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Big Red lights up the scoreboard at Park

Kristin Mazgaj POWER RUNNING — Big Red’s Gavin Bozica runs through an attempted tackle from a Wheeling Park defender during Friday’s game at Wheeling Island Stadium.

WHEELING — Suffice it to say Steubenville’s offense clicked on all cylinders Friday inside Wheeling Island Stadium.

The unbeaten Big Red, now 6-0, finished with an eye-popping 682 yards (488 on the ground and 194 through the air), turned all 10 of its possessions into touchdowns and four scoring plays of 60 yards or more in thumping Wheeling Park 69-28.

“I’m so happy with our players,” Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia said following the game which took more than three hours to complete and saw the two rivals draw 31 flags for various infractions. “It was a good game and a great win. We have to keep our composure, keep working and keep wanting to improve.

“After a game like this, it is human nature to want to let down. We can’t let that happen. We have to keep wanting to improve and keep working hard.”

Park, which falls to 3-2, actually drew first blood in the contest, taking the opening kick and quickly moving 60 yards. Max Wiley capped the drive with a 5-yard run.

Big Red then took control by running off 21 unanswered points. The visitors, who now hold a commanding 16-1 lead in the series, led 13-7 after the opening quarters and 35-21 at the half. It was 56-28 Steubenville heading into the final 12 minutes.

Gavin Bozica paced Big Red’s potent running game, which chalked up eight touchdowns, with 192 yards on 22 carries. The talented senior scored his team’s first three six-pointers on runs of 5, 3 and 3 yards.

Junior speedster Savier Faulks toted the rock just five times but finished with 163 yards. He had touchdown sprints of 60 and 68 yards. His 68-yard came in the fourth quarter.

Faulks also had an 8-yard scoring run.

Sophomore Jalen Minniefield capped the scoring when he traveled 67 yards.

Senior Spencer Ostovich accounted for the eighth rushing touchdown on a 1-yard plunge.

Phaeton Hill, Steubenville’s senior quarterback needed just seven completions to compile his 194 passing yards. He threw two scoring strikes to junior wide receiver Isaac Hill.

The first came on a fourth down and goal play from the Park 29. Following an Ivan Buggs interception, which ended a Park scoring threat, Big Red marched to the Patriot eight before being hit with several penalties.

The Hills hooked up for an 82-yard touchdown on the second snap of the third quarter.

With three receptions for 115 yards, I. Hill led Big Red’s receiving corps. Kyjhaun Hopkins had two catches for 68.

“Our offense had a strong night and defensively, I thought we played well,” Saccoccia said. “Penalties hurt us and three of their touchdowns came on fourth down plays. I was happy with the way our lines played on both sides of the ball.

“Two things I was not happy with — the holding calls and a couple of late whistles. We have to clean those things up if we want to be great.”

Park senior quarterback Brett Phillips finished his night with 270 passing yards, completing 23 of his 34 attempts. He threw for three scores.

He and Jerrae Hawkins, Park’s speedy and talented junior wideout, connected for touchdowns of 2 and 30 yards. Phillips also hit Zac Lydick for a 10-yard TD.

Hawkins has his typical outstanding night, catching nine passes for 112 yards.

Big Red, the top team in the Ohio Division IV Region 15 computer ratings, drew 17 flags for 147 yards while Park was hit 14 times for 80 yards.

“Our offensive and defensive coaches had great game plans and our players did a great job of executing the game plans,” Saccoccia said. “I’m proud of our players and our coaches for their efforts tonight.”

UP NEXT

Big Red returns to Harding Stadium Friday for a date with Linsly, which knocked off previously unbeaten Fort Frye 41-38. The Cadets will bring a 4-1 mark to town.

Park will stay on the island next week and host Morgantown.

Steubenville 69, Wheeling Park 28

Big Red 13-22-21-13 – 69

Wheeling Park 7-14-7-0 – 28

PARK: Wiley 5 run (Forget kick)

BIG RED: Bozica 5 run (Bowers kick)

BIG RED: Bozica 3 run (run failed)

BIG RED: Bozica 3 run (Bowers kick)

PARK: Hawkins 2 pass from Phillips (Seals kick)

BIG RED: Faulks 60 run (Bozica run)

BIG RED: I. Hill 29 pass from P. Hill (Bowers kick)

PARK: Lydick 10 pass from Phillips (Forget kick)

BIG RED: I. Hill 82 pass from P. Hill (Bowers kick)

BIG RED: Ostovich 1 run (Bowers kick)

PARK: Hawkins 30 pass from Phillips (Seals kick)

BIG RED: Faulks 8 run (Bowers kick)

BIG RED: Faulks 68 run (Hicks kick)

BIG RED: Minniefield 67 run (run failed)

RUSHING: Big Red 39-488-8 (Bozica 22-192-3; Ostovich 4-9-1; Faulks 5-163-3; I. Hill 2-13; Hopkins 2-35; Mullins 1-0; Sims 1-7; Minniefield 2-69-1); Wheeling Park 22-88-1 (Phillips 9-33; Lydick 7-40; Wiley 1-5-1; Brothers 1-0; Washington 2-3; Davis 1-0; Kocher 1-1).

PASSING: Big Red 7-11-192-2 (all by I. Hill); Wheeling Park 23-37-270-3-int (Phillips 23-34-270-3-int; Davis 0-3).

RECEIVING: Big Red 7-192-2 (I. Hill 3-115-2; Sims 1-5; Hopkins 2-68; Harris 1-6); Wheeling Park 23-270-3 (Hawkins 9-112-2; James 5-84; Davis 3-25; Stephens 3-2; Wiley 1-10; Lydick 2-10-1).

FIRST DOWNS: Big Red 24; Wheeling Park 18.

PENALTIES-YARDS: Big Red 17-14; Wheeling Park 14-80.

PUNTS: Big Red 0-0; Wheeling Park 4-33.

FUMBLES-LOST: Big Red 0-0; Wheeling Park 0-0.

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