Mooney, Moeller to meet next fall

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — A series of phone conversations between old coaching friends has led to two of Ohio’s premier football programs scheduling a showdown in Week 10 of the 2010 high school football season.

Cardinal Mooney will play host to Cincinnati Moeller on Oct. 29, 2010 at 7 p.m., at Stambaugh Stadium, according to Mooney athletic director Don Bucci.

Bucci said phone conversations with former legendary Moeller coach Gerry Faust set in motion the negotiations to make the game.

“We got to talking about the ’73 and ’76 games, and Faust still has a lot of connections [with Moeller],” Bucci said Monday.

“But what we had to agree on was the guarantee.”

There is no scheduled plan for Mooney to make a return visit to Cincinnati.

“[Moeller] had their 10th game filled in 2011 and 2012, but they were still looking for a game next season,” Bucci said. “We talked back and forth; the sticking point was the guarantee.

“They wanted a lot more money than we wanted to pay them. But, we compromised and got the deal done.”

The game will conclude a tremendously tough stretch of games at the end of the season for the Cardinals. They’ll play host to Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in Week 8 and face Ursuline in the annual rivalry showdown in Week 9 before playing host to Moeller.

Bucci said Mooney still has three open weeks for the 2010 season. The Cardinals are still seeking a Week 1 opponent and have open dates in Weeks 5 and 6.

Bucci said they plan to keep one of those mid-season dates open.

“We’ve been very fortunate to play 13, 14 or 15 games the last seven seasons, and that’s awfully long,” he said. “We feel that it will be a benefit to give the players a break, and the [coaching] staff a break.”

Bucci said he’s been frustrated in his attempts to fill the other dates.

“You know, you call [athletic directors] who have listed that first week open,” he said, “and it’s amazing how many people you call and they just don’t return your call.

“Even if they called back and said there’s no way we’re playing you, that would be better.”

Mooney has faced Moeller just twice, both in the playoffs.

Mooney defeated Moeller, 34-7 in a Class AAA state semifinal at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, in 1973.

The following week, the Cardinals defeated Warren Western Reserve, 14-3, in the state title game at the Rubber Bowl in Akron.

Three years later, Moeller defeated Mooney 48-0 in a Class AAA state semifinal at Welcome Stadium in Dayton. The Crusaders then defeated Upper Arlington 43-5 in the championship game.

“I knew the ’73 game was at Nippert,” quipped Bucci, “but I didn’t remember too much about the ’76 game — other than they kicked our [butt].”