Clock ticking on Big Red
Steubenville looking to get back to winning ways Friday night
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STEUBENVILLE -- Talent, experience and speed.
Those are three of the words Reno Saccoccia used when describing unbeaten Pittsburgh University Prep, Big Red's Week 5 opponent.
The Panthers, who currently lead the Pittsburgh City League standings, will make their fifth all-time trip to Harding Stadium Friday. Big Red holds a 4-0 series lead and earned a 35-8 victory a season ago. The opening kick is set for 7 p.m.
In the 2018 contest, Big Red scored on five of its six first-half possessions. The score was 35-8 at the half, and the teams never took the field for the second half because of heavy rain and lightning.
"They are doing a really good job so far," Saccoccia said of the Panthers, who are considered a Division III team by Ohio standards. "They are 5-0 and really haven't had many close games.
"They're well-coached, senior-ladened and very experienced. This game will be another major challenge for us."
Coach Lou Berry's squad, which draws players from three different Pittsburgh schools (University Prep, Sci-Tech and Obama Academy), started the season by clipping Farrell, the defending Pennsylvania Class A champion, 14-12, Since its opener, Prep has rolled by Laurel Highlands 42-7, Westinghouse 32-22, Perry 38-20 and Allderdice 40-6 (Big Red owns a 42-7 win over Allderdice this season.)
"A tremendous amount of continuity and chemistry with this particular group," Berry said of his club. "One that's been battle-tested, one that has as one of its core strengths a lot of experience."
The ground game is University Prep's strong suit, and it's headlined by senior Michael Snowden (5-foot-10, 190 pounds). An Akron recruit, Snowden scored three rushing touchdowns against Allderdice. Through five games, he has 721 yards on 90 carries (an average of 8 yards per trip) and 11 scores.
"He's spent a lot of time in the weight room, so he's very fast and strong," Berry said of Snowden, who also is a standout linebacker for the Panthers.
Prep's other running backs are senior Amir Crownie (5-10, 200) and senior Skylar Howard (5-11, 190).
Kenny William-Pipkins, a 6-2, 180-pound senior, directs the Panther attack. He started at quarterback as a sophomore but lost his job to Messiah Wilkerson in 2018. Pipkins threw for 130 yards against Allderdice.
Wilkerson, a 5-10, 170-pound senior, has moved to wide receiver. He, along with senior Brendan Walls (6-0, 170), are Pipkins' favorite targets. The other option in the Prep passing attack is senior Natel Blessitt (6-0, 160).
"They have four or five quality offensive players who were on the team last year, and they also picked up a couple of talented transfers," Saccoccia said. "This is a solid football team with a lot talent. The tailback and the quarterback both have committed to Division I schools.
"Offensively, they have more of an inside zone running attack with some play-action passes off the zone. They are not quite as big as the teams we have faced in the past couple of weeks, but they have a lot more speed. That's always an area of concern for us."
Prep does have some size up front, including senior tackle Jay Carlos (6-5, 280) and senior guard Corey Cottrell (6-1, 250).
Big Red, of course, will be looking to rebound from last week's 28-21 defeat to New Philadelphia. The Quakers spotted Steubenville a two-touchdown lead before rallying in the second half.
"That was a hard- fought, physical football game," Saccoccia said. "We have to remember there is a lot of football left to play. Our players have recovered and are working hard like they always do this week. We're all focused on continuing to improve -- that's our primary goal.
"Sure, we are disappointed, but that game is over. We have to get to next week. Hopefully, our fans are ready to get to the next game with us."
Tayveon Crawford, Big Red's hard-running senior tailback, had another outstanding game against New Philadelphia, rushing for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five Randy Mitchell passes. For the season, Crawford has 696 yards on 118 carries (nearly 6 yards per tote) and nine touchdowns. He is the top rusher in the Herald Star/Daily Times coverage area.
Mitchell has completed 41 of his 71 passes for 512 yards and four scores. He has been picked off five times. Stone Biacco leads Big Red's receiving corps with 17 receptions for 229 yards and two six-pointers. Luke Zorne has eight catches.
Offensively, Big Red is averaging 441 yards a game (313 coming via the ground) and 35 points.
The defense surrenders 251 yards per game and 23 points. Big Red's D has been strong against the run, allowing just 63 years an outing.
BIG RED NOTES
¯ OHSAA released its first official computer standings this week. With its 3-1 mark, Big Red stands 12th in Division III, Region 9. New Philadelphia is No. 1, followed by Niles McKinley, Chagrin Falls Kenston (the defending Division III state champion), Ravenna and Aurora. Dover is eighth.
¯ After hosting University Prep, Big Red will make its first road trip of the season, visiting Dover on Oct. 4. Saccoccia and company also will hit the road for an Oct. 25 date at Columbus DeSales.