STEUBENVILLE – The Bowers and Bowers Show was on full display Saturday.

Cole and Landon Bowers tallied a combined five goals and three assists leading the Big Red boys’ soccer team to an 8-1 victory via mercy rule against John Marshall Saturday afternoon on Reno Saccoccia Field inside Harding Stadium.

“We were disappointed with our loss Thursday,” Big Red (5-2-1) head coach Greg Bowers said. “We did not put a team away. Today, we had the opportunity to do that, and we were able to put them away. Hopefully, we are able to do that rest of the season.”

Big Red led the Monarchs, 2-1, with 16 minutes left in the first half before the Red and Black collected the last six goals of the match to pull away for the victory.

“They were too physical for us,” John Marshall (5-4) head coach Josh Strope said. “They got some big boys over there. We hung with them for a little bit, but they just wore us down. They wore us down.”

Cole Bowers led the charge for the boys from Jefferson County as the Army commit collected a hat trick and two assists, while Landon Bowers delivered two goals and one assist.

“We wanted to man mark Cole,” Strope said. “I think it worked for a little bit, but they brought big 8 (Josiah Rea) up. They were able to give Bowers more room. It was a smart move. They were too much for us.”

Also for the victors, Tad Loot tallied a goal and two assists, Gabe Loot and Rea each contributed a goal and Chase Beall, and Gabe Martin each chipped in with an assist.

Big Red used two goalies in the match. JJ Lamantia started in the net, and he made one save in the first half before being replaced by Luca Holt to start the second half. Holt made two saves.

Trenton Burton netted the lone goal of the match for the boys from Marshall County, while Daniel Pena produced the assist.

Tripp Bonds was busy in goal for the visitors as the sophomore ended the match with 14 saves.

The victors raced out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of goals by Landon Bowers before Burton found the back of the net to pull the visitors to within 2-1.

The score remained the same until Cole Bowers scored his first goal of the day with 15:40 remaining in the first half to give the boys in red a 3-1 lead. Rea delivered his goal with 3:02 left in the half to extend Big Red’s advantage to 4-1.

“At halftime, we reminded them to keep pushing forward,” Coach Bowers said. “We had to continue to finish, and we were abke to do that. Hopefully, that carries over into next week and the OVAC Tournament.”

The home team netted four more goals in the second half to secure the victory.

Tad Loot opened the scoring in the second half to increase Big Red’s advantage to 5-1 before Bowers recorded the next two to complete his hat trick. Gabe Loot scored to cap the scoring in the match.

“Josh is doing a great job with them,” Coach Bowers said. “We watched a lot of film on them just to see where they are at this season. They move the ball much better. They have some skilled guys. No. 10 (Ethan Corvino) and 20 (Pena) are dangerous. Cedric (Peckens) did a good job on 10.”

The match was the first of a tough stretch for the Monarchs as the teams get ready for the annual OVAC Tournament.

“We are playing pretty well,” Strope said. “We are 5-4. That’s extremely good for John Marshall. This match was one for us to see what we have to work on. We may make the OVAC Tournament, and we may see them again.”

John Marshall is scheduled to play University at 6 p.m. Monday at home before taking on rival Wheeling Park at 6 p.m. Thursday on the road.

Big Red is slated to play Wheeling Park at 6 p.m. Tuesday down at Wheeling Island Stadium before playing Brooke at 6 p.m. Thursday on the road.

“We have to prepare to play a good team,” Coach Bowers said. “We play Park Tuesday. We are going to see what we are made of. We close out with Park and Brooke, and we are going to see where things fall with the OVAC Tournament. Our goal right now is to make a run in the OVAC Tournament.”