Cardinal Mooney Breaks Through

TALLAHASSEE – It had been 51 years since Sarasota Cardinal Mooney had been in a state football final. On Friday morning, the Cougars made up for all those years in the 2S final at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the campus of Florida A&M.

With a trilling 31-27 win over Ocala Trinity Catholic, the game came down to a 39-yard pass play from Michael Valentino to Chris McCorkle Chris McCorkle 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Sarasota Cardinal Mooney | 2025 State FL with :47 was the back breaker for the defending state runner up.

Trinity Catholic (6-8) struck first when Austin Holder scored from three years out with 7:21 left in the opening quarter, but Cardinal Mooney came right back.

When Devin Mignery found McCorkle from 77-yards out with 4:48 left, the game was even at 7.

The Cougars (12-20 and head coach Jared Clark extended the lead to 14-7 at the 11:54 remaining in the second quarter on a Carson Beach Carson Beach 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Cardinal Mooney | 2024 FL 4-yard run.

Cardinal Mooney extended that second quarter lead when Teddy Foster Teddy Foster 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Cardinal Mooney | 2024 State FL went 82 yards on a pass from Michael Valentino with 9:07 left, and the route was on – or was it?

Trinity Catholic would cut into that lead at the 3:25 mark when Jamarkus Starkes took it from the 3.

The Celtics evened things up right before the half on a 16-yard pass from junior Preston Wright Preston Wright 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Hollywood Chaminade Madonna | 2025 FL to Joshua Wright.

The Cougars scored the only points in the third quarter when Nino Schuetz booted a 31-yard field goal with 8:28 and Cardinal Mooney took a 24-21 lead into the fourth period.

The game was once again tied 24-24 at the 6:51 mark when Cooper Badics knocked through a 30-yard field goal.

With time running down, the Celtics looked to have locked the game down when Badics drilled a 49-yarder with 1:10 left, but Mooney was not finished, and Valentino and McCorkle did their magic.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

The Celtics were led on the ground by Austin Holder (15 carries for 60 yards). Wright was 19 of 35 for 164 yards and a touchdown. Gerald Lawson had 6 catches for 67 yards.

For Cardinal Mooney, Valentino was 5 of 11 for 174 yards and two scores and Mignery completed 3 of 4 for 134 yards and a score. Carson Beach Carson Beach 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Cardinal Mooney | 2024 FL ran for 63 yards on 19 carries and a score. Teddy Foster Teddy Foster 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Cardinal Mooney | 2024 State FL had 3 catches 103 and 1 TD. McCorkle caught just 2 balls for 116 yards.

On defense, Trinity Catholic had Luke Rudnianyn, who had 10 tackles and Jacob Dyers (9 tackles).

Cardinal Mooney was paced by Zeshon Casimir (13 tackles) and George Leibold (8 tackles).

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