Tom Williams: Mooney has lots in common with foe

At first glance, the Cardinal Mooney High School football team (6-4) appears to be the underdog for tonight’s Division IV, Region 11 semifinal at Richfield’s Revere High School. Top-seeded Cleveland Benedictine (10-1) has an eight-game winning streak while the Cardinals have won just twice in the past five games.

But there are similarities to the two programs. Both have wins over Ursuline and Mentor Lake Catholic. Both won games last week that were closer than expected (Benedictine 24-20 over Perry, Mooney 28-21 over Woodridge).

“Both programs have a rich tradition, are familiar with each other and have been very successful not only at the local level but at the state level,” Mooney head coach P.J. Fecko said Thursday.

The Bengals have added motivation. In last year’s regional final at Solon, the Cardinals rallied for a 28-21 victory that helped advance them to the state championship game.

“We went down early, 14-0,” quarterback Jon Saadey recalled.

But by halftime, the Cardinals were ahead by two touchdowns as Denver Martin caught Saadey’s Hail Mary pass in a crowded end zone.

The Cardinals went on to finish as state runners-up. No doubt, the Bengals have revenge on their minds.

“They have a lot of great athletes, are real physical,” Saadey said. “It will be a real test.”

Julian Thomas, the Cardinals’ center on offense and tackle on defense, agrees.

“They’ve got some big guys up front,” Thomas said, adding that the Bengals’ size remind him of Ursuline’s linemen.

Thomas thinks his team has played the tougher schedule.

“We both played some respectable opponents, but I do think we have an edge as far as the teams we played,” Thomas said. “St. Ed’s, Imhotep out of Philadelphia, are powerhouses.”

Mooney also lost to Division I Fitch (18-15) and undefeated Canisius (N.Y., 24-17). The Cardinals’ most impressive win was 35-10 over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Poland’s opponent tonight. Benedictine’s loss was against undefeated Bedford, a Division II team.

The Cardinals had to work hard to escape Peninsula last Friday with a victory. On a very muddy field, Woodridge went ahead 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.

“We couldn’t make our cuts as quick, hit the holes as quick,” Saadey said of the Cardinals’ first game on grass since 2013. “But we fought through it.”

After Ray Anderson tied the game with a 13-yard touchdown run, Cardinals linebacker Jordon Jones stripped Woodridge’s Brandon Williams of the football and recovered the fumble. That set up Saadey’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Jack Reider in the end zone.

Six days later, Thomas admitted, “We went into that game overconfident.”

Overcoming the conditions made the game extra special.

“We just battled and battled in the mud,” Thomas said. “It was a bigger factor than people think, especially on the defensive side of the ball. When we were trying to pass rush, we really couldn’t get a good push off.”

Jones injured his knee but kept playing.

“Every time I tried to make a tackle, I slipped,” Jones said. “But they played on the same grass — it was hard for both of us. They were probably more used to [the conditions].”

Thomas called the victory “a special moment. That was one of the most memorable games. Crazy plays like [Jones’ strip] — those are things I’m going to think of in 20 years.”

The Cardinals are hoping to bring home more fond memories tonight.

“This is no easy game,” Saadey said. “They are a very good football team and they’ve played very good teams.

“It’s going to be a good one.”

Tom Williams is a sportswriter at The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com and follow him on Twitter, @Williams_Vindy.