Bellaire's Magistro wants a winner before retirement

Mooney (12-0) has won all three playoff games by at least 28 points.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
After Cardinal Mooney ended his football season last fall in the Division IV state semifinals, Bellaire High football coach John Magistro considered retiring. He'd already been with the Big Reds for 22 seasons and most of his family now lived in Columbus.
But he decided against it.
"I just wanted to be with these seniors," said Magistro, who will retire after this season. "It's a special group."
It must be. After losing All-Ohio quarterback Nate Davis to graduation, it's safe to say there were a few people across the state who didn't expect Bellaire to be back in the state semis. But senior Nick Rocchio has filled in nicely for Davis (now a starter for Ball State) and Magistro would like nothing better than to pull an upset against Mooney on Friday and coach for one more week.
"Definitely," he said. "You know, three or four weeks ago it seemed like a long time [before retirement]. Now I know it's almost over.
"At least I know I have this week."
Never a champion
Like Mooney, the Big Reds have a strong playoff tradition, having won six regional titles in the past 11 years. Unlike the Cardinals, they've never been able to win that elusive state championship, coming up short in 1995 to Versailles in double overtime (50-44), then falling in 1996 to Germantown Valley View (37-12).
"He's done a great job," said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko, whose team is seeking its third straight trip to the state final. "It's a really solid program and it's not just the statistical accomplishments, although those are impressive. Having coached against them, I know how hard they play and how well-coached they are."
Magistro, the only coach to lead Bellaire to the state playoffs, holds the school record for coaching victories with 168 and once led the Big Reds to 37 straight regular season victories. He's also coached two NFL players -- former Ohio State wide receiver Joey Galloway, who is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Browns linebacker Ben Taylor, who signed with Green Bay in the offseason.
"It's going to be tough," he said of retiring. "But this is definitely it."
Rocchio, who's thrown for 3,175 yards and 43 touchdowns -- both OVC records -- leads a wide-open offensive attack that features senior wide receiver Trey Masciarelli, who caught 62 passes for 1,345 yards and an OVC-record 20 touchdowns this season. There's a lot of talent on both sides of the ball and there's no question that last year's 20-13 loss to the Cardinals still stings.
Team quest
"This senior class made a commitment and that goes clear back to January," said Magistro. "They wanted to show people in this area that [their success] wasn't just because of a great quarterback last year. It's a team thing."
Mooney also lost a terrific quarterback to graduation, Derrell Johnson, who gashed the Big Reds' defense early in last season's game, running eight times for 93 yards before injuring his ankle with eight minutes left in the second quarter. Johnson missed the state championship game the next week as Mooney fell to Coldwater.
"Last year, if they don't lose their quarterback, I think they win state," said Magistro. "I don't think they've missed a beat this year [with Dan McCarthy at quarterback]."
Magistro probably has a tougher challenge ahead of him this season. This year's Mooney team, which is vying to become the first in school history to advance to three straight state finals, finished the regular season as the top-ranked team by the Associated Press.
The Cardinals (12-0) have won all three playoff games by at least 28 points and last week's 50-21 victory over Orrville was the most points they've given up all season.
McCarthy, a junior who also plays defensive back, leads an overpowering Mooney offense that features two terrific tailbacks (Brandon Beachum and Jamelle Bowers), a punishing fullback (Michael Zordich) and a line that averages close to 300 pounds.
Closing in
Only one team in Mooney history -- the 1980 team -- has finished a regular season undefeated and won a state title. (Mooney has won five state titles overall.) This year's team has already duplicated one feat, matching Mooney's 1980-1982 run of three straight state semifinal berths. Interestingly enough, some consider the 1981 team to be the most talented team in Mooney history. That team fell to Cleveland Benedictine in the state semifinals.
Magistro would love for his team to repeat the feat this weekend in Steubenville.
"I've been watching film, trying to figure out where they're weak," said Magistro of the Cardinals. "There's not too many places where they are. They've got great size, great speed and you don't know which guy to try and stop.
"I'm just trying to figure out a way to beat them."
scalzo@vindy.com