Coshocton’s coach knows what the Redskins are facing.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Marty Arganbright was an assistant coach at Coshocton High in 1999 when the Redskins played Cardinal Mooney in the Division IV regional finals.

Mooney won 27-8.

“That was really our first tournament run and that game was pretty well-handled by Mooney,” said Arganbright, now the head coach. “It was close early in the game, but it was very similar to what Mooney’s done to teams this year — they wore us down.”

The Redskins (7-3) will play the defending Div. IV state champs at 7 p.m. Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium in what looks like, on paper, one of the biggest opening round mismatches in Ohio.

“I know Mooney’s got a great tradition, a great program and an outstanding football team,” said Arganbright, whose team will have a three-hour bus ride to Youngstown. “It’s gonna be a challenge.”

Mooney (10-0), which has won 24 straight games and won its second straight Div. IV Associated Press poll title Monday, is playing a young Coshocton team that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2003. The Cardinals have four major Division I prospects in seniors Dan McCarthy (Notre Dame), Brandon Beachum (Penn State), Michael Zordich (Penn State) and Taylor Hill (Oklahoma). Another, junior defensive lineman John Simon, has offers from Ohio State and Notre Dame, among others.

“They’ve got so many athletes,” said Arganbright. “Their line has great size, they’re extremely talented at the skill positions, and their defense is extremely athletic.

“After watching them on film, I can see why they’re the No. 1-ranked team in our very tough region.”

The Redskins, who have lost three of their last six games, have made nine playoff appearances, but this season’s team probably arrived a year early. Only seven seniors see significant playing time.

Like Mooney, Coshocton is a run-first (and run-second) team, utilizing the Wing-T on offense. Sophomore wingback Marcus Johnston has run for 1,091 yards and eight TDs, junior fullback Ian Chrisman has run for 921 yards and 10 TDs and two other wingbacks — Dom McCluskey and Alex Hunt — have more than 300 yards rushing.

“They’re definitely a team that’s been playing well,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko, who was a Mooney assistant in 1999 and took over the program the following season. “Offensively, they run the Wing-T really well and you have to make sure that everybody on defense is gap sound and does their job. If you don’t, all the sudden someone is running down the field with the football.

“Defensively, they’re played well all year long. They do a great job of getting everybody to the football and there’s different guys making plays all the time.”

That said, Mooney’s schedule has the Cardinals well-prepared to make it to the state championship game for the fourth straight year. Four of the eight Ohio teams on Mooney’s schedule made the playoffs. Gateway (Pa.), which Mooney beat 27-6 in Week 2, has won eight straight and is ranked third statewide in Class AAAA.

Other than a season-ending knee injury to cornerback Roberto Morales, and a knee injury to Beachum (who has since recovered), the Cardinals have been healthy.

Coshocton would probably need a miracle to win Saturday’s game, but Arganbright isn’t just thinking about this season.

“Anytime you get into the postseason, it’s an unbelievable experience not only for the team, but for the future,” he said. “This is great for our program.”

scalzo@vindy.com