ANDREW GRIM, YARDS AFTER THE Catch — Big Red’s Brody Saccoccia runs through the Warriors’ secondary for extra yards after making the catch in Friday’s game against Huron at Harding Stadium. – He fought his way past Josh Martin-Pendley of Heights.
STEUBENVILLE — The Big Red knew Canadian powerhouse Huron Heights and its Wing-T style attack would be a challenge.
It was certainly a challenge for the previously undefeated Warriors, but Steubenville was up to the task Friday night at Harding Stadium.
The visitors from the Great White North racked up 375 rushing yards, took the lead and were within touchdown range until the fourth quarter, but the Big Red defense made two key fumble recoveries and shut down the offense. put together a game-defining drive. They won the match 34-19. The Big Red is currently 8-0.
“They didn’t get to 7-0 for nothing.” Big Red head coach Leno Saccoccia said. “That was a really great game. They were well-coached and had a great game plan, but we fought. We haven’t faced an offense like that in 30 years. So we fought. It’s hard to practice.
“We made some good plays on defense. We got some turnovers. We played tough on both sides of the ball, it was a tough offense to play against, and we (the heck) I want to congratulate (Huron Heights) on a good game, and I want to congratulate the players on playing their best until the end.”
The Warriors (7-1) scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to pull within one point and ran the football on the Big Red’s end of the field early in the fourth, but Ryan Bice threw his own He pounced on the fumble for 17 points. To hinder momentum.
From there, Steubenville went on an eight-play, 83-yard scoring drive that took more than four-and-a-half minutes to start. The key march was capped off by Jalen Minniefield’s second 5-yard scoring run of the night.
He gained 159 yards on 25 carries in a workmanlike performance, and the Big Red gained 268 yards rushing and five scores on the ground.
On the ensuing Huron Heights drive, Landon Crozier scooped up another fumble deep in the Steubenville end, forcing the Big Red to take a knee and force a timeout.
“I’m glad the kids did their best.” Mr. Saccoccia said. “It was a tough game, but games like that make you grow.”
The Big Red led 27-6 at halftime after another big second quarter.
The Warriors scored on their first drive when Trent Seaton broke a misdirected 20-yard run to make it 6-0. Kajuan Bryant responded quickly for the Big Red, breaking up a 51-yard scoring run two plays later and Cole Bowers’ first of four extra points to give the Big Red the lead, but they I didn’t surrender.
In the second quarter, Bryant, who had gained 78 yards in the first quarter, completed another scoring drive with a 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to make it 14-6.
On the next drive, Minniefield dived from five yards to go to make it 21-6, but Will Taylor’s INT at their own 1 gave the ball back to the Big Red, ending the Warriors’ scoring threat just before the half.
Aiden Davis, who finished the first half by completing eight consecutive passes after starting 0-for-2, produced a quick scoring drive that covered 99 yards in just over a minute, followed by a 1-yard dive by Bryant. He capped the game and scored his third goal in the first half. .
Bryant gained 96 yards on 15 carries, and Davis completed 11 of 15 on 118 passes to six different targets.
But Josh Martin-Pendley (163 yards on eight carries) scored a 57-yard touchdown on the second snap of the third quarter, and then the Huron Heights defense won, giving the Warriors three points at halftime. It was not easy to get out of this inferior position. He got an interception on the ensuing Big Red drive.
This set up an eight-play, 47-yard scoring drive, capped by a 5-yard scoring run by Owen Locke (108 yards on 18 carries), making it a one-score game.
But these were the last points for the visitors.
Precautions
• On Friday night, Joe Eitel’s unofficial rankings listed the Big Red as making the playoffs for the 24th consecutive time. It showed Steubenville falling to second place in the Division III, Region 11 standings, one point behind Columbus Bishop Watterson.
• The trip to Harding Stadium was the Warriors’ second in history. They also traveled to Steubenville in 2018 to play Catholic Central. The Crusaders won that game 28-14.
• The Big Red will have another big test at home next Friday when 6-2 McDowell (Erie, Pa.) comes to Harding Stadium. The Trojans are the equivalent of an OHSAA Division I team according to Ohio State registration standards.
Big Red 34, Huron Heights 19
HH 6-0-13-0 – 19
BR 7-20-0-7 – 34
Scoring the play
1st quarter
HH: Seton 20 runs (missed kick) 9:11
BR: Bryant 51 runs (Bowers kick) 8:21
2nd quarter
BR: Bryant 1 run (Bowers kick) 11:55
BR: Minnie Field 5 runs (Bowers kick) 5:10
BR: Bryant 1 run (incompleted pass) :21
3rd quarter
HH: Martin-Pendry 57 runs (Rieggio kick) 11:26
HH: Lock 5 runs (kick failure) 1:23
4th quarter
BR: Minnie Field 5 runs (Bowers kick) 5:09
Rush: Huron Heights 42-375-3TD (Rock 18-108-TD; Seton 9-44-TD; Martin Pendley 8-163-TD; St. Clair 6-55; Morrison 1-5); Big Red 49-268 Loss: 5 TDs (Davis 8-7, Bryant 15-96, 3 TDs, Minifield 25-159, 2 TDs, Muntz 1-6)
Passed: Huron Heights 0-2-0-INT (all Seton). Big Red 11-15-118-2INT (all Davis)
Reception: Huron Heights 0-0; Big Red 11-118 (Saccoccia 2-41; Hinton 2-25; Minniefield 2-12; Gullan 1-13; Simon 1-6; Bryant 3-23)
First down: Huron Heights 10; Big Red 20
Penalty Yards: Huron Heights 15-101; Big Red 10-89
Fumbles Lost: Huron Heights 3-2; Big Red 0-0
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