Big Red looks to bounce back again

Steubenville starts key three-game home stand to close regular season

STEUBENVILLE -- The Big Red football team has shown the ability to bounce back before. They'll be looking to do it again on Friday night. 

After falling 44-40 in a slugfest against Ursuline that came down to the final play in what was their final road test, Big Red begins a stretch of three-straight home games to close the regular season when Buffalo Health Sciences/Academy of Science/Global Concepts comes to Harding Stadium for a 7 p.m. kick. 

"They're just very talented, very good offensively, a good front four defensively, and we've just got to keep on working," Big Red head coach Reno Saccoccia said of this week's opponent. "Our goal is to improve every week and to develop depth, and I think we're doing that, but we've just got to keep working. I have faith in the players that we'll bounce back.

"Knowing that you can bounce back and doing it are two different things, it's easier said than done. We've got to work every day to be able to bounce back."

Buffalo HSA sits at 3-2 on their season and ranked No. 11 in New York's Division B. The trip to Steubenville is the lone game they play this season outside of the state of New York. 

They have scored 36 or more points in each of their wins and average 31.2 points per game, allowing an average of 27.2. 

Their wins are over Jamestown, Lancaster and Lockport, while they have lost to Canisius and Lewis J. Bennett. 

Big Red dropped a few spots in the latest Ohio AP Poll, now sitting at No. 9 after being at No. 4 a week ago. Ursuline jumped from unranked to No. 6 with the win. 

In the Region 11 playoff picture, Big Red is solidly in playoff position, sitting No. 3 in the region in this week's computer ratings. Joe Eitel has Steubenville listed as in control of its own destiny. The top four in the region get a bye week in the opening round and the top 12 make the playoffs. 

Big Red's push to the playoffs will take place at Harding Stadium with Columbus DeSales and Digital Pioneers Academy (Washington D.C.) looming in Weeks 9 and 10, but taking care of business against Buffalo HSA is up first. 

"It's a good three game stretch at home against three really good teams, and we'll have to keep working to be at our best and prepare for the playoffs," Saccoccia said.