Steubenville Crushes St. Clairsville In Football Action
STEUBENVILLE — Reno Saccoccia felt Steubenville brought a “great football attitude” into Thursday night’s game with St. Clairsville.
He was right and it showed.
Scoring touchdowns on three of its first eight offensive plays, Steubenville, now 8-1, rolled to a convincing 47-0 victory at rainy Reno Field inside Harding Stadium.
“I was really proud of the way our kids came out,” Saccoccia said. “They came out ready to play. Everyone was worried about the weather but attitude beats everything. We had a great football attitude (Thursday).”
Starting its first drive at the St. Clairsville 49, Big Red needed just two snaps to dent the scoreboard. Javon Davis hit Charles Reeves on wide receiver screen and the talented senior traveled 38 yards to the house.
Steubenville’s possession came after St. Clairsville appeared to have gained a first down on a pass off a fake punt. The completion, however, was nullified by an ineligible receiver downfield penalty.
“We had some things we brought up here figuring we were going to do whatever we could to win the football game,” St. Clairsville coach Brett McLean said. “It’s not the traditional stuff you would do, like faking a punt in our own end, but given the situation we’re in, it opens up the play book a little.
“Apparently, we were across the line of scrimmage, which is an illegal play so it was the right call if we were. But, it was one play in the game and one play is not going to make up a 47-point deficit.”
After its defense delivered a three and out, Big Red, thanks to a short punt by the Red Devils, started drive two at the visitors’ 34. On the fourth play, Zane Zimish scored via a nine-yard run.
The third drive, which consisted of two plays, resulted in a 58-yard Johnny Agresta to Alex Taylor touchdown toss. Taylor ran the stop and go route to perfection, hauled in Agresta’s pass and raced untouched to the end zone.
During the opening quarter, Big Red compiled 191 yards of offense while its smothering defense held the Red Devils to minus three.
“It was a great start and it all began with attitude,” Saccoccia said. “Like I said, we had a great football attitude. We still have a long way to go to be a good team. Slowly but surely we are improving every week.
“We have to keep working and keep improving. We need to focus on executing and being fundamentally sound.”
Big Red would score three times in the second period to grab a 41-0 halftime lead. Agresta went over from a yard away then Davis threw two 11-yard touchdown passes. The first went to Dejuan Jones and the second to Jorian Jones.
One touchdown was set up when Taylor delivered a nasty hit to St. Clairsville quarterback Zach Bigelow, forcing a fumble which was recovered by Quentin Moore. The second came following an interception by Eric Lulla. Steubenville picked off Bigelow twice, Ny’Juan Robinson recording the other one.
The first half statistics showed St. Clairsville with minus 12 yards of offense compared to 249 for Steubenville.
“We knew we were coming up here against one of the best teams in the state of Ohio,” McLean noted. “We’re down a little, not having the best season. I think our kids competed all night and that’s what we ask them to do.
“Steubenville is a great team. I think they laid off a little bit which is a class act by them. They were the better team in all phases tonight. We came up here and gave it our best heave-ho on these guys — they’re really good.”
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