Great expectations — again

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Earlier this week, as four of the most famous prep players in Ohio were out sweating in the August sun on Cardinal Mooney’s practice field, an oversized teenager in a sleeveless T-shirt and mesh shorts stood off to the side gritting his teeth, waiting for his chance to rejoin his teammates.

“It’s hard,” said junior lineman John Simon, who strained his back and has been held out of practices. “I’d do anything to be out there. But I don’t want to take chances.

“I want to make sure I’m ready for Week One.”

The 2007 season hasn’t started yet but Mooney hasn’t been hurting for headlines.

The so-called “Big Four” of Danny McCarthy, Brandon Beachum, Michael Zordich and Taylor Hill have all made Division I college commitments in the past three months and their return is a big reason why the Cardinals are expected to win their second straight Division IV state title.

Or are they?

Mooney graduated its entire offensive line, including Division I recruits Mike Madsen (Miami, Ohio) and Ishmaaily Kitchen (Kent State), and must replace 11 starters from last year’s team.

Mentor is first

When you play a schedule like the Cardinals’ — the meatgrinder starts Friday against Mentor, which happened to lose last year’s Division I state championship game in overtime — that’s no small concern.

“Those four guys have gained a lot of attention and deservedly so,” Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said, “but you have 11 guys on the field at one time. You can’t play with four.

“With this game, you need all 11 guys to be on the same page if things are going to work.”

Enter Simon. The 6-4, 267-pound junior already holds school weightlifting records in five different categories.

He can bench press 425 pounds. He can squat 700 pounds. He can power clean 325 pounds, dead lift 605 and bench 225 pounds 38 times.

But if Mooney is going to repeat as state champions, he’ll need to apply that strength to pushing over defenders, clearing holes for the Cardinals’ headline-grabbing quartet.

“Our expectations are high,” said Simon, who will join teammates such as Brandon Ericsson (6-0, 264) and Greg DeNiro (6-1, 290) on the rebuilt offensive line. “We’re not as big as we were last year on the line, but we’re faster and I think we have better technique.

“We’re excited about the challenge.”

Cardinals on a roll

Mooney, as you may have heard, has had some pretty good teams the past few years. The Cardinals won their sixth state title last December and became just the second team in school history to go undefeated, finishing the year 14-0 to best the 1980 team, which went 12-0.

No Mooney team has ever won back-to-back state titles, something that isn’t lost on the players.

“This is a whole new season, but we have the same goal,” said McCarthy, a Notre Dame recruit who returns at quarterback and safety. “We’re just as hungry as we were last year. We need a lot of guys to step up but I have a lot of confidence in the guys who are coming in there.”

The Cardinals have gone to three straight Division IV title games, winning in 2004 and falling to Coldwater in 2005. By the end of last season, observers were wondering whether Mooney was the best team in the state, regardless of division.

The expectations are high again this year, but the players are doing their best not to look ahead.

“We’ve just got to keep learning and keep getting better,” said McCarthy, who ran for more than 1,500 yards last year. “Everyone has to do their own job. There are no stars on this team.”

Carrying the ball

Most observers would dispute that last point. Beachum, a Penn State recruit who combines strength and quickness at the linebacker and running back slots, came on strong at the end of last season after being hampered by injury early in the year.

“I’m doing great now,” said Beachum, who rushed for more than 600 yards last year. “I had a really good offseason.”

Beachum isn’t worried about the new line — “We have some of the best line coaches in the area, bar none,” he said — and although the Cardinals struggled a bit in their first scrimmage against Cleveland Glenville, he’s optimistic about the season.

“That’s the fun time,” he said. “Right now, it’s not real enjoyable. We’re working six-seven hours a day out in the sun, but it all pays off in the end.”

Zordich, who plays linebacker and whose bowling ball-esque running style at fullback helped him gain 1,000 yards last season, was the first of the four to commit, verbaling to Penn State in June. His father, Michael, also played there.

Oklahoma

Hill, who was basically unblockable from his defensive end position in several games last year, committed to Oklahoma last month and will see more time in the backfield this season.

Tim Marlowe and L.J. Sutton return at the wide receiver position, which at Mooney is actually less glamorous than playing on the line.

“The running backs will at least mention the guards’ names,” said Beachum, chuckling. “In practice, they [the receivers] just run 5 yards and stop.”

The Cardinals return six starters from last year’s defense, which was (as usual) the strength of the team. This year’s no different.

One of the biggest strengths of last year’s team was its chemistry. Jokes like Beachum’s help make the season seem like less of a grind, which is key when you’re playing 15 games.

Which, of course, is the idea, although Fecko insists his team isn’t thinking about it.

“That talk comes more from fans,” he said.

Maybe, but no one is shying away from big goals. Written on the dry erase board inside the team’s weight room are the questions, “Back to back?” “4 years in a row?” and “07 state champ?”

Big questions. To answer them, Fecko plans to start small.

“As cliché as it sounds, you’ve got to break things down into small goals,” Fecko said. “Otherwise, you set yourself up for failure.

“Our goal is just to get better every week. That’s all you can do.”

scalzo@vindy.com