Mooney, Steubenville matchup headlines Division IV playoffs

By John Kovach

The Cardinals were the last team to defeat the Big Red in last year’s regional final.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Cardinal Mooney High football team is going to have its hands full on Friday at 7:30 p.m. when the Cardinals collide with perennial postseason rival Steubenville Big Red, in a Division IV regional semifinal game at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium.

That’s because Steubenville sports a high-powered offense that rolled to a 61-29 win over Coshocton last week in a first-round game that extended the Big Red’s undefeated streak to 11 games.

Meanwhile, Mooney (9-2) struggled to a 14-6 win over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in another quarterfinal.

In addition, Steubenville has won 53 of its last 54 games, including Div. III state championships in 2005-06.

Steubenville’s lone loss during that span was a 35-20 setback to Mooney last year in a Div. IV regional final, after the Cardinals built a 35-0 lead.

That means that Coach Reno Saccoccia’s Big Red will have extra incentive to make up for that one blot on their four-year record.

But there is still another motivation for Steubenville to want to upstage Mooney: The Big Red would love the distinction of knocking off one of the state’s top-rated teams in the history of the playoffs.

Mooney is ranked No. 3 among all Ohio high school football teams in playoff succeess with 125 points, behind No. 1 Newark Catholic (178 points) and Cleveland St. Ignatius (147), while Steubenville is tied for No. 9 with Ironton with 105 points.

The ratings are based on a scoring system that allows one point for one playoff appearance, two points for a playoff win and three points for a state championship.

Mooney has qualified for the playoffs 22 years and has a 43-15 record with six state titles. Steubenville’s numbers are 20 qualifying years, 38-17 record and three state titles.

But Mooney is aware of what Steubenville can do, and hopes to counteract it. Plus the Cardinals get back a leader, John Simon, a senior tight end and defensive end, who is a three-year starter and an Ohio State recruit who missed last week’s game due to an injury.

In addition, Mooney has a strong desire and determination to advance to the state championship game to make up for last year’s loss to Coldwater in the final, 28-27.

But coach P.J. Fecko of Mooney said his team has to be ready to overcome adversity, should it come, to stay alive toward its ultimate goal.

“Steubenville is a team that really, really can swing momentum,” Fecko said. “They thrive on it and take it. We are going to have to weather some storms. When we lose momentum, we are going to have to make its swing back our way.”

Fecko also is wary of Steubenville’s leader, sophomore quarterback Dwight Maco. He’s a two-year starter, whom Mooney will have to contain to escape with a win.

“He is a runner and passer and he makes things happen. He is a playmaker,” Fecko said.

Fecko blamed mistakes near the opponent’s goal for Mooney’s lack of offense in last week’s loss.

“We did a poor job putting up points. We moved the ball for over 300 yards rushing. But we couldn’t finish the plays. We have to be better finishers,” Fecko said. “We’d stall, get a bad distance, get a penalty or a bad down. It’s hard to put a finger on it.”

Fecko is hoping his three running backs can deliver the yards and points this week.

“We have a trio of junior running backs — Braylon Heard, Ray Vinopal and Karrington Griffin. They do a great job complementing each other,” Fecko said. “When someone gets banged up, others have stepped up. They are great team players.”

Fecko said Simon is a key player in Mooney’s team, but that other players were able to replace him adequately last week.

“John is a tremendous player. But we have people who can step up [if needed],” said Fecko, who called Simon “an impact player” and that “he demands a lot of respect from the opposition.

“John Loves to play whether he is on offense or defense.”

Fecko senses that his team is getting better and will be ready for Big Red.

“We feel we will be as confident as we need to be,” Fecko said. “If we continue to progress in practice, we’ll be in there.”

Fecko was asked if Mooney ever has considered adding Steubenville to its regular-season schedule.

“We’ve never had the opportunity [on a date] when we were both open,” Fecko said. “We like to play the best. We are open to anything.”

kovach@vindy.com