ONE MORE TO GO — Big Red has one more regular season game Friday night against Rock Creek Christian then prepares for another playoff run. - Andrew Grimm

STEUBENVILLE — The last time an Andre Kates coached team (National Christian Academy) invaded Harding Stadium, things didn’t turn out well for Big Red.

The Eagles overcame a 14-point deficit in the final two minutes of regulation then went on to spoil Big Red’s 2019 homecoming with a thrilling 56-55 overtime victory.

Kates will bring his new team, Rock Creek Christian Academy, to town Friday for what Reno Saccoccia called a major Week 10 challenge. The kick is set for 7 p.m. inside Harding Stadium.

“This will be the most talented team we have played all year,” Saccoccia said. “They are big, fast and well-coached. They have played a great schedule.

“We will need to bring our A plus game. We’ll need to create a couple of turnovers, protect the ball and keep our mistakes to a minimum if we are going to be successful.”

Rock Creek, based in Upper Marlboro, Md., boasts a 4-3 record. Kates’ squad, also known as the Eagles, own victories over St. Mary’s Ryken, Mount Zion Prep Academy, Erasmus Hall from Brooklyn and Life Christian Academy. The losses came to Dillard, Fla., DeMatha and Lakewood St. Edward.

Kates, who graduated from Indiana University and had a short stint with the Baltimore Ravens, took over the Rock Creek program in 2021. His guided the Eagles to a 7-1 record.

The 2021 squad was led by 27 seniors. Only two starters returned from the club. The Eagles do have several players committed to top college programs across the country, like senior defensive end Anthony Little, who is heading to Georgia Tech.

“They have played a strong national schedule — playing teams in Florida, the D.C. and Baltimore areas and St. Edward,” Saccoccia said. “They have a new coach and he is working to redevelop the program.”

Senior Tahj Smith starts at quarterback for Rock Creek. He is joined in the backfield by the likes of sophomore Domonique Jackson, freshman Tarriq Denson and senior Julian Marks.

Receiving threats are sophomore Ghyani Kontosis, senior A.J. Myers, senior Chris Wood and freshman Jayden Kitchens.

“Offensively, they like to mix it up,” Saccoccia noted. “And, like I said, they are big, fast and talented.”

Ohio’s all-time winningest high school football coach pointed out his relationship with Kates led to Rock Creek being added to Big Red’s schedule.

“It was late April or early May and I couldn’t get a Week 10 game,” he said. “I called coach Kates, he told me he was at Rock Creek Christian now and said he would bring his team up to play.”

Thanks to its 28-7 road win over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, Big Red stands at 8-1 and continues to hold the top spot in the Division IV, Region 15 computer ratings. Steubenville has clinched its 22nd consecutive trip to the post-season and should finish either first or second in the rankings with a victory on Friday. Saccoccia’s crew will open the playoffs with a home game.

Mooney struck first last week before Big Red put 28 unanswered points on the board.

“It was a good team performance overall,” Saccoccia said. “We went against a very emotional team. Early in the game, we were getting our butts handed to us.

“As the game went on, however, we continued to play hard, physical and fast. We just have to fix the penalties. If we can’t do that, we have to focus on overcoming them.”

Through nine weeks, Big Red is averaging 32.8 points per game while allowing 12.2. The offense puts up 404 yards an outing (233 rushing and 171 passing). The defense allows just 64 rushing yards a contest and 127 passing.

Senior quarterback Phaeton Hill now has thrown for 1,516 yards and 16 touchdowns. He had four scoring passes against Mooney. Hill is completing 61 percent of his passing attempts.

Junior Isaac Hill continues to lead the Big Red receiving corps with 39 catches for 669 yards and nine scores. Seniors Hakim Edwards and Ivan Buggs have nine grabs each while senior Kyjhaun Hopkins has eight. Isaac Hill and Hopkins both caught two scoring passes in the Mooney game.

The rushing attack is paced by senior Gavin Bozica — 133 carries, 861 net yards and 10 touchdowns.

Big Red has drawn 74 penalties this season for 681 yards.

Prior to Friday’s opening kick, Big Red will salute its 18 seniors. They are:

Buggs, Phaeton Hill, Micah Mitchell, Hopkins, Edwards, Zach Smith, Ty Pierce, Tylik Sims, Jordan West, Bozica, Spencer Ostovich, Alikwon Harris, Cooper Blackburn, Dorian Thorn, Caden Montgomery, Kellen Marshall, Cam Daley and Bryce Huff.

“This has been a beautiful group of kids to work with since the seventh grade,” Saccoccia said. “We’ll honor them Friday and hope we can complete the honor by winning the game.

“As a group, they have been great both academically and athletically. They have just been a great group to work and we wish nothing but the best for them in the future.”