Photo by: Robert K. Yosay

The Vindicator ( Youngstown)

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Moving out as #26 Akise Teague caries Mooney #5 Kevin McGuire as he sprints for another first down during second quarter action - Ursuline vs Mooney at YSU stadium.

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Whenever Mooney senior Kevin McGuire finds himself on the sideline, he tries to stay in the game mentally by making the same reads he would make if he were on the field, both at quarterback and safety.

Unfortunately, he’s had a little too much practice in that area this fall.

After missing the previous two weeks with a bruised knee, McGuire returned for last week’s win over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, playing the whole game at safety and the second half at quarterback.

“Sitting out, it’s the worst feeling,” said McGuire, one of three quarterbacks to play for the Cardinals this fall. “I just want to be out there with the team and leading the guys.”

Although the Cardinals don’t exactly dazzle anyone with their creativity — when someone joked that he only runs four plays, Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said, “We’re not smart enough to run any more, at least the coaches aren’t” — there are a lot of subtle decisions that go into what they do. Mooney lost some continuity by playing McGuire (who also missed two games earlier in the year with injury), P.J. Quinn and Courtney Love this season.

But they also gained some depth at a key position.

“I think P.J. was doing an outstanding job,” said Fecko. “Now we’re in a situation where we got two guys with experience and they both bring something to the table.”

The Cardinals took their lumps in back-to-back blowout losses to Ursuline and Cincinnati Moeller, but McGuire said it made the team better, both by building depth and learning how to push through adversity.

Teammate Carmen Leonelli agreed.

“We’ve learned to keep battling,” Leonelli said. “[The injuries] definitely motivate you to go out and do what you can for each person injured. You just fight for them because you know they’d be doing the same thing if they were next to you.”

But, at this point in the season, it’s more important for them to better physically. McGuire, who has thrown for nearly 700 yards, gives the Cardinals a passing threat who can also churn out yards on the ground.

Other than Pat McGlone, who is out for the year with a neck injury, Fecko said he expects to have everyone available for Saturday’s game against Akron Buchtel, although a few are sitting out the first few practices this week.

“We’re a little banged up,” he said. “I don’t think it’s anything earth-shattering.”

When healthy, the Cardinals have looked like a team capable of challenging for a second straight state title. They beat two solid Division I programs in Pickerington North and Boardman to start the season and gave up just 13 total points during a three-game winning streak midway through the year.

Even banged up, they were able to absorb Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s best shot last week, coming away with the win when Leonelli returned an interception 71 yards for a TD in the final minute.

McGuire hopes they’ll be even better this weekend.

“It’s really a big deal, getting back out there and getting in the groove,” McGuire said. “When we’re healthy, we can be pretty good.”