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STEUBENVILLE -- On Nov. 12, 1989, Ryan Terry ran his way into Big Red football history.
A senior running back, Terry plunged across the goal from a yard out in the second overtime as Steubenville earned a thrilling 37-31 triumph over North Canton Hoover in a Division II regional championship game.
His scoring run capped what perhaps stands as the most incredible comeback in the history of the state football playoffs. Big Red trailed Hoover 31-7 with 6:29 remaining in the third quarter, but rallied for the victory.
"This was the greatest comeback in the history of football," Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia said after the game played inside Canton's Fawcett Stadium. "I don't mean just high school football....I mean all of football."
In that contest, Terry fashioned his third successive 100-yard game, carrying 17 times for 121 yards.
After graduation, Terry went on to play at the University of Iowa and then was a member of the Arizona Cardinals. He's quick to admit, his time at Big Red prepared him well for playing at the college and professional levels.
"At the time you're involved, you don't realize how many things the Big Red program is preparing you for outside of football," Terry said Friday during the 32nd-annual Legends Night event, sponsored by the school's Boosters Club. "You learn hard work, team work and dedication. There are people depending on you and you want to make sure you're doing whatever you can to make yourself successful.
"After coming through the Big Red program, I felt like there wasn't anything I couldn't do or anything I wasn't ready for."
Terry, who now resides in the Houston suburb of Richmond, pointed out his Big Red football memories "always go back to July conditioning."
"It's a time of your life when you always ask yourself what in the hell I am doing here," he said with a smile. "But there is something inside of you that helps push you through it.
"Plus, you have guys around you working for the same goal. Guys are in the foxhole with you. You know you have to push on and you have to compete. My Big Red memories always start with summer conditioning."
During their Big Red days, the 1989 seniors participated in two Ohio championship games (Steubenville dropped both to Akron Butchel) and advanced to the state semifinals, losing to eventual state champion Cleveland St. Joseph. The 1989 squad dropped its season opener then reeled off 11 straight victories.
"I don't want to make it look like our class is taking all the credit, but I think we were the foundation era after the 1984 state championship team," Terry pointed out. "If we weren't playing as sophomores, we were getting the starters ready. We got those guys prepared, we played them hard and we went undefeated as the junior varsity team.
"During our junior year, our class played a key role in returning to the title game. Our senior year, we were a little disappointed that we didn't make it all the way. Expectations were high. I look back at that team and I believe we were successful.
"The North Canton Hoover game was memorable to me. I'm not sure how it compares to my father's game against Massillon but that memory sticks with me. I was fortunate to be the guy who ended up scoring the winning touchdown. Just thinking about those kind of things and how they happened give you chills."
Terry's father, Ray, also ran himself into Big Red's football history. His 61-yard touchdown sprint helped Steubenville beat Massillon 14-8 in 1962. That victory allowed Big Red to end 31 years of frustration in its series with the Tigers. Steubenville has not won at Massillon (against the Tigers) since that October night.
After graduating from Big Red, Terry made a "pit stop" at Tennessee State University where he became the starting tailback midway through his freshman season.
"My desire as a kid growing up in Ohio was always to play for a Big 10 school," he recalled. "I had a little self-doubt at first. I was a late bloomer. When I got to college, I really started to bloom and became to come out of my shell.
"Once I became a starter at Tennessee State, I realized I probably couldn't have lived with myself if I didn't transfer to a Big 10 school just to see if was good enough to compete."
Following just one semester at Iowa, Terry received a full scholarship.
"I was voted captain of the 1994 team by my peers," he stated. "That was very special for me being a walk-on on among a bunch of all-American guys. But it goes back to the Big Red program -- the work ethic that was instilled in me and the mental focus I learned. I did what I could do."
Terry then moved to the NFL, signing as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. He spent two years with the Cardinals. During his rookie campaign, he led the NFL in kickoff returns for the first 10 games. He finished his career in Canada, playing two seasons in Edmonton, two in Toronto and one in Montreal, where his team captured the Grey Cup championship.
"When I look back at my career, I can honestly look at myself and say I did the things I was supposed to do," Terry reflected. "Things happened the way they were supposed to happen. I am very fortunate and very blessed.
"To me it's crazy. I made it to the NFL and I played at Iowa, but my most special football memories are here in Steubenville. Having the chance to reunite with the guys who were in the foxhole with me for most of my life is exciting and emotional. I feel like I am taking the field tonight to play a game. I hope my emotions don't get the best of me."
Terry took a moment to remember fellow 1989 senior Terrence Christian, who died in a drowning accident several years ago.
"Not having him with us physically is a little emotional for me," Terry said. "I know he's with us in spirit. The whole night is both exciting and emotional."
Terry now owns a business called The Stretch Factor, located in Katy, Texas. He works with athletes and anyone focused on flexibility issues.
"I love my company and I love my job," he stressed.