DIVISION IV  REGION 13 FINALS

YOUNGSTOWN CARDINAL MOONEY 35 

STEUBENVILLE BIG RED  20

NOVEMBER 17, 2007

FAWCETT STADIUM  CANTON

 

   

On November 13, 2004 the Steubenville Big Red Football team dejectedly walked of the turf of Dover's Crater Stadium having just suffered a season ending defeat in the Regional Semi-Finals. Little did anybody know that the Big Red would not feel the bitter taste of defeat again until three years later. 1,099 days later the Big Red would have their 42 game win streak stopped by not only one of Ohio's best team but the Nationally ranked Cardinals of Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the Region 13 Finals at Canton's Fawcett Stadium. The 42 game streak included 3 undefeated Regular seasons, 12 straight playoff games and 2 Division III State Championships. The Big Red closes the 2007 season with a 12-1 record while Mooney moves on to the State Semi-finals at 13-0.

    Legendary Steubenville Head Coach Reno Saccoccia completed his 25th season at the helm of the Big Red. Reno's record is an impressive 257 wins against only 46 defeats including a 38-15 record in the playoffs. Big Red has had 11 undefeated seasons, including the past 5 years, under Saccoccia. He has taken 18 teams into the playoffs winning State Titles in 1984, 2005 and 2006 while finishing Runners-up in 1987, and 1988.

 

    The game between Big Red and Mooney was much anticipated throughout the season since both teams had won State Championships in 2006. Big Red winning their second straight title in Division III while the Cardinals were winning in Division IV. The teams finished 1 and 2 in the Final AP Poll with Mooney taking the crown. As dreary as the cold and rainy weather was at Fawcett Stadium, so was the start for the Big Red. Mooney took advantage of Big Red turnovers and a long punt return for a score to jump out to a 28-0 lead at halftime. After scoring to start the second half, Mooney lead by a 35-0 count but the 2007 Big Red showed heart and determination as they shut down the Cardinals for the rest of the game while finding the end zone 3 times. Quarterback Dwight Macon threw 2 touchdown passes, one each to Seniors Jeremy Banks and Josh McCloud, and Tailback Branko Busick scored on a 4 yard run. Although it was not enough to overcome the Mooney advantage, the Big Red fought to the end as the 2007 season ended with the 35-20 defeat to the Cardinals.

 

    The end of the season marked the end to some marvelous careers for the Seniors, none as impressive of that of Steve Davis. Davis a First Team All-Ohio selection was a 3 year starter for the Big Red setting records for catching the football on both sides of the line. In his three seasons Davis caught 92 passes for 1,610 yards and 10 touchdowns. His catches and yards puts him on the top of list for those categories. On defense Steve finished with 8 interceptions, tying him for 1st for int¢s in a season and he sits alone at the top of the list for career interceptions as he finished with 22 steals in his 3 years. Steve scored 7 defensive touchdowns and also returned a kickoff for a score. Davis was named the MVP of the 2006 State championship which included blocking Kettering Alter's game tying extra point late in the game.

 

    The Big Red offense had another tremendous season as they gained a total 4,820 yards, averaging 371 yards per game while scoring 32 points per game. Having the unenviable position of taking over the Quarterback role held for the past two seasons by Zach Collaros, the best to ever play that position at Big Red, was Sophomore signal caller Dwight Macon. Macon seemed like a seasoned veteran unfazed by the pressure as he put in a record setting season. Macon became the first Big Red Quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards as he finished with 1,216 yards on 166 carries for a 7.3 yard per carry average and scored 12 touchdowns. With his 11-16 performance for 185 yards against Mooney, Macon finished the 2007 campaign going 113 of 183 through the air good for 1,666 yards and 14 touchdowns while suffering only 4 interceptions all season. Macon completed 61.7% of his passes for the year. After Davis, Macon's second favorite target was Senior Anthony Gossett. Gossett, a two year starter finished the year with 26 catches for 458 yards and 4 scores. Three other Seniors also had over 10 catches each as Fullback Mark Markakis finished with 16 for 202 yards and 3 Tds, Jeremy Banks had 13 for 178 yards and 3 scores, including the game winning touchdown against Canton Central, and Josh McCloud has 11 receptions for 141 yards. On the ground it was a pair of underclassman who followed Macon as Junior Tailback Branko Busick finished the year with 660 yards on 148 carries, scoring a team high 17 touchdowns and 104 total points and sophomore Tailback Demetrius Brandon finished with 590 yards on 115 totes. Senior Anthony Jackson gained 220 yards on 38 carries in limited action at Tailback. The offense can't go anywhere without a stellar front line and that is what the 2007 Big Red had on the field. Led by 3 year starters Andrew Radakovich and Phil Gilmore and 2 year starter Senior Brandyn Frye the offense line was the driving force for the Big Red. Also seeing duty up front were Seniors Mike Weber and Richard Dunn along with Junior Ryan Dugan

 

    At Big Red, the defense is always known as a swarming hard hitting bunch and 2007 was no exception. Despite facing some high powered offenses, the defense held the opponent to just 205 yards of total offense per game and just 14 points per game. Leading the way for the second year in a row was Middle Linebacker, Junior Branko Busick. Busick, one of 4 players to finish with at least 70 tackles for the year, with his impressive 17 tackle performance against Mooney finished with 89 stops for the season, including 10 for a loss while intercepting 1 pass and recovering a fumble. Senior Linebacker Mark Markakis finished with 80 tackles and also returned a fumble for a score. Senior Defensive End James Montgomery finished the year with 77 tackles including team leading 8 sacks and 16 total tackles for a loss. Senior Nose Guard Roland Owens had 70 tackles including 5 ½ sacks, 13 stops for a loss and forced 4 fumbles, and Senior Linebacker Jeremy Banks had 67 tackles. Both Steve Davis and Anthony Gossett recovered 4 fumbles for the Big Red as the Big Red forced 24 turnovers for the season. The Big Red also recorded 33 quarterback sacks for the season.

 

    As the clock hit :00 at Fawcett Stadium it marked the close of the 2007 season, with this year's Senior Class leaving the Gridiron with an impressive 42-1 mark during their varsity career. During the past 5 seasons, Big Red has won 66 of 69 games. Also as the clock hit :00, it marked the beginning of the 2008 Steubenville Big Red Football season. As always, expectations will be high for the 2008 squad as they will start the season just 10 wins short of reaching the 700th victory in the 109 years of Big Red Football, a mark only exceeded in Ohio High School Football by Massillon and Canton McKinley. The 2008 schedule is again loaded with challenges as the Big Red will travel to Columbus to face Watterson, as well as games with Akron Buchtel, Beaver Local and newcomer Poland. Big Red will put their 50 game regular season win streak on the line when they open the season again with Indian Creek. Although they won't enter 2008 as a defending State Champion, the 2008 Big Red will again have a target on their chest as they carry on the Pride and Tradition of Big Red Football and will look to add to the glorious history of Big Red Football when they will be the latest Defenders of the Crimson and the Black, Roll Red........................