Steubenville kicks off season with dinner

STEUBENVILLE - Coach Reno Saccoccia offered some words of appreciation to his senior players during the 14th-annual Appreciation and Football Kickoff Dinner, sponsored by the Big Red Boosters and held Sunday in the high school commons.

"John McKay (the former coach of Southern California and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) once said he never told his players how much he appreciated them," Saccoccia said.

"I want you to know how much I appreciate your efforts and the way you have accepted the expectations, the challenges and the schedule."

The Big Red coach told the audience his senior players have been working hard this summer as they prepare for the season.

"They are getting ready," he said.

"Our goal as we enter the season is to just get to the next play. That's my message to them, get to the next play."

Senior players introduced by their coach were Jesse Birden, Michael Boniey, Mason Campbell, Blake Carroll, Brian DiFilippo, Shaquille Dorsey, John Eckroth, Dominic Garay, Jake Linn, Marcus Livingston, Jordon Myer, Wesley Prichard, Willie Pruitt, Frank Mastroianni, Shaq Petteway, Anthony Pierro, Joey Pizzino, Josh Thompson and DelShawn Woods.

Saccoccia also discussed the schedule awaiting the Big Red.

"We have a very competitive schedule," he said. "We will need to work hard and get ourselves ready every week. Football is not like the other sports. In football, you have to earn your way into the playoffs. That is why our schedule is so competitive."

Big Red opens the 2010 campaign on Aug. 26 when Inkster, Mich., visits Harding Stadium. Inkster came to town in 2009 and knocked off Steubenville to end its 68-game regular- season winning streak. The contest will be the opener of a special doubleheader. Steubenville Catholic Central and Bridgeport will collide in the nightcap.

Saccoccia's club will travel to Woodland Hills on Sept. 4 to take on McKeesport. Big Red and Brooke will renew their rivalry on Sept. 10 at Harding Stadium. St. John's College will visit Harding Stadium on Sept. 17 then Big Red will face Morgantown on Sept. 25 as part of the Rally in Death Valley.

Steubenville will host Wheeling Park on Oct. 1 before traveling to Massillon on Oct. 8. Youngstown Ursuline, Buffalo St. Joe's and Cardinal O'Hara will visit Harding Stadium to close the regular season.

"The first step is for us to get into shape," Saccoccia said. "We have to get ready to play. We expect a lot from our players and they give us a lot. We need our fans to come to the games ready to help us win."

Margaret Dugan, the Big Red cheering adviser, also introduced her senior cheerleaders. They are Ashley Blackburn, Melissa Crowe, Danielle DiCarlo, Dominique Freeman, Destiny McGee, Kelli Milliken and Chae Steele.

(Looman can be contacted at jlooman@heraldstaronline.com).