Mooney trailed in the fourth quarter for just the second time all season.

By TOM WILLIAMS

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

MASSILLON — In pursuit of a second consecutive perfect season, the Mooney High football team trailed in the fourth quarter just twice all season.

In Week 8, the Cardinals overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 21-17.

And in the Division IV state championship game Saturday at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, the Cardinals were stunned when the Coldwater Cavaliers scored three touchdowns in the final quarter to go ahead 28-21 with 2:41 to go in regulation.

Still, the Cardinals’ season was far from over. Mooney used nine plays to produce a 69-yard scoring drive that ended when quarterback Tim Marlowe hit tight end Mike Gemma with a 6-yard toss into the corner of the end zone.

But Kurt Schlarman’s block of Mooney’s extra point kick and Adam Homan’s recovery of the ensuing onside kick dealt Mooney its first loss, 28-27, since Coldwater won the 2005 state crown, 33-9, at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium.

“Coldwater is to be congratulated for pulling it out,” Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said.

On Mooney’s final drive, senior tailback Brandon Beachum carried the ball three times for 29 yards. Marlowe had four carries for 22 yards to pin the Cavaliers on their heels. It was a continuation of their early dominance that produced a 14-0 lead.

And the first-half margin might have been higher if not for nine penalties assessed to the Cardinals in the first two quarters.

Fecko said the Cardinals, who outrushed Coldwater 297-53, said, “were able to move the ball in the first and second half. Where we faltered was not coming up with some points when we had some opportunities, especially in the first half.

“They hunkered down and played some good defense.”

Relieved to be only down 14 points, the Cavaliers scored on their first possession of the second half to get back into the game. On the ninth play of a 48-yard drive, quarterback Cory Klenke broke through the middle for a 16-yard touchdown.

The Cardinals responded with their own six-play drive, with Marlowe scoring on an 8-yard run for a 21-7 lead they carried into the fourth quarter.

Momentum shifted into the Cavaliers’ favor when the Cardinals were thwarted at the Coldwater 25 as Klenke intercepted a Marlowe pass.

On a double reverse pass from backup quarterback Keith Wenning, Greier slipped past the Cardinals secondary to catch the football then outrace three defenders for an 80-yard score.

Following a three-and-out series, the Cavaliers tied the game with a 66-yard drive highlighted with another trick. Wenning caught a lateral pass then hit Tony Harlamert for a 35-yard gain to the Mooney 1. Harlamert scored on the next play.

Fecko, who is 2-2 in state title games, credited the Cavaliers for their gambles.

“It’s obviously impossible, unless you actually see them [on tape], to rehearse them an exact scenario,” said Fecko of the trick plays.

Two plays later, the Cavaliers were sky high as Marlowe lost control of the snap and linebacker Mark Steinbrunner recovered at the Mooney 32.

On third down, Klenke fired high into the end zone and Greier jumped over Marlowe for the go-ahead score.

“I caught it cleanly,” Greier said. “I told Cory that if he threw it, I would catch it.”

The Cavaliers’ comeback wasn’t a surprise to Cardinals senior captain Michael Zordich.

“We knew they weren’t going to stop coming at us,” Zordich said. “They’re a tough team.”

Klenke completed 16 of 37 tosses for 185 yards while Wenning was two-for-two for 115.

williams@vindy.com