Top-ranked Mooney overwhelms Harding

The defending Division IV champs crushed the Raiders 49-0.

By JOE SCALZO

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

AUSTINTOWN — At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to cut outside and (most likely) score a touchdown or go inside where a Warren Harding defender awaited.

He chose inside, lowering his shoulder into Harding defensive back Aunre Davis as the collision came to a stop at the Raiders’ 3.

It looked like he chose to deliver punishment over scoring, although Zordich smiled and shook his head when asked about it.

“No, I just thought I could beat him inside,” said Zordich following the Cardinals’ 49-0 “home” victory on Saturday at Fitch High. “It was a bad cut.”

Huh. Apparently, even Mooney’s mistakes are impressive.

Zordich, who finished with 76 yards rushing, scored on the next play. But the Penn State recruit was even better on defense, helping Mooney hold the Raiders to 147 total yards despite resting for much of the second half.

It was the third straight win for the Cardinals (4-0, 1-0) against their Steel Valley Conference rivals.

“The good thing about this team is we’re never satisfied,” said senior quarterback Dan McCarthy, who rushed 14 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a score. “We want to keep getting better.”

Too good

The state’s top-ranked team in Division IV overwhelmed the inexperienced Raiders, rolling up 418 yards (all but 43 of those on the ground) and forcing eight Harding punts. More impressive, Mooney started substituting liberally midway through the third quarter — the Cardinals were playing their fourth-string quarterback by the end of the game.

Mooney was also missing its top running back and one of its starting linebackers in Penn State recruit Brandon Beachum, who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against Gateway (Pa.) and may miss another week or two.

“They’re a great football program and they’ve got a great team this year,” said Harding’s first-year coach D.J. Dota. “It’s probably the best Mooney team I’ve coached against, which goes back to 1997.”

Cardinals junior John Simon terrorized the Raiders’ offensive line, compiling three tackles for a loss, while cornerback Tim Marlowe added an interception and Matt Lyden had a sack.

Good performance

Harding had just 69 yards in the first half.

“Obviously, all around it was a good performance,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. “We really executed well.”

Mooney fans also got a look at its terrific sophomore class as Zordich’s younger brother, Alex, saw time at quarterback, running back Ray Vinopal rushed for 62 yards and running back Braylon Heard ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns.

“Those guys work so hard all week, it was nice to get them in,” said Fecko.

Davis led Harding (2-2, 0-1) with 20 yards rushing and 37 passing. The Raiders had just one returning starter from last year’s regional final team and look to be a year or two away from seriously competing in the SVC.

“I think we did some really good things,” said Dota. “The guys didn’t quit and they’re working and getting better.”

Mooney, meanwhile, faces another tough test this Friday when it plays host to Mentor Lake Catholic, which played the Cardinals as tough as anyone last year before falling 21-16.

“They’re a very good football program,” said Fecko of the Cougars. “We’re not expecting anything different this year.”

scalzo@vindy.com