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No surrender: Hubbard refuses to be intimidated
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Mooney Vs. Ursuline
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Salem Vs. Hubbard
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By Joe Scalzo
Hubbard High football coach Brian Hoffman knows his team doesn’t have to work very hard to earn the underdog role against Cardinal Mooney, but he’s sure of one thing: His team won’t be intimidated.
“You can’t go into a game like that intimidated by anybody at this time of the season,” said Hoffman, whose Eagles will meet the unbeaten Cardinals tonight at Mollenkopf Stadium. “You’ve got to execute, do the best you can to prepare and not change who you are.”
Mooney holds a 12-0 edge in the all-time series — both teams are former members of the Steel Valley Conference — with the last meeting coming in 1979.
Unlike Mogadore Field last week, Hubbard actually has the type of athletes to make a game of it against Division III’s top-ranked team.
Pitt recruit Andre Givens (a 900-yard rusher who is trying to overcome a bum ankle) and WR/LB Kurtis Drummond (Michigan State, 500 yards receiving) are as good as anyone on Mooney’s roster and the Eagles have plenty of talent elsewhere, including QB Matt Shelton (nearly 2,000 yards passing), WR/RB Danny Duvall (650 yards receiving) and WR/DB Tommy Jackson (359 yards receiving).
After a bad first half in an opening 24-13 loss to Poland, the Eagles have rolled through their schedule, beating three playoff teams (Lakeview, Salem and Warren JFK) while scoring 30 points in nine of those 10 wins. The defense has been just as good, holding the last 10 teams to 14 points or fewer.
“They’re definitely on a roll,” said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. “They have some absolutely tremendous athletes, and I think just as much of their defense.
“Obviously there’s some big names with Division I offers, but their supporting role players are really good, too. They’re really solid across the board.”
Mooney is led by West Virginia recruit Braylon Heard (1,161 yards rushing), who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury. But RBs Ray Vinopal, Karrington Griffin and Charlie Brown (all with at least 200 yards rushing) are nearly as good, especially when running behind a strong line that features guard Zach Larson and tackle Eric Franklin.
QB Alex Zordich doesn’t throw much but he’s effective throwing or running. Senior LB Mark Brandenstein leads one of the state’s best defenses.
Add in Mooney’s schedule and you’ve got a state championship-level team.
“It’s a big challenge,” said Hoffman. “I think our players know what’s ahead of them.”
scalzo@vindy.com
DIVISION IV
Mooney-Hubbard
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Stadium: Mollenkopf Stadium, Warren
Records: Mooney 11-0, Hubbard 10-1
Region seed: Mooney 1st, Hubbard 4th
Playoff history: Mooney, 23rd year, 45-16 all-time with six state titles; Hubbard, 9th year, 6-8 all-time
Radio/TV: WBBG-FM 106.1; myYTV at 10 p.m. (taped)