Hubbard leaves Big Red blue

November 11, 2018 at 12:06a.m.

Daniels, Mosora make key plays as Hubbard stifles Steubenville

BOARDMAN

Asked when he started feeling confident about the biggest victory he’s ever celebrated, Hubbard senior linebacker/running back Lukas Mosora didn’t hesitate.

“Right after we scored the first touchdown,” Mosora said after the Eagles overpowered defending Division IV state champion Steubenville, 34-16, on Saturday night at Boardman Spartan Stadium. “I’m not gonna lie — people were down a little bit after that safety.

“As soon as we scored that touchdown, people were up, we were ready to go, we knew we had a shot at this,” Mosora said. “This was, I believe, the best team I’ve ever played.”

Hubbard senior quarterback Davion Daniels dominated the Big Red (10-2) with his arm and his legs. Daniels rushed for 154 yards and passed for another 128 as the Eagles (11-1) won the Region 13 semifinal to earn a rematch against Girard.

“They are the defending state champions and our team got it done tonight,” Daniels said. “I’m so proud of our guys ... my linemen are great.

‘We [want] a ring, so we’re going to go get it.”

The Eagles defense limited the Big Red to two touchdowns, both in the fourth quarter.

Also slowing Steubenville were 16 penalties for 99 yards.

“When a team like ours plays like that, it’s on me,” Steubenville head coach Reno Saccoccia said. “Their jobs are to be fast and physical, my job is to have them mentally ready.

“When you have that many penalties, you’re not mentally ready, that’s on me,” Saccoccia said. “I want to congratulate Hubbard — their coach [Brian Hoffman] out-coached me and he deserved to win.”

The Big Red led 2-0 early when a high snap sailed over Eagles punter Anthony Corrin and he kicked the ball through the end zone for a safety.

Soon, the Big Red drove deep into Hubbard territory but a Randy Mitchell pass pinballed off two Big Red receivers and ricocheted to the Eagles’ Bray Donlow for an interception at the Hubbard 16.

The Eagles then ran 14 plays, including converting on fourth-and-1 at midfield, to take the lead when Daniels hit Shannon Slovesko for an 8-yard touchdown.

“They were fundamentally sound everywhere — there’s just no greater feeling than [knowing] that we a beat a team like that,” Mosora said.

A 47-yard scoring toss to JayQuan Odem made it 13-2 at halftime.

“This is a huge win for our program,” Hoffman said. “Fantastic effort tonight.”

Mosora broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown for the only points in the third quarter. Jermia Harris ran for a touchdown and Odem caught a 26-yard scoring pass in the final seconds.