Big Red Rolls Past Salem
Steubenville scores 28 points after halftimeBY STEPHANIE ELVERD
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NEW PHILADELPHIA - Big Red rolls on.
After a surviving a scary first half that saw Steubenville go into the locker room down, 10-6, Big Red settled down and then anted up, scoring 28 unanswered second half points en route to a 34-10 victory against Salem in the Division III, Region 23 semifinals Friday at a packed Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium in New Philadelphia.
''I thought we played well in the first half. We just killed ourselves in penalties. We had four penalties on third down,'' Steuebenville coach Reno Saccoccia said. ''Fortunately, we were able to overcome that and win the game.''
Big Red also committed three turnovers in the first half two of which led to Salem points.
Steubenville rolled out of the starting gate, driving deep only to fumble the football. It held the Quakers, but on the next drive, Big Red senior standout Dwight Macon threw an interception on the Steubenville 17. Steubenville all but withstood the turnover when a pass interference call at third-and-12 on the 19 gave Salem first-and-goal at the Big Red 8. Two plays later, the Quakers were on the board when Justin Adams hauled in a 7-yard TD pass from Trent Toothman.
Big Red was turned away on their next possessions despite short fields. It wasn't until there was 3 minutes left in the first half that Big Red finally cashed in. A run of 17 by JoJo Pierro, a 15-yarder by Shaq Petteway and another 4-yard dash by Pierro pushed Big Red inside the Quakers 10. Macon then ran it in from 7 yards out at 3:06. The run after failed and the Quakers led, 7-6.
Salem added three points to its total when Macon coughed up the ball on his own 19. Ben Eisel, who missed a 42-yard attempt minutes earlier, booted a 27-yard field goal with no time left in the first half.
''We got down on the scoreboard but we never got down on the field,'' Saccoccia said ''Our kids kept fighting and we were able to take the lead in the second half.''
Big Red scored on their second possession of the second half when Macon broke out for a 67-yard touchdown run. He also ran it in for the two points after for a 14-10 lead.
The momentum had shifted and things were about to go downhill for the Quakers.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Toothman fumbled. Big Red jumped on the ball and took over on the Salem 29. With one official signaling that Toothman was down and another signaling fumble recovery by Big Red, confusion set in. A fumble was eventually ruled which sent Salem coach Mike Kopachy running onto the field. After an exchange of words, he was slapped with unsportsmanlike call and Big Red got the ball on the 14.
Macon took care of the rest, keeping the ball on the first play and covering all 14 on his way to the end zone at 7:09 of the third. Anthony Pierro made good on the extra point.
Big Red scored two more times - Macon had a 12-yard TD run out at 10:47 of the fourth and JoJo Pierro scored from a yard away with 5:59 let in the game - to put the game put of reach.
''I want to congratulate Salem on a great season. I lived up there for six years and it's great to see them get their program back on its feet,'' Saccoccia said. ''Their coaches do a great job and they're getting back to what they used to be when Henry Maxim and Kurt Lowdermilk was there. They are a fast football team. They played fast. We just played a little more physical.''
Big Red finished the game with 273 yards on 38 carries. The Quakers finished with just 2 on 21 carries, thanks in large part to two sacks by Jamey DeVaul that totaled a loss of 24 yards for Salem. Macon finished 7 of 11 for 103 yards passing. Toothman was 1 yard short, completing 11 of 19 for 102. Steubenville doubled Salem in first downs, racking up 12 to the Quakers six.
Salem finishes the season 9-3 while Big Red rolls on to the Region 11 final at 11-1. Steubenville will next play Dover, a 28-21 winner in overtime against Northwest.
