MOONEY SECURES VICTORY IN HISTORIC RIVALRY

BOARDMAN OH- In a thrilling clash that marked the 50th meeting between these historical rivals, Cardinal Mooney emerged victorious with a final score of 38-21 against Boardman, etching another chapter into their storied history.

The game burst into action with Mooney setting the tone, orchestrating touchdowns on their first four possessions throughout the first half. Quarterback Ashton O’Brien initiated the scoring drive by running in from the one-yard line to put the Cardinals on the board

However, the Spartans quickly retaliated with a remarkable five-play, 70-yard drive, culminating in a pass from Zach Haus to Mason Nawrocki from 19 yards out, leveling the score at 7-7 with just a minute remaining in the opening period.

Unfazed by the Spartans’ response, Cardinal Mooney executed an eight-play, 65-yard drive, which O’Brien concluded with a 5-yard pass to Matt Kay for a touchdown.

The Cardinals’ next touchdown showcased their creativity, as freshman Brady Desmond sprinted for an impressive 45-yard run on a fake punt. This remarkable play set up Mooney at the Boardman 11-yard line, with Thomas subsequently scoring on the next play with 4:18 remaining in the first half.

Once again, Boardman answered the challenge with a nine-play, 43-yard drive, resulting in a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Haus.

Nevertheless, the Cardinals seized momentum right back before halftime, orchestrating an 80-yard, six-play drive. O’Brien’s precision pass found Carlos Gomez behind the secondary for a spectacular 48-yard score, granting Mooney a 28-14 lead with only 57 seconds remaining in the half.

Cardinal Mooney further solidified their lead with a 13-play, 80-yard drive, punctuated by Adyn Paige’s 3-yard rushing touchdown with 2:43 left.

In the third quarter, Mooney extended their advantage with a 29-yard field goal courtesy of Chris Colautti, boosting their lead to 31-14 with 4:28 to go. Boardman, however, refused to relent, closing the gap to within ten points at the 8:42 mark of the fourth quarter with a five-yard rushing touchdown by Willy Torres.

Mooney’s Adyn Paige and Noah Thomas shone on the ground, both amassing over 100 yards rushing and contributing a touchdown each. Paige finished with an impressive 129 yards on the ground, while Thomas racked up 133.

Boardman’s junior quarterback, Zach Haus, showcased his dual-threat abilities by running for 116 yards and accumulating 157 passing yards.