Cardinal Mooney football headed to state championship

Devin Mignery knows all about high stakes. He started at quarterback for Cardinal Mooney in the 2023 FHSAA Class 1S state final, and last year, guided the group to the 2A state semifinals.

This season has asked something else of the senior. After successive MCL and labrum injuries, he's no longer the starter — junior Davin Davidson took that role.

Mignery has often played the waiting game.

"The kid loves this team, these guys love him," said coach Jared Clark. "Every week he's prepared like he's the guy."

More than once on Dec. 5, he was called on to ignite an offensive spark. And he answered.

Cardinal Mooney football (13-1) knocked off Cocoa (8-5) in the 2A state semifinals, 40-0, at Austin Smithers Stadium in Sarasota. The Cougars did more than just avenge last year's season-ending defeat to the Tigers.

They shut them out, eliminating the three-time defending state champions.

"Our defense played phenomenal," Mignery said. "(Defensive coordinator Jon Haskins) was calling some good stuff, our defensive line played great, and the rest of the defense followed up. They had our back in the first quarter."

Attrition preceded the beatdown. Cardinal Mooney and Cocoa traded punts throughout the opening frame, and the Cougars surrendered a pair of fumbles in the process. Davidson struggled through the air.

But a 3-0 lead for the hosts soon ballooned into something bigger. During the second quarter, Cardinal Mooney piled on 20 points, getting its first touchdown of the evening from freshman running back Marvon Harris.

Mignery — a dual-threat signal-caller — was inserted for Davidson midway through the quarter. He ran for 20 yards on his first play, and to punctuate the drive, junior running back Connail Jackson hit paydirt from 6 yards out.

Jackson eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards as a junior. He ended his night with 129 and two scores on nine carries, opening the second half with a 57-yard dash.

"It's been a long time since our offense has sputtered in the first quarter — we jump on people," Clark said. "I was thrilled with the way we responded.

Re-entering the game late in the third quarter, Mignery threw a 32-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Bo O'Daniel, increasing the lead to 33-0.

The Stanford commit wound up with 65 yards and two scores on 4-for-5 passing as a backup. The defense behind him was dominant from beginning to end, dealing Cocoa its first shutout all season.

One obstacle remains in the Cougars' hunt for glory. Cardinal Mooney takes on Jacksonville's Bolles at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Miami's Pitbull Stadium.

"We expected them to win. They are a heck of a team," Clark said. "They're very talented. They're good everywhere and they're very well-coached."

A third state title in program history will hang in the balance.