Steubenville seizes

control in second half

By Brian Dzenis

bdzenis@vindy.com

STEUBENVILLE

Boardman has come a long way in a single offseason, but there’s more work to be done if the Spartans wish to become a state powerhouse.

It’s a journey Steubenville football coach Reno Saccoccia has become familiar with over the years. The Spartans came down to Harding Stadium with a 3-0 record and an overhauled offense that came with the addition of coordinator Kris Reash. But Steubenville tied the game in the final minute of the first half before rolling to a 42-21 win Friday night..

“They’re much more sound and it takes time, but their coach has been doing a good job and so has their new offensive coordinator,” Saccoccia said. “Their defense played well. We just hurt ourselves tonight, that’s all.”

The defeat was an improvement of Boardman’s 48-0 loss to the Big Red last year, but it didn’t provide solace for Boardman coach Joe Ignazio.

“There’s no moral victories. We got beat,” Ignazio said.

Ignazio declined to make his players available for comment.

Steubenville started the game playing catch-up with Boardman (3-1) and was hampered by 106 yards in penalties, but when the Big Red caught up to the Spartans the game was over.

Steubenville quarterback Javon Davis hit Jonathan Blackmon with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21 with 33 seconds left until halftime. It was a big score for the Big Red (4-0), who got the ball back to start the second half.

“That halftime, [Saccoccia] had some words that I can’t say right now, but he got us going,” Davis said.

Davis wasted no time in the second half, hitting Gino Pierro on a 58-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive of the second half. Boardman never responded when the Big Red added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

“They have better athletes this year,” Davis said of the Spartans. “Last year, I thought they were a little better at blitzing and stuff, but their secondary was a lot better.”

Davis passed for 250 yards and five touchdowns against the Spartans. His Mahoning Valley counterpart, Mike O’Horo, passed for 170 yards and two touchdowns. Joe Ieraci had 90 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the first half before leaving the game late in the second quarter with an injury.

The win was Steubenville’s first against an Ohio opponent this year. The Big Red previously beat teams from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Canada.

“We play the best competition — the best athletes from anywhere — especially the Canada team. I thought they were better [than the 42-14 final score], but maybe we’re just that good,” Davis said.

RENO ON YSU

Saccoccia said he’s frequently in contact with Ma’lik Richmond, one of his former players who is currently involved in a legal battle with the Youngstown State over playing time. Richmond’s lawsuit alleges the Big Red coach called YSU President Jim Tressel at his behest. Penguins coach Bo Pelini also admitted to having a conversation with Saccoccia about Richmond.

“Every person that’s in charge of anything does whatever they think is best or right, whatever word you want to use. I know what I did and I know what they did and I know what they wanted to do,” Saccoccia said.

“Sometimes you can’t always do what you want to do. Everyone that’s in charge of something has a decision to make. I’ve been through that and I won’t criticize anybody.”