Mooney hammers DeSales for D-III crown

Mike Parris, December 04, 2009 2:56 p.m.

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Cardinal Mooney's Braylon Heard runs away from DeSales' Malcolm Burrell (35) and Tony Moore (63) for a touchdown during the third quarter in the Ohio Division III state high school football championship at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, in Massillon, Ohio. Mooney won 35-7. - (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney used a punishing defense and the all-around play of dynamic senior two-way back Braylon Heard to crush Columbus St. Francis DeSales 35-7 in the Division III state championship Friday morning at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Mooney held DeSales to just 106 yards of total offense during the first three quarters while unleashing its power running game. Heard was the catalyst, rushing for 173 yards and two touchdowns while also throwing a touchdown pass and adding an interception. As a team, Mooney rushed for over 275 total yards.

After both teams failed to get anything going early, Mooney was finally able to find some running lanes late in the first. Following a DeSales punt, the Cardinals turned to senior Ray Vinopal on third and 2 from their own 43-yard line. Vinopal took the stretch handoff, shook off an arm tackle at the line of scrimmage and coasted 57 yards for the touchdown with 1:11 left in the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, Mooney punter A.J. Fox made a sensational play that ultimately opened up the floodgates. After a punt snap sailed over Fox's head, the junior corralled the loose ball and avoided pressure to boot the ball away. Fox's rugby-style kick rolled down to the two-yard line where returner Adam Griffin was slammed down.

"A.J. has been a guy that's been swinging field position for us all year, he took a situation that could have been disastrous and made it a positive for us," said Mooney head coach P.J. Fecko.

On the next play, DeSales quarterback Nick Gentile's fumble was recovered by 285-pound defensive tackle Mark Pelini at the Stallions' one-yard line. Mooney signal caller Alex Zordich punched it in on the ensuing play, opening up a 14-0 lead with 7:05 left in the half.

"We were able to take advantage of some momentum swings and really keep the momentum on our side (the rest of the game)," explained Fecko.

Mooney pushed their lead to 21-0 in the final minutes of the first half, embarking on a six-play, 88-yard drive highlighted by two completed passes, an anomoly for the run-heavy Cardinals. Zordich's 31-yard connection to a wide-open Nick Gemma moved the ball to the DeSales 26 and a play later Heard capped off the drive with a nifty touchdown run off left end with 23 seconds left.

Mooney outrushed DeSales 182-33 in the first half, holding the Stallions' ground attack to just 1.7 yards per carry.

Heard added to DeSales' misery in the second half. On Mooney's first possession of the third quarter, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior found daylight off right tackle and turned on the jets, scoring from 53-yards out to open up a 28-0 lead. He then showed off his arm on the first play of the fourth quarter, firing an 8-yard touchdown strike to Donald D'Alesio off a designed halfback pass. For good measure, he picked off Gentile on the next Stallions' possession.

DeSales got on the scoreboard in the final minute on Jake Edsinger's 7-yard touchdown run.

Mooney captured their seventh state championship and first since 2006. DeSales finished their season 11-4 and their fifth runner-up finish in school history.

"It's a group that's dedicated themselves to getting better each and every week and not just giving lip service," said Fecko of his troops.  "It sure feels good and right now we can sit back and enjoy it."