Big Plays Spur Frostproof Past Cardinal Mooney, 33-19

Fri. October 19, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

By PERRY D. PENTZ

SPECIAL TO THE LEDGER

SARASOTA | Cardinal Mooney tried but could not overcome four big plays for touchdowns in the first half as the Cougars fell to Frostproof 33-19 in a Class 3A, District 6 game on Friday night at Austin Smithers Stadium.

The first half was all Frostproof. Quarterback Xavier Gaines accounted for 281 of the Bulldogs' 299 yards with 96 yards rushing and one TD and 195 yards passing and two touchdowns.

Poor tackling produced three long touchdown plays for Frostproof in the first half as the Bulldogs built up a 26-9 cushion.

On their third play from scrimmage, the Bulldogs (4-3 overall, 1-1 district) scored on a 50-yard swing pass as Xavier Gaines connected with Kaleel Gaines, who slipped tackles and raced down the left sideline just minutes into the game.

The PAT attempt was blocked by Ryan Branch.

Cardinal Mooney (4-4, 0-2) drove 69 yards for the tying touchdown and 64 of those yards were covered on a TD catch by Casey Gunderson from Mooney quarterback Reese Vita. The PAT by Blake Young gave the Cougars a 7-6 lead.

Frostproof only needed two plays to take the lead as Xavier Gaines scored on a 67-yard quarterback run up the middle with 6:25 left in the first quarter.

Trailing 12-9, the Cougars drove to the 3-yard line.

This is when the game changed for Mooney.

Vita was intercepted in the end zone by Marcus Bobb, who raced down the left sideline for a 102-yard return for a touchdown.