Big matchup, new fields highlight Ohio Week 1

STEUBENVILLE -- King Football made his highly anticipated return to the Ohio side of the Herald Star/Daily Times coverage area over the weekend and, as usual, he brought along plenty of excitement.

Unlike the COVID-impacted 2020 season, there were plenty of fans in the stands and they made plenty of noise.

"The crowd tonight was great," Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia said after his squad took down Division I Olentangy Liberty 22-7 Friday. "We used that crowd and they helped us."

For those who didn't know, Liberty began the season ranked as the 12th best team in Ohio, according to MaxPreps.

Edison played the first game inside its new stadium, which features a turf field. Unfortunately, the Wildcats fell to Southern Local 34-21.

"The stadium is beautiful," first-year Edison coach Mike Collopy said before the opener. "The new facility brings a lot of excitement. Everyone is excited. We have a great school district."

New turf fields were unveiled at Harding Stadium and Clarke Hinkle Field in Toronto.

"The message will be very clear on opening day," Red Knight coach Josh Franke said. "They'll be the first team to play on this brand new field.

"We're going from grass to turf, so it makes it even more special. It's definitely energized the kids and honestly it probably got a few more to come play."

Toronto's grand reopening of its refurbished stadium was in jeopardy when Wellsville had to drop out Thursday due to issues with COVID. The Red Knights were able to secure a game with Pepper Pike Orange from the Cleveland area and celebrated the reopening with a 33-20 victory.

And, of course, there were plenty of outstanding performances from some first-time starters.

Phaeton Hill made his debut as Big Red's quarterback one to remember, completing 13 of his 21 passes for an area-best 208 yards and a touchdown. The junior's favorite target was another varsity newcomer -- sophomore wide receiver Isaac Hill, who hauled in five passes for 75 yards.

Sophomore Hayden Cassidy drew the difficult assignment of replacing Kobe Mitchell as Harrison Central's starting signal caller. Cassidy answered the call by throwing for 163 yards (he was 12 of 18) and two touchdowns as the Huskies smacked Claymont 41-6.

"He is always going to be compared to Kobe because he is the next guy," Harrison Central coach Anthony Hayes said of Cassidy. "It is what it is. I've told him that it isn't fair, but life isn't fair sometimes.

"I've told him to just be who you are, bring your skill and your assets, and your mind ready to learn every day."

Junior Zane Kinsey, tasked with replacing Garret Dozier as Toronto's featured running back, had a huge game in the win over Orange. Kinsey ran for 141 yards on 18 trips and scored on runs of 2 and 6 yards. He also grabbed three Aiden Mick passes for 12 yards and another touchdown.

"Zane Kinsey made a number of big plays for us," Franke said. "Dominic Bouscher had a touchdown run (he went in from 13 yards out). That was the difference in the game. We made some big plays and we won the turnover battle. The statistic holds true."

He loves openers:

There must be something about season openers that brings out the best in Steubenville running back Rodney James Jr.

A season ago, he ran for 112 yards and two touchdowns as the Big Red rolled over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 40-13 its lid lifter.

On Friday, he toted the pigskin 20 times, collecting 144 yards. The senior scored on runs of 4 and 66 yards. The long score came when Saccoccia rolled the dice and went for it on fourth and 1 at his own 34. James also ripped off a 41-yard gainer on Steubenville's first place from scrimmage in the third quarter.

A great start:

In the preseason story about his Harrison Central squad, coach Hayes had high words of praise for senior Trevor Carman.

"I'm biased but if it hadn't been for Kobe (Mitchell) last year, Trevor may have had the best season in the Ohio Valley," Hayes said.

As a junior, Carman snagged 49 passes for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn second team All-Ohio honors.

In the opener against Claymont, Carman got his senior campaign off to a great start.

He caught four Cassidy passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. He also carried the ball six times, compiling 51 yards and finding the house twice. And just for good measure, he returned a kickoff 60 yards.

Jon Vermillion, who recorded 29 receptions for 465 yards and five scores in 2020, also had four catches for the Huskies.

Meanwhile, Nathan Bertolino, another Huskies senior, averaged 9.4 yards per carry. He touched the ball 16 times, gaining 151 yards.

Ready to go:

After watching their Ohio counterparts get the season rolling, local West Virginia schools will take the field this week.

The battle for the Hancock County championship will be played on Saturday in--Brooke County! The kick is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium.

The game originally was scheduled for Friday at Oak Glen but the new turf being installed won't be ready so the game was moved. The Carl Hamill Trophy will be a stake when the two rivals collide.

Madonna will travel to Beallsville Friday for a 7 p.m. kick. The Blue Devils dropped a 36-16 decision to Corning Miller in their opener.

Meanwhile, Brooke will entertain Ripley on Friday. That opening kick is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Vikings finished 6-3 in 2020 and qualified for the West Virginia Class AAA playoffs.

Week 2 in Ohio gets going Thursday when New Philadelphia visits Harding Stadium to test the Big Red.

Edison was scheduled to visit Wellsville Friday but those plans were scratched because of the COVID problems within the Tiger program. Instead, Wildcats fans will be treated to another home game as it was announced Monday coach Mike Collopy’s squad will host Tuscarawas Central Catholic, which won its opener.

Top stats:

Running wild

• 151, Nathan Bertolino, Harrison Central

• 144, Rodney James, Steubenville, 2 touchdowns

• 141, Zane Kinsey, Toronto, 2 touchdowns

Gunslingers

• 208, Phaeton Hill, Steubenville, 13 of 21, score

• 163, Hayden Cassidy, Harrison Central, 12 of 18, 2 scores

• 155, Gage Cline, Edison, 7 of 19, 3 scores

Hands team

• 5, Isaac Hill, Steubenville, 75

• 4, Jacob Cusick, Edison, 135, 2 touchdowns

• 4, Trevor Carman, Harrison Central, 89, touchdown

• 4, Jon Vermillion, Harrison Central, 14, touchdown

• 3, Sam Coleman, Indian Creek, 21

• 3, Kinsey, Toronto, 12, touchdown