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Big Red Downs Purple Riders

STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville turned its first five possessions into touchdowns and rolled to a 43-14 victory over Martins Ferry Friday on Reno Field inside Harding Stadium.

The first meeting between the programs since 1962 was quickly arranged on Thursday after both teams lost previously scheduled opponents due to COVID-19-related issues. With the win, Big Red improves to 5-3, while the Purple Riders fall to 4-5. The all-time series now stands at 14-14-3.

“Always good to get a win,” Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia said. “I want to congratulate both teams for the effort. Coming off playoff losses (Steubenville fell to Dover, while Martins Ferry was eliminated by Sandy Valley), both teams could have gone home and said the heck with it.

Big Red needed just six snaps to cover 72 yards for the game’s first touchdown. It came on a 6-yard run by Spencer Ostovich. After forcing another Martins Ferry punt, the hosts went 44 yards on four plays. This time, Rodney James Jr. sprinted 32 yards to the house.

The score moved to 22-0 late in the opening quarter when James took a Cade Kernahan handoff and motored 68 yards to pay dirt.

Early in the second quarter, Martins Ferry put together a long drive, marching 75 yards. Chase Goff capped the march when he went over from a yard out.

Big Red needed just one play to answer. Kyjhaun Hopkins burst up the middle and quickly went 58 yards. The Purple Riders started their ensuing possession at their own 35. Quarterback Logan Smith found Trevor Hanson for a 52-yard gain. Unfortunately, Hanson lost the handle on the ball, and Big Red’s Niko Suriano recovered.

Saccoccia’s crew then went 77 yards for its fifth touchdown of the half. This time, Ostovich bulled over from 4-yards away.

In the opening half, Big Red ran the football 27 times for 366 yards and the five touchdowns. James accounted for 169 of those yards on just eight carries, all coming during the opening 12 minutes.

Steubenville finished the game with 451 rushing yards on 48 carries. Hopkins compiled 94 yards on just five trips, while Ostovich toted the pigskin 11 times for 83 yards.

Big Red held the Riders to just 4 rushing yards. Smith did throw for 147 yards, completing 10 of his 18 attempts. He was picked off once by Nasari Jackson. Goff and Alex Bennett each had four catches for Ferry.

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