Cardinal Mooney vs Akron Saint Vincent - Saint Mary

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Cardinal Mooney plays against Akron Saint Vincent - Saint Mary's in Friday night's big game.

Mooney clobbers defending champs

By Joe SCALZO

scalzo@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

Mooney vs SVSM

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Mooney vs SVSM

For most of the last quarter-century, Cardinal Mooney has had a rivalry with Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the same way cats have a rivalry with mice.

But last year’s game was different, with the Irish steamrolling their way past the Cardinals — and everyone else — en route to a second straight Division III state championship.

“It hurt last year,” Mooney quarterback Jon Saadey said. “It was embarrassing.”

When told of Saadey’s quote after Friday’s 35-10 loss at Austintown Fitch High, Irish coach Dan Boarman said, “Tell them I understand the feeling.”

In arguably the best performance of his career, Saadey ran for 97 yards and a touchdown and threw for another 147 yards and a TD as the Cardinals (3-1) avenged last year’s 25-0 defeat and improved to 22-2 all-time against the Irish.

It was one of the most wide-open offensive games you’ll ever see from the Cardinals, who attempted 13 passes (which equates, roughly, to 60 passes from a normal team) and ran out of a multitude of formations, from the famed stacked-I to their base spread.

When asked if he expected to throw the ball that much, Saadey laughed and said, “Obviously, I was hoping.”

“We really like to establish the run first and then turn to the pass, but today things were open,” he said.

Saadey opened the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jack Reider and C.J. Amill added a 4-yard touchdown run minutes later, giving the Cardinals a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter. The Irish offense finally found some success late in the second quarter, using no-huddle to drive 75 yards in seven plays to set up a first down at the Mooney 11.

Mooney safety Ray Anderson knocked away the first down pass and sacked Irish quarterback Dom Davis on second down. On third down, Davis threw to the end zone, where a diving Amill knocked away his pass to force a field goal.

After a Cardinal three-and-out, Mooney senior Zak Kennedy hit a 52-yard punt to pin the Irish (2-2) at their own 14 with just over a minute left. Boarman decided to be aggressive and it backfired as Davis’ pass went through Markus Hurd’s hands and into Roosevelt Cooper’s, who returned the interception to 7.

Two plays later, Amill scored from 2 yards out.

“The interception before halftime, instead of a catch ...” Boarman said afterward, his voice trailing off.

Saadey sealed it on the first drive of the second half, rolling right, then cutting back to the left sideline and racing 63 yards for the touchdown. It was his longest run of the season by 37 yards.

“It was supposed to go the other way,” he said. “The end came upfield and I cut it backside and there was no one there.”

Was it a special play or is he really that fast?

“Oh, I’m that fast,” he said, grinning.

Davis finished with 112 yards rushing and 54 passing, while Vince Lockett had 10 carries for 134 yards, most of which came on an 89-yard run that set up SVSM’s lone touchdown, a 1-yard run by Dre’K Brumley in the fourth quarter.

“It’s a great rivalry,” Saadey said. “[Last year’s loss], we took that to heart. We took it personally and we came out and got the job done.”