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STEUBENVILLE -- The Big Red football team has had some big challenges this year, road games against the No. 1 ranked team in Division IV, two against perennial Youngstown powerhouses and a home game against the reigning Division V state runner up to name a few.
The challenge ahead of Steubenville on Friday night, however, is perhaps the biggest yet as Ohio Division II powerhouse Columbus St. Francis DeSales is set to come to Harding Stadium for a matchup of two of the state’s most tradition-rich programs. The opening kick is set for 7 p.m.
“I think that we’ve had a few challenges this year, but nothing like the one on Friday night,” Big Red head coach Reno Saccoccia said. “We’re going to have to be at the top of our game. I think it’s something great to be playing a game like this before the playoffs start, just to give you a little taste of what is to come.”
The Stallions come to town with a 6-2 record, have won three of their last four and are ranked No. 9 in Division II by MaxPreps, top-20 overall in the state in all divisions, received votes in the AP Poll and are currently in fourth-place in the Division II, Region 7 standings with two games to go, trying to lock down a top-four spot for a first-round bye and second round home game. Joe Eitel’s rankings have the Stallions listed as in control of their own destiny.
“They’re a beautiful football program,” Saccoccia said. “They’re very well coached, well disciplined, and number four in their region in Division II for a reason. They’re just going to be a great challenge for us.”
It is the first time since 2021 the storied programs have clashed on the field and the ninth time overall. Five of the previous meeting having come in the playoffs, including the 2005 Division III state championship game, which Big Red won. The Stallions have won the last two meetings and the all-time series is split 4-4.
This year’s version of DeSales, still led by longtime coach Ryan Wiggins who took over the program back in 2007, has a familiar name to football fans in the Buckeye State helping lead the way as the Stallions’ offense is guided by senior quarterback RJ Day, the son of Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Coach Day was at DeSales’ 28-20 win over Columbus St. Charles last Friday for senior night.
The younger Day, who is 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds and rated a three-star recruit, is committed to play college football in the Big Ten at Northwestern.
It is, however, far from just the QB Big Red will have to prepare for.
“They’re well balanced, they can beat you running and throwing,” Saccoccia said. “They have a nice trap game, they play solid defense, they play an odd man front and even man front and they mix it up very well. They’re just overall a very good football team and a great challenge for our team.”
The Stallions and Big Red have one common opponent this season is Ursuline. DeSales earned a 31-7 win over the Irish at home in Week 1, while Steubenville dropped a hard-fought battle in Youngstown 44-40, in Week 7.
They also have wins over Columbus Walnut Ridge (41-6), at Columbus East (35-14), against River Rouge, Michigan (27-14), and at home over Bloom-Carroll (30-0). DeSales’ losses have come to Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph (20-17) and Columbus Bishop Watterson (32-0), both on the road. Watterson, of course, was Big Red’s opponent in the last two regional championship games before moving up to Division II this season.
The Stallions average 26.1 points per game and allow an average of 14.1. Big Red is scoring an average of 34.1 points and allowing 19.8.
Steubenville is 5-0 inside Harding Stadium this season, while DeSales is 1-2 on the road.
Big Red bounced back last week with a 35-8 win over Buffalo Health Sciences Academy and with that win, jumped to No. 1 in the Division III, Region 11 standings.
While Steubenville has not quite clinched a 26th-straight playoff berth, Joe Eitel has them listed as in control of their own destiny.
Big Red climbed back up to No. 4 in this week’s Ohio AP Division III poll. MaxPreps’ rankings have them at No. 1 and Martin RPI’s rankings have them at No. 8.
Drew Pasteur’s computer model has the game essentially as a tossup with a one-point edge to Big Red in his weekly predictions. He has Big Red as close to clinching a playoff spot and likely earning a bye if they finish 7-3 or better.
In last week’s win, Big Red got the passing game going as senior QB Santino Haney went 14 of 16 for 236 yards and three touchdowns. Junior tailback Colton Henderson has nine touchdowns this season in leading the ground game.
Following the big meeting with DeSales, Big Red takes on Digital Pioneers Academy (Washington D.C) in the regular season finale next week at Harding Stadium.