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Mooney’s patience wins out

Cardinals overcome Chaney, 13-6

Tribune Chronicle / Michael Taylor Coaches P.J. Fecko, left, of Cardinal Mooney and Chris Amill of Chaney greet each other before Thursday’s game.

YOUNGSTOWN — P.J. Fecko stood on the opposite side, facing the stands of Rayen Stadium. He stood patiently, as did his Cardinal Mooney football team.

The Cardinals coach viewed two sections filled with Chaney supporters. It’s been almost a decade since the Cowboys have suited up in their trademark red and seen their players put on cleats and dirty their uniforms on a field.

Cool breezes flowed across the grass surface and the onlooking crowd, which made for a perfect night for football on the north side of Youngstown. Chaney’s return to the Mahoning Valley gave pride to those remembering their alma mater on the west side of the city.

Thursday, it was Fecko’s former teammate and friend Chris Amill on the other sideline. The two greeted one another prior to kickoff and knew this Steel Valley Conference battle would not be won easily by either side.

Pleasantries aside, Fecko bided his time. So did the Cardinals as they held off an upstart Chaney team for a 13-6 win. Mooney had ball control with 53 carries for 212 yards.

Tribune Chronicle / Michael Taylor Chaney Cowboys' Marshall Herron (11) runs past Mooney Cardinals' Michael Pastella (21) for a 33-yard gain during the first quarter.

“The key was persistence,” said Fecko, whose team had two scoring drive averaging 6 minutes each. “We talked about it all week. You’ve got to be persistent. You’ve got to keep to your game plan. Be persistent. Play good defense. Keep churning and churning. Flip the field position. And, keep moving the ball.”

Patience is a virtue the Cardinal Mooney offense has displayed throughout the years. The Cardinals’ vaunted running game is led by an offensive line that constantly practices as one unit — well-prepared for game days. Nothing spectacular. Just power football.

Sophomore Zyere Rodgers, a 5-foot-8, 155-pound tailback, followed the unsung heroes of the offensive line. Rodgers followed his blockers for 26 carries for 159 yards. He led a 12-play drive lasting almost 5-and-a-half minutes midway through the fourth quarter.

“It’s like if they give you the ball, just keep on going with it,” Rodgers said. “If you’re down, you got to keep pushing. The line opened up holes and I made my way through there to get the yards that I needed.”

Rodgers came in for senior Dom Byrd, who was the early feature back with 12 carries for 30 yards. Byrd’s left arm was in a sling after being hurt early in the second quarter.

Tribune Chronicle / Michael Taylor During the first quarter, Chaney Cowboys' Rashawn Perkins (10) sacks Cardinal Mooney's Pat Guerrieri (15).

“I had to pick him back up, go in the game and do what I had to do as a secondary running back,” Rodgers said.

Junior quarterback Pat Guerrieri used all of his 6-0, 190 frame to wiggle through a stout Chaney defensive front which was almost impenetrable in the first half. Guerrieri, who had 13 carries for 26 yards, accounted for most of his positive yards on that drive — including a 3-yard score with 3:31 remaining to put Cardinal Mooney ahead for the first time, 13-6.

Chaney quarterback Delshawn Petrosky, who was 11-for-21 for 69 yards, threw one of three interceptions with 2:38 remaining as Cardinals senior Michael Santisi grabbed the errant pass.

Cardinal Mooney couldn’t muster a first down on the next drive as Chaney used two of its time outs.

Junior A.J. Pecchia came up with another Chaney interception with 1:19 left as the Cardinals went into victory formation, ending the game.

Tribune Chronicle / Michael Taylor During the second quarter, Cardinal Mooney's Zyere Rodgers (2) stiff-arms Chaney Cowboys' Delshawn Petrosky (2).

The Cardinals started a drive at their own 42 with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter. All but three plays went to Rodgers as Cardinal Mooney had a fourth-and-9 on the Chaney 11 with 11:54 left. Junior Brian Philibin came in and booted a 28-yard field goal, his second one of the game — tying the game at 6. The junior soccer player held fast, watching his team push back the Chaney defense time after time.

“I just try and stay focused on the sideline, keep my head level,” he said. “Just knock it through and hope I don’t miss.”

There was 35.4 seconds left in the half, one dominated by Chaney’s defense. Cardinal Mooney made an uncharacteristic move, played a hurry-up offense — seemingly blasphemous for the school on the south side of Youngstown.

The Cardinals went six plays as Philibin hit a 23-yard field goal as time expired in the first half and Chaney’s lead was cut to 6-3. Rodgers’s 15-yard run on fourth-and-3 with 9.8 seconds left set up the first field goal.

The Cowboys deferred possession to the first half — holding Cardinal Mooney to a three-and-out in its first drive. It was a recurring theme for the Cardinals as the Chaney defense flexed its stout line through the first two quarters.

Tribune Chronicle / Michael Taylor During the second quarter, Cardinal Mooney's Carl Farina (55) tackles Chaney Cowboys' Delshawn Petrosky (2).

Chaney went five plays in 1:21, going half the field — capped by a 2-yard run by senior Key-Shaun Davis. The drive was set up by senior Marshall Herron’s 33-yard run, displaying the Cowboys’ quickness.

The early first-quarter score revved up the Chaney faithful, but you could see the Cowboy players begin to hang their heads as the clock began to approach zero — ending the game. Amill quickly made his way to his dejected players, forcing their heads up and looking ahead to the future.

“It’s not a moral victory,” Amill said. “That’s not something I’m looking for. I come out there, coach and play to win. I plan at these young men winning at life. I expect them to win games, too.

“No moral victories here.”

On Sept. 6, Chaney hosts Beachwood, while Mooney travels to defending Division II state champion Akron Hoban.

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