Cardinal Mooney punches ticket to State Final Four

CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) – Cardinal Mooney rolled past Girard, 48-14, in the in the Division V Region 17 Championship game at South Range High School on Friday night.

With the win, the Cardinals claim the 18th regional title in program history, and their first regional crown since 2013. The Cardinals likewise secured their first double-digit win season since 2013.

Cardinal Mooney forced a fumble on Girard’s first offensive play, leading to a one-yard touchdown run by Rocco Zabel a short time later.

The Cardinals increased the lead to 14-0 on Brady Desmond’s 8-yard touchdown run later in the first.

Girard got on the scoreboard when AJ Pearson hit Joey Alejars with a 15-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 14-7 with 0:07 left in the first quarter.

I the second quarter, Cardinal Mooney’s defense got a stop on a Girard fake punt attempt. The Cardinals then increased the lead to 21-7 when Vince Gentile hit Mike Schiraldi with a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Girard cut into the deficit on an off-balance 3-yard TD pass from AJ Pearson to Jadon Wade. The Cardinals still held a 21-14 lead.

Mooney had an answer all night. Brady Desmond scampered in for a five-yard touchdown, giving the Cardinals a 28-14 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.

Cardinal Mooney’s Jacob Gugliotta hit a 35-yard field goal, giving the Cardinals a 31-14 lead with 0:08 remaining in the first half.

Girard fumbled the ensuing kickoff. Cardinal Mooney recovered, setting up Gugliotta for another 35-yard field goal. Cardinal Mooney held a 34-14 lead at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Vince Gentile connected with Blue Jackson on a 30-yard touchdown pass, giving the Cardinals a 41-14 advantage.Desmond added a short touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to cap off the scoring.

Cardinal Mooney has now won eight straight games and improves to 10-2 on the season. The Cardinals advance to face Wheelersburg in the Division V State Semifinals on Friday, Nov. 28.

Girard’s season comes to an end with a record of 12-1.

Scoring ChartCM, 48-14 (Final)First quarterCM – Rocco Zabel, 1-yard TD runs (Jacob Gugliotta kick) 7-0CM – Brady Desmond, 8-yard TD run (Gugliotta kick) 14-0G – Joey Alejars, 15-yard TD Pass from AJ Pearson 14-7 (Maxwell Erickson kick)Second quarterCM – Mike Schiraldi, 30-yard TD pass from Vince Gentile (Gugliotta kick) 21-7G – Jadon Wade, 3-yard TD pass from AJ Pearson (Erickson kick) 21-14CM – Brady Desmond, 5-yard TD run (Gugliotta kick) 28-14CM – Gugliotta 35-yard FG 31-14CM – Gugliotta 35-yard FG 34-14Third quarterCM – Blue Jackson, 30-yard TD pass from Vince Gentile (Gugliotta kick) 41-14Fourth quarterCM – Brady Desmond, 3-yard TD run (Gugliotta kick) 48-14

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