Team dunks coaches after Cardinals sink DeSales for seventh state title

Photo

Mooney Vs. DeSales

Video

Mooney vs DeSales

Gallery

By Joe Scalzo

Mooney senior Zach Larson spent the week leading up to Friday’s state championship game visualizing what he needed to do to succeed and how important it was to execute his job perfectly so he could be celebrating on the sidelines.

Late in the fourth quarter, his moment arrived.

“It’s been on my mind the last week that I wanted to dunk Coach [P.J.] Fecko with the Gatorade, so when I got taken out with about seven minutes left, I went up to our trainer, Coach Guy [Young], and said leave one of the waters for me,” said Larson after his team’s 35-7 win over Columbus DeSales in the Division III final in Massillon.

“He goes, ‘I got ya.’ So with about three minutes left, [senior Sam Congemi] and I grabbed it and snuck up on him.

“I think four or five coaches got dunked on. We did a pretty good job in that phase of the game, too.”

The Cardinals (15-0) did everything right Friday, winning their seventh state title — third-best all-time in Ohio — while setting a school record for victories in a season in front of 6,546 fans (and 33-degree weather) at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

It was the third title in six seasons for Fecko, who also got dunked in 2006 after beating Jonathan Alder in the Div. IV final.

“It was extremely cold,” said Fecko, chuckling. “It happened way too early in my opinion because that wind was [howling]. And boy, every time that wind kicked up, the moisture on my back was extremely cold.

“But I’ll tell you what, it’s well worth it. I’ve been on both sides [of the state final] and I’d rather be sitting here soaking wet and freezing.”

Defensive coordinator Ron Stoops also got an ice bath, with his coming from his twin sons, seniors John and Joe Stoops.

“Of all the people, who’d have thought they’d be the ones to betray me?” said Stoops, smiling.

The Cardinals’ dominant performance, combined with similar success through the first 14 weeks, left just one question: Is Mooney the best team in Ohio, regardless of division?

“I’m sure it’ll make for a lot of interesting conversations in coffee shops around the state of Ohio,” Fecko said. “We’re just excited about being state champs in Division III.

“As for the rest of it, you’ll have to ask the historians and all the media people out there.”

scalzo@vindy.com