Thursday, November 23, 2006
DIVISION IVMOONEY vs. BELLAIRE
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Harding Stadium, SteubenvilleRadio: WKBN-AM 570Last meeting: Mooney won 20-13 in the state semifinals last season. Bellaire won back-to-back games against the Cardinals in the 1990s, winning 21-14 in the state semifinals in 1995 and 27-21 in the 1995 regional finals.Next game: The winner will meet either Plain City Jonathan Alder or Oak Harbor in the state championship game at 11 a.m. Friday at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
Mooney (12-0)Regular season
20Cuy. Falls Walsh Jesuit1428St. Francis (NY)040Akron Hoban1328Warren Harding1321Mentor Lake Catholic1652Cleveland Benedictine1447Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary710Ursuline032Columbus Watterson14
Playoffs
28CVCA041Perry050Orrville21
Scouting report: Mooney is 37-14 all-time in 20 postseason appearances, winning state titles in 1973, 1980, 1982, 1987 and 2004. The Cardinals went 0-for-2 passing in last week's victory but rolled up close to 400 yards on the ground and held a 43-7 lead at one point. For the season, Mooney is averaging 340 yards per game on the ground and 54 yards passing per game. "We looked at the film and we think we're going to try and run the ball this week," quipped Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. The Cardinals, who won the Associated Press poll title after a 9-0 regular season, got a scare last week when senior Ishmaai'ly Kitchen (the district defensive player of the year) injured his right ankle and missed the second half of the Orrville game. Fecko expects him to play this week. Quarterback Dan McCarthy, who ran for more than 150 yards and two TDs last week, leads the Cardinals with 179 carries for 1,431 yards and 17 TDs. McCarthy, the co-offensive player of the year in the district, also has completed 33 of 65 passes for 624 yards, six TDs and five interceptions. His main target has been senior Tony Brunetti, who has eight catches for 185 yard and four TDs. (Brunetti played most of last year's game against Bellaire at quarterback after starter Derrell Johnson went down with an ankle injury.) Junior fullback Michael Zordich has carried 130 times for 939 yards and 16 TDs and will split carries with tailbacks Jamelle Bowers (128 carries, 813 yards, 4 TDs) and Brandon Beachum (94 carries, 565 yards, 10 TDs). McCarthy, Zordich and Beachum were on the sidelines for last Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game as guest recruits. Senior Dom Scarnecchia, who already has a scholarship offer from Villanova, returns punts and kicks and also plays cornerback. He and senior Jason Hehr will be tested against Bellaire's potent passing attack. The Cardinals prefer to play man coverage and bring blitz pressure on the quarterback on defense. Mooney is outgaining teams 394-131 per game and outscoring teams 33-9. Mooney had seven first-team all-district players and are in the state semifinals for the third straight season. With a win, the Cardinals can advance to the state championship game for the third straight year. Mooney coach P.J. Fecko has a 52-27 record in seven years with the Cardinals. For the second straight year, the game will be played in Steubenville, which is 30 miles from Bellaire. Youngstown is 70 miles from Steubenville. "It is what it is," said Fecko. "It's senseless to complain about it. I know it's a little farther away, but it's an artificial surface and in 2006, with all the high school facilities that have artificial surfaces, that's what it should be in the state semifinals." Mooney plays its regular season games at YSU's Stambaugh Stadium which, like Harding stadium, has field turf.
Bellaire (13-0)Regular season
33Wheeling Park (W.Va.)2937John Marshall (W.Va.)2134Buckeye Local725St. Clairsville2128Beaver Local743Harrison Central1841Union Local1444Steubenville Cath. Central1049Indian Creek1523Martins Ferry0
Playoffs
49St. Clairsville2137Westfall2645New Lexington7
Scouting report: The Big Reds are 18-8 in nine postseason appearances all-time. After losing All-Ohio quarterback Nate Davis to graduation, senior Nick Rocchio has stepped in and completed 177 of 297 passes for 3,154 yards, 43 TDs and 11 interceptions. He's also run for 289 yards and 12 TDs, mostly on short dives. Senior Aaron Crow is the leading rusher with 92 carries for 611 yards and two TDs, while speedy senior Jayson Keyser (53 carries, 253 yards) and senior Artis Johnson (36 carries, 198 yards) also see time. Wide receiver Trey Masciarelli, the East District offensive player of the year, has 62 receptions for 1,345 yards and 20 TDs. Keyser has 31 catches for 490 yards and eight TDs and senior Timmy Young has 21 catches for 325 yards. The defense is led by Jordan Traylinek (164 tackles), who was the district defensive player of the year, Keyser (five interceptions, seven sacks) and Nick Perko (nine sacks). The Big Reds also had seven first-team all-district players. Bellaire, which finished third in the final AP poll, is outscoring teams 38-15 this season. Bellaire coach John Magistro has a 181-75 record in 23 seasons with the school. He will retire after this season. This is the Big Reds' sixth appearance in the state semifinals. They've been to the state championship game twice, falling in 1995 to Versailles in double overtime (50-44) and in 1996 to Germantown Valley View (37-12).
DIVISION VWARREN JFKvs. AMANDA CLEARCREEK
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Game time: Ashland Community StadiumLast meeting: Amanda-Clearcreek won, 10-7, in double overtime in a Div. V state semifinal in 2003.Next game: The winner will meet either Findlay Liberty-Benton or St. Henry in the state championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Canton Fawcett Stadium.
Warren JFK (13-0)Regular season
42Newton Falls028Struthers716Girard751Cleveland Central Catholic050Cleveland John Adams042Kennedy Catholic734Linsly (W.Va.)027St. Thomas Aquinas1454Trinity College (Ont.)1428Steubenville Catholic Central7
Playoffs
22Smithville1414Barnesville8
21South Range14
Scouting report: The Eagles are 24-14 all-time in the postseason, spanning 16 appearances. JFK is outgaining opponents 4,297-1,814 and its defense has been the key all season. First team all-district selections DB Anthony Kokal, a Miami (Ohio) recruit, DL Tom Mariani and LBs Rob Dray and Jared Province are key players on the defense. Kokal and DB Rafael Patterson each have four interceptions. Offensively, QB J.J. Townsend, the district offensive player of the year, has completed 111-of-218 passes for 1,681 yards. His main targets are junior James Howard (34 catches, 413 yards, 3 TDs) and sophomore Desmar Jackson (26 catches, 531 yards, 9 TDs), while juniors Jared Province (121 rushes, 817 yards) and Eric McBride (137 carries, 656 yards) are the main running threats. Eagles coach Tony Napolet was named the district coach of the year.
Amanda-Clearcreek (12-1)Regular season
22Newark Catholic1440Zane Trace028Adena1320Fairfield Union2343Bloom-Carroll1424Logan Elm1619Circleville1340Canal Winchester014Hamilton Township726Teays Valley6
Playoffs
15Frankfort Adena736Gahanna Col. Acad.921West Jefferson14
Scouting report: Amanda-Clearcreek's only defeat was in week 4, a three-point loss to Fairfield Union. The Aces are scoring 26.8 points per game and allowing 10.5. The Aces were back-to-back Div. V state champions in 1999 and 2000. Amanda-Clearcreek's last state championship game appearance was in 2004, when the Aces lost to St. Henry, 35-7. The quarterback behind the successful system is Dalton Smith, a 6-0, 163-pound quarterback who does it all. Smith is the top rusher with 931 yards on 188 attempts and he's thrown for 1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns. Rushers not far behind are Justin Leasure (6-0, 178) and Ben Ball (5-11, 200) with 824 yards/15 TDs and 715 yards/12 TDs, respectively.
Vindicator staff reports