11“I’ve been wanting to play for Mooney ever since I was a little kid,” Love said. “I grew up ... and it was all about Mooney.”

His father played for the Cardinals in the late 1980s and numerous aunts, uncles, friends and a brother and sister attended the South Side parochial school, too. Love has been a defensive standout for the past three years, but in order for him to truly be a part of Mooney and family lore, he had to win.

“The only way to have fun and the only way to be remembered at Cardinal Mooney is to be a state champion,” Love said. “That’s the way we leave our mark and I think we did that.”

Yes the 2011 Cardinals did — by winning their eighth state title. Love says he won’t be satisfied with his already successful high school career until he brings home another championship trophy in 2012. There were 21 seniors on the Mooney team; still, Love took a leadership role into his own hands as a junior.

“I tell [the Mooney defensive staff] that if they can’t score, they can’t win,” he said. “So that’s what we try to do. I try to get in there and get tough and win games before the game even starts.”

Love started playing football when he was seven years old as a member of the East Side Titans in the Volney Rogers youth league. He also played in a Boardman circuit and never stopped working at being the best player he could be. Love led the Cardinals with 44 tackles on the year including seven in the state championship game. His 8.5 tackles for loss on the year cost opponents a total of 46 yards.

Love is very active in the community doing regular service work, including mentoring local grade school students with football and life lessons.