Preps

Cardinal Mooney 45, Berkeley Prep 21

By JUSTIN DARGAHI, Times Correspondent
Published October 20, 2007

TAMPA - What was a closely contested battle quickly became a blowout in a key district game.

The Cardinal Mooney Cougars scored four touchdowns in a 10-minute span at the start of the fourth quarter to turn a 3-point deficit into a 24-point rout.

"We put a couple quick touchdowns up and that was the difference," Cougars coach Joshua Smithers said.

Running back Kevin Yent gave the Buccaneers a 24-21 lead after scoring on a 5-yard run at the end of the third quarter.

Mooney answered with quarterback Robby Lyons's 4-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Kwarcinski. And one minute after a Buccaneers fumble, Lyons and Kwarcinski hooked up again to clinch it for the Cougars.

Cougar running back Steve Ierulli rushed 26 times for 126 yards and scored three touchdowns. Lyons was 7-for-10 for 178 yards.

Berkeley running back Julian Crocket had 86 yards rushing on only six carries, including a 44-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

"This was a playoff type game and we made too many mistakes to win the game with fumbles and such," Bucs coach Dominick Ciao said.

[Last modified October 20, 2007, 00:36:04]