[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

12/1/05

<H2>Mooney poses big challenge for Coldwater

Defending champs have huge offensive line, plenty of speed

Trying to describe the challenge Coldwater faces against Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the Division IV state championship game, Cavaliers' coach John Reed drove the point home

"If you've got an S-10 truck and that S-10 truck is the best truck it can be, if it meets a semi coming the other way the semi is going to win," Reed said of matching up against defending D-IV state champ Mooney. "We just have to hope our speed, our tenacity, our quickness will be able to level things out a little bit."

On that collision course with Mooney, Reed hopes Coldwater has its swerve on at 11 a.m. Saturday at Canton's Fawcett Stadium. One of two Midwest Athletic Conference teams playing for state titles (Delphos St. John's in D-VI) the league looks to keep the MAC trucking with its 13th and 14th football crowns.

The D-IV state poll champion Cavaliers (14-0) other two title trips were bumpy rides. Coldwater lost to Orrville (23-21) in 1998 and Youngstown Ursuline (49-37) in 2000. Mooney (12-2), fifth in the final poll, has won five titles in six attempts including last season's 28-6 win over MAC member Versailles.

Reed said the Cavs aren't distracted by the 0-2 record at state. They're focused on another set of numbers — namely Mooney's massive offensive line. The Cardinals' line features three players 6-foot-4 or taller and ranges from 245 pounds (the lightest one by 30 pounds) to 320. The Cards also can match the Cavs team speed with its spread offense.

Coldwater's offensive line play, a question mark entering the season, has left defenses looking for answers on how to contain the Cavs. Quarterback Steve Borger has completed 69 percent of his passes (153-of-223) to 12 different receivers. Five different receivers have 17 catches or more and six have caught TDs. Borger has thrown 27 TDs and just two interceptions.

Running back Ross Homan has rushed for 1,341 yards and 25 TDs.

"They give you a lot of field to cover, and you have to make sure you're sound in all areas," Mooney coach P.J. Fecko said. "They have the athletes to really exploit you. You have to try and cover it all."

On defense, the key is how well Coldwater can penetrate the line and contain Mooney quarterback Derrell Johnson (499 yards passing, 6 TDs, 5 INTs; 1,239 yards rushing, 10 TDs in nine games) and running back Nate Burney (2,300 yards, 22 TDs).

Led by linebackers Homan (188 tackles) and Cody Muhlenkamp (111) the Cavs' defense has not allowed any points in the postseason and just six per game overall.

"They are aggressive and playing with a tremendous amount of confidence, just beating up on people score-wise and physically," Fecko said. "They definitely offer a huge challenge for us. We'll have to try and get in there and compete."

Contact Greg Billing at 225-2400, ext. 6991.

</H2>