TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Cardinal Mooney (Sarasota) Cougars had used big plays all game in their back-and-forth 1S State Title game tussle Thursday morning.
The biggest play in the final 17 seconds gave Cardinal Mooney it’s first state football title in 51 years, as the Cougars held off Trinity Catholic (Ocala) 31-27 in the 1S State Championship at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the Florida A&M campus.
Cardinal Mooney had previously won the Class A state title in 1972, the last time the Cougars (12-2) advanced to the state championship game. For Trinity Catholic it is their second straight loss in a state championship game. This loss was a heartbreaking one for John Brantley’s Celtics (6-8).
The Celtics broke on top after they took over at the Cardinal Mooney. Seven plays later junior Austin Holder scored from three yards out for a 7-0 Trinity Catholic lead.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN TRINITY CATHOLIC
Austin Holder is in from 3 yards out for the Celtics!
Trinity Catholic 7, Cardinal Mooney 0 – 7:21 1st Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone @ridaught @mpallman pic.twitter.com/c7CgAWGIk7
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
Cardinal Mooney answered the Celtics right back with authority. First, sophomore quarterback Drew Mignery found junior wide receiver Chris McCorkle on a 79-yard hookup for a 7-7 tie.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL MOONEY!
Cougars strike back with a Devin Mignery77 yard pass to Chris McCorkle!
Trinity Catholic 7, Cardinal Mooney 7 – 4:48 1st Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone @ridaught… pic.twitter.com/pIJq6vmkKd
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
After a four-yard run by senior running back Carson Beach on the second play of the second quarter gave the Cougars a 14-7 edge, Trinity Catholic again had to punt. Cardinal Mooney then came up with their second big play of the game, as senior quarterback Michael Valentino hooked up with UF commit senior wide receiver Teddy Foster, and the Cougars lead widened to 21-7.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL MOONEY!
Carson Beach is in from 4 yards out! Cougars have their first lead of the game as we start the 2nd Q!
Cardinal Mooney 14, Trinity Catholic 7- 11:54 2nd Q #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream… pic.twitter.com/ydB7uccwhs
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL MOONEY!
Michael Valentino throws it to Teddy Foster for an 82 yard TD and the Cougars have responded with 21 unanswered!
Cardinal Mooney 21, Trinity Catholic 7 – 9:07 2nd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica… pic.twitter.com/OIrcVOMequ
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
Trinity Catholic punted again, but came up with big play on defense to get back in the game. Junior defensive lineman Zach Johnson intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to the Cardinal Mooney 12-yard line. Five plays later the Celtics cut the deficit to 21-14 on a three-yard run by senior running back Jamarius Starkes.
After another quick three-and-out and short punt by Cardinal Mooney, Trinity Catholic went 47 yards in seven plays, capped off by a 16-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Preston Wright to freshman wide receiver Joshua Wright. The two teams went into the halftime break tied 21-all.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN TRINITY CATHOLIC!
Celtics take the INT and get points with a 3-yard run by Jamarkus Stokes!
Cardinal Mooney 21, Trinity Catholic 14 – 3:25 2nd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream… pic.twitter.com/zayKLQ1XrB
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN TRINITY CATHOLIC!
Preston Wright finds Joshua Wright for a 16 yard touchdown reception and we are tied up before half!
Cardinal Mooney 21, Trinity Catholic 21 – 0:40 2nd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB… pic.twitter.com/25uJr1gCwu
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
The only scoring in the third quarter as senior kicker Nino Scheutz hit a 31-yard field goal early in the period, putting the Cougars back in front 24-21.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
FIELD GOAL! Cardinal Mooney retakes the lead with a 31 yard field goal by Nino Schuetz!
Cardinal Mooney 24, Trinity Catholic 21 – 8:20 3rd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone… pic.twitter.com/tDB51YPkVk
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
Trinity Catholic’s senior kicker Cooper Badics missed a 33-yard field goal that would have tied the game again in the final minute of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw three straight punts by Cardinal Mooney, while Trinity Catholic answered with 30 and 49-yard field goals by Badics. The latter kick put the Celtics up 27-24 with 47 seconds left.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
FIELD GOAL TRINITY CATHOLIC! Cooper Badics just gets it through the uprights and over the crossbar on a 49 yard FG!
Trinity Catholic 27, Cardinal Mooney 24 – 1:10 4th Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A… pic.twitter.com/wJZcKuAMde
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
But it only took two plays and 30 seconds for Cardinal Mooney to answer when they needed to. Another big play did the trick for the Cougars as Valentino found McCorkle for his second TD of the night, and Cardinal Mooney led 31-27 with only 17 seconds left.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
CLUTCH TOUCHDOWN CARDINAL MOONEY! Michael Valentino finds Chris McCorkle for a 39 yard Touchdown! That could seal it!
Cardinal Mooney 31, Trinity Catholic 27 – 0:47 4th Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach… pic.twitter.com/iMPIPM3qF7
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
That was just enough time for the Celtics to reach the Cardinal Mooney 46-yard line. But a final Hail Mary attempt from Preston Wright was intercepted in the end zone by McCorkle and the Cougars had their state title.
CLASS 1S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
CARDINAL MOONEY STATE CHAMPIONS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1972! Preston Wright intercepted on the final play of the game by Chris McCorkle!
Cardinal Mooney 31, Trinity Catholic 27 – FINAL https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB… pic.twitter.com/lRiJOwM3Cw
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 8, 2023
Cardinal Mooney ended up with 374 total yards of offense with Trinity Catholic managing only 240 yards. Valentino was only 5-for-11 passing but threw for 174 yards and the two scores, while Mignery only attempted four passes, completing three for 138 yards including the 77-yard touchdown strike.
McCorkle ended up with only two catches, but both were for scores as he ended up with 116 receiving yards. Foster added 103 only three receptions including the 82-yard hookup.
For Trinity Catholic, Preston Wright was 19-of-35 for 164 yards with a touchdown and an interception on the final play of the game. Gerald Wright had six catches for 67 yards for the Celtics, with Joshua Wright catching three balls for 58 yards and the one touchdown.
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