By John Bassetti

Ursuline was favored in the 1958 matchup, but Mooney played with more emotion.

YOUNGSTOWN — Although the crowds were much larger than today, one Ursuline assistant football coach didn’t think the 1958 game had the anticipation of its descendants.

“The hype for that first game was nothing like it is today because Mooney was brand new and not too many people knew much about them,” said Dick Rezek, whose teaching career spanned 40 years at different area schools before retiring as superintendent of Jackson-Milton schools.

“While it should have been apparent, none of us ever dreamed that it would become such a tremendous rivalry,” said Rezek. “Tom Carey and Don Bucci did a great deal to make what it became and continues to be.”

Rezek thought Ursuline was favored, but quarterback Jim Traficant and one of Mooney’s tight ends, Jack Vasko, ended up playing an outstanding game.

“I think they played with a little more emotion than we did,” said Rezek. “Maybe the game took on more meaning for them; the emotions were more for Cardinal Mooney at that game.”

Ursuline scored first when Joe Hynes caught a touchdown pass from P.J. Moore. Traficant hit Vasko with the tying TD pass with nine minutes left and then the same combination decided the contest.

At one time, the rivalry was South Side vs. North Side.

That rings hollow to some extent because of population erosion and diffusion.

Also, consolidation was rumored at one time.

“Neither Ursuline nor Mooney wants to relinquish its independence,” Rezek said. “Ursuline wants to be Ursuline and Mooney wants to be Mooney. They have programs in place to help fund the schools so it would be hard on that.”

Carey said Mooney’s inclusion was welcomed.

“It was just the beginning of a good rivalry and it was also a great addition for the City Series at that time — to have both Catholic schools included. It added to the good competition in the City Series and created an interest in the community.”

It made the City a seven-school league.

Ursuline’s offense used the single-wing formation. Its backfield was in short-punt formation with the quarterback not under center, but a few yards away and offset.

Most of the snaps went to the quarterback, who would hand off to either the fullback or one of the halfbacks. The wingback’s role could be as a blocker, a receiver or a runner on a reverse.

On the line, which was unbalanced on one side of the center, were a guard, two tackles next to one another and an end. On the short side were an end and weak side guard.

Carey said the single wing offense filtered down from the college ranks.

“Michigan, Ohio State, Pitt and other prominent teams had it, using an unbalanced line, in most cases, with great emphasis on the power running game,” he said.

“It was just the beginning of other changes in high school football,” said Carey, now 88.

bassetti@vindy.com