RANGE IS FOR REAL; RAIDERS WASH AWAY MOONEY

GIRARD, OH- On the soggiest Friday night since July, two historically winning programs went toe-to-toe for the first time in their varsity football history.

South Range.

Cardinal Mooney.

Some said it would never happen, others claim it was destiny this season – either way, we were served reality on Friday night in Arrowhead Stadium in Girard, and it was the Raiders that came away victorious 34-6 when the final snap was taken.

It started out as a defensive struggle between these two juggernauts, as neither team was able to crack the code until just over seven minutes left in the second quarter, when South Range QB Billy Skripac squeezed into the endzone for a touchdown, capping a 99-yard drive for the Raiders.

Just a few minutes later, the Raiders would double up their lead with a connection through the air from Skripac to JD Crouse from 17 yards on a crossing route in the right corner of the endzone.

After the break, in typically Mooney fashion, the Cards came out hot.  Junior standout Quarterback Ashton O’Brien capped off a physical drive with a 1-yard push into the endzone courtesy of his big men upfront- and making the score 14-6 on a missed extra point.

South Range would go back to work on both sides of the ball, and hold Mooney out of the endzone the rest of the contest, but their offense-like the rain, would keep pouring down.

Billy Skripac would take over the ballgame from there, adding a touchdown strike with 5:58 to go in the third quarter to Ayden Leon on one of the best one-handed grabs you’ll ever see in a high school football game to make it 21-6.  Only to be followed on the next drive with a 4-yard run by Skripac to extend the lead to 28-6, and in the final chapter, Skripac would find Crouse again from 25 yards out for the Raider touchdown and finalize things at 34-6.

South Range racked up 377 yards total, with 198 coming from the air, and 179 on the ground.  Mooney tallied 152 yards of offense on 45 plays.

Skripac was named the game’s most valuable player with 11 completions for 198 yards, and three touchdowns off his arm, and 16 carries for 78 yards and two more scores with his legs while being the rushing leader in the game as well.

The stable of horses for Range did their fair share as well as Blake Ewert chalked up 61 yards on 11 carries, Aidan Dominguez had five totes for 19 yards, and Tyler Remish went five carries for 18.

JD Crouse was the contest’s leading receiver with 4 catches for 90 yards, Shane Lindstrom had 3 for 53, and Ayden Leon also had 3 grabs for 50.

Defensively, Tyler Remish led the way for South Range with five tackles, followed by Crouse and Nick Plunkett with three tackles, and Bailey Ryan with 2.5.

Cardinal Mooney’s standout performers included Ashton O’Brien’s eight completions for 90 yards through the air.

Jamar Howell had five carries for 23 yards, Tyon Flowers had three carries for 21, and Camryn Paige had four opportunities for 15 yards on the ground.

Ty Reali was the Cardinal’s top-target with three grabs and 15 yards, while Jon Brenner, Alec DelSignore, Cam Paige, Tyon Flowers, and Adyn Paige each had one catch apiece.

Defensively, Dennis Clark was impressive and everywhere.  Clark racked up 7.5 tackles on the night, followed closely by Will Desmond’s 6.5.  Caleb Beachum and Logan Boyd were also tenacious with five stops apiece.

Mooney’s season comes to a close at 6-7, while South Range remains undefeated at 13-0 and will await word on where they will take on the Perry Pirates next Friday at 7pm.