GROUND GAME CARRIES THE CARDINALS TO VICTORY

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – The Mooney Cardinals started off their five game home stand against in city rival, the East Golden Bears. A surprise team from last year, the Bears had a 7-3 record and made the playoffs. Both teams entered the game with a record of 3-2, looking to see who truly was the best in Y-town.

Each teams first possession ended with a touchdown, and all of the yardage coming on the ground. Junior QB for the Cardinals, Pat Guerrieri scored from 11 yards out to put Mooney of the board first, but the Bears would answer right back with a touchdown of their own, a 36 yard scamper by Maleek McIntosh. The extra point though would be blocked, and a fast moving first quarter would end 7-6 in favor of Mooney.

Once the second quarter started though, Mooney would take complete control. A huge run of 43 yards by Jeremy Thornton put the Cardinals inside the 5 yard line of East, and Guerrieri would punch it in himself. Guerrieri would also tack on a touchdown pass when he hit Michael Scavina for a 24 touchdown. Guerrieri would finish with 86 yards passing, along with 72 on the ground and 3 total touchdowns.

But it was that ground game from Mooney that became the story. The combination of Zyere Rodgers, Dom Byrd, and Jeremy Thornton was simply too much for the Bears defense. After Bears’ QB Isiah McBride was picked off by Walter Sweeney, the sophomore sensation Rodgers hit the hole and took off for a 13 yard touchdown run. Dom Byrd would find the endzone as well in the fourth quarter, and Mooney’s defense shined as well, forcing two turnovers and holding the Bears to 4/15 on third down. The Cardinals rushed for over 350 yards en route to a win, 38-13.