Junior Mike Zordich put the Cardinals up for good in the 21-16 victory.
MENTOR — Mike Zordich's 31-yard touchdown run with 7:01 remaining in the game erased Mentor Lake Catholic's three-point lead, but Dan McCarthy's 39-yard TD run eventually sealed Cardinal Mooney's 21-16 victory Saturday night.
Defense for the unbeaten Cardinals (5-0) was just as instrumental in pulling out the win for the state's top-ranked Division IV team.
Trailing, 10-7, after suffering its fourth turnover, Mooney held the Cougars on four plays. That's when the Cardinals got another shot. Dom Scarnecchia returned a punt into Lake Catholic territory with 8:20 left and, a minute later, Zordich's explosive TD run followed.
Mooney put what appeared to be the exclamation point on the game when McCarthy, a junior quarterback, ran 40 yards for a touchdown and 21-10 lead at 3:16. But a 65-yard desperation pass play from Alex Kurowski to Randy Greenwood pulled the Cougars (2-3) within four points at 2:27.
Mooney held a 21-9 advantage in first downs and a lopsided 304-93 differential in rushing yards.
Zordich gained 129 yards and McCarthy 108 yards The Cougars held a 10-7 lead at the half.
Settling in
It took one scoreless quarter for both teams to settled in.
Mooney opened the second period at its 20-yard line, but lost the ball when Zordich fumbled at the 50-yard line.
After a punt, McCarthy completed a 39-yard pass to Nick Pederzolli and McCarthy's 17-yard pass to Ryan Babyak preceded McCarthy's 34-yard touchdown toss to Tony Brunetti. Mark Babyak's kick gave the Cardinals a 7-0 lead at 4:56. The five-play TD drive covered 92 yards.
McCarthy fumbled a punt return and Lake Catholic recovered at Mooney's 28. A reverse run by wide receiver Chris Spahar put the Cougars 18 yards closer to the goal line before Dave Jaranovic scampered 10 yards for the tally. The two-play drive culminated with John Schaffer's PAT to knot the score, 7-7 at 2:20.
Mooney's third turnover — Alex Kurowski's interception and 24-yard return — put Lake Catholic at the Mooney 46.
The Cougars advanced and Schaffer's 24-yard field goal put the home team ahead with three seconds remaining before the half.
Source: Vindy.com