Andrew Grimm FIGHTS FOR YARDS — Big Red’s Ca’Juan Bryant fights for extra yards through tackle attempts by McNicholas defenders during Friday night’s game at Harding Stadium. Big Red used a big effort in the fourth quarter to keep the Rockets at bay, 18-16.
STEUBENVILLE – Before Friday night’s season opener against visiting McNicholas, Reno Saccoccia said he expected his Big Red team to play its toughest home game in several years and a battle over four quarters.
The Hall of Famer summed it up perfectly.
After trailing until the fourth quarter, Big Red made some key plays in the closing stages and used a strong fourth quarter to keep the Rockets at bay and open the season with a hard-fought 18-16 victory at a packed Harding Stadium.
“It was a battle for four quarters,” Saccoccia said. “You don’t know anything about your team going into the first game until you encounter adversity, and we encountered adversity — some self-inflicted, some earned. Both teams played hard and physical. Neither team played perfectly, but it was a tough battle.”
“I thought we played smart. I thought we played physical.”
Trailing 9-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, Steubenville’s Jalen Minniefield capped a long drive early in the fourth quarter and put the hosts back on top with an 8-yard touchdown run six seconds into the final quarter that ultimately proved to be the final straw.
He finished the night with 105 of Big Red’s 195 rushing yards.
“Our fourth quarter was great,” Saccoccia said. “It was a fourth quarter game, maybe our conditioning paid off. I want to congratulate our guys. It was a great game, our fans were great. It was a great night for the Steubenville Big Red.”
After the defense regained the ball through an interception by Landon Crosier, junior kicker Cole Bowers made a triumphant comeback despite his injury with a 21-yard field goal, extending the lead to 18-9 at that point.
The Rockets scored again and the three points made the difference.
After taking an early lead, a few mistakes and faltering drives prevented Steubenville from pulling away, and McNicholas held on doggedly, trailing only 7-0 at halftime.
The Rockets scored a touchdown midway through the third quarter by Caleb Naumann (89 yards in the game), capping their long first drive of the half.
The kick fell victim to a failed snap, but Big Red dropped the ensuing kickoff and immediately gave the ball back to the Rockets.
However, the defense held firm and forced a 37-yard field goal from Rollie Gabriel, giving McNicholas its only lead at 9-7 late in the third quarter.
Quarterback Braden Bobo threw a late touchdown pass to AJ Gundler to cut the gap to two, but Big Red intercepted the onside kick and ran down the clock. An 11-yard run by Minniefield for a first down secured the opportunity to run down the clock.
“It was as we expected, a battle over four quarters,” said McNicholas head coach Mike Orlando, a Catholic Central graduate. “Coach Saccoccia does such a great job. Tradition never stops. They’re tough guys, they’re Steubenville guys and I think we’re their equal. I think we showed we can compete with anyone on our schedule.”
“I’m really proud of the performance, really proud of how our guys fought. We made too many mistakes… you can’t do that against good teams.”
Big Red QB Aiden Davis threw for 223 yards, completing 18 of 24 passes in his Steubenville debut, and added 50 yards and a touchdown run in the first quarter to cap his 13-play march on the game’s opening drive.
He made two long passes of 48 and 72 yards to Tre’Von Wiggins, while the receiver passed the 100 mark with three catches and managed 124 yards.
Big Red will be on tour for the next few weeks, making trips to New Philadelphia and Cardinal Mooney before returning home on September 13th.
Steubenville 18, McNicholas 16
M 0-0-9-7 – 16
S 7-0-0-11 – 18
POINTS
First quarter
S: Davis 2 run (Bowers kick) 5:30
Second quarter
None
Third quarter
M: Naumann 8 run (attempt failed) 7:09
M: Gabriel 37 Field goal 5:08
Fourth quarter
S: Minniefield 8 run (Bowers Kick) 11:54
S: Field goal from Bowers 21, 3:53
M: Gundler 12 Pass from Bobo (Gabriel Kick) 1:42
PASSES: McNicholas 8-16-153-TD-INT (all by Bobo); Steubenville 18-24-223 (all by Davis)
RUSHING: McNicholas 28-150 TD (Bobo 15-61; Naumann 13-89 TD); Steubenville 43-195-2TD (Minniefield 17-105-TD; Davis 12-50-TD; Bryant 10-30; Hopkins 2-7; Simmons 1-2; Adams 1-1)
RECEPTIONS: McNicholas 8-153-TD (Powderly 2-14; Naumann 3-76; Tobin 1-33; Conrad 1-18; Gundler 1-12-TD); Steubenville 18-223 (Adams 4-15; Saccoccia 2-25; Blackburn 3-24; Hopkins 2-14; Minniefield 1-7; Wiggins 3-124; Crosier 1-0; Bryant 1-0)
FIRST DOWNS: McNicholas 14; Steubenville 17
LOST FUMBLES: McNicholas 2-1; Steubenville 2-1
PENALTY YARDS: McNicholas 5-35; Steubenville 7-60
PUNTS average: McNicholas 3-32.3; Steubenville 1-43
