By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
The first week of prep football is in the books.
The biggest problem for many teams in Western Ohio wasn't the talent on opposing sidelines, it was the weather. A number of programs including Bluffton, Pandora, Findlay and Ottawa were sent into chaos due to heavy flooding last week. Then when Friday night finally came, storms wiped out a number of games and delayed even more.
The award for most impressive win might belong to Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. Although the Cardinals are considered the best team in Division IV, early returns might indicate that they are capable of winning any division. Mooney downed last year's Division I runner-up Mentor in dominating fashion.
Mooney held Mentor to just 10 points, three of which came on a 58-yard field goal off the foot of Kevin Harper. But, that was about all the highlights Mentor had on the night.
Mooney's rushing attack of Brandon Beachum and Dan McCarthy rolled over Mentor. Beachum, a Penn State recruit, went for 147 yards and two scores. McCarthy, who is headed to Notre Dame added 128 yards. The Mooney machine is cranking and everyone is taking notice, even Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno, who declared that they are the best team he has seen in a number of years.
The dream game that may already be developing in the minds of Ohio football fans would pit Cardinal Mooney against Division I power St. Xavier.
The Bombers opened their season with a 35-7 defeat over Winton Woods in the Sky Line Chili Crosstown Showdown.
Despite losing all-state running back Darius Ashley to injury, X had little trouble in dispersing Winton Woods. Ashley, who stated after the game he would be ready for the Burger King Kirk Herbstriet Ohio vs. USA Challenge, left with an ankle sprain, Patrick Benning and Lucus Romeo filled in just fine.
Benning recorded two touchdowns and Romeo rolled up 109 yards on just nine touches. Perhaps most stunning was the fact Xavier coach Steve Specht called for 15 pass attempts. The Bombers are known for a punishing running game, so calling and completing nine passes for 131 yards should be very disturbing for future X opponents.
Colerain and St. Ignatius of Cleveland could have something to say about St. Xavier's early-season acclaim.
Colerain opened the new coaching tenure of Tom Bolden with a 19-7 win over Wayne Huber Heights. Bolden is replacing Kerry Combs, who is now the defensive back coach at University of Cincinnati. Combs won 161 games in 14 years at Colerain, but Bolden is happy with just one win.
Even though Combs is gone, Colerain's style is not. The Cardinals rolled up 300 yards rushing, while holding Wayne to just three yards total offense. Defense and rushing are still the name of the game in Cardinal Nation.
Cleveland St. Ignatius rolled over Youngstown Boardman, 37-7. The Wildcats are a certain Division I contender and in week nine will collide with St. Xavier.
Findlay was able to get out of town, despite much of it being under water. The Trojans faced off against Toledo St. Johns at Bowling Green. It wasn't much of a game as TSJ rolled up 500 yards offense in a 40-27 win over Findlay. Dajon Booth rumbled for 267 yards on 26 carries.
The most interesting matchup in the small school sector was once again St. Henry and Marion Pleasant.
The teams have played three games in the past four years with the same results; blow out wins by St. Henry. Saturday night they met again and once again St. Henry won, but this time it was much closer. The `Skins held off Marion, 17-14, in a game that could have easily gone the other way, leading St. Henry coach Jeff Starkey to wonder how good his team actually is. He is going to found out real quick playing the Midwest Athletic Conference.
