Beginning the campaign with an even 2-2 record, Mooney has won eight of their last nine games which puts the Cardinals on the doorstep of another state championship.
Mooney's opponents this season have accumulated a winning percentage of 70.2% (104-44). The Cardinals posted a scoring average of 32.6 points per contest during the regular season. In the playoffs, Mooney increased that impressive figure to 41 points in their four post-season match ups.
With a win, the Cardinals would post their fourth state title since 2004. That would be the most championships among all Ohio programs over the last eight years.
Shawnee won the toss and elected to kick.
Cardinal Mooney's opening drive netted 32-yards on 8-plays but stalled on the Braves' 24-yard line.
The first time Shawnee possessed the football, Mooney's defense held the offense to a 3-play drive which the Braves did not gain a first down.
On the first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, Roosevelt Griffin dashes 18-yards into the end zone to cap a 7-play drive which took off the clock a little over two minutes.
Shawnee took the ensuing possession 79-yards on 8-plays which was completed by a Brad Jarzab 15-yard score to tie the game at 7.
Mooney would not be outdone. The Cardinals' signal caller PJ Quinn finished off a 70-play drive with a 2-yard score. The two plays of the drive were a 34-yard run by Griffin which came after Quinn was sacked for a 8-yard loss. Then, the next play from scrimmage, Justus Ellis-Moore took the hand off and ran 34-yards down to Shawnee's 10-yard line.
On the Braves' next possession, Shawnee committed the game's first turnover. Jarzab was picked off by Marcus McWilson and returned 36-yards down to the Braves' 18. Three plays later, Quinn called his number again as he dove in from a yard out.
Despite Mooney's inability to finish their first drive of the second half with points, the Cardinals' ate up 5:44 off the clock.
Due to the fact that Mooney held the ball for 8:01 in the third frame, Shawnee only had nine offensive plays the entire quarter. In the fourth; however, the Braves went on a 15-play, 91-yard drive to see Jarzab score his second rushing touchdown of the game with 5:38 remaining.
On Shawnee's next possession with 2:22 left, the Braves faced a 4th and 10 from their own 48-yard line. Jarzab's pass to Alex McCrory fell incomplete; however, the Cardinals were flagged for pass interference to continue the drive. Two plays later, Mooney was pentalized again for interference which gave the Braves the ball on the Cards' 22-yard stripe. Shawnee once again was faced with a 4th-down, this time from the Cardinals' 14. Following a false start on Shawnee, Jarzab's pass intended for Tyler Sherrock was incomplete.
The Mooney defense had stopped the Braves 17-yards short of the end zone to secure the 21-14 victory and the Cardinals' 8th state championship in school history. Coach Fecko gained his 4th title tying Don Bucci for the most championships by a head coach in the area.
Scoring Chart
Second Quarter
M - Roosevelt Griffin, 18-yard TD run (Conor Durina kick), 11:55 (M 7-0)
S - Brad Jarzab, 15-yard TD run (Carly Gregory kick), 8:39 (T 7-7)
M - PJ Quinn, 2-yard TD run (Durina kick), 6:16 (M 14-7)
M - PJ Quinn, 1-yard TD run (Durina kick), 2:25 (M 21-7)
Fourth Quarter
S - Brad Jarzab, 7-yard TD run (Gregory kick), 5:38 (M 21-14)
Statistical Leaders
Shawnee
Passing
Brad Jarzab, 10 of 29 for 122 (INT)
Rushing
Brad Jarzab, 23 for 139 (2 TDs)
Receiving
Tyler Bostick, 3 for 28
Mooney
Passing
PJ Quinn, 5 of 13 for 52
Rushing
Roosevelt Griffin 21 for 119 (TD)
Receiving
Ryan Farragher, 4 for 39
