MOONEY COMES BACK BUT FALLS SHORT TO CHERRY CREEK
- Sebastian Bruno & Logan Patel
- Aug 30
- 2 min read
MISSED KICKS HAUNT MOONEY IN LOSS TO CHERRY CREEK
In a thrilling heavyweight showdown on Friday night, the Cherry Creek Bruins of Greenwood Village, Colorado, edged the Cardinal Mooney Cougars of Sarasota, Florida, 24–21. The matchup brought together two state championship programs looking to make a statement.
Cardinal Mooney broadcasted the game on their very own Cougar Network, a program that focuses on exposing students to the ins and outs of all that goes into sports broadcasting. This is the Cougar Network’s first road game; the process was tough, but in the end it proved to be a success.
Cardinal Mooney started off strong with a 9–7 lead after a missed extra point attempt. Cherry Creek went on to control most of the contest, building a 21–9 lead behind a balanced offensive attack and crucial defensive stops. The Bruins ground game set the tone early, punching in a pair of rushing touchdowns while their defense forced Cardinal Mooney into long third-down situations. Midway through the fourth quarter, Cherry Creek extended the lead to 24–9 with a short field goal, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
But Cardinal Mooney refused to quit. Sparked by a late interception, the Cougars mounted a furious rally. A hard-fought rushing score trimmed the deficit, though a missed extra point kept the score at 24–15. Moments later, another quick touchdown brought Mooney within three points, 24–21, setting up a dramatic two-point conversion attempt, which they went on to fail the attempt.
The Cougars’ missed extra points proved costly, as they left three points on the field that ultimately was the difference. Despite the loss, Cardinal Mooney demonstrated grit and resilience, nearly erasing a double digit deficit in the game’s final minutes. With the win, Cherry Creek improved to 2–0 on the season, while Cardinal Mooney fell to 1–1. Both teams leave with lessons that will help them gear up for deep postseason runs.
