2014

BR	2014 Saccoccia	OPP
49	Cleveland JFK	12
23	Cincinnati Glen Este	14
14	Youngstouwn Ursuline	9
35	Brooke Wva.	7
13	@ Massillon Washington	26
42	Athens	58
23	St. Josepn Nj.	25
49	U.S.O. Pa.	20
42	Wheeling Park Wv.	21
30	Canada Prep Ont.	28
35	Johnstown Monroe	22
21	(N) Columbus Marion Franklin	14
29	(N) Columbus Beechcroft	21
12	(N) Cleveland Benedictine	40
417	10-4-0	315

 

 

 

Regional Final, Big Red, 10-3, vs. Cleveland Benedictine Bengals, 12-1, Friday, November 28th, 2014, at Canton Central Catholic's Lowell Klinefelter Stadium.

CANTON - DeCavilon Reese missed Cleveland Benedictin's regional title game with Bay Village with an illness. Unfortunatly for Big Red, he was back on the field Friday night.

The sophomore ran for four first half touchdowns as the Bengals raced to a 40-12 victory in the Division IV semifinals at Canton's Central's Lowell Klinefelter Field. He touched the pigskin five times during the first 24 minutes and compiled 111 yards.

Benedictine, winners of 11 straight, will take a 13-1 mark into next week's championship game against Kettering Alter. The series between the Big Red and the Bengals is now tied at 3-3. All of Benedictine's victories have come in the playoffs.

Big Red, which reached the semifinalsfor the 15th time, ends its outstanding season at 10-4. For the second straight campaign Steubenville captured the Region 13 Championship.

"They were a good football team, no doubt about it," said Big Red's Reno Saccoccia. "They really brought out the worst in us, that's all. They were good."

After its first drive ended in a fumble, the Bengals turned their next five possessions into points.

Reese accounted for the first four touchdowns (he had runs of 59, 13, 28 and 10) and the fifth came via a 22 yard pass from Brian Schoeffler to Ben Keiper. The scoring strike came following an outstanding interception by Justin Layne.

Big Red answered the initial Benedictine score with a 69 yard march of its own. Dimitri Collaros found Niko Petrides on a 3rd and 8 from the Bengal 23. The junior receiver broke two tackles and scooted into the end zone. The conversion was blocked.

Earlier in the drive Collaros hit Petrides for a 15 yards and also had a 19 stripe connection with sophomore Charles Reeves.

Joe Schaefer's Benedictine reeled off 26 unanswered points after the Big Red touchdown and were up 33-6 at the half.

The Benedictine scoring parade continued early in the third quarter following a fumble recovery and return by Collin Pecoraro. Schoeffler snuck in from a yard out.

Ohio's "mercy rule" kicked in after Alex DiFrancesco's kick made it 40-6.

Big Red got back with 28 early in the fourth when Collaros ran in from 12 yards out on a speed option play. This Big Red march covered 76 yatds. Collaros hit Branden Jones for 36 and Petrides for 15 on the drive.

While the offense pretty much scored at will, the Benedictine defense proved down right nasty. After allowing Big Red's first quarter touchdown, the Bengals shut down their opponents, sacking Collaros four times and picking off two passes.

"I'll love these guys until I die," Saccoccia stated about his players. "All the coaches appreciate the effort these kids gave. They are a great bunch of players. They showed that in the second half when they could have gone out there and quit. It was 33-6 and there wasn't much we could do.

"They kept fighting and that's why we kept fighting there at the end, trying to score instead of taking a knee. We wanted to show our kids how much we appreciated the effort and all they have given us since January."

Reese finished the game with 165 yards on 15 trips. Schoeffler was a very efficient six of seven for 120. As a team, the Bengals compiled 359 yards compared to 214 for Big Red.

Collaros finished with 151 passing, but Benedictine held Johnnie Blue to 60 stripes on 17 carries.

Big Red reached the seminfinals by capturing six straight victories.

"I'm proud of our coaches for continuing to work hard and I'm very proud of our players, that goes without saying," Saccoccia stated. "I'm also proud of our parents. Usually when you are having a 4-3 season, players will hear a lot of negative things at home. that didn't happen in the homes of our players."

 

 

 

Regional Final, Big Red, 9-3, vs. Columbus Beechcroft Cougars, 11-1, Friday, November 21st, 2014, at Zanesville's Sulsberger Stadium.

 

Zanesville- Big Red captured its second straight Division IV Region 13 championship Friday night with a thrilling 29-21 victory over Columbus Beechcroft inside Sulsberger Stadium.

The victory sends the 10-3 Big Red into next week's final four where it will collide with Cleveland Benedictine. The exact location for the D IV semifinal will be announced on Sunday.

"We're practicing on Thanksgiving and that's the goal every year," Big Red's Reno Saccoccia said after watching his second seeded squad dispose of the region's top seed. "I'm just so proud of these guys for all they did to go from 4-3 to regional champs."

Steubenville, which has now won 15 regional titles, fell behind early thanks to a special teams miscue. Beechcroft was forced to punt on its first possession but the kick bounced off of a Big Red player and the Cougars recovered to keep its opening drive going.

Quarterback Macyah Fleming capped the 75 yard march when he snuck in from a yard out. Abasss Ceeay added the extra point.

Big Red responded by driving 67 yards in 11 plays to knot the score. Dimitri Collaros, who had another huge night, looped a pass over the head of a Beechcroft defender to tight end Branden Jones for a six yard score. Tevon Gary nailed the extra poin.

On the drive, Johnnie Blue powered his way for 30 yards, including a crucial four yard gain on 4th down. Saccoccia's club took the lead for good after A. J. Cochran recovered a Beechcroft fumble. The touchdown came on a fourth and 21 from the Cougar 25 when Collaros hit a diving Travis Wolfe in the end zone. Gary's boot put Big Red up 14-7.

Big Red's lead advanced to 22-7 with a little more than three minutes in the half after it traveled 64 yards in just four plays. The six pointer came on a Collaros to Blue screen pass. The junior running back bounced off a Cougar defender to reach the end zone. Wolfe, the holder on extra points, exacuted a perfect fake when he tossed a two point conversion pass to Charles Reeves.

The big play on the scoring march was a 40 yard Collaros to Devin Smith connenction. The catch was the first of the season for the senior tight end.

Beechcroft threatened following the score, moving from its own 26 to the Big Red 23, thanks to three runs by David Peoples. An interception by Collaros, however, put the ball back in Steubenville's hands. "We fell behind early after a special teams miscue, but then we were able to come back with that tying drive." Saccoccia noted. "That first scoring drive was big. It was just a super effort by our team tonight."

Big Red took the second half kickoff and marched 72 yards, taking more than six minutes off of the clock. Blue recorded the score on a one yard plunge. Gary's kick made it 29-7.

Blue had a 26 yard gain on the drive which ended in a fumble, Niko Petrides recovering. Two consecutive penalties against the Cougars also aided Steubenville's cause.

"That drive to start the second half was just beautiful." Saccoccia stressed. "We were able to take a lot of time off of the clock and put ourselves in a good position."

Beechcroft cut it to a 15 point game with 10 seconds remaining in the 3rd, going 54 stripes for its score. The touchdown came on an eight yard pass from Fleming to Mike Powers.

The final score came with 8:33 left after Fleming hit Takeyvion Simmons for a 23 yard touchdown. Beechcroft took advantage of good field position after a short punt by Big Red. Fleming was able to secape the Big Red defensive pressure but did appear to let the pass go after crossing the line of scrimmage.

Big Red was on its way for another score when it fumbled. Beechcroft recovering at its own 10. The Steubenville defense rose up, however, Jones recording a sack on a Fleming for a nine yard loss, forcing a punt.

Another quarterback sack, this on by Blue, who blitzed from his lineback spot with a minute to go, sealed the win, and gave Big Red the regional crown.

"We tried to run the ball late, but we couldn't do it" Saccoccia stated. "Our defense really came up big late and that was just huge for us."

Collaros finished with 181 yards passing; he completed 15 of his 21 attempts. Blue ended the night with 146 rushing stripes and a score.

Beechcroft, which came in averaging 243 rushing yards per game, was held to just 93. The Cougars did manage to compile 141 through the air. Trevor White's club finishes at 11-2.

"It was just a great team effort," Saccoccia said, "I'm so proud of our players and coaches. When we were 4-3, everbody could have just pouted about it. Instead, the coaches kept coaching hard, the players kept playing hard, and our fans stuck with us. We turned a 4-3 team into a 10-3 team and we are the Regional Champions."

Steubenville, which knocked off Columbus Marion Franklin to reach the title game, now sports an all time playoff record of 53-23.

 

 

Regional Semi-final, Big Red, 8-3, vs. Columubus Marion Franklin Red Devils, 10-1, Friday, November 14th, 2014, at Meadowbrook's Eugene Capers Field.

 

Byesville- Big Red played strong on both sides of the football Friday in earning a 21-14 Division IV Region 13 semifinal victory over Columbus Marion Franklin on Eugene Capers Field at Meadowbrook High School.

Dimitri Collaros threw for three touchdowns and the defense delivered four interceptions as Reno Saccoccia's club improved to 9-3 and advanced to next week's regional championship. Big Red, which captured the Region 13 crown a season ago, will battle Columbus Beechcroft, a 35-0 winner over Maysville, the title tilt.

"This was a great game and great victory," a jubilant Saccoccia said. "Marion Franklin has a great team. This was a special win for us particulary with all the people who counted us out when we stood at 4-3. Everyone played a good game."

Big Red struck first moving 97 yards following a Dimitri Collaros interception. The march consumed more than six minutes of the opening quarter. The touchdown came on an 18 yard Collaros to Branden Jones pass. Tevon Gary's kick was good.

Johnnie Blue collected 44 yards on the opening drive.

The Red Devils drew even on a 16 yard sprint by Justin Tyler. The touchdown came after Marion Franklin recovered a fumble at the Big Red 24. Edgar Lucero booted the extra point.

A Shyoun Petteway pick late in the second quarter kept the score even at the half.

"Our defense really did a great job before the half," Saccoccia pointed out. "They really came up big. Meanwhile, our offense just kep grinding and grinding. That's how you win playoff games."

Big Red took the second half kick and moved 59 yards for the go ahead score. The drive took nearly six minutes. Jones and Collaros hooked up again, this time from three yards away. Gary's kick made it 14-7. Blue was huge on this march also, muscling his way for 30 stripes.

The Red Devils drew even again with 39 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Justin King went over from 5 yards away and Lucero nailed the kick.

Marion Franklin again had a short field after Tyuan Taylor blacked a Big Red punt. Steubenville was facing a fourth and five from its own 49 but was flagged for delay of game when it attempted to draw the Red Devils offsides. Big Red then got hit with another penalty before the kick was blocked.

On the tying touchdown march, Big Red drew a huge penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

An 80 yard drive put Big Red ahead to stay the 5:22 left to play. Collaros fired his third scoring pass of the evening when he found Lucas Herrington running free behind the Red Devil defense on an out and up play. The pass and catch covered 59 yards. On the march, Blue drove forward for two yards to convert a fourth and one at the Steubenville 29.

Big Red's touchdown a possession after Marion Franklin appeared to take the lead thanks to a 46 yard sprint by King. The score was nullified by a holding call.

The Big Red defense then stepped up huge after the Red Devils moved trom their own 40 to the Steubenville 27. On second and six from the 23 King was thrown for a five yard loss. After Tyler was chased down in the backfield, he threw his third pick of the game. Jalen McGhee doing the honors this time.

"I felt two things happened tonight," Saccoccia stated. "Number one, we started the game with a 97 yard drive. Then, they get a tunover for their first score.

"You win playoff games when your defense plays like ours did tonight. They played their hearts out. The offense grinded and grinded then we hit a big play. The line came through with great protection on the out and up for a touchdown."

Collaros finished with 188 yards passing and three scores. Blue again went over the 100 yard mark with 108.

The Big Red win, according to Saccoccia, was dedicated to the late Ralph Pierro, father of defensive coordinator Anthony Pierro. Ralph Pierro died 20 years ago, but Friday was his birthday.

"That was for him," Saccoccia noted.

Marion Franklin finishes the year at 10-2.

 

 

Regional Quarter-final, Big Red, 7-3, vs. Johnstown Monroe Johnnies, 8-2, Friday, November 7th, 2014, at Death Valley.

Steubenville- Big Red spotted Johnstown Monroe an early touchdown lead then stormed back to claim a 35-22 Divison IV Region 13 quarterfinal victory Friday at Death Valley.

The hosts turned three of their first four possessions into scores and improved to 8-3 on the season. The third seeded Big Red, who now own a 17-4 record in home playoff games, advance to next week's seminfinals and a date with Columbus Marion Franklin.

Marion Franklin, the region's second seed, moved on via a 20-15 come from behind win over Amanda Clearcreek. The game location will be announded Sunday.

"Every win is a good win and I'm happy with this victory," Big Red's Reno Saccoccia said. "Moving on is beautiful. I'm glad these guys are moving on. Look at how many teams are not moving on that expect to."

Johnstown, which finished at 8-3 stunned the Big Red by taking the opening kickoff and quickly marching 67 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Cody Workman scooted in from 20 yards out on an option play. Earlier, he scrambled away from the Big Red defensive pressure and ripped off an 18 stripe gain. Clay Paurny was good on the conversion kick.

Big Red responded by moving 62 yards to tie the score.

The touchdown came on a Dimitri Collaros to Branden Jones pass, covering 36 stripes. The spectacular one hand grab by Jones helped Big Red overcome a holding penalty. Tavon Gary booted the conversion. Earlier in the march Collaros connected twice with junior Niko Petrides for 20 yards.

After the defense delivered a three and out (Jeremy Blue and A.J. Cochran combined for a quarterback sack), Big Red needed just one play to take the lead for good. Collaros found Travis Wolfe running open over the middle. The pass and catch covered 60 yards. Gary's kick moved the score to 14-7.

The score moved to 21-7 Big Red with 8:27 left in the second quarter. On fourth and three from his own 48, Collaros hit Jones on a throwback screen. The senior picked up several big blocks, sprinted down the sidelines and dove into the endzone. Gary added the kick.

Big Red's sxi pointer came four snaps afer Jones knocked the ball from Workman during a sack and recovered the loose pigskin.

Johnstown went 80 yards just before the half to make it 21-14. The scoring march came after a missed Big Red field goal. Workman set up the score when he escaped the pass rush again and scampered 35 yards to the Steubenville five. Cody Farley took it over from there. Paurny nailed the conversion kick. The drive was aided by a personal foul call against Big Red.

The hosts took advantage of a Johnstown turnover early in the third quarter, Jones recovering another fumble, to go up 28-14. The 63 yard drive was capped by Johnnie Blue's three yard run. The march featured a 48 yard Collaros to Jones screen pass and a seven yard gain by Collaros on fourth down.

The Johnnies mounted a drive following the Big Red touchdown, moving from their own 23 to the Steubenville 37. Dondre Brown threw Workman for a six yard loss and Johnstown eventually punted. The defense also delivered another turnover during the fourth quarter when A.J. Cochrun knocked the pigskin loose, Brown recovered.

Big Red's final score came off a time consuming 78 yard march late in the game. Blue did the honors on a three yard plunge. Gary kicked again was true.

Johnstown struck with less than a minute left when Workman connected with Zackry Fleming for 54 yards. The touchdown came after Saccoccia had emptied his bench. Farly ran for the two point conversion.

Collaros completed 16 of 30 passes, six different receivers had receptions, for 316 yards. Blue had another solid game for Big Red, rushing for 152 yards on 24 trips. As a team, Big Red compiled 502 yards of offense, but also drew 10 penalty flags.

"We can't play like that and expect to keep winning." Saccoccia stressed. "We got away with it tonight, but we can't have five yard penalties on first down. We have to fix our mistakes in order to keep advancing.

"Football is a pretty simple game....you block and tackle. We have to block and tackle along with doing the little things, like holding our water on offense and getting lined up on defense. Until we do that, every game is going to be a struggle.

Saccoccia noted that his Big Red had "some big plays" during the first meeting between the schools, but also had some opportunities slip away.

"We have to execute," he noted. "You can't rely on big plays. Execution is the most important thing we can do besides blocking and tackling."

Workman led Johnstown with 132 yards rushing, he had 141 at the half, while Farley, who compiled 1,829 stripes during the regular season, finished with 104 on 22 tries.

Big Red, the defending Region 13 champ, now has an alltime playoff record of 51-23.