Big Red meets Linsly at WLU
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WEST LIBERTY -- Linsly will celebrate homecoming Friday when it welcomes Steubenville to West Family Stadium on the campus of West Liberty University.
The opening kick for the 11th all-time meeting between the OVAC powers is set for 7 p.m. Steubenville has an 8-1-1 advantage in the series.
The now 3-1 Cadets are coming off a dominating 41-0 victory over previously unbeaten Fort Frye. The road loss was the first for Fort Frye since 2014. Linsly controlled the interior on both sides of the ball as it ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile the Linsly defense held Fort Frye to just 61 yards of total offense.
B.J. Depew's club has also defeated Richmond Heights and Parma Heights Holy Name. It dropped a 30-17 decision to always tough Columbus DeSales.
Since dropping its opener to Youngstown Ursuline, Big Red has reeled off five consecutive victories, the latest coming via a 42-28 triumph over Wheeling Park. Steubenville finished with 468 yards of offense (227 rushing and 241 via the air).
Savier Faulks put together another big game for Reno Saccoccia's squad, going for 177 yards on 27 carries and scoring four times. He had touchdown runs of 5, 20, 15 and 39 yards. Aydan Manning completed 15 of his 20 passing attempts for the 241 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Isaac Hill for a 32-yard score and Sabron Felton for a 47-yard six pointer.
"I think if you start relying on big plays, you can run into some trouble," Saccoccia said. "We want to be fundamentally sound in what we do in all three phases of the game. We have to be gap sound defensively and be able to change some things up defensively. We just want to do what we do and try to do it a little better every week."
In four games, Faulks has compiled 602 rushing yards on 91 carries and scored 10 times. Manning is 78 for 124 good for 979 yards and six scores. Meanwhile, Hill has 40 catches for 571 yards and four six-pointers.
"Every win is a good win," Saccoccia said. "Wheeling Park is a good football team and we have another tough opponent coming up this week. Linsly is always a well-coached team. They always have good size and are always physical.
"Defensively, Linsly is outstanding. They have an outstanding quarterback who is the key to their offense. Their tailback is outstanding. They just play good team football."
A season ago, the Cadets marched into Harding Stadium and stunned Steubenville 28-27 thanks to a touchdown with 1:12 left to play. Atley Cowan and Malte Feil connected for an 18-yard touchdown to tie the game then Santiago Graneros won it with his successful conversion kick.
"I think you always keep that in the back of your mind," Saccoccia said when discussing the 2022 setback. "But that was last year's team and this is this year's team. We are a different team and Linsly is a different team. Just let the game be played."
Against Fort Frye, sophomore Braden Wade made his first varsity start for the Cadets. He threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
"I'm so happy for Braden to be able to have his moment," Depew said following the Fort Frye victory. "He had two really good weeks of practice. I'm thrilled for him. He's shown patience and is going what we are asking him to do."
Kevin Stanisi rushed for 85 yards on six carries and scored twice. Ramello Derr caught four Wade passes for 101 yards.
In three games, Cowan has thrown for 514 yards and five touchdowns.
Saccoccia pointed out his message to the Big Red this week is pretty simple -- "stay focused and play as hard as you can play."
"That is all we are asking from them" he continued. "Give us everything you have and stay focused. We need to be totally focused on Friday. Defensively, we have to be gap sound and have a controlled rush because the Linsly quarterback can hurt you with his legs."