First, the good news.

This is the seventh time the Mahoning Valley has had at least two teams in the state finals in the same year. It’s also the third straight year it’s happened.

“I think that means a lot,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko, whose team will join Ursuline in the state finals this weekend. “To be represented in that manner, it definitely shows the type of athletes and commitment our area has to high school athletics. It’s great to see a neighboring school do so well. It creates a lot of excitement here.”

Added Ursuline coach Dan Reardon, “It’s a testament to the brand of football we play in this area.”

OK, now the bad news: The Valley has never had two champions in the same year.

Here’s the breakdown:

UIn 1973, Mooney beat Warren Western Reserve for the Class AAA title.

UIn 1987, Mooney won the Div. III title, while Boardman lost in Div. I.

UIn 1989, Campbell (III), Warren JFK (IV) and McDonald (V) all lost.

UIn 1994, West Branch (III) won, while Wellsville (V) and McDonald (VI) lost.

UIn 2005, Canfield (II) and Mooney (IV) both lost.

UIn 2006, Mooney (IV) won and JFK (V) lost.

OK, back to some (possibly) good news: I think that streak ends this weekend.

Unless Cincinnati St. Xavier somehow switches places with Coldwater this weekend, Mooney will win the Div. IV state title. This Cardinal team is special. Everyone knows about the talent, but what has impressed me in the six games I’ve seen them is how hard they play every down.

When things go wrong (which is rare), they refocus and keep playing hard. Even when they lost (arguably) their best player in Dan McCarthy, they didn’t panic, and didn’t miss a step.

Coldwater had a special team two years ago. This team isn’t as good as that one, while Mooney’s team (even without McCarthy) is much better than two years ago.

Ursuline has a much tougher task. The Irish have looked terrific in some games (Columbus St. Charles, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary and South Range, to name three) and so-so in others (Fitch, Mooney, Apple Creek Waynedale). If they play their best, they’ll win Friday. If they don’t, they won’t.

(This is the type of hard-hitting analysis you can’t find anywhere else.)

Maria Stein Marion Local has been a dominant team all year — it’s won every game by three touchdowns or more — and would be a strong favorite most years in Div. V. But Ursuline is too big, too strong and too athletic.

A few weeks back, I predicted titles for Mooney and Ursuline. I see no reason to change my mind.

Other notes:

UI have no evidence to back this, but I’d bet at least a few dollars that if McCarthy hadn’t gotten hurt, he’d have won Mr. Football.

UMooney is the first team in Ohio to play in four straight state championship games since Cleveland St. Ignatius played in six straight from 1991-96. The Wildcats won seven titles from 1988-95.

UColdwater linebacker Adam Homan is the younger brother of Ross Homan, who played on the Cavaliers’ 2005 state championship team and now plays at Ohio State.

There are also several Homans on Marion Local’s roster — none related to Ross — which isn’t uncommon in that part of the state.

“There are a lot of Homans in Mercer County,” said Marion Local coach Tim Gibbons.

Incidentally, there are no Homans playing football in the Mahoning Valley this year. We do have players with the last name “Italiano,” “Siciliano” and “Napolitano.”

Why do I mention this? Because, as everyone knows, the best last names are those that end in “o.”

USpeaking of family, Louisville coach Paul Farrah is cousins with Canfield coach Mike Pavlansky.

Farrah’s team is playing for the Div. II state championship this weekend. The Leopards beat my Uniontown Lake Blue Streaks in the first round, but I’ll root for them anyway.

UFecko was asked what kind of odds you could get in Vegas betting that his team would throw more often than pass-happy Coldwater.

“Oh boy, I wouldn’t take that bet,” he said, laughing. “It wouldn’t be on the board.”

XJoe Scalzo covers high school football for The Vindicator. Write him at scalzo@vindy.com.