Big Red looks to bounce back
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STEUBENVILLE -- Despite its surprising loss to Linsly, Big Red continues to lead the Ohio Division IV Region 15 computer ratings.
Reno Saccoccia's 6-1 club can solidify its hold on the top spot with a victory on homecoming
Friday against Pittsburgh Allderdice, considered a Division II school by Ohio enrollment standards.
The kick for the third meeting between the schools (Big Red has won the previous contests) is set for 7 p.m. inside Harding Stadium.
Gallipolis Gallia Academy is second in the region followed by Columbus East and New Lexington. St. Clairsville holds down the fifth spot. The top 16 teams in each region qualify for the post season. Teams that finish one through eight in the final rankings will be given the opportunity to host a first round game. The higher seed in the second round also can play a home game.
"Right now, we are focused on our preparation and just being mentally prepared for Friday,"
Saccoccia said earlier this week. "That is our goal. I want to bring us back. We have a very hard working team -- a team with a lot of pride.
"We had a good game last week with Linsly but we just came up short (the Cadets escaped with a 28-27 victory). We want to get back to our winning ways. Late in the season, you want to be mentally prepared for what comes after the regular season."
Allderdice will bring a 2-4 mark to town. The Dragons have fallen to North Allegheny, Altoona, Dover and Westinghouse. They have defeated Perry and Brashear. Dover handed Allderdice a 19-6 setback while Big Red disposed of the Crimson Tornadoes 29-13.
Junior southpaw Azerick Jetter is in his second season as Allderdice's starting quarterback. Jetter (6-3, 185) threw for 163 yards and a touchdown against Big Red in 2021. He is joined in the backfield by a trio of talented running backs in seniors Naeron Smith, Terrell James and Hasaun Marshall.
Seniors Cornell Weems, Cordae Weems, Will Coleman and Eugene Hall are Jetter's top targets.
Coleman is a speedster and won the Pittsburgh City track title last spring in the 100 meters, running a 10.9.
The Dragons have some size up front led by Naequan Currington (6-3, 290) and Keyshawn Warren (6-2, 280).
"From playing them the last few years and watching them on film this week, I know Allderdice has a lot of good players," Saccoccia said. "I just hope they don't put it all together against us.
"They have good athletes and good size. Coach (Jerry) Haslett does a good job with them. They get better as the season progresses as they proved last year when they beat Westinghouse of the city championship after having lost to them earlier in the year."
Allderdice captured the Pittsburgh City League title in 2021 with a 14-0 victory over
Westinghouse. In the regular season game between the schools, Westingthouse rolled to a 41-12 victory.
The trip to Steubenville is the last of four difficult nonconference tests for Allderdice and Haslett believes the tough trips are good for his players.
"We play four really tough out-of-conference games, which will help us when we come back into the city," he said during the pre-season. "We try to make them as uncomfortable as possible in the situations they're in, especially with these away games where there are a lot of people in the stands.
"When they come back to the city, it will be more comfortable for them."
Through seven games, Big Red is averaging 34 points an outing and allowing 14. The Steubenville offense puts up 403 yards a contest (240 on the ground and 163 via the air.
Meanwhile, the defense surrenders 66 rushing and 136 passing yards per game.
Senior Gavin Bozica continues to lead the rushing attack with 696 yards on 118 carries (he's averaging 5.9 yards a tote). Bozica has scored 10 touchdowns. Junior Savier Faulks has 473 yards on 53 trips. Faulks, who has recorded back-to-back 100 yard rushing games, averages 8.9 yards a carry and has four touchdowns. Meanwhile, senior Spencer Ostovich has recorded seven rushing scores.
Phaeton Hill, Big Red's senior quarterback, has thrown for 1,141 yards, completing 66 percent of his passes. He has fired 10 scoring strikes.
Junior Isaac Hill now has 30 catches for 471 yards and five touchdowns. Senior Hakim Edwards has nine receptions and senior Ivan Buggs eight.
"Right now, we are focused on us," Saccoccia said. "As a head coach, you don't want your players to be down. We were down a little Saturday and Sunday after the loss to Linsly.
"It's important for us to have a good week of practice. We will work on what we are doing good and what we are doing not so good early in the week. Then we will focus on preparing for Allderdice. We need to stay focused and need to continue to improve."