SARASOTA — The celebration was just as good as the start for the Cardinal Mooney Catholic football team.
The Cougars scored the first 27 points of the game and then celebrated like it was 1972 after defeating North Florida Christian Academy out of Tallahassee, 41-14, in the Class 1 Suburban state semifinal on Friday at John Heath Field at Austin Smithers Stadium.
Cardinal Mooney (11-2) will play for its second state championship and first since 1972 when it takes on Trinity Catholic of Ocala, a 51-36 winner over First Baptist of Naples at 10 a.m. Friday at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee.
With warmer temperatures this week, the Gatorade bath was much more appealing to Cougars coach Jared Clark.
“Not as cold,” he said. “Saw that one coming.”
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High football team topples North Florida Christian Eagles by a score of 41-14 for the Class 1 Suburban State Semifinal at John Heath Field at Austin Smithers Stadium Friday night, Dec. 1, 2023, in Sarasota.
Cardinal Mooney made an impression on the scoreboard 45 seconds into the contest. Three straight incompletions, two drops and a pass breakup by Zy’Marion Lang, forced the Eagles (9-3) to punt.
Zeshon Casimir came crashing in from the right side and blocked the punt. To make it even better, teammate Jacob Brown picked up the loose ball and went 22 yards to the end zone for a quick 7-0 lead.
“We were practicing over and over,” Casimir said. “Coach was like, ‘You’re gonna get it or Scott Silva, our D end, is going to get it.’ I just got off the ball and I did my job. That’s all there was to it.”
Casimir said it was his first punt block, but he said he had been “really close” on other occasions.
“We thought we could block one and we got one tonight,” Clark said. “We’ve been close on a lot. I told Z if…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinal-mooney-routs-north-florida-063903723.html
Author : Herald-Tribune
Publish date : 2023-12-02 06:39:03
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
