Chardon fell to the home team, Cardinal Mooney, 27-14, in a non-conference game Sept. 20 on the campus of Youngstown State University.
Chardon fell to the home team, Cardinal Mooney, 27-14, in a non-conference game Sept. 20 on the campus of Youngstown State University.
The Hilltoppers secondary had no answer for the passing attack of the Cardinals, who threw for nearly 200 yards and four touchdown passes.
Down 7-0, Mooney scored 27 points before the Toppers got back on the scoreboard.
Playing their final non-conference contest of the regular season at Stambaugh Field, Chardon (3-2) struggled in all aspects of the game.
The Topper offense struggled to move the ball aside from its two scoring drives.
On their opening possession, Chardon moved the ball down the field with authority, as senior halfback Drayton Allgood punched it in from one yard out.
The Hilltoppers recovered the ensuing onside kick, and the drive appeared promising. However, Chardon could not convert on a fourth down play and turned the ball over on downs on their 33-yard line.
From that point on, the Cardinals defense took over and shut Chardon down.
Mooney scored late in the first quarter as quarterback Vince Gentile hit tight end John Brenner over the middle for a 65-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7.
With 2:49 to go before halftime, Gentile struck again, this time connecting with receiver Kingston Powell for a 12-yard touchdown reception to make it 14-7.
In the third quarter, mistakes once again cost the Hilltoppers.
Gentile found Brayden Bryant for a 51-yard touchdown pass to put the Cardinals up 20-7.
He would connect with Brenner again for the final Cardinal Mooney score of the night, this time from 29 yards out, with 7 minutes left to play in the third quarter.
Chardon’s other touchdown came from sophomore quarterback Andrew Cole, who ran it in from six yards out to make in 27-14 with 4:06 left to play in the third.
Down two scores, the Toppers then lost their top two playmakers and quarterbacks — Allgood and Cole — to injury.
Up next for Chardon is a home game against Western Reserve Conference rival Riverside.
With the WRC disbanding after this season, it could be the last time these neighborhood rivals play for a while.
Of note, all three WRC teams begin conference play with a 3-2 record.
The end of the Cardinal Mooney game was also marred by a shooting inside the stadium, following the post-game handshake.
According to several media reports, a Mooney student was injured and transported to the hospital. No other injuries were reported.
Chardon Athletic Director Dough Higham and the Topper coaches hustled to get players and parents safely inside the locker room.
