 38-20.
"Watterson played an outstanding game," Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. "They're a good football team, and they're a good program, year in and year out."
This week, Watterson (9-1) is ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press poll of Ohio's Division II teams and is the No, 3 team in the Region 7 computer playoff rankings (one spot behind Canfield).
"[Watterson] played a really good game and forced us into some bad situations and we turned the ball over," Fecko said. "You can't do that against a Watterson team."
Mooney quarterback Derrell Johnson was intercepted twice and fumbled once.
Wide receiver Pat Kohowski fumbled after an impressive catch while Burney fumbled at the Watterson 6 yard line.
"We're going to have to do a better job of sustaining drives and avoiding turnovers," Fecko said of the playoffs "When you turn the ball over as much as we did tonight, you're not going to beat anyone."
First half
In the first quarter, Griffin connected with Jason Ferrel for a 67-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead.
The Cardinals, this week's No. 3 team in the AP poll of Div. IV teams, responded with their only scoring drive of the first half.
Nate Burney's 21-yard scoring run and Will Kandray's extra-point kick tied the game.
But Watterson dominated the second quarter with Griffin throwing two more touchdown passes. First, Kristopher Luchsinger caught a 6-yard touchdown toss to put Watterson ahead for good.
Following Jonathan Thomas's 2-yard touchdown run, Griffin hit Thomas Kurth with a 10-yard scoring pass.
The lead grew to 35-7 when Austin Fester caught a 30-yard Griffin toss.
Burney scored on runs of 5 and 39 yards to reduce the deficit to 35-20.
Mooney's rush defense was solid, holding Watterson to 82 yards.
The Cardinals are the No. 1 team in Region 13 of the computer playoff ratings and will open next Saturday with a home game.