'08 OH S Dan McCarthy (Signed LOI to ND)
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GhostSpirit
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The safties in ND's new defense are not much different from eachother. This makes things a lot more flexible with personel. All of the safties could play both spots I believe.
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Fishin'_Irish
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You are correct GS. ND doesn't specify between SS and FS, because both are very similar in our system. If I had to specify, I would say that Zibby does play more of a strong.
onenybrother
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yahooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at the parts The Mad Scientist has.
The Polish Irishman
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Udpated Rivals Team Ranking with McCarthy
http://rivals100.rivals.com/teamrank.asp
Guess who is number 1?
http://rivals100.rivals.com/teamrank.asp
Guess who is number 1?
Irishknight1023
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Local article on Dans committment...
Vindy.com - Cardinals senior QB picks ND
STB article on McCarthy...
South Bend Tribune: Safety in numbers for ND family
And while Dan will be the third McCarthy brother to attend Notre Dame, the pipeline certainly isn't dry. Michael McCarthy is a fifth-grader.
"He," Dan said, "is probably the biggest Notre Dame fan ever."
annnnnnnnnnnnd ANOTHER video on Dans commitment (A one on one.)
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/video.asp?section=fbrecruit&vidtype=amp&vidid=2678
Vindy.com - Cardinals senior QB picks ND
STB article on McCarthy...
South Bend Tribune: Safety in numbers for ND family
And while Dan will be the third McCarthy brother to attend Notre Dame, the pipeline certainly isn't dry. Michael McCarthy is a fifth-grader.
"He," Dan said, "is probably the biggest Notre Dame fan ever."
annnnnnnnnnnnd ANOTHER video on Dans commitment (A one on one.)
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/video.asp?section=fbrecruit&vidtype=amp&vidid=2678
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Irishknight1023
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BlueandGold.com // No Place Like Home
“The coaches always made sure I was aware of the numbers game, but let me go at my own pace the whole time. I didn’t speed things up or slow things down at all, but this is definitely where I felt I should be."
--------I guess that goes against the Buckturds theory of Weis trying to kill McCarthys coach for him not committing like 4 monthes ago. Well it appears he likes Fatboy better than Sweatervest, how do you like them apples?
“The coaches always made sure I was aware of the numbers game, but let me go at my own pace the whole time. I didn’t speed things up or slow things down at all, but this is definitely where I felt I should be."
--------I guess that goes against the Buckturds theory of Weis trying to kill McCarthys coach for him not committing like 4 monthes ago. Well it appears he likes Fatboy better than Sweatervest, how do you like them apples?
grantphilly
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apples, like 
are tasty
are tasty
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GhostSpirit
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Weis is fat?
Akron Irish
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hwhateveMirageSmack
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Are you sure that wasn't Sam McGuffie?!? Check out th "leap" at the 1:20 mark.
Irishknight1023
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johnnd05
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johnnd05
Johnny T. works for me
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johnnd05
Johnny T. works for me
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Awesome. Can you get me the link? (This will save me lots of time tomorrow morning ...)
johnnd05
Johnny T. works for me
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That's cool - thanks again, though!
johnnd05
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Mooney shows Pa. visitor the ‘Gate’
Published: Sunday, September 2, 2007
By J.J. BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANTON — It took three years for a team from the Mahoning Valley to receive an invitation to the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
But it took Cardinal Mooney only one game to prove why more area teams belong at the annual event.
The Cardinals racked up 313 yards of offense — including 264 on the ground — en route to a 27-6 victory over Gateway (Pennsylvania) Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium.
Mooney quarterback Dan McCarthy scored three touchdowns — two by ground and one by air — as the Cardinals improved to 2-0.
The senior ran 20 times for 130 yards and was 2-of-4 passing for 43 yards.
The impact
“It was a big win for the program and for all the people in the area,” McCarthy said. “We came out and showed a lot of heart, and I’m proud of all the guys on the team.”
Michael Zordich rushed eight times for 81 yards and scored once. His touchdown came after he intercepted Stephen Vranka’s pass at the Gateway 7-yard line, and two plays later he ran in from 6 yards out with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
Zordich broke five tackles on a 57-yard run in the second quarter. On the next play, McCarthy scored on a quarterback draw from 24 yards out, giving the Cardinals a 14-0 lead with 10:32 left in the first half.
Mooney caused five Gateway turnovers, including two fumbles and three interceptions. Tim Marlowe had two interceptions while Ray Vinopal and Scott Brandenstein each recovered fumbles.
“This was one of the biggest wins for us in school history,” said Marlowe, a senior. “A lot of the credit goes to the coaches. They had us prepared and had us in the right spots.”
Good field position
It took Mooney less than a minute to score in each of its four scoring drives as it benefited from good field position on the turnovers. The Cardinals’ longest scoring drive was a three-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 43-yard pass from McCarthy to Marlowe with 5:24 left in the first half, putting Mooney ahead 20-0. The drive took one minute, 16 seconds.
“We forced those turnovers, and that’s always a big advantage to win the turnover ratio,” Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. “And it came against an outstanding team. This was a fun event to play for Ohio.”
Mooney had just 22 yards of offense in the first quarter — along with 20 yards in penalties. But by the end of the first half the Cardinals tallied 234 yards, 185 of which came on the ground.
The Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge matches some of the top Ohio football programs against an assortment of national teams.
In its 2005 inception the competition had just two games with only one out-of-state team, but grew from nine games last season to 11 this summer.
Powerhouse programs
This year’s Challenge, which can be viewed this week on NFL Network, featured 11 Ohio teams matched against powerhouse programs from Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Indiana, Alaska, North Carolina, Maryland and Kentucky.
For the Mooney players, the opportunity to represent the Mahoning Valley — and the state of Ohio — was an experience they’ll never forget, especially since the game can be viewed nationally.
“I’m sure we’ll be watching this one over the weekend,” Marlowe said. “It was a great win for us.”
Published: Sunday, September 2, 2007
By J.J. BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
CANTON — It took three years for a team from the Mahoning Valley to receive an invitation to the Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
But it took Cardinal Mooney only one game to prove why more area teams belong at the annual event.
The Cardinals racked up 313 yards of offense — including 264 on the ground — en route to a 27-6 victory over Gateway (Pennsylvania) Saturday night at Fawcett Stadium.
Mooney quarterback Dan McCarthy scored three touchdowns — two by ground and one by air — as the Cardinals improved to 2-0.
The senior ran 20 times for 130 yards and was 2-of-4 passing for 43 yards.
The impact
“It was a big win for the program and for all the people in the area,” McCarthy said. “We came out and showed a lot of heart, and I’m proud of all the guys on the team.”
Michael Zordich rushed eight times for 81 yards and scored once. His touchdown came after he intercepted Stephen Vranka’s pass at the Gateway 7-yard line, and two plays later he ran in from 6 yards out with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
Zordich broke five tackles on a 57-yard run in the second quarter. On the next play, McCarthy scored on a quarterback draw from 24 yards out, giving the Cardinals a 14-0 lead with 10:32 left in the first half.
Mooney caused five Gateway turnovers, including two fumbles and three interceptions. Tim Marlowe had two interceptions while Ray Vinopal and Scott Brandenstein each recovered fumbles.
“This was one of the biggest wins for us in school history,” said Marlowe, a senior. “A lot of the credit goes to the coaches. They had us prepared and had us in the right spots.”
Good field position
It took Mooney less than a minute to score in each of its four scoring drives as it benefited from good field position on the turnovers. The Cardinals’ longest scoring drive was a three-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 43-yard pass from McCarthy to Marlowe with 5:24 left in the first half, putting Mooney ahead 20-0. The drive took one minute, 16 seconds.
“We forced those turnovers, and that’s always a big advantage to win the turnover ratio,” Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. “And it came against an outstanding team. This was a fun event to play for Ohio.”
Mooney had just 22 yards of offense in the first quarter — along with 20 yards in penalties. But by the end of the first half the Cardinals tallied 234 yards, 185 of which came on the ground.
The Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge matches some of the top Ohio football programs against an assortment of national teams.
In its 2005 inception the competition had just two games with only one out-of-state team, but grew from nine games last season to 11 this summer.
Powerhouse programs
This year’s Challenge, which can be viewed this week on NFL Network, featured 11 Ohio teams matched against powerhouse programs from Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Indiana, Alaska, North Carolina, Maryland and Kentucky.
For the Mooney players, the opportunity to represent the Mahoning Valley — and the state of Ohio — was an experience they’ll never forget, especially since the game can be viewed nationally.
“I’m sure we’ll be watching this one over the weekend,” Marlowe said. “It was a great win for us.”
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Epitome
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Another big day for McCarthy and Mooney as they beat a very good team in Warren Harding 49-0. To give you relevance as to the talent Harding brings to the field Maurice Clarett, Mario Manningham and Prescott Burgess all have graduated from Harding.
Top-ranked Mooney overwhelms Harding
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The defending Division IV champs crushed the Raiders 49-0.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN — At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to cut outside and (most likely) score a touchdown or go inside where a Warren Harding defender awaited.
He chose inside, lowering his shoulder into Harding defensive back Aunre Davis as the collision came to a stop at the Raiders' 3.
It looked like he chose to deliver punishment over scoring, although Zordich smiled and shook his head when asked about it.
"No, I just thought I could beat him inside," said Zordich following the Cardinals' 49-0 "home" victory on Saturday at Fitch High. "It was a bad cut."
Huh. Apparently, even Mooney's mistakes are impressive.
Zordich, who finished with 76 yards rushing, scored on the next play. But the Penn State recruit was even better on defense, helping Mooney hold the Raiders to 147 total yards despite resting for much of the second half.
It was the third straight win for the Cardinals (4-0, 1-0) against their Steel Valley Conference rivals.
"The good thing about this team is we're never satisfied," said senior quarterback Dan McCarthy, who rushed 14 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a score. "We want to keep getting better."
Too good
The state's top-ranked team in Division IV overwhelmed the inexperienced Raiders, rolling up 418 yards (all but 43 of those on the ground) and forcing eight Harding punts. More impressive, Mooney started substituting liberally midway through the third quarter — the Cardinals were playing their fourth-string quarterback by the end of the game.
Mooney was also missing its top running back and one of its starting linebackers in Penn State recruit Brandon Beachum, who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against Gateway (Pa.) and may miss another week or two.
"They're a great football program and they've got a great team this year," said Harding's first-year coach D.J. Dota. "It's probably the best Mooney team I've coached against, which goes back to 1997."
Cardinals junior John Simon terrorized the Raiders' offensive line, compiling three tackles for a loss, while cornerback Tim Marlowe added an interception and Matt Lyden had a sack.
Good performance
Harding had just 69 yards in the first half.
"Obviously, all around it was a good performance," said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. "We really executed well."
Mooney fans also got a look at its terrific sophomore class as Zordich's younger brother, Alex, saw time at quarterback, running back Ray Vinopal rushed for 62 yards and running back Braylon Heard ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
"Those guys work so hard all week, it was nice to get them in," said Fecko.
Davis led Harding (2-2, 0-1) with 20 yards rushing and 37 passing. The Raiders had just one returning starter from last year's regional final team and look to be a year or two away from seriously competing in the SVC.
"I think we did some really good things," said Dota. "The guys didn't quit and they're working and getting better."
Mooney, meanwhile, faces another tough test this Friday when it plays host to Mentor Lake Catholic, which played the Cardinals as tough as anyone last year before falling 21-16.
"They're a very good football program," said Fecko of the Cougars. "We're not expecting anything different this year."
scalzo@vindy.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The defending Division IV champs crushed the Raiders 49-0.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN — At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to cut outside and (most likely) score a touchdown or go inside where a Warren Harding defender awaited.
He chose inside, lowering his shoulder into Harding defensive back Aunre Davis as the collision came to a stop at the Raiders' 3.
It looked like he chose to deliver punishment over scoring, although Zordich smiled and shook his head when asked about it.
"No, I just thought I could beat him inside," said Zordich following the Cardinals' 49-0 "home" victory on Saturday at Fitch High. "It was a bad cut."
Huh. Apparently, even Mooney's mistakes are impressive.
Zordich, who finished with 76 yards rushing, scored on the next play. But the Penn State recruit was even better on defense, helping Mooney hold the Raiders to 147 total yards despite resting for much of the second half.
It was the third straight win for the Cardinals (4-0, 1-0) against their Steel Valley Conference rivals.
"The good thing about this team is we're never satisfied," said senior quarterback Dan McCarthy, who rushed 14 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a score. "We want to keep getting better."
Too good
The state's top-ranked team in Division IV overwhelmed the inexperienced Raiders, rolling up 418 yards (all but 43 of those on the ground) and forcing eight Harding punts. More impressive, Mooney started substituting liberally midway through the third quarter — the Cardinals were playing their fourth-string quarterback by the end of the game.
Mooney was also missing its top running back and one of its starting linebackers in Penn State recruit Brandon Beachum, who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against Gateway (Pa.) and may miss another week or two.
"They're a great football program and they've got a great team this year," said Harding's first-year coach D.J. Dota. "It's probably the best Mooney team I've coached against, which goes back to 1997."
Cardinals junior John Simon terrorized the Raiders' offensive line, compiling three tackles for a loss, while cornerback Tim Marlowe added an interception and Matt Lyden had a sack.
Good performance
Harding had just 69 yards in the first half.
"Obviously, all around it was a good performance," said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. "We really executed well."
Mooney fans also got a look at its terrific sophomore class as Zordich's younger brother, Alex, saw time at quarterback, running back Ray Vinopal rushed for 62 yards and running back Braylon Heard ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
"Those guys work so hard all week, it was nice to get them in," said Fecko.
Davis led Harding (2-2, 0-1) with 20 yards rushing and 37 passing. The Raiders had just one returning starter from last year's regional final team and look to be a year or two away from seriously competing in the SVC.
"I think we did some really good things," said Dota. "The guys didn't quit and they're working and getting better."
Mooney, meanwhile, faces another tough test this Friday when it plays host to Mentor Lake Catholic, which played the Cardinals as tough as anyone last year before falling 21-16.
"They're a very good football program," said Fecko of the Cougars. "We're not expecting anything different this year."
scalzo@vindy.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to...
Top-ranked Mooney overwhelms Harding
Print Story
Email to Friend
Discuss this story
The defending Division IV champs crushed the Raiders 49-0.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN — At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to cut outside and (most likely) score a touchdown or go inside where a Warren Harding defender awaited.
He chose inside, lowering his shoulder into Harding defensive back Aunre Davis as the collision came to a stop at the Raiders' 3.
It looked like he chose to deliver punishment over scoring, although Zordich smiled and shook his head when asked about it.
"No, I just thought I could beat him inside," said Zordich following the Cardinals' 49-0 "home" victory on Saturday at Fitch High. "It was a bad cut."
Huh. Apparently, even Mooney's mistakes are impressive.
Zordich, who finished with 76 yards rushing, scored on the next play. But the Penn State recruit was even better on defense, helping Mooney hold the Raiders to 147 total yards despite resting for much of the second half.
It was the third straight win for the Cardinals (4-0, 1-0) against their Steel Valley Conference rivals.
"The good thing about this team is we're never satisfied," said senior quarterback Dan McCarthy, who rushed 14 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a score. "We want to keep getting better."
Too good
The state's top-ranked team in Division IV overwhelmed the inexperienced Raiders, rolling up 418 yards (all but 43 of those on the ground) and forcing eight Harding punts. More impressive, Mooney started substituting liberally midway through the third quarter — the Cardinals were playing their fourth-string quarterback by the end of the game.
Mooney was also missing its top running back and one of its starting linebackers in Penn State recruit Brandon Beachum, who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against Gateway (Pa.) and may miss another week or two.
"They're a great football program and they've got a great team this year," said Harding's first-year coach D.J. Dota. "It's probably the best Mooney team I've coached against, which goes back to 1997."
Cardinals junior John Simon terrorized the Raiders' offensive line, compiling three tackles for a loss, while cornerback Tim Marlowe added an interception and Matt Lyden had a sack.
Good performance
Harding had just 69 yards in the first half.
"Obviously, all around it was a good performance," said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. "We really executed well."
Mooney fans also got a look at its terrific sophomore class as Zordich's younger brother, Alex, saw time at quarterback, running back Ray Vinopal rushed for 62 yards and running back Braylon Heard ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
"Those guys work so hard all week, it was nice to get them in," said Fecko.
Davis led Harding (2-2, 0-1) with 20 yards rushing and 37 passing. The Raiders had just one returning starter from last year's regional final team and look to be a year or two away from seriously competing in the SVC.
"I think we did some really good things," said Dota. "The guys didn't quit and they're working and getting better."
Mooney, meanwhile, faces another tough test this Friday when it plays host to Mentor Lake Catholic, which played the Cardinals as tough as anyone last year before falling 21-16.
"They're a very good football program," said Fecko of the Cougars. "We're not expecting anything different this year."
scalzo@vindy.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The defending Division IV champs crushed the Raiders 49-0.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN — At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to cut outside and (most likely) score a touchdown or go inside where a Warren Harding defender awaited.
He chose inside, lowering his shoulder into Harding defensive back Aunre Davis as the collision came to a stop at the Raiders' 3.
It looked like he chose to deliver punishment over scoring, although Zordich smiled and shook his head when asked about it.
"No, I just thought I could beat him inside," said Zordich following the Cardinals' 49-0 "home" victory on Saturday at Fitch High. "It was a bad cut."
Huh. Apparently, even Mooney's mistakes are impressive.
Zordich, who finished with 76 yards rushing, scored on the next play. But the Penn State recruit was even better on defense, helping Mooney hold the Raiders to 147 total yards despite resting for much of the second half.
It was the third straight win for the Cardinals (4-0, 1-0) against their Steel Valley Conference rivals.
"The good thing about this team is we're never satisfied," said senior quarterback Dan McCarthy, who rushed 14 times for 154 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for a score. "We want to keep getting better."
Too good
The state's top-ranked team in Division IV overwhelmed the inexperienced Raiders, rolling up 418 yards (all but 43 of those on the ground) and forcing eight Harding punts. More impressive, Mooney started substituting liberally midway through the third quarter — the Cardinals were playing their fourth-string quarterback by the end of the game.
Mooney was also missing its top running back and one of its starting linebackers in Penn State recruit Brandon Beachum, who suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against Gateway (Pa.) and may miss another week or two.
"They're a great football program and they've got a great team this year," said Harding's first-year coach D.J. Dota. "It's probably the best Mooney team I've coached against, which goes back to 1997."
Cardinals junior John Simon terrorized the Raiders' offensive line, compiling three tackles for a loss, while cornerback Tim Marlowe added an interception and Matt Lyden had a sack.
Good performance
Harding had just 69 yards in the first half.
"Obviously, all around it was a good performance," said Mooney coach P.J. Fecko. "We really executed well."
Mooney fans also got a look at its terrific sophomore class as Zordich's younger brother, Alex, saw time at quarterback, running back Ray Vinopal rushed for 62 yards and running back Braylon Heard ran for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
"Those guys work so hard all week, it was nice to get them in," said Fecko.
Davis led Harding (2-2, 0-1) with 20 yards rushing and 37 passing. The Raiders had just one returning starter from last year's regional final team and look to be a year or two away from seriously competing in the SVC.
"I think we did some really good things," said Dota. "The guys didn't quit and they're working and getting better."
Mooney, meanwhile, faces another tough test this Friday when it plays host to Mentor Lake Catholic, which played the Cardinals as tough as anyone last year before falling 21-16.
"They're a very good football program," said Fecko of the Cougars. "We're not expecting anything different this year."
scalzo@vindy.com
Sunday, September 16, 2007
At the tail end of his 62-yard run early in the second quarter, Mooney senior fullback Michael Zordich had a chance to...
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Turnovers tell the tale again for Lake
John Kampf, JKampf@News-Herald.com
09/22/2007
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YOUNGSTOWN - Beating the 11th-ranked team in the nation was going to be tough enough for Lake Catholic on Friday night.
Turning the ball over six times and getting two punts blocked makes it tougher - if not downright impossible.
The Cougars (2-3) watched four scoring opportunities evaporate via interceptions and fumbles in the first 24 minutes, paving a way to an early deficit and a 40-14 loss to Cardinal Mooney at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown.
"I'm not going to talk about turnovers anymore," a disgruntled Coach Mike Bell said. "I'm not doing it."
Which is a difficult thing not to do, since the past two games have largely been lost via turnovers, including a 26-21 loss to Dublin Coffman last week when Lake Catholic turned it over on the first four possessions of the game.
"Obviously, you're not going to make mistakes and beat a team like that," said Bell, not cooling down much. "You can't give an offense like that a short field, and you can't get a punt blocked and expect to win. It's just not going to happen."
The Cardinals, seemingly steamrolling to another Division IV state title at 5-0, didn't just force turnovers. They converted them into points.
After Penn State-commit Brandon Beachum intercepted a pass on the third play of the game, Cardinal Mooney cashed in with a four-yard touchdown run by Oklahoma-bound Taylor Hill.
Later in the quarter, Lake Catholic evened things up when Alex Kurowski hit Randy Greenwood for a 55-yard touchdown pass. But it didn't take long for the turnover bug to bite the Cougars again.
After Notre Dame recruit Dan McCarthy picked off a Kurowski pass, Beachum bulled in for a short touchdown run. And after a fumble recovery by Penn State-bound Mike Zordich, McCarthy ran 84 yards for another score and a 19-7 halftime lead.
All three of Mooney's first-half touchdowns came immediately after Lake Catholic turnovers.
"Hey, our defense came to play tonight," Beachum said. "The main thing is to keep the momentum going. If you get a turnover, you can't go three-and-out. That's a waste."
The Cougars still had a golden opportunity to get back into the game after forcing Mooney to punt to start the third quarter.
But a fourth-down fake punt that went for a first down was nullified by a holding penalty and the two ensuing punts for the Cougars were blocked. One was blocked and recovered for a touchdown by Mark Pellini, whose Uncle Bo Pellini is the defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers.
"That was a huge swing," Bell said. "We did a great job on the fake punt and it got called back. The next thing you know, we get a punt blocked for a touchdown."
And yet, the Cougars still weren't out of it.
Kurkowski (7 for 25, 94 yards) hit Darien Nulick on consecutive passes to get down to Mooney's 27. Then Kurowski took it the final 27 yards to cut the score to 27-14 with five minutes to go.
Apparently, Mooney took offense to the touchdown. On the next possession, McCarthy ran 54 yards for a touchdown to stretch the lead back out again.
McCarthy didn't hurt Lake with his arm, completing only two passes and getting picked off twice. But he ran for 214 yards on 17 carries.
Sophomore Ray Vinopal wrapped up the scoring with a 32-yard jaunt after the Cougars failed to convert deep in their own territory late in the game.
"You know, despite all that, we were only down by 13 with about six minutes to go," Bell said. "We've got to get this figured out before the second half of the season."
The Cougars passed for 150 yards and ran for 112 yards, including a team-high 69 for Mike Sweigert.
The offensive productivity was there, Bell said.
But so were the turnovers.
And those are the difference-makers right now for the green and white.
"I'm not going to let it become psychological," Bell promised. "I won't. From now on, our focus is on discipline and execution."
John Kampf, JKampf@News-Herald.com
09/22/2007
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YOUNGSTOWN - Beating the 11th-ranked team in the nation was going to be tough enough for Lake Catholic on Friday night.
Turning the ball over six times and getting two punts blocked makes it tougher - if not downright impossible.
The Cougars (2-3) watched four scoring opportunities evaporate via interceptions and fumbles in the first 24 minutes, paving a way to an early deficit and a 40-14 loss to Cardinal Mooney at Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown.
"I'm not going to talk about turnovers anymore," a disgruntled Coach Mike Bell said. "I'm not doing it."
Which is a difficult thing not to do, since the past two games have largely been lost via turnovers, including a 26-21 loss to Dublin Coffman last week when Lake Catholic turned it over on the first four possessions of the game.
"Obviously, you're not going to make mistakes and beat a team like that," said Bell, not cooling down much. "You can't give an offense like that a short field, and you can't get a punt blocked and expect to win. It's just not going to happen."
The Cardinals, seemingly steamrolling to another Division IV state title at 5-0, didn't just force turnovers. They converted them into points.
After Penn State-commit Brandon Beachum intercepted a pass on the third play of the game, Cardinal Mooney cashed in with a four-yard touchdown run by Oklahoma-bound Taylor Hill.
Later in the quarter, Lake Catholic evened things up when Alex Kurowski hit Randy Greenwood for a 55-yard touchdown pass. But it didn't take long for the turnover bug to bite the Cougars again.
After Notre Dame recruit Dan McCarthy picked off a Kurowski pass, Beachum bulled in for a short touchdown run. And after a fumble recovery by Penn State-bound Mike Zordich, McCarthy ran 84 yards for another score and a 19-7 halftime lead.
All three of Mooney's first-half touchdowns came immediately after Lake Catholic turnovers.
"Hey, our defense came to play tonight," Beachum said. "The main thing is to keep the momentum going. If you get a turnover, you can't go three-and-out. That's a waste."
The Cougars still had a golden opportunity to get back into the game after forcing Mooney to punt to start the third quarter.
But a fourth-down fake punt that went for a first down was nullified by a holding penalty and the two ensuing punts for the Cougars were blocked. One was blocked and recovered for a touchdown by Mark Pellini, whose Uncle Bo Pellini is the defensive coordinator for the LSU Tigers.
"That was a huge swing," Bell said. "We did a great job on the fake punt and it got called back. The next thing you know, we get a punt blocked for a touchdown."
And yet, the Cougars still weren't out of it.
Kurkowski (7 for 25, 94 yards) hit Darien Nulick on consecutive passes to get down to Mooney's 27. Then Kurowski took it the final 27 yards to cut the score to 27-14 with five minutes to go.
Apparently, Mooney took offense to the touchdown. On the next possession, McCarthy ran 54 yards for a touchdown to stretch the lead back out again.
McCarthy didn't hurt Lake with his arm, completing only two passes and getting picked off twice. But he ran for 214 yards on 17 carries.
Sophomore Ray Vinopal wrapped up the scoring with a 32-yard jaunt after the Cougars failed to convert deep in their own territory late in the game.
"You know, despite all that, we were only down by 13 with about six minutes to go," Bell said. "We've got to get this figured out before the second half of the season."
The Cougars passed for 150 yards and ran for 112 yards, including a team-high 69 for Mike Sweigert.
The offensive productivity was there, Bell said.
But so were the turnovers.
And those are the difference-makers right now for the green and white.
"I'm not going to let it become psychological," Bell promised. "I won't. From now on, our focus is on discipline and execution."
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It was a tough find this week. I also found something that I thought was extremely impressive about Mooney. The combined record of their 10 opponents this year is 44-10. Considering that mooney is 5-0 and responsible for 5 of those loses, it gets me really excited to bring in Dan and hopefully John. I would expect that both would get playing time imediately considering that they are better groomed to play college ball than just about any one in the country. Mooney's coaching staff consists of Mike Zordich (all american at Penn State before his 12 NFL career, which included 20 ints), Ron Stoops ( brother of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops), and one of Bo pelini's (LSU Def Cordinator) brothers.