MOONEY LIVE | Mooney leads 14-0

Michael Zordich’s 1-yard TD run made it 7-0 Mooney with seven minutes left.

Coldwater is a pass-heavy team and Coldwater quarterback Cory Klenke has been sharper in the second possession after misfiring twice in his first drive. The Cavaliers are handling Mooney’s defensive line OK, but that could change as the game wears on. Mooney’s got a big size advantage.

The Cavaliers drove to Mooney’s 13 on their second possession and went for it on fourth-and-5 despite having a first-team All-Ohio kicker. (Note: Next time, take the points.) Klenke just missed on a couple touchdown throws where a Mooney defender either knocked it away or the throw was just off. Coldwater’s got a scary offense, averaging 55 points a game in the playoffs.

On Mooney’s second possession, the Cardinals had an 81-yard touchdown pass from Tim Marlowe to Michael Zordich called back due to a hold, although it was called, incorrectly, a block in the back. (Replays showed the call was legit, in case you’re wondering.) Mooney has wasted all three timeouts in the first quarter, which could come back to haunt the Cardinals later in the game.

On third-and-7 at the Mooney 44, Marlowe hit Mike Gemma for 32 yards. The next play, Marlowe hit Gemma again, this time for 24 yards and a touchdown with two seconds left in the first quarter. Reese adds the extra point.

It’s 14-0 Mooney at the end of one.

By the way, my pregame prediction was Mooney by three touchdowns.

Joe Scalzo