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STEUBENVILLE -- Two teams hoping to qualify for the Division VII playoffs will square off Saturday inside Harding Stadium when Steubenville Catholic Central hosts Bridgeport.
Both squads bagged homecoming victories last week -- the Crusaders blanking Pittsburgh Carrick 30-0 and the Bulldogs overcame an early 21-7 deficit to earn a 49-39 triumph over Beallsville.
Saturday's meeting will be the sixth all time between the schools. Bridgeport leads the series 3-2 but CCHS has won the last two encounters, including a 15-14 victory a season ago. The opening kick is set for 7 p.m. Central will salute its eight seniors prior to the kickoff.
Central improved to 7-0 with its shutout of Carrick. Eric Meek's club has recorded three shutouts this season, including two straight. In seven games, the Crusaders have allowed just 36 points while scoring 194.
The Crusaders, who again earned votes in the Ohio AP Division VII poll, are ninth in this week's Region 25 standings. Toronto, which will host Central in Week 10, are eighth.
"I was very proud of our defensive effort in the Carrick game," Meek said. "I was also very proud of my assistant coaches. They coach so hard and they push our kids to be the best they can be. Teddy Kostecki has taken over the defense. He along with Seth Wright, Dave Brown, Gabriel Erickson and John Serafini do a tremendous job. I really appreciate all their hard work.
"Our entire defense has done a fabulous job. We have been very physical up front. Really in seven ball games, our starting defense has only given up 29 points."
Carrick managed just 74 total yards and the Crusader D recorded four quarterback sacks. Peyton Rauch was involved in three of those sacks.
Coach Fred Ray's Bulldogs improved to 3-4 with the win over Beallsville, which fell for just the second time in seven starts. Bridgeport is 12th in the Region 27 computer standings.
Bridgeport opened its season with a win over Frontier before falling to Monroe Central. It rebounded with a victory over East Palestine then dropped three straight -- losing to Bradford, Conotton Valley and River.
"It is nice to get a win," Ray said following the Beallsville game. "We went through a tough stretch. Our offense really performed well. We had really good balance.
"I am proud of my guys. They beat a really good team. We still need to clean some things up, especially penalties. But it is nice to win again."
Sophomore quarterback Jaki Threet put together an outstanding game in the victory -- throwing for 153 yards (he completed seven of his 10 passing attempts) and rushing for 81 yards. Three of his completions went for touchdowns. He also ran for a score and a caught a 29-yard pass from Aiden Kinney for a fifth six-pointer.
Senior Michael Marshall ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries while junior Avery Jackson caught two touchdown passes.
Through seven games, Bridgeport has scored 181 points and allowed 267.
"Bridgeport has excellent skills and scores a lot of points," Meek said. "We escaped with a 15-14 win down there last year. We won the turnover margin pretty heavily in the game and that definitely was a factor. I told our kids I am sure the Bridgeport players have had us on their minds the entire off season. We won by one point and they turned it over so many times.
"They play two quarterbacks and they both are dangerous. I am really concerned about their offense. We have to continue to get better. I tell our kids all the time we want to play our best football in the month of October. And here we are--it's October and we are 7-0. It's time now for us to turn it up and really play our best football of the season this month.
Meek pointed out Bridgeport is going to "be a tough opponent."
"We really need to focus," he continued. "We have to have a great week of practice. They do some things defensively that we have not seen all season from a scheme standpoint. We need to be able to block their looks and any surprise looks they give us.
"What I have noticed with our offensive line is the guys are comfortable communicating with me exactly what they see and what they feel we can do successfully. They really have picked up our offensive schemes and do a great job of communicating those things with the coaching staff. I am developing a lot of trust with the line. I ask them all the time what do you think? That is the trust level I have right now with our kids. I really trust them."
In the win over Carrick, Central compiled 321 yards of offense, 227 coming on the ground. Junior Tommy Pergi led the rushing attack with 90 yards on 21 carries. Senior Tyler Ialenti added 62 (he also threw for 94) and senior B.J. Fallon finished with 42 rushing yards and 33 receiving yards. He caught a touchdown pass from Ialenti.
"We have to move the ball on the ground and establish a run game early," Meek said when discussing the keys to victory. "We have to contain their offensive weapons. Our defense is going to be in for another big test. We can't have a letdown.
"We have played good football defensively this season. Our defense has been solid in every game. I am extremely proud of the kids and my assistant coaches for that. We need to do the same thing Saturday night at Harding Stadium."
The eight seniors to be recognized are: Toby Rusciano, Fallon, Ialenti, Daniel Bolster, Thad Federoff, Brayden Rauch, Brendan Grimm and Kody Carver.
"The seniors are a special group of young men," Meek said. "I have only known them for a year and a half although it seems longer. We have really developed a close relationship.
"It's going to be really tough when I am no longer coaching these young men. They are special young men -- not only as football players but also as people."