Big Red in for another test
Steubenville looks to even all-time series with Mooney
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YOUNGSTOWN -- Reno Saccoccia had a feeling that the first two games for his Big Red football team would be tough tests and come down to the fourth quarter.
He was right, as you would expect someone who's been on the sidelines for more than four decades to be more often than not. His Big Red football team has been up to those challenges, using strong fourth quarters to top McNicholas, 18-16, on opening night and again to surge past New Philadelphia, 27-21, on the road last week.
"I think you can tell the most about the type of players you have when the going gets tough," Saccoccia said. "We had some players we knew would step up, we had some we didn't know if they would or not … when the chips were down, they rose to the occasion. The players we expected to come to play did and the ones we weren't sure of rose up. In the end, they all pulled together and I appreciate their trust in us and I appreciate the coaches trust in them to execute offensively, defensively and on special teams."
The hall of famer has the same expectation going into his team's Week 3 match up on the road taking on Youngstown Cardinal Mooney.
The Cardinals and Big Red have a long history of storied battles, and the latest edition will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday night inside Youngstown State University's Stambaugh Stadium.
"The Mooney program has helped make our program better," Saccoccia said. "They were one program we just couldn't get over the hump against and they made us better by working hard because they kept knocking us out of the playoffs. That helped us develop what we have now.
"They are a typical Youngstown-area team in that they are physical, they are well-coached, they have good athletes and they have a winning attitude. That is just the kind of football that area produces, and they were probably the best team in that area for quite a long time. Coach Pelini is trying to bring them back to that."
Big Red will be looking to make it back-to-back victories over Mooney after defeating coach Carl Pelini's group 21-14 in a tough, physical contest last season at Harding Stadium.
As is the case anytime Big Red faces a Youngstown-area team, Saccoccia expects another such game Friday night.
"Anytime you play a Youngstown team, you don't leave Youngstown without being in a fight for four quarters," the veteran grid boss said.
A win for Big Red in the 15th meeting between the storied programs would also even the all-time series, which Mooney narrowly leads 7-6.
The Division IV Cardinals are looking for their first victory of the season. They dropped a 14-0 decision to Lake Catholic at home in the opener and 38-7 on the road at Villa Angela-St. Joseph last week. VASJ is ranked No. 3 in Division III by MaxPreps.