Sunday, October 26, 2008
Running back Karrington Griffin led the Cardinals past Columbus Watterson.
By JOE SCALZO
Vindicator sports staff
AUSTINTOWN — The Cardinal Mooney High football team supplied so much drama before Saturday’s contest, there wasn’t much left for the actual game.
Thanks to another dominant defensive performance, the Cardinals earned a Div. IV playoff berth and a home game next weekend with a 28-0 win over Columbus Watterson at Fitch High Stadium.
Mooney entered the game needing a win to make the postseason, so it was a “Play at home or stay at home” game.
Unofficially, the Cardinals will play host to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy on Saturday night at YSU.
“Everybody was aware of it,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko, whose team has played in four straight Div. IV state title games. “But each week there’s a lot at stake and if you don’t take care of each week it could come back to haunt you. This week was no different.
“We were able to get back on track and hopefully get some momentum going into the playoffs.”
Backup running back Karrington Griffin had the best game of his young career, rushing 17 times for 122 yards and three TDs for the Cardinals (8-2), whose losses came to Mentor in the opener and Ursuline last week.
Alex Zordich added 72 yards passing, Ray Vinopal rushed for 59 yards and Braylon Heard had 39 yards and a TD.
“Our O-line did an excellent job blocking and our coaching staff did another excellent job as far as calling plays,” said Griffin, a junior. “We knew we had to win to secure a spot in playoffs. This week coming into practice we just came in focused.
“We’re thrilled to be back and we’re hoping to turn this into another ’04 season and take it to state.”
Mooney’s defense held Watterson (5-5) without a first down in the first half, forcing six punts over that span.
Senior quarterback Pat Nester had an awful night, completing just 2 of 23 passes for 10 yards after misfiring on his first 16 attempts.
“Defensively we’ve been playing pretty solid and tonight was no different,” said Fecko. “Our guys did a great job of getting them off the field and putting us in great field position and we had a lot of offensive touches.”
Senior lineman John Simon, an Ohio State recruit, blocked a punt and Chuck Gruber recovered a fumble that set up Mooney’s last touchdown.
Watterson, which already had clinched a playoff berth before the game, was outgained 294-101.
Mooney is 43-15 all-time in the postseason with five state titles and six straight postseason appearances.
The Cardinals beat CVCA in the playoffs in 2005 and 2006. CVCA was scouting the game but it was the sizeable Steubenville contingent that got the most attention.
Big Red is the top seed in Region 13 and lost to Mooney in last year’s playoffs.
When asked about them, Fecko laughed and said, “You’re not getting anything from me.”
scalzo@vindy.com