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No. 1 Big Red hands New Philadelphia first defeat

Steubenville’s Jorian Jones is tackled after making a catch against New Philadelphia on Friday. (Photo by Michael D. McElwain)

STEUBENVILLE — Ohio’s top-ranked Division IV club left no doubt Friday night inside Harding Stadium.

Dominating play on both sides of the football, Big Red rolled to a convincing 41-3 victory over previously unbeaten New Philadelphia.

“We beat a very good team tonight,” Steubenville head coach Reno Saccoccia said after his Big Red improved to 8-0. “New Philadelphia is a very well-coached and a very disciplined team. It was just our night. If we played another day, things might have been different, but tonight was out night.”

After its defense delivered a three and out to start the game, Big Red quickly marched 82 yards for the opening score, senior tailback Jacob Bernard going over from a yard away. A nifty 28-yard punt return by Gino Pierro gave Steubenville outstanding field position to start its second drive, which ended with a 5-yard Bernard touchdown run. Ian Phillips’ conversion boot made it 13-0 with 5:39 left in the first period.

New Philadelphia’s third touch resulted in a nifty interception of a Baron May pass by Big Red senior defensive back DaJuan Jones. He weaved his way 52 yards to complete the pick six.

During the opening 12 minutes, Big Red ran 18 plays for 145 yards (Bernard gained 82 rushing, and senior quarterback Javon Davis completed all six of his passes for 63). The Quakers, on the other hand, ran 12 plays for a single yard.

The score moved to 27-0 with 11:17 showing before the half on a 15-yard Davis to Jones pass. Bernard’s third touchdown came with 4:11 showing, this time on a 3-yard run.

New Philly, which came in averaging 38 points per game, finally got points late in the second quarter. Kye Crowthers broke off a 37-yard run and Storm Elsesser capped the possession by booting a 39-yard field goal.

Big Red responded in a hurry, needing just 1:10 and four plays to travel 53 yards. Davis found senior Alec Taylor for a 26-yard touchdown. It was the first score of the season for the speedy Taylor who missed five games with an injury.

Steubenville finished the first half with 296 yards of offense compared to 61 for the Quakers.

“It was beautiful,” Saccoccia said of his team’s effort. “The only thing I told them after the game is I appreciate all they have given to our program so far this year. Their effort paid off during the first half tonight. I told them I appreciated the way they played tonight and the way they represent their homes, their community and their school.”

There was no scoring in the second half, which was played under the OHSAA’s mercy rule. Big Red did mount two threats, one resulting in a turnover on downs and the other ending with a fumble. The Quakers marched to the Big Red seven late in the game, but Abe Zane picked off May at the one to end the threat.

Bernard paced Big Red’s stable of running backs with 133 yards on 19 carries and the three scores. As a team, Steubenville ran for 280. Davis finished 12-of-15 for 136 and two scores. Johnny Agresta caught five balls for 52.

May, New Philadelphia’s sophomore signal caller, had thrown for 1,373 yards and rushed for 669 coming into the game. He was limited to one completion (it came with less than four minutes to play) in 19 attempts for just two yards. He also was held to 42 rushing yards.

Friday’s game was the 10th all-time meeting between the schools and the first since 1924. New Philly still leads the series 5-4-1.

Big Red will celebrate homecoming next week when Cardinal O’Hara from Tonawanda, N.Y. visits Harding Stadium.

Steubenville 41, New Philadelphia 3

New Philly 0-3-0-0 — 3

Big Red 20-21-0-0 — 41

BIG RED: Bernard 1 run (pass failed)

BIG RED: Bernard 5 run (Phillips kick)

BIG RED: Jones 52 interception return (Phillips kick)

BIG RED: Jones 15 pass from Davis (Phillips kick)

BIG RED: Bernard 3 run (Phillips kick)

N.P.: Elsesser 39 field goal

BIG RED: Taylor 26 pass from Davis (Phillips kick)

RUSHING: New Philadelphia 25-126 (May 12-42; Crowthers 11-75; Ortt 2-9); Big Red 42-280-3 (Bernard 19-133-3; Davis 4-32; Criss 1-5; Mitchell 5-30; Montgomery 6-35; Crawford 4-37; A. Demitras 2-4; Petteway 1-4).

PASSING: New Philadelphia 1-18-2-0-2 (all by May); Big Red 12-15-136-2-0 (all by Davis).

RECEIVING: New Philadelphia 1-2 (Zemis 1-2); Big Red 12-136-2 (D. Jones 2-36-2; Pierro 2-13; Agresta 5-52; Taylor 1-26-1; J. Jones 1-2; A. Demitras 1-7).

FIRST DOWNS: New Philadelphia 7; Big Red 25.

PENALTIES-YARDS: New Philadelphia 4-25; Big Red 3-30.

PUNTS: New Philadelphia 6-41; Big Red 1-34.

FUMBLES-LOST: New Philadelphia 0-0; Big Red 1-1.

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