Remembering the Youngstown City Series and Steel Valley Conference
- Thread starter coldshoulder
- Start date
falcons53
Well-known member
Pitt Panthers have fans???
Shamefully I am one of a few.
Scipio
Well-known member
They used to recruit this area hard.
YTOWN
Well-known member
No, we went to the "old" Park Burlesk on S. Champion Street, saw Busty Russell and Miss Gee Whiz.
BTW, that's not my spelling of Burlesque, that's how it was spelled on the actual building sign.The YNDC bought the Foster building not too long ago.
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YTOWN
Well-known member
With the departure of Niles following the 1984 season the SVC was reduced to 7 members for the 85 season. That would only last for one season however as 1985 was the last season of SVC membership for Howland, Warren Western Reserve, and Warren Harding. Those three, along with Hubbard and Niles, formed a new league, the All-American Athletic Conference, for the 1986 season. The AAAC should not be confused with the old All-American Conference that Niles and Warren Harding were members of. Howland left the league with a 20-48-2 SVC won-loss record for their 11 years as a member. Warren Western Reserve finished with a 23-20-1 league mark in 7 years as a member and Harding was 8-19 in 4 years as a member of the league but after the merger with WWR the Harding Raiders would rejoin the SVC.
Mooney won the 1985 SVC title with an unblemished league record at 6-0 and finished the regular season at 8-1. The 1985 Cardinals had a very good year and finished as the D2 state runner-up with an 11-2 record. Unfortunately I think that the 6-0 loss in the D2 state championship game has somewhat diminished the status of the team among some fans. I may be totally wrong in that thinking but that is the impression that I get. Led by QB Mark Pelini and RB Devlin Culliver, the 85 Cardinals were a very talented team. The only regular season loss was by 3 points in double OT to a good Cleveland St. Joseph team. St. Joseph was a D1 playoff team that lost to Canton McKinley in the state semifinals. Mooney defeated Boardman 27-7 and that was the only loss for a very solid Spartan team.
OHSAA had expanded the number of playoff qualifiers from 2 teams/region to 4 teams/region for the 1985 season so for the first time a team would have to win 4 playoff games to be crowned champion. In those expanded playoffs, Mooney jumped all over previously undefeated Conneaut, 45-0 in the first round at Stambaugh Stadium and then stunned even their most ardent fans with a 47-0 dismantling of old playoff nemesis Cleveland Benedictine in the regional final. I don't think anybody saw that kind of win coming. I know I certainly didn't. Benedictine came in at 10-1, the lone loss by 2 points to St. Ignatius, and the Bengals were averaging over 33 PPG. Benedictine was led by AAA 2nd team All-State QB Larry Wanke. Mr. Wanke had thrown for almost 5,500 yards and 50 TDs at Benedictine and he was coming off a school record 344-yard passing game against Holy Name in the first round of the playoffs. In a tremendous performance the Mooney defense held him to 84 yards on 6 of 21, intercepted him 5 times, including a pick 6 by Bo Pelini, sacked him for minus 34 yards, held the Bengals to minus 7 yards rushing and only 3 first downs in the rout. Mr. Wanke went to Pitt out of HS but then transferred to John Carroll. He was Mr. Irrelevant in the 1991 NFL draft when the Giants took him with the last pick.
After the Benedictine game many Mooney fans were feeling pretty good about the team's chances at a D2 title but defending champ Steubenville was next up in the semis. Mooney had to put together a late game 80-yard drive that took them to the Big Red two-yard line to come-from-behind and win with 45 seconds left on a 19-yard FG, 18-16 over the defending D2 state champs in the Rubber Bowl. It was a great game, very physical, and I think many fans thought that was the state championship game. Unfortunately for Mooney fans, Galion felt otherwise and proved it by playing a great game to shut Mooney out 6-0 and finish as undefeated D2 state champions.
The Cardinals had their chances to win that D2 title game missing two FGs, a fumble at about the Galion 33-yard line and turning it over on downs at the Galion 28 once, but give Galion credit, they did what they had to do to win the title. Galion put together an 85-yard TD drive to score with about 3:30 left in the game. Mooney hurt themselves with a huge penalty after the Galion TD. With Mooney at their 47-yard line Bo Pelini broke off a 25-yard run that would have given the Cards a first down at the Galion 28-yard line but it was nullified by a clipping penalty and that was it. Again, Galion did what they had to do with that huge drive to win the title. That was a championship drive. They were a very good football team and they finished the job with the D2 title to finish off a perfect 14-0 season.
College players I know of:
1st team Offense:
End - Rich Flauto - Boardman (Led the SVC in receiving) - Holy Cross
OT - Kimo DeNiro - Mooney - Villanova
OT - Jeff Kuczek - Boardman (AAA 1st team All-State) - OSU
OG - Tony Dunn - Reserve - YSU
C - Rodney Bresnahan - Mooney - John Carroll?
QB - Mark "Bo" Pelini - Mooney (AAA 1st team All-State at DB, led the SVC in punt returns) - OSU (HC at Nebraska and YSU, asst. at collegiate and NFL levels)
RB - Brad Smith - Boardman - Jr. (Led the SVC in rushing & scoring) - N. Carolina & Kent St.
RB - Devlin Culliver - Mooney (Led the SVC interceptions and fumble recoveries) - Ohio U. (Current HC at East, a few other HC positions in NEO)
2nd team Offense:
OT - John Repasky - Mooney - Jr. - Michigan St. & Kent St.
OG - Dave Cardwell - Boardman - B-W
OG - Mike Lettau - Ursuline - Mercyhurst
C - Joe Brooks - Fitch - Edinboro St.
QB - George Beck - Ursuline - Marietta
RB - Carlisle Reynolds - Ursuline - Arizona Western
RB - Leo Hawkins - Fitch - Jr. - YSU
1st team Defense:
DE - Dave Wolfe - Boardman - N. Carolina
DE - Andre Peterson - Reserve (AAA 1st team All-State) - YSU
IL - Matt Keller - Fitch (AAA 2nd team All-State) - Michigan St.
LB - Don Mook - Boardman - B-W & YSU
DB - Tom Pipoly - Boardman - B-W
DB - Dave Phillips - Fitch (Led the SVC in passing) - YSU
K - Mike Pollifrone - Boardman - Hiram
2nd team Defense:
IL - Kelly Fortune - Mooney - Jr. - Pitt
LB - Gentry Matlock - Harding - Hiram
DB - Vincent Goliday - Harding - Central St.?
K - Pat Nelson - Mooney - Jr. - Brown
Mooney won the 1985 SVC title with an unblemished league record at 6-0 and finished the regular season at 8-1. The 1985 Cardinals had a very good year and finished as the D2 state runner-up with an 11-2 record. Unfortunately I think that the 6-0 loss in the D2 state championship game has somewhat diminished the status of the team among some fans. I may be totally wrong in that thinking but that is the impression that I get. Led by QB Mark Pelini and RB Devlin Culliver, the 85 Cardinals were a very talented team. The only regular season loss was by 3 points in double OT to a good Cleveland St. Joseph team. St. Joseph was a D1 playoff team that lost to Canton McKinley in the state semifinals. Mooney defeated Boardman 27-7 and that was the only loss for a very solid Spartan team.
OHSAA had expanded the number of playoff qualifiers from 2 teams/region to 4 teams/region for the 1985 season so for the first time a team would have to win 4 playoff games to be crowned champion. In those expanded playoffs, Mooney jumped all over previously undefeated Conneaut, 45-0 in the first round at Stambaugh Stadium and then stunned even their most ardent fans with a 47-0 dismantling of old playoff nemesis Cleveland Benedictine in the regional final. I don't think anybody saw that kind of win coming. I know I certainly didn't. Benedictine came in at 10-1, the lone loss by 2 points to St. Ignatius, and the Bengals were averaging over 33 PPG. Benedictine was led by AAA 2nd team All-State QB Larry Wanke. Mr. Wanke had thrown for almost 5,500 yards and 50 TDs at Benedictine and he was coming off a school record 344-yard passing game against Holy Name in the first round of the playoffs. In a tremendous performance the Mooney defense held him to 84 yards on 6 of 21, intercepted him 5 times, including a pick 6 by Bo Pelini, sacked him for minus 34 yards, held the Bengals to minus 7 yards rushing and only 3 first downs in the rout. Mr. Wanke went to Pitt out of HS but then transferred to John Carroll. He was Mr. Irrelevant in the 1991 NFL draft when the Giants took him with the last pick.
After the Benedictine game many Mooney fans were feeling pretty good about the team's chances at a D2 title but defending champ Steubenville was next up in the semis. Mooney had to put together a late game 80-yard drive that took them to the Big Red two-yard line to come-from-behind and win with 45 seconds left on a 19-yard FG, 18-16 over the defending D2 state champs in the Rubber Bowl. It was a great game, very physical, and I think many fans thought that was the state championship game. Unfortunately for Mooney fans, Galion felt otherwise and proved it by playing a great game to shut Mooney out 6-0 and finish as undefeated D2 state champions.
The Cardinals had their chances to win that D2 title game missing two FGs, a fumble at about the Galion 33-yard line and turning it over on downs at the Galion 28 once, but give Galion credit, they did what they had to do to win the title. Galion put together an 85-yard TD drive to score with about 3:30 left in the game. Mooney hurt themselves with a huge penalty after the Galion TD. With Mooney at their 47-yard line Bo Pelini broke off a 25-yard run that would have given the Cards a first down at the Galion 28-yard line but it was nullified by a clipping penalty and that was it. Again, Galion did what they had to do with that huge drive to win the title. That was a championship drive. They were a very good football team and they finished the job with the D2 title to finish off a perfect 14-0 season.
| 1985 MOONEY | ||
| CHANEY W 49-0 | ||
| AKRON CENTRAL HOWER W 28-8 | ||
| CLEVELAND ST. JOSEPH L 28-31 (2OT) | ||
| BOARDMAN W 27-7 | ||
| HOWLAND W 21-6 | ||
| WARREN HARDING W 27-7 | ||
| URSULINE W 30-0 | ||
| OPEN | ||
| WARREN WESTERN RESERVE W 14-13 | ||
| FITCH W 17-14 | ||
| *CONNEAUT W 45-0 | ||
| *CLEVELAND BENEDICTINE W 47-0 | ||
| *STEUBENVILLE W 18-16 | ||
| *GALION L 0-6 (D2 STATE TITLE GAME) | ||
| *PLAYOFFS | ||
| 11-2 | 6-0 SVC |
College players I know of:
1st team Offense:
End - Rich Flauto - Boardman (Led the SVC in receiving) - Holy Cross
OT - Kimo DeNiro - Mooney - Villanova
OT - Jeff Kuczek - Boardman (AAA 1st team All-State) - OSU
OG - Tony Dunn - Reserve - YSU
C - Rodney Bresnahan - Mooney - John Carroll?
QB - Mark "Bo" Pelini - Mooney (AAA 1st team All-State at DB, led the SVC in punt returns) - OSU (HC at Nebraska and YSU, asst. at collegiate and NFL levels)
RB - Brad Smith - Boardman - Jr. (Led the SVC in rushing & scoring) - N. Carolina & Kent St.
RB - Devlin Culliver - Mooney (Led the SVC interceptions and fumble recoveries) - Ohio U. (Current HC at East, a few other HC positions in NEO)
2nd team Offense:
OT - John Repasky - Mooney - Jr. - Michigan St. & Kent St.
OG - Dave Cardwell - Boardman - B-W
OG - Mike Lettau - Ursuline - Mercyhurst
C - Joe Brooks - Fitch - Edinboro St.
QB - George Beck - Ursuline - Marietta
RB - Carlisle Reynolds - Ursuline - Arizona Western
RB - Leo Hawkins - Fitch - Jr. - YSU
1st team Defense:
DE - Dave Wolfe - Boardman - N. Carolina
DE - Andre Peterson - Reserve (AAA 1st team All-State) - YSU
IL - Matt Keller - Fitch (AAA 2nd team All-State) - Michigan St.
LB - Don Mook - Boardman - B-W & YSU
DB - Tom Pipoly - Boardman - B-W
DB - Dave Phillips - Fitch (Led the SVC in passing) - YSU
K - Mike Pollifrone - Boardman - Hiram
2nd team Defense:
IL - Kelly Fortune - Mooney - Jr. - Pitt
LB - Gentry Matlock - Harding - Hiram
DB - Vincent Goliday - Harding - Central St.?
K - Pat Nelson - Mooney - Jr. - Brown
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YTOWN
Well-known member
Yes sir. Remember, Mooney beat them 7 times in those 7 seasons. The Raiders were 0-5 in the SVC in 1981 and 2-5 in 1984.
WWR losses to SVC teams from 1979-1985:
1979 - Lost to Mooney
1980 - Lost to Mooney & Boardman
1981 - Lost to Mooney, Boardman, Fitch, Howland & Ursuline
1982 - Lost to Mooney & Fitch
1983 - Lost to Mooney & Fitch
1984 - Lost to Mooney, Fitch, Harding, Howland & Ursuline
1985 - Lost to Mooney, Boardman & Howland
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coldshoulder
Well-known member
Warren Western Reserve's Allen Wade must have been a helluva player...he somehow made the All-SVC second team defense as both an interior lineman and a linebacker !
Goliday went to Wilberforce.
What is crazy is the vindicator had ads in the cinema sections for strips clubsNo, we went to the "old" Park Burlesk on S. Champion Street, saw Busty Russell and Miss Gee Whiz.
View attachment 55241
The YNDC bought the Foster building not too long ago.
View attachment 55242
You sound like that loss number is bad for 7 years. Only 2 lousy seasons with 5 and rest were very respectable. Especially when Mooney dominated that era in the conference.
oldpolecat
Active member
Remember oe fro Belle Satarrl. Was that a real peeroon?What is crazy is the vindicator had ads in the cinema sections for strips clubs
YTOWN
Well-known member
I thought Wilberforce became Central St. Anyway, thanks Worm02.
At the conclusion of the 1985/86 school year, Howland, Warren Harding, and Warren Western Reserve left the SVC leaving only Boardman, Fitch, Mooney, and Ursuline as members for the 1986 football season. Fitch won the SVC title with a 3-0 league record. The Falcons’ only loss in the regular season was to Canton McKinley, 10-3, in a rain storm in Canton. The Falcons qualified for the playoffs for the first time and avenged that loss to McKinley in the 2nd round of the playoffs in the Akron Rubber Bowl when the Falcons bounced the Pups from the playoffs, 28-24 after defeating Walsh Jesuit in round one. Fitch lost to St. Edward in the semifinals when two early Falcon special teams turnovers put them in a 10-0 hole and the Eagles' D shut the Falcons down offensively. However, fueled by RB Leo Hawkins and QB Eric Luckage the Falcons were a very solid football team. Fitch Jr. RB Mike Sztary did a great job filling in for Mr. Hawkins in the 1st two playoff games.
Boardman, a team that I think may have been as good as the 1987 D1 runner-up Spartan team, finished second to Fitch. The 86 Boardman team did not allow more than 7 points to any team and their two losses came to Fitch and East, both playoff teams, when their All-SVC RB from 1985, Brad Smith, missed the games with an injury. The Spartans also easily handled Howland, 24-0, the only regular season loss for the Tigers as they qualified for the D1 playoffs, losing to Berea in 3OT in the 1st round. We covered this in the 1986 City Series season but East and South both qualified for the playoffs for the first time in D2. West Branch qualified for for the first time, also in D2 and Campbell qualified for the first time, in D3. There were 6 area teams that qualified for the first time in 1986. W. Branch lost to N. Canton Hoover in the 1st round.
Campbell not only qualified for the first time but they beat Mooney, 14-0 in round one, before losing to Chagrin Falls Kenston in the regional final. That Mooney team had 9 guys in the senior class that went on to D1 or D1-AA colleges, including one future NFL player, but the Red Devils D forced three Mooney turnovers, including a pick 6, and their special teams scored on a punt return.
| 1986 FITCH | ||
| MENTOR W 27-12 | ||
| CHANEY W 27-12 | ||
| COLUMBUS MARION FRANKLIN W 35-0 | ||
| BOARDMAN W 7-0 | ||
| CLEVELAND GLENVILLE W 20-18 | ||
| Massillon W 14-10 | ||
| MOONEY W 21-7 | ||
| WARREN WESTERN RESERVE W 23-0 | ||
| CANTON McKINLEY L 3-10 | ||
| URSULINE W 27-7 | ||
| *WALSH JESUIT W 26-7 | ||
| *CANTON McKINLEY W 28-24 | ||
| *LAKEWOOD ST. EDWARD L 0-30 | ||
| *PLAYOFFS | ||
| 11-2 | 3-0 SVC |
College players I know of:
1st team Offense:
End - Vince Marrow - Mooney - Toledo - Drafted by Buffalo played for them and Carolina in the NFL. (Current Associate HC at Kentucky)
OT - John Repasky - Mooney (AA 1st team All-State) - Michigan St. & Kent St.
OT - Dan Downey - Ursuline - Miami (Fla)
OG - Dave Franklin - Mooney - Brown
RB - Dave Coleman - Mooney (AA 1st team All-State, led the SVC in rushing) - Pitt
RB - Leo Hawkins - Fitch (AAA 3rd team All-State, led the SVC in All-Purpose yardage, scoring, KO and punt returns) - YSU
RB - Brad Smith - Boardman (Led the SVC in reception average) - N. Carolina & Kent St.
PK - Pat Nelson - Mooney (Led the SVC in punting) - Brown
2nd team Offense:
End - Ron Strollo - Fitch - Jr. - YSU
OT - Jack Grdic - Boadman - Jr. - Kent St.
OT - Damian Billack - Fitch - Jr. - BGSU
QB - Brad Barringer - Boardman - YSU & Mt. Union
RB - Kevin Nashbar - Boardman - Jr. - Lehigh
1st team Defense:
DE - D. J. Ogilvie - Boardman - BGSU (Long time coach)
IL - William Norris - Ursuline - Jr. (Led the SVC in QB sacks) - YSU
LB - Mark Matey - Ursuline - Grove City
LB - Chris Kosiorek - Mooney - BGSU (Long time coach)
LB - Don Jones - Fitch - YSU
DB - Gary Valko - Mooney (AA 2nd team All-State) - Toledo
DB - Rich Morrow - Fitch (Led the SVC in interceptions) - Ohio U.
2nd team Defense:
DE - Chris Vecchione - Mooney - Jr. - YSU
DE - Kelly Fortune - Mooney - Pitt
IL - Marty Matiscik - Boardman - BGSU
IL - Vince Baer - Mooney - Toledo
LB - John Burton - Boardman - Akron
LB - Bill Davis - Fitch - Jr. - Mt. Union
DB - Ted Sarago - Fitch - Kent St.?
DB - Phil Puryear - Ursuline - Wooster
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That 86 Fitch team was a pure example of grit. They had few d-1 players and went to the semi-finals in d-1. They may not have been the most talented but they accomplished more than any other Fitch team. They were down to Mooney 7-0 with the Cardinals knocking at the door to make it 14-0 and made a key stop and then came from behind to win by 14. Few teams would play Massillon, Mentor, Warren Reserve and Canton McKinley for their out of conference schedule when you have Mooney, Boardman and Ursuline in conference. That schedule and their accomplishments make this the best Falcon team ever.
falcons53
Well-known member
It's hard to argue that. No team in Fitch history had done what the 86 team accomplished and no team since has advanced further in the playoffs unfortunately. They played a few of the most memorable games in Fitch history. The 85 win at Massillon was great because it was the first time we played them. 85 team had such big expectations and just didn't come together. The 86 win over Massillon is remember by both sides for the monsoon and the comeback. Walking on that field and being calf deep in mud was crazy. The playoff win over Canton McKinley was such a great atmosphere. Huge play after huge play for both teams.
When you compare the 86 team to the talent of the 85 team....it was no competition. The 85 team was supposed to be THE TEAM that made the schools first playoffs. Shows that individuals don't make a team. Watching this past years falcon team which was probably more talented than the 86 team get pulverized by Walsh shows you that it takes something special to form a tight team and it matters more than just pure talent. You can say the same thing about Boardman....the 86 team was much more talented than the 87 team but the 87 team had that chemistry where they just refused to give up any points the entire year. I think Mooney's 86 team had more talent than the 87 state team for sure. This is what drives coaches crazy trying to figure out how to make the team a real team. It is usually the senior leadership that makes the difference and the 1986 Fitch, 87 Boardman, and 1987 Mooney teams had it.
YTOWN
Well-known member
The 1987 season saw the Cardinal Mooney Cardinals win the SVC title and their 4th state championship and first in D3. I think this is my favorite Mooney state championship team. As I said above the 1986 Mooney team had 9 seniors that went on to D1 or D1-AA colleges to play so they lost a lot of talent to graduation. They were not an offensive juggernaut by any means but they were an excellent defensive football team. Mooney allowed 39 total points in 13 games and posted 8 shutouts. Boardman, the D1 state runner-up, returned a fumble for its only score against Mooney or it would have been 9 shutouts.
In week one Mooney beat Ashtabula, 28-0. I didn’t think much of that at the time but the Panthers finished 9-1. I believe that former Boardman coach, Jim Orr, was Ashtabula’s HC.
Twenty of the 39 points the Cardinals allowed were scored in week two by Cleveland St. Joseph, the top-ranked team in D1 at season's end. The Vikings were led by now-familiar names Desmond Howard, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner, and Elvis Grbac, long time back-up NFL QB. The Vikings gave Mooney its only loss of the campaign, 20-11. There were some personnel differences in that game for Mooney from their starting line-up the rest of the season that didn’t help the Cardinals. Mooney’s starting TB, who rushed for over 1,250 yards on the season, did not play until late in the 4th quarter. A starting CB was used at RB and the QB was moved to CB. I don’t know if that affected his passing game but he did throw 3 interceptions, one in the Vikings end zone when he under threw an open receiver for a TD, and one that was returned inside the Mooney 15-yard line to set up the Vikings’ last TD. The Cardinals D really only gave up 13 in that game and it was with a slightly different personnel package.
In week three Mooney went to Austintown to play Fitch. I have said this before but Fitch may have been the best 4-5 team in the state with the five losses coming by scores of: 7-3 to Mooney, the D3 state champion; 3-0 to Boardman, the D1 runner-up; 3-0 to Mentor, a solid D1 program; 21-16 to Ursuline, a team that started the season 6-0 and had defeated Cincinnati Moeller; and 38-29 to Massillon in Massillon. The Tigers are always tough, especially at home. The Falcons defeated Chaney, Cleveland Glenville, Warren Western Reserve, and Canton McKinley.
I felt that Mooney was going to win the D3 state title from week four when I watched them go into Fawcett Stadium and shutout the undefeated Canton McKinley Bulldogs, 8-0. McK was the #1 rated team in D1 in Ohio at the time of the game and they were averaging 43 ppg going into the Mooney contest. Mooney’s D did a great job of containing McK’s offense.
Boardman was indeed the D1 state runner-up but they were also the SVC runner-up as Mooney won its 10th outright SVC title by defeating the Spartans, 7-6. Anybody that was paying attention knew that points were going to be at a premium in that game as both teams were excellent defensive football teams. Mooney was leading 7-0 and driving into Spartan territory at about their 45-yard line when Cardinals QB Ray Allen was hit just as he pitched the ball on an option play. The ball rolled backwards and was scooped up by the Spartans DE Bill Christoff who returned it about 55-yards for the Spartans lone score. They missed the PAT which turned out to be the difference in the game. Again, Mooney held the Spartans to two first downs and only allowed them to run 27 offensive plays in the game.
Mooney then shutout Akron St-Vincent-St. Mary in Akron,15-0, went down to Cincinnati and shutout St. Xavier, a D1 playoff team that finished 8-2, 20-0 and held them to 76 total yards and 4 first downs. The Cardinals added shutouts against Ursuline and Chaney to close out an 8-1 regular season.
With the way Mooney’s D was playing going into the playoffs, their defense had not allowed a point in 6 straight games against pretty good football teams, I felt that if Mooney could score between 10-14 PPG they would be D3 champions. They gave up 10 points total in the 4 playoff games and were indeed crowned the D3 champs.
College players I know of:
1st team Offense:
End - Tim Caffey - Ursuline - Toledo
End - Ron Strollo - Fitch - YSU (starter on Penguins' 1st National Championship Team)
OT - Bill Schaffer - Boardman (D1 1st team All-State) - Michigan
OT - Ed Sewruk - Mooney - Kansas St.
OG - Eric Ungaro - Ursuline - Kent St.
C - Rodney Strichek - Mooney - Jr. - Mt. Union
QB - Ray Allen - Mooney - Indiana St.
RB - Clinton Lynch - Ursuline - Jr. (Led the SVC in rushing, All-Purpose yardage & scoring) - Illinois
RB - Mike Sztary - Fitch - YSU
RB - Dean Cicoretti - Mooney - YSU (baseball there)
2nd team Offense:
End - John Schmidt - Boardman - Kent St.
End - Mike Bosi - Mooney - Jr. - Lock Haven (Career leader in QB sack yardage)
OT - Damian Billak - Fitch - BGSU
OT - Jack Grdic - Boardman - Kent St.
C - Sam Mosca - Ursuline - Jr. - YSU
QB - David Kovacs - Ursuline (Led the SVC in passing) - Kent St.
RB - Kevin Nashbar - Boardman - Lehigh
RB - Jason Marucci - Boardman - Jr. - Miami (Fla)
PK - Larry Bucciarelli - Fitch (Led the SVC in punting) - YSU
1st team Defense:
DE - Chris Vecchione - Mooney (D3 1st team All-State) - YSU (starter on Penguins' 1st National Championship Team)
DE - John Englehardt - Boardman - YSU
DT - William Norris - Ursuline - YSU
DT - Dave Tabaka - Mooney - Dayton?
LB - Doug Velasquez - Boardman - Jr. - Morehead St. & YSU
DB - Bryan Cook - Ursuline (Led the SVC in interceptions) - OSU
DB - Ron Flauto - Boardman - Holy Cross
DB - Jamie Austin - Mooney - YSU
2nd team Defense:
DE - Eric McMahon - Fitch - Kent St.
DE - Bill Christoff - Boardman (Led the SVC in fumble recoveries) - Fairmont St.
DT - Bill Davis - Fitch - Mt. Union
LB - Lock Beachum - Ursuline - Jr. - Miami (O)
LB - Glen McFarland - Ursuline - Akron
LB - Jamie Mendez - Mooney - Jr. - Kansas St.
DB - Marcus Coleman - Mooney - Jr. - Georgia Tech
In week one Mooney beat Ashtabula, 28-0. I didn’t think much of that at the time but the Panthers finished 9-1. I believe that former Boardman coach, Jim Orr, was Ashtabula’s HC.
Twenty of the 39 points the Cardinals allowed were scored in week two by Cleveland St. Joseph, the top-ranked team in D1 at season's end. The Vikings were led by now-familiar names Desmond Howard, the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner, and Elvis Grbac, long time back-up NFL QB. The Vikings gave Mooney its only loss of the campaign, 20-11. There were some personnel differences in that game for Mooney from their starting line-up the rest of the season that didn’t help the Cardinals. Mooney’s starting TB, who rushed for over 1,250 yards on the season, did not play until late in the 4th quarter. A starting CB was used at RB and the QB was moved to CB. I don’t know if that affected his passing game but he did throw 3 interceptions, one in the Vikings end zone when he under threw an open receiver for a TD, and one that was returned inside the Mooney 15-yard line to set up the Vikings’ last TD. The Cardinals D really only gave up 13 in that game and it was with a slightly different personnel package.
In week three Mooney went to Austintown to play Fitch. I have said this before but Fitch may have been the best 4-5 team in the state with the five losses coming by scores of: 7-3 to Mooney, the D3 state champion; 3-0 to Boardman, the D1 runner-up; 3-0 to Mentor, a solid D1 program; 21-16 to Ursuline, a team that started the season 6-0 and had defeated Cincinnati Moeller; and 38-29 to Massillon in Massillon. The Tigers are always tough, especially at home. The Falcons defeated Chaney, Cleveland Glenville, Warren Western Reserve, and Canton McKinley.
I felt that Mooney was going to win the D3 state title from week four when I watched them go into Fawcett Stadium and shutout the undefeated Canton McKinley Bulldogs, 8-0. McK was the #1 rated team in D1 in Ohio at the time of the game and they were averaging 43 ppg going into the Mooney contest. Mooney’s D did a great job of containing McK’s offense.
Boardman was indeed the D1 state runner-up but they were also the SVC runner-up as Mooney won its 10th outright SVC title by defeating the Spartans, 7-6. Anybody that was paying attention knew that points were going to be at a premium in that game as both teams were excellent defensive football teams. Mooney was leading 7-0 and driving into Spartan territory at about their 45-yard line when Cardinals QB Ray Allen was hit just as he pitched the ball on an option play. The ball rolled backwards and was scooped up by the Spartans DE Bill Christoff who returned it about 55-yards for the Spartans lone score. They missed the PAT which turned out to be the difference in the game. Again, Mooney held the Spartans to two first downs and only allowed them to run 27 offensive plays in the game.
Mooney then shutout Akron St-Vincent-St. Mary in Akron,15-0, went down to Cincinnati and shutout St. Xavier, a D1 playoff team that finished 8-2, 20-0 and held them to 76 total yards and 4 first downs. The Cardinals added shutouts against Ursuline and Chaney to close out an 8-1 regular season.
With the way Mooney’s D was playing going into the playoffs, their defense had not allowed a point in 6 straight games against pretty good football teams, I felt that if Mooney could score between 10-14 PPG they would be D3 champions. They gave up 10 points total in the 4 playoff games and were indeed crowned the D3 champs.
| 1987 MOONEY | ||
| ASHTABULA W 28-0 | ||
| CLEVELAND ST. JOSEPH L 11-20 | ||
| FITCH W 7-3 | ||
| CANTON McKINLEY W 8-0 | ||
| EAST (TEACHER'S STRIKE) | ||
| BOARDMAN W 7-6 | ||
| AKRON ST. VINCENT-MARY W 15-0 | ||
| CINCINNATI ST. XAVIER W 20-0 | ||
| URSULINE W 14-0 | ||
| CHANEY W 25-0 | ||
| *WICKLIFFE W 21-0 | ||
| *STRUTHERS W 21-3 | ||
| *ELYRIA CATHOLIC W 23-0 | ||
| *THORNVILLE SHERIDAN W 30-7 (MOONEY WINS 4TH STATE CHAMPIONSHIP) | ||
| *PLAYOFFS | ||
| 12-1 | 3-0 SVC |
College players I know of:
1st team Offense:
End - Tim Caffey - Ursuline - Toledo
End - Ron Strollo - Fitch - YSU (starter on Penguins' 1st National Championship Team)
OT - Bill Schaffer - Boardman (D1 1st team All-State) - Michigan
OT - Ed Sewruk - Mooney - Kansas St.
OG - Eric Ungaro - Ursuline - Kent St.
C - Rodney Strichek - Mooney - Jr. - Mt. Union
QB - Ray Allen - Mooney - Indiana St.
RB - Clinton Lynch - Ursuline - Jr. (Led the SVC in rushing, All-Purpose yardage & scoring) - Illinois
RB - Mike Sztary - Fitch - YSU
RB - Dean Cicoretti - Mooney - YSU (baseball there)
2nd team Offense:
End - John Schmidt - Boardman - Kent St.
End - Mike Bosi - Mooney - Jr. - Lock Haven (Career leader in QB sack yardage)
OT - Damian Billak - Fitch - BGSU
OT - Jack Grdic - Boardman - Kent St.
C - Sam Mosca - Ursuline - Jr. - YSU
QB - David Kovacs - Ursuline (Led the SVC in passing) - Kent St.
RB - Kevin Nashbar - Boardman - Lehigh
RB - Jason Marucci - Boardman - Jr. - Miami (Fla)
PK - Larry Bucciarelli - Fitch (Led the SVC in punting) - YSU
1st team Defense:
DE - Chris Vecchione - Mooney (D3 1st team All-State) - YSU (starter on Penguins' 1st National Championship Team)
DE - John Englehardt - Boardman - YSU
DT - William Norris - Ursuline - YSU
DT - Dave Tabaka - Mooney - Dayton?
LB - Doug Velasquez - Boardman - Jr. - Morehead St. & YSU
DB - Bryan Cook - Ursuline (Led the SVC in interceptions) - OSU
DB - Ron Flauto - Boardman - Holy Cross
DB - Jamie Austin - Mooney - YSU
2nd team Defense:
DE - Eric McMahon - Fitch - Kent St.
DE - Bill Christoff - Boardman (Led the SVC in fumble recoveries) - Fairmont St.
DT - Bill Davis - Fitch - Mt. Union
LB - Lock Beachum - Ursuline - Jr. - Miami (O)
LB - Glen McFarland - Ursuline - Akron
LB - Jamie Mendez - Mooney - Jr. - Kansas St.
DB - Marcus Coleman - Mooney - Jr. - Georgia Tech
YTOWN
Well-known member
I believe the 1987 SVC teams posted a 26-7 OOC record including the D3 state title and the D1-runner up finish.
You are welcome sir.
falcons53
Well-known member
A lot of those wins were over really good teams too. Every SVC game that year was a battle. Mooney's 14-0 win over Ursuline was the largest spread of any SVC games that year I believe.
YTOWN
Well-known member
Mooney's 14-0 win over Ursuline was indeed the largest spread of any of the SVC games in 87. Mooney's lone loss was to Cleveland St. Joseph but Boardman beat the Vikings in the playoffs to even that up. Ursuline lost to ASVM and Struthers but Mooney beat both of them. As I posted above Ursuline beat Moeller and Mooney beat St. X so the SVC was 2-0 against the GCL. Two wins over McKinley, etc.
I believe I have posted this before but the above just reminded me of the following that did happen in the 1987 season. Ursuline beat Moeller, Struthers beat Ursuline to make the playoffs, Poland beat Struthers, Springfield Local beat Poland and Lowellville beat SL. Obviously Lowellville was better than Moeller. The only thing that would have made it better was if Lowellville had played and lost to Sebring.
BTW, Springfield Local qualified for the playoffs for the 1st time that year and lost to D4 runner-up Gates Milles Hawken, 18-13. Hawken's big gun was RB O. J. McDuffie. McDonald also qualified and lost to D5 runner-up Mogadore, 35-34.
YTOWN
Well-known member
The 1988 season was one of tragic loss for area football fans in general and Mooney fans in particular as long-time Mooney teacher and coach Ron Stoops Sr. suffered a fatal heart attack at the conclusion of the Mooney-Boardman game. His oldest son, Ron Jr., was on the opposite sideline coaching for the Spartans. Sitting in the stands we did not know exactly what happened, only that somebody was being taken to the hospital by ambulance, until some time later when the news was announced. Coach Stoops touched the lives of hundreds if not thousands of students and players in his career. He is still missed at Mooney.
For the first time in history the SVC ended in a 3-way tie for the title. I'm sure that having only 4 members a 3-way tie sooner or later was inevitable.
The season itself was full of great games, the Mooney-Boardman game being one of them. Boardman scored two second half TDs to take a 21-15 lead over the Cardinals with 1:03 left on the clock. After the KO starting safety and backup Mooney QB Ramon Amil was inserted to run the offense with 55 seconds left in the game. Completing passes of 14, 13 and 35 yards he led the Cardinals to the Spartan 7-yard line and then hit Mike Bosi with the tying TD pass with 2 seconds left in the game. However, Mooney missed the PAT and the game went to OT.
Mooney won the toss and went on defense. They stopped Boardman at the 3-yard line and the Spartans kicked a FG to take a 24-21 lead. Mr. Amil went to work again and after a two-yard gain by Mooney RB Terica Jones, Ramon broke off an 18-yard scamper for the win, 27-24. It was Boardman's 3rd OT game of the season. They defeated Canton Central Catholic, who would go on to win the D4 state championship, 6-3 in OT in week one. They lost to Canton Mck, 13-10 in the other OT game.
I think the best game I saw that season though, especially for a neutral fan, was the Fitch-Massillon at Fitch game when some kid named Wilkins kicked a game-winning 42-yard FG for the Falcons with no time left on the clock, 20-19. I don't know exactly how many yards Fitch QB Derick Fletcher gained before getting out of bounds on that last play the Falcons ran prior to the FG attempt but it was just enough. The clock expired as the ball was in the air. I remember many of the Massillon players dropping to the ground when the officials signaled the FG was good and the game was over.
There were some controversial finishes also. I'll let falcons53 describe the end of the Fitch-Mooney game.
I have never been one to whine about officials calls but I will however state that Mooney got hosed in the Mooney-Ursuline OT game when Ursuline's Deollo Anderson was awarded a TD catch. I had a good look at the play live and I offer the following pic for my reasoning.
As one can plainly see Mr. Anderson is up in the air, the ball is not secured and Mr. Coleman's hand is in position to knock the ball out which he did. I assure you that about 1/10 of a second after this pic was taken the ball was laying on the ground in the end zone. Nobody in the stadium thought it was a catch except the Ursuline grad who called it a TD. This most horrendously egregious erroneous call gave Ursuline a 21-20 OT win when clearly Mooney should have won the game and therefore another outright SVC title. Even an Ursuline player on that team, I shall call him IHOP, told me that Mooney fans had a legitimate complaint about that call. THE CARDINALS GOT HOSED!
For the first time in history the SVC ended in a 3-way tie for the title. I'm sure that having only 4 members a 3-way tie sooner or later was inevitable.
The season itself was full of great games, the Mooney-Boardman game being one of them. Boardman scored two second half TDs to take a 21-15 lead over the Cardinals with 1:03 left on the clock. After the KO starting safety and backup Mooney QB Ramon Amil was inserted to run the offense with 55 seconds left in the game. Completing passes of 14, 13 and 35 yards he led the Cardinals to the Spartan 7-yard line and then hit Mike Bosi with the tying TD pass with 2 seconds left in the game. However, Mooney missed the PAT and the game went to OT.
Mooney won the toss and went on defense. They stopped Boardman at the 3-yard line and the Spartans kicked a FG to take a 24-21 lead. Mr. Amil went to work again and after a two-yard gain by Mooney RB Terica Jones, Ramon broke off an 18-yard scamper for the win, 27-24. It was Boardman's 3rd OT game of the season. They defeated Canton Central Catholic, who would go on to win the D4 state championship, 6-3 in OT in week one. They lost to Canton Mck, 13-10 in the other OT game.
I think the best game I saw that season though, especially for a neutral fan, was the Fitch-Massillon at Fitch game when some kid named Wilkins kicked a game-winning 42-yard FG for the Falcons with no time left on the clock, 20-19. I don't know exactly how many yards Fitch QB Derick Fletcher gained before getting out of bounds on that last play the Falcons ran prior to the FG attempt but it was just enough. The clock expired as the ball was in the air. I remember many of the Massillon players dropping to the ground when the officials signaled the FG was good and the game was over.
There were some controversial finishes also. I'll let falcons53 describe the end of the Fitch-Mooney game.
I have never been one to whine about officials calls but I will however state that Mooney got hosed in the Mooney-Ursuline OT game when Ursuline's Deollo Anderson was awarded a TD catch. I had a good look at the play live and I offer the following pic for my reasoning.
As one can plainly see Mr. Anderson is up in the air, the ball is not secured and Mr. Coleman's hand is in position to knock the ball out which he did. I assure you that about 1/10 of a second after this pic was taken the ball was laying on the ground in the end zone. Nobody in the stadium thought it was a catch except the Ursuline grad who called it a TD. This most horrendously egregious erroneous call gave Ursuline a 21-20 OT win when clearly Mooney should have won the game and therefore another outright SVC title. Even an Ursuline player on that team, I shall call him IHOP, told me that Mooney fans had a legitimate complaint about that call. THE CARDINALS GOT HOSED!
| 1988 MOONEY | |||
| ASHTABULA W 22-0 | |||
| EAST W 24-6 | |||
| FITCH W 14-7 | |||
| CLEVELAND ST. JOSEPH L 0-14 | |||
| CANTON McKINLEY L 12-21 | |||
| BOARDMAN W 27-24 (OT) | |||
| AKRON ST. VINCENT-MARY W 24-7 | |||
| CINCINNATI ST. XAVIER W 37-0 | |||
| URSULINE L 20-21 (OT) | |||
| CHANEY W 31-0 | |||
| *CAMPBELL W 10-7 (OT) | |||
| *AKRON ST. VINCENT-MARY L 0-17 | |||
| *PLAYOFFS | |||
| 8-4 | 2-1 SVC |
| 1988 FITCH | ||||
| CHANEY W 28-16 | ||||
| MENTOR W 28-12 | ||||
| MOONEY L 7-14 | ||||
| CLEVELAND GLENVILLE W 41-0 | ||||
| Massillon W 20-19*** | ||||
| URSULINE W 9-6 | ||||
| BROOKE, W.VA. W 17-0 | ||||
| WARREN WESTERN RESERVE L 20-21 (OT) | ||||
| BOARDMAN W 26-6 | ||||
| EAST W 27-0 | ||||
| ***(JEFF WILKINS 42 YARD FG WITH NO TIME LEFT) | ||||
| 8-2 | 2-1 SVC |
| 1988 URSULINE | ||
| NORTON W 42-20 | ||
| CINCINNATI MOELLER L 7-14 | ||
| KENT ROOSEVELT W 14-0 | ||
| CHANEY W 14-6 | ||
| ERIE CATHEDRAL PREP T 7-7 | ||
| FITCH L 6-9 | ||
| BOARDMAN W 21-0 | ||
| HUBBARD W 36-0 | ||
| MOONEY W 21-20 (OT) | ||
| STRUTHERS W 48-7 | ||
| 7-2-1 | 2-1 SVC |
Deollo Anderson was a freakish athlete. I remember he was in sports illustrateds faces in the crowd for almost scoring all of his teams points in a middle school basketball game. He was returning kicks for the Irish as a freshman. Making all svc as a sophomore was unheard of during that time.
Ran into him at a michigan game years ago, good guy.
Ran into him at a michigan game years ago, good guy.
nupanther
Well-known member
Going back to that 1987 Mooney team.....
So, only St Joe's scored offensive TDs against Mooney in the regular season. How did Sheridan score in the championship game? Was it against Mooneys 1st string?
This has got to be the most impressive defensive performance in the Mahoning Valley in the playoff era
So, only St Joe's scored offensive TDs against Mooney in the regular season. How did Sheridan score in the championship game? Was it against Mooneys 1st string?
This has got to be the most impressive defensive performance in the Mahoning Valley in the playoff era