By Ryan Jones

The Cardinals were also playing without top running back Braylon Heard.

AUSTINTOWN — Cardinal Mooney’s stalwart defense — which held Buffalo St. Francis to 81 yards rushing and came up with three interceptions — led the Cardinals to a 13-0 non-conference victory over the Red Raiders Friday night at Falcon Stadium.

Mooney (5-1) played without two-way star Braylon Heard, who was out because of a concussion he suffered in last week’s game against Mentor Lake Catholic.

“It was mostly a precautionary measure,” coach P.J. Fecko said. “He’s feeling good and has been moving around at practice to stay in shape. He should be back shortly.”

Ahead 3-0 at the half, Mooney extended its lead to 10-0 on its first possession of the third quarter when Ray Vinopal, who led all rushers with 18 carries for 79 yards, scored on a 40 yard run up the middle.

The Cardinals, who came into the game averaging almost 340 yards per game on the ground, used three consecutive completions from Alex Zordich to Donald D’Alesio to set up Vinopal’s touchdown jaunt.

Fecko said the Red Raiders were committing eight and nine men to defend the run.

“They were giving us some passing lanes,” he said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and took advantage of them. We knew it was going to be a physical, low scoring game, but there was no need to panic. That drive to start the third quarter kind of busted the game open a bit.”

Mooney’s swarming defense allowed only 180 total yards, but Buffalo St. Francis was just as dominate — the Red Raiders held Mooney to eight first downs and 107 yards rushing.

Fecko said his defense did an admirable job keeping their offense at bay.

“They [St. Francis] have a dangerous offense,” he said. “They have some athletes who can make big plays. We were able to steer away from those plays. We knew coming in that we were going to have to control the game on defense.”

Trailing 13-0 in the fourth quarter, Buffalo St. Francis drove 51 yards to the 14-yard line before Mark Brandenstein came up with an interception at the 5-yard line after the ball bounced off two Mooney defenders.

On the Red Raiders’ next possession quarterback Delano Fabor connected with Lucas Tasker for a 42-yard pass play to Mooney’s 17-yard line.

However, on 3rd-and-11 from the 18, Fabor was picked off by Carmen Leonelli, which sealed the game.

Defensive lineman John Simon, who caught two passes for 27 yards from his tight end spot, said the defense picked up the intensity in the second half.

“We wanted to be more physical,” the Ohio State recruit said. “We came out in some different formations and we executed our game plan well.”

Mooney will host Cleveland Benedictine next week.

“We’re going to take it one week at a time,” Simon said. “Our ultimate goal is to win a state championship, but right now we have to focus on Benedictine; they’re a good football team.”

Zordich was an efficient 7-of-10 passing for 75 yards, while D’Alesio led Mooney with four receptions and 38 yards.

Brandon McClain led the Red Raiders with 56 yards on 18 carries, while Tasker totaled 68 yards receiving.