Big Red set to battle Linsly
No. 2 Steubenville faces another OVAC opponent

CELEBRATIONS — Big Red had lots of reasons to celebrate the last time it played at Harding Stadium and will look to celebrate some more Friday night when it welcomes Linsly. - Andrew Grimm
STEUBENVILLE — On paper, it would be easy for one to look at Linsly’s record as they prepare for a trip to Harding Stadium on Friday night and simply think the Cadets, this week’s opponent for Big Red, are in the midst of the tough season.
They indeed are, but further examination would show that while they are 0-5, one would be hard-pressed to find a team that has played a more difficult schedule on either side of the river.
When the Cadets take the field at Harding Stadium, Big Red will be the third undefeated team Linlsy has seen. They’ve faced teams with a combined record of 25-4.
Their losses are at Pennsylvania power Westinghouse (5-1), at Division II Ashand (6-0), at Division II St. Francis DeSales (5-1), to W.Va. Class AAA No. 2 Bridgeport (5-0) and Division III New Philadelphia (4-2) despite being the equivalent of a Division VII school in Ohio based on enrollment. They did score a season-high 28 points against the Quakers last week.
“They play a great schedule,” Big Red head coach Reno Saccoccia said of the Cadets. “This has become a really good game between us and Linsly and our players enjoy playing them and I know their players enjoy playing us from talking to them last year after the game. It’s a great game for the Valley. It’s good to play another (Wheeling area team).”
Big Red, of course, is coming off a big win last week against another Wheeling area team. They went to Wheeling Island Stadium and earned an impressive 48-17 victory over Wheeling Park
Steubenville now sits 6-0, is ranked No. 2 in the latest Ohio Associated Press Division III poll and No. 2 in the latest Division III, Region 11 computer rating standings.
“I think they look as good as we’ve seen over the stretch of time that we’ve played them,” Linsly head coach BJ Depew said. “They’re always an extremely well-coached team and very physical. That’s just who Steuebnville is. They’ve beaten some really good opponents.
“Our schedule has been challenging every year, in previous years we’ve handled it better … we’ve had our fair share of bumps and bruises but our kids are incredibly resilient and their spirit is good, which is good.
“They know the task that’s in front of them, and even though it is a tall task, it’s very exciting for them. Our kids look forward to matching up with Steubenville and playing at Harding Stadium and seeing how we measure up with one of the best teams around.”
Big Red leads the all-time series between the OVAC schools 9-1-1. The recent meetings have been close games. Steubenville won last year’s meeting 27-19 in a game played at West Liberty University. Linsly got its lone victory against Big Red two years ago, 28-27, in its last visit to Harding Stadium. Big Red won 26-17 in 2021, 35-21 in 2020 and 48-28 in 2019 when the teams started playing again.
“They haven’t changed much, they still have the same type of offense and defense and they have a really good quarterback,” Saccoccia said of the Cadets. “Their line protects pretty well, they’ve just had some bad breaks in a few of their games.
“Like I told our players, it’s not who we’re playing that’s most important, it’s how we prepare. We want to keep preparing the way we have been. Our seniors especially have done a very good job of helping us have good, solid practices and just like laughter is contagious, hard work is contagious and that has carried over into the game.”
Despite knowing what kind of challenge it is every year, Depew enjoys the challenge.
“I really believe more teams in the area should play Steubenville, you obviously won’t win them all when you play them, but you learn a lot and it makes you a better football team,” he said. “I look forward to playing them and the challenge it brings.”
For Big Red, quarterback Aiden Davis is one player that stands out to Depew as he prepares his team to come to Harding Stadium. He has thrown for 952 yards, completing nearly 76 percent of his passes, and thrown for seven touchdowns with just one interception, while rushing for another seven scores and 203 more yards.
“I’m very impressed with the way they have implemented their new quarterback, he has been a real weapon for them and expanded their offense, he really completes them offensively,” he said. “They have always been a very strong running team. Defensively they’re always really tough, too. We know they’re going to be a handful in all phases.”
That rushing attack is led by Jalen Minniefield, who has 442 yards and three end zone trips and averages 6.9 yards per carry, and Ca’Juan Bryant, who averages 7 yards per carry and has scored four times.
Brody Saccoccia, the reigning East District defensive player of the year, is the team’s leading receiver with 12 catches for 196 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also picking off two passes and forcing a fumble on defense.
Six different receivers have caught a TD pass from Davis this season.
Landon Crosier leads the defense with 43 tackles, an interception, two sacks, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery returned for a defensive score.
The opening kick for the first of four-straight at Harding Stadium as Big Red closes the regular season is set for 7 p.m.