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Big Red On Quest For 2nd Straight State Title

STEUBENVILLE–Steubenville’s quest for a second straight Ohio Division IV championship begins Saturday with a Region 13 quarterfinal match against a very familiar foe.

Akron Butchel will invade Harding Stadium at 7 p.m. for its 10th all-time meeting with Big Red. Steubenville holds a 7-2 edge in the series, its last victory coming in the 2012 regular season finale.

The Griffins earned the seventh seed thanks to last week’s 28-12 victory over Akron East, which entered at 8-1. Big Red, making its 18th straight playoff appearance, finished at 9-1 and is seeded second in Region 13. Butchel, coached by Ricky Powers, will bring a 6-4 mark to town.

“We had a ton of respect for Ricky Powers as a player and now we have a ton of respect for him as a coach,” Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia said. “He’s done a great job with his Butchel team. They are polished, well-coached, gap sound defensively and well versed on offense.

“They stuck with it. They appeared to be a deep hole and out of the playoffs. But, they finished the season strong and had a great win over Akron East. They deserve to be where they are–in the playoffs.”

Butchel’s four losses have come to Avon, Canton McKinley, Lakewood St. Edward, and Akron St Vincent-St. Mary, three of which have qualified for postseason play. SVSM finished 7-3 and missed the playoffs. The Butchel offense is directed by senior quarterback Mychael Leno. He’s joined in the backfield by running backs Robert Young-Jones, Kirkland Robins and Ja’Mell Jacobs.

When Leno goes to the air, he has a host of weapons. Starting wide receivers are senior Zayir Keen, Martavien Johnson and Chase Powers. Marquest Foster starts at tight end.

“I really think this is the toughest first round draw we’ve had since back in the day of playing Cardinal Mooney and Ursuline,” Saccoccia said. “They deserve to be where they are and we deserve to be where we are. I think it is going to be a great football game.”

After dropping its opener to Penn Hills, Big Red reeled off nine straight victories to close the regular season. In the finale against University School, Steubenville rolled to a 49-19 victory thanks to another huge game by junior tailback Tayveon Crawford (249 yards and four touchdowns). Crawford finished the regular season with 1,414 yards–he rushed for 909 in the final four weeks.

Big Red’s offense averages 390 yards (291 on the ground) per game and 36 points.

Senior quarterback Clay Criss has completed 62 percent of his passes for 868 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior Ethan Duggan has 15 receptions, senior Ryan Rauch 14 and senior Erik Lulla 11, six producing scores.

Defensively, Steubenville, which finished second in the final Ohio AP D IV poll, surrenders 233 yards a game (just 75 on the ground) and 18 points.

Lulla, a two-year starter at middle linebacker, has recorded 92 tackles, six sacks and 12 tackles for a loss. Senior nose guard Kwadre Williams, another two year regular, logged 54 tackles, 17 resulting in a loss of yardage, and eight sacks. Senior defensive end Jaziah Blackwell has been in 52 tackles and recorded 10 sacks. Blackwell also has 18 tackles for a loss.

Junior linebacker Dave Tuttle has 52 tackles (16 TFLs) and four sacks. Senior Dylan Cunningham has 56 tackles from his strong safety position, five resulting in a loss. He also has two sacks.

“We’re getting healthier,” Saccoccia said of his Big Red. “Hopefully, we can get one more player back this week. That will allow us to be about 90 percent two-platoon for Saturday.”

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