CANTON | Youngstown Cardinal Mooney quarterback Kyle McCarthy broke
a couple of tackles on his first touchdown. He broke the Versailles Tigers
on his second.
McCarthy scored both of the Cardinals' TDs in the first half — one
setting a state championship game record — to help Mooney dethrone Versailles
28-6 in the Division IV high school state title game. The title was Mooney's
fifth and first since 1987. The Tigers (11-4), not expected by many to
even reach Fawcett Stadium, stayed with the Cardinals (12-2) until team
speed and McCarthy took over in front of 7,945 spectators.
Just seconds before halftime, the fast, elusive quarterback/cornerback stepped in front of Tony McNeilan's pass and didn't stop until 93 yards later. His touchdown, the longest interception return in state finals history for all divisions, put Mooney up 14-0. The Tigers faced a tough comeback against a defense holding opponents to 12.6 points per game.
"They're probably the most physical team we've played all year," Versailles senior lineman Mark Keiser said. "They come off the ball hard."
A Versailles offense highlighted by dominating line play struggled to find running room inside and couldn't match Mooney's speed outside. Forced to throw, McNeilan — a sophomore first-year starter — missed on his first seven passes and finished 5-of-23 for 80 yards and two interceptions. The running game managed 168 yards on 37 attempts, led by Curtis Wourms' 89 yards on 16 carries.
"I'd give Youngstown Mooney a little credit for that," Tigers coach Al Hetrick said. "They're a powerful football team with good speed to go with it."
The Tigers, forced into long-yardage situations, converted 1-of -12 third-down plays and 3-of-6 on fourth down. Mooney was 8-of-11 on third down.
"When you have a good line special things can happen," Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. "We're going to eliminate the run and we know you're going to pass."
McCarthy twice made touchdown-saving tackles and broke up several passes. In the first quarter Wourms broke off a 54-yard run that should have been a 90-yard TD had it not been for McCarthy's TD-saving speed.
"We're living a dream right now," said McCarthy.
Mooney led 7-0 after McCarthy's 13-yard run with 5:24 left in the first. In the third quarter, McCarthy hit Dan Buccino down the sideline for a 47-yard TD and the 21-0 lead. Versailles pulled to 21-6 on McNeilan's 2-yard push into the end zone with 2:42 left in the third quarter. The extra-point hit the post. Mike Rich capped the scoring with 7:31 left on his 2-yard run.
The loss was the worst in a title game for the Tigers, who are 6-3 in state finals. But the Tigers had chances. They recovered two fumbles and drove into Cards' territory on seven of 10 drives.
"You're not going to score every time against a good team like that,"
Versailles senior offensive lineman Scott Broerman said. "You have to take
advantage as often as you can. A couple touchdowns might win it in this
type of game."
