The versatile senior is almost always on the field for the Cardinals.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Cardinal Mooney High senior Tim Marlowe is 5-feet-11 and 170 pounds. Maybe He’s the Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver (which, at Mooney, is sort of like being a fast lineman), their No. 1 cornerback, their backup quarterback and their holder for field goals and extra points. He also returns punts and kicks and plays on the punt and kick coverage teams.

“I’m the do-it-all guy,” he said.

Oh, and one more thing.

“He’s the fastest guy on the team,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko.

That’s right. On a team with four Division I skill position players, Marlowe is the fastest.

Thing is, he’s still not be the fastest guy in his family. His father, Springfield High graduate Dick Marlowe, quarterbacked Teenies Tavern to three national touch football titles and is a legend around town.

“He’s 56, but he still might beat me,” said Marlowe, chuckling. “We haven’t raced in awhile.”

Marlowe, who attended St. Christine, started going to Mooney games when he was 6 or 7 and attended (pardon the pun) religiously. His mother and much of his extended family went to Mooney, as did his two older brothers, Rich and Patrick.

Although not as well-known as, say, Dan McCarthy or Michael Zordich, he’s been a big part of Mooney’s 7-0 start.

“He’s an outstanding athlete, a great team player and a tremendous competitor,” said Fecko. “He’s very versatile and he sort of flies under the radar because of the other guys on the team.”

Marlowe saw some time as a sophomore, then became the starting wide receiver and a backup cornerback on last year’s Division IV state championship team. After fighting to get on the field two years ago, he’s happy to play anywhere he’s needed.

“I’m hoping to play somewhere on the next level, but if I don’t, I hope to have eight games left,” he said. “I want to play as much as I can.”

Marlowe leads the Cardinals with four receptions for 120 yards and two TDs this season. He’s also tied for the team lead with three interceptions and is third in the Steel Valley Conference in punt return yardage with a 14.7 average.

Like any receiver, he’d love to see a few more passes thrown his way, but Marlowe isn’t complaining, nor is he jealous of the attention surrounding his more-publicized teammates.

“It’s awesome to play with guys like that,” said Marlowe. “All 83 guys are family. We’d love to play eight more weeks and soak up every minute.”

scalzo@vindy.com