<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=09MP5m_1GqYZGCN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=09MP5m_1GqYZGCN00" width="845" height="321" ></figure>YOUNGSTOWN, OH — At Cardinal Mooney, football isn’t just a sport. It’s a tradition built on toughness, discipline, and a championship standard that has defined generations of Cardinals. For senior linebacker Rocco Zabel, those expectations aren’t something to shy away from. They’re something to embrace, and the hard-hitting defensive standout has spent his high school career proving he belongs among the next generation of Mooney greats.Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing approximately 220 pounds, Zabel has developed into one of Northeast Ohio’s most imposing defensive players, combining physicality, instincts, and an aggressive style of play that has made him a centerpiece of the Cardinals’ defense. Wearing No. 30, the senior has earned First Team All-Ohio recognition, helped lead Mooney to a regional championship, and secured an opportunity to continue his football career at the Division I level.For a program with a history of producing championship teams and college football talent, Zabel has become another example of the type of player who thrives in the Cardinal Mooney system. His ability to diagnose plays, attack the line of scrimmage, and finish tackles has made him a player opposing offenses must account for on every snap.But Zabel’s impact extends beyond the stat sheet. As a four-year member of the program, he has experienced the challenges of rebuilding a winning tradition, the excitement of returning to championship contention, and the responsibility of helping lead a team determined to keep Mooney among Ohio’s elite.His junior campaign in 2025 provided the clearest evidence of just how dominant he could be. During the regular season, Zabel piled up 103 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles, according to WKBN’s reporting. Those numbers demonstrated his ability to impact games in several ways, whether stopping running backs before they reached the second level, pressuring opposing quarterbacks, or creating turnovers that gave the Cardinals additional opportunities.His 17 tackles for loss were particularly impressive, reflecting a defender who wasn’t simply making tackles downfield but consistently disrupting plays before they had an opportunity to develop.By the time Mooney’s memorable postseason run came to an end, an August 2026 season preview credited Zabel with 150 tackles and 10 sacks for the 2025 campaign, figures that reflect his contributions beyond the regular season.The production helped earn Zabel First Team All-Ohio honors in Division V at linebacker, placing him among the state’s top players at his position.For Zabel, the recognition represented more than an individual achievement. It came during a season in which Cardinal Mooney reestablished itself as a championship contender under first-year head coach Frank Colaprete.After years of working to return to the program’s traditional standard, the Cardinals put together one of their most memorable seasons in more than a decade.Mooney finished 10-3, recorded its first double-digit victory season since 2013, and captured the program’s 18th regional championship with a commanding 48-14 victory over previously unbeaten Girard.The regional championship game provided one of the defining moments of Zabel’s junior season, and it came on the offensive side of the football.After Mooney forced a fumble on Girard’s opening possession, the Cardinals wasted little time capitalizing. Zabel, who also has experience at tight end, powered his way into the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run to give Mooney an early 7-0 lead.The touchdown set the tone for an impressive championship performance, as the Cardinals built a 34-14 halftime advantage and eventually overwhelmed the Indians.While Zabel opened the scoring, the Mooney defense helped control the contest, forcing turnovers and limiting a Girard offense that had entered the matchup undefeated.The victory sent Mooney into the Division V state semifinals for the first time since its previous regional championship season, restoring the Cardinals to a stage that has long been associated with the program’s storied history.Although Mooney’s season eventually ended with a 24-10 loss to Wheelersburg in the state semifinals, the championship run represented a major step forward for a program determined to reclaim its place among Ohio’s traditional powers.For Zabel, being part of that resurgence has become an important chapter in his high school career.His development has been years in the making. As a freshman in 2023, Zabel was already listed on Mooney’s varsity roster at 6-foot and 185 pounds, playing linebacker and tight end. By his sophomore season, he had grown to approximately 200 pounds while continuing to develop the strength and physicality necessary to compete against older, more experienced players.His junior season brought another step forward, with Zabel establishing himself as a major defensive contributor and one of the leaders of a team that would eventually make a deep postseason run.Now a senior, he has continued developing physically while maintaining the instincts and aggressive mentality that have made him such a productive linebacker.That growth hasn’t gone unnoticed by college football programs. On June 22, 2026, Zabel announced his commitment to Youngstown State University, choosing to continue his academic and athletic career close to home.The decision represented another major milestone for a player who had already established himself as one of the area’s top defensive prospects.According to his Rivals recruiting profile, Zabel also received scholarship offers from Butler and Findlay before making his commitment to the Penguins.His recruitment reflected the value college programs placed on his combination of size, production, and defensive versatility. At 6-foot-1 and approximately 218 pounds, Zabel possesses the physical build to compete at linebacker while bringing experience in both pass rushing and run defense.The commitment also creates an opportunity for Zabel to continue playing football in the Mahoning Valley, where his development has taken place throughout his high school career.Rather than leaving the area to pursue his college ambitions, Zabel has an opportunity to represent Youngstown at the next level, joining a Penguins program with its own proud football tradition.His recruiting profile also lists a 3.6 grade-point average and an interest in studying business administration or management, demonstrating that his plans extend beyond the football field.For Zabel, the opportunity to continue his education while playing Division I football represents the culmination of years of work, development, and commitment to improving his game.But football isn’t the only sport in which he has demonstrated his athletic ability. Zabel has also competed for Cardinal Mooney’s varsity lacrosse program, where he has developed into a productive offensive player.According to MaxPreps, Zabel scored 45 goals during the 2026 lacrosse season, averaging approximately 3.5 goals per game across 13 reported appearances.His production placed him among Ohio’s leading goal scorers in the sport, including a top-five ranking in Division II Region 6.The lacrosse experience provides another dimension to Zabel’s athletic background. Competing in a sport that requires quick reactions, physical contact, lateral movement, and the ability to operate in space has given him opportunities to develop skills that also translate to the football field.His involvement in multiple sports reflects an athletic career built around competition rather than specialization in a single season.That competitive background has helped shape a player who is now being counted on to lead one of the area’s most recognizable football programs.Entering the 2026 season, Mooney returned 16 letter winners, including six offensive starters and five defensive starters, from its regional championship team.With quarterback Vince Gentile, running back Ike Lake, defensive standout Dom Letlow, and two-way contributor Brady Desmond among the returning players, the Cardinals entered the fall with high expectations.Zabel was a major part of that experienced group, bringing the leadership and defensive production necessary to help the team navigate another challenging schedule.Head coach Frank Colaprete, himself a Cardinal Mooney graduate, has emphasized the importance of accountability and leadership within the program. The Cardinals’ success has been built on players willing to embrace demanding expectations and push one another to improve.For Zabel and his fellow seniors, that responsibility has taken on additional meaning following the breakthrough of 2025.Winning a regional championship was an important accomplishment, but sustaining that success requires a different level of commitment.Mooney entered the 2026 season looking to demonstrate that its return to the state semifinals wasn’t simply a one-year achievement, but the beginning of another successful chapter in the program’s history.The Cardinals’ demanding schedule has included matchups with traditional powers such as Lake Catholic, Canfield, Steubenville, St. Francis DeSales, Benedictine, Warren Harding, and rival Ursuline.Those opponents have provided opportunities for Zabel to test himself against quality competition while preparing for the physical demands awaiting him at the college level.At a school where championship expectations are part of the culture, the pressure to perform is constant. For Zabel, however, that pressure has been accompanied by the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on a program that has produced generations of accomplished football players.His combination of defensive production, postseason success, and statewide recognition has already placed him among the notable players of Mooney’s recent history.The 2025 campaign alone provided an impressive résumé: more than 100 regular-season tackles, 17 tackles for loss, six sacks, two forced fumbles, First Team All-Ohio recognition, and a regional championship.Those accomplishments helped establish Zabel as one of the area’s premier linebackers and provided a foundation for his senior season.But what makes his story particularly compelling is the connection between his individual development and the resurgence of the Cardinals’ program.As Zabel grew from a young varsity player into an All-State linebacker, Mooney developed from a team seeking consistency into a regional champion capable of competing deep into November.That parallel reflects the role experienced players have played in helping restore the program’s winning tradition.With his college future secured, Zabel can focus on finishing his senior season while continuing to help the Cardinals pursue their championship goals.The next chapter will eventually take him to Youngstown State, where he will have an opportunity to develop against Division I competition and continue representing the Mahoning Valley.But before he trades Cardinal red and gold for Penguin red and white, there’s still work to be done. For four years, Rocco Zabel has represented the toughness and commitment that have defined Cardinal Mooney football for generations. He’s developed from a promising young player into an All-State defender, a regional champion, and a Division I college football recruit.The tackles, sacks, and awards tell part of the story. The leadership, perseverance, and role in bringing championship football back to Mooney tell the rest.At Cardinal Mooney, greatness has always been measured by what players accomplish together. And for Rocco Zabel, the opportunity to help carry that tradition forward has been every bit as meaningful as the individual honors he’s earned along the way.Presented By:<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0425VA_1GqYZGCN00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0425VA_1GqYZGCN00" width="250" height="234" ></figure><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oUtOwco-3hI?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div></div></body>

Block Source: ysnlive.com

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

YOUNGSTOWN, OH — At Cardinal Mooney, football isn’t just a sport. It’s a tradition built on toughness, discipline, and a championship standard that has defined generations of Cardinals. For senior linebacker Rocco Zabel, those expectations aren’t something to shy away from. They’re something to embrace, and the hard-hitting defensive standout has spent his high school career proving he belongs among the next generation of Mooney greats.

STEADY AS A ROCK

NewsBreak

YOUNGSTOWN, OH — At Cardinal Mooney, football isn’t just a sport. It’s a tradition built on toughness, discipline, and a championship standard that has def

STEADY AS A ROCK

Comments