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Cardinals count on Handel’s experience
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Cardinal Mooney’s Mark Handel (22) eludes a tackle by Steubenville’s Bryan Pierro (7) during the second quarter of their Division IV semifinal game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton.
By Joe Catullo Jr.
YOUNGSTOWN
Cardinal Mooney High football player Mark Handel is used to big-game situations.
The Cardinals will look to ride his experience into Friday’s OHSAA Division IV state championship game against Clarksville Clinton-Massie.
Handel was a sophomore during Mooney’s run to the OHSAA Division III championship in 2011 when the Cardinals defeated Shawnee High School, 21-14.
Following Friday’s 37-7 victory over Steubenville in Canton, Handel recalled Mooney’s second-round game against Big Red in 2011. Mooney won that contest — also at Fawcett Stadium — on a game-winning field goal, 24-22.
“Fortunately, this one was a little more comforting than my sophomore year on a last-second field goal, but it feels good,” Handel said.
Although Handel didn’t run all over Steubenville as he has for much of the season, it was his contributions in the other two phases of football that made him nearly unstoppable.
It began with the game’s opening kickoff. Handel ran behind good blocking and returned the ball 47 yards into Big Red territory. The Cardinals later scored on Jon Saadey’s 1-yard rush.
After Steubenville and Mooney exchanged possessions, Big Red took over in its territory. Flushed from the pocket, Big Red quarterback Mandela Lawrence-Burke threw a desperation pass.
Handel intercepted it. Starting from Mooney’s sideline, he ran 39 yards towards Steubenville’s bench and into the end zone, giving the Cardinals a 14-0 lead with 3:41 remaining in the first quarter.
“The important thing is Mark does a great job of capitalizing in those situations,” Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said.
Offensively, Handel rushed for 52 yards on 14 carries and gained nine more by receiving. Handel almost had two other touchdowns, one rushing and the other receiving. Both were called back on penalties.
Handel finished with a game-high 147 all-purpose yards.
Teammate C.J. Amill rushed for a game-high 82 yards. He also had 26 yards receiving and a rushing touchdown, his 11th this season. Handel and Amill each have rushed for more than 1,000 yards
“Those guys are in and out,” Fecko said. “Those two have obviously complimented each other well all year. It keeps a fresh set of legs in there.”
Handel was unsure after Friday’s victory if it was his best all around performance of the year.
“I don’t know. Probably, but our line on both sides, offense and defense, did a great job tonight [Friday], especially the offensive line creating holes for me and C.J.,” Handel said.