2005-06 Steubenville Big Red

STORY BY MATT NATALI
Steubenville Big Red Football
hen Steubenville takes the field for the 2007 football season, the Big
Red will have a rare opportunity to accomplish a feat only a handful of
teams in Ohio have achieved.
Coming off back-to-back Division III state championships, Steubenville
will attempt to become the sixth school to win three consecutive state
titles since the current OHSAA playoff format was adopted in 1972.
In the last two years, Steubenville is a perfect 30-0, which is the
longest winning streak in school history and ties the Big Red at No. 21 in Ohio high
school football history for the longest unbeaten streak.
“I feel that anytime you do anything of that magnitude and after the season is over,
you can look back and see it was a great effort by a bunch of people,” Steubenville head
coach Reno Saccoccia said. “And it was not just the football team, but the boosters, the
school and the student body. I think everybody has benefited from it. It was a great
climb to the top.”
Steubenville defeated Columbus St. Francis DeSales 28-7 in the 2005 state championship game. The Big Red then topped Kettering Alter 34-33 in a wild 2006 state championship game in which they led by as much as three touchdowns.
After raising the trophy in 2005, Saccoccia feels it was more of a challenge defending
the championship last year.
“I feel that the entire 2006 season was achieved with a target on our chest and we got
everybody’s best shot,” Saccoccia said. “Our kids remained focused but most of all we
remained healthy. Those two things were very important to our success. You have to
remain healthy and you have to remain focused.”
As Steubenville tries for its third straight state title and fourth overall, the target on
the Big Red is sure to be even bigger – especially with some major changes in the fold.
The road to the championship will be quite
different than it has been the past two years.
Gone are 21 graduated seniors, including
three-year starting QB Zach Collaros, WR
Dreylon Pree and RB Tamawi McGhee. But
the Big Red will be building upon the success
that those players – and the 2006 grads – left
behind.
“We have a good nucleus back. But all
(2005 and 2006) did was set a solid foundation,” Saccoccia said.
“And a foundation is not to be leaned on –
it is to be built on. So, we’re going to try and
build on that base that we built (the past two
years).”
The center of that nucleus includes returning starters WR/DB Steve Davis (5-8, 170,
Sr.), TE/DB Anthony Gossett (6-1, 180, Sr.),
OL/DL Anthony Radakovich (6-5, 260, Sr.),
OL/DE Phil Gilmore (6-0, 190, Sr.), OL/DL
Brandyn Frey (6-0, 200, Sr.), FB/LB Mark
Markakis (5-9, 170, Sr.), FB/LB Bronko Busic
(5-11, 190, Jr.), FB/NG Roland Owens (5-9,
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
220, Sr.), FB/LB James Montgomery (6-1,
180, Sr.) and RB/DB Anthony Jackson (5-9,
170, Sr.).
“We have experience at certain positions
but we are going to have to develop a different way we go about things,” Saccoccia
explained. “We had a certain offense that we
ran last year that we might not be able to run
this year.
“But each team, no matter how successful
or how many people you have coming back –
even pro teams – you have to have chemistry. So, we’re developing chemistry and I
think the developing of great team chemistry,
great team unity and great team work ethic is
more important than any individuals you have
coming back. That is what we want to build
right now and if we can do that then we’ll be
fine. We might not win 15 games but we’ll get
the best out of our team.”
After playing 30 games the last two seasons, Saccoccia looks toward the experience
gained by the incoming senior group in those
10 extra weeks of football.
“I hope that our seniors are as hard-working leaders as they were sophomore and junior followers,” Saccoccia said. “As a senior
class, I just hope they accept that challenge
to lead us wherever we’re going.
“I feel our kids are working very hard and
our kids know how important it is to prepare
to compete. That’s where we’re going right
now – preparing to be good competitors and
becoming good teammates and everything
that high school football is supposed to be,
we’re going to make sure we enjoy.”
All eyes will be on the quarterback position
this fall with the departure of Collaros, who
will play college football at the University of
Cincinnati and will go down as one of the
greatest players to don a Big Red uniform.
Collaros, who earned back-to-back
Associated Press Division III Offensive Player
of the Year honors, compiled a 41-1 record in
three years as the starting quarterback
breaking every Big Red passing record. In
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Steubenville Big Red Football
his senior campaign, he was 136-of-201
passing for 2,550 yards and 30 touchdowns
with only four interceptions. He also tallied
720 yards on the ground with 15 touchdowns.
His replacement – and others – has yet to
be determined.
“We feel right now that you don’t earn your
position in the spring, but you earn your
opportunity in the spring and the winter in the
weight room,” Saccoccia said. “All we can do
right now is prepare physically for the 2007
football season. So, the kids are trying to
earn themselves an opportunity to compete
for a position.
“I know the players that have already competed and have been in the wars and dogfights on Friday nights. I know what they
have given to their school, so in those terms,
they are going to deserve first opportunity for
a position.
“I think a lot of coaches want respect and
my philosophy is that I am appreciative of the
effort our kids give and I try to give them the
same respect that I expect from my staff,” he
added. “Some kids have earned a right to
compete and they’ll be given that right to
compete.”
A New Challenge
On The Horizon
With the customary divisional realignment
every two years by the OHSAA based on
enrollment figures, Steubenville faces a new
challenge in 2007 in addition to the personnel
changes. The Big Red will be vying for its
third straight state championship as a member of Division IV, Region 13 dropping from
Division III.
“You are what you are whether it’s Division
III or Division IV,” Saccoccia said. “We won (a
state title) in D-II, we won (a state title) in DIII, we got beat in D-II and we got beat in DIII. So, as far as what Division you are in, you
are what you are and right now we are in
Division IV.
“Now, as far as our competition goes, if
you look at any division, there are key teams
in that division and Division IV is no different
than any other as far as key teams. There
are certain teams that have a beautiful history that took a lot of years to build and those
will be the teams we’ll be competing with.
Hopefully we’re able to come up and compete and hopefully we can work a niche in
Division IV as we did in Division III.”
One of those key teams with a storied history and tradition, as well as winner of two of
the last three Division IV state championships, is Youngstown Cardinal Mooney.
Mooney, which also happens to be in the
same region as Steubenville this year, is
30 J J H U D D L E . C O M
2005-06 Steubenville Big Red
2005: Division III State Champions (15-0)
Date
8/25
9/2
9/9
9/16
9/23
9/30
10/7
10/14
10/21
10/28
11/4
11/11
11/18
11/25
12/2
Opponent
Score
Akron Buchtel
W, 27-14
Washington (D.C.) Dunbar
W, 36-19
at Wheeling Park, W.Va.
W, 29-0
Youngstown Ursuline
W, 35-0
Buffalo (N.Y.) St Joseph's
W, 35-28
Akron SVSM
W, 21-14 (OT)
at Zanesville
W, 41-7
East Liverpool
W, 33-7
at Canton Central Catholic
W, 28-16
Youngstown Rayen
W, 34-12
Beaver Local*
W, 34-7
Canal Fulton Northwest*
W, 20-6
Newark Licking Valley*
W, 33-7
Akron Buchtel#
W, 35-24
Columbus DeSales@
W, 28-7
*-OHSAA regional tournament games
#-Division III state semifinal game
@-Division III state championship game
2006: Division III State Champions (15-0)
Date
8/24
9/1
9/8
9/16
9/22
9/29
10/6
10/13
10/20
10/27
11/4
11/11
11/18
11/25
12/2
Opponent
Score
Akron Buchtel
W, 22-6
Wash. (D.C.) Gonzaga
W, 27-7
Richmond Edison
W, 45-19
at Youngstown Ursuline
W, 36-14
Buffalo (N.Y.) St Joseph’s
W, 29-13
at Akron SVSM
W, 41-14
Wheeling Park, W.Va.
W, 61-7
at Beaver Local
W, 36-0
Canton Central Catholic
W, 33-0
Mount St Joseph (Md.)
W, 34-20
New Concord John Glenn*
W, 26-10
Canton South*
W, 28-6
Dover*
W, 33-30
Aurora#
W, 48-13
Kettering Alter@
W, 34-33
*-OHSAA regional tournament games
#-Division III state semifinal game
@-Division III state championship game
Senior Anthony Gossett will again play a large role for the Big Red. Last year
Gossett caught a TD and registered a team-high 6.5 tackles in the D-II state final.
Photo by Nick Falzerano
JJ H u dd le’s O h io High
Steubenville Big Red Football
widely considered one of the top teams – if
not the top team – in Division IV. The
Cardinals boast a roster stacked with players
claiming Division I-A college scholarship
offers, including RB/LB Brandon Beachum,
QB/DB Dan McCarthy, LB Mike Zordich
(Penn State verbal), TB Taylor Hill, OL John
Simon and OL Jarod Emerson among others.
“I think the big thing is the job that
(Mooney head coach P.J. Fecko) has done
with the program,” Saccoccia said. “They
were at the lowest point in Cardinal Mooney
history when he took over (in 2000) and he
has built them up to achieve as they
achieved in the past and even beyond. I think
they are going to be a program that is going
to be around for a lot of years. To tell you the
truth, we’re just proud to be spoken in the
same breath as them. They’re going to be a
very competitive football team, they are very
well-coached team and we’ll see what happens.”
Should Steubenville and Mooney both
qualify and meet in the Region 13 playoffs, it
will mark only the fourth time since the playoff format was instituted 1972 that two
defending state champions have played each
other in the playoffs the following year. In
fact, it could happen twice this season with
2006 Division VI state champion Maria Stein
Marion Local moving up to Division V. The
Flyers will battle defending D-V champ St.
Henry in the regular season Midwest Athletic
Conference schedule and could potentially
meet in the Region 20 playoffs should both
qualify.
But with 2006 Division III runner-up
Kettering Alter joining Steubenville in dropping to Division IV as well, Division IV state
runner-up Plain City Jonathan Alder in the
mix again, traditional powers AmandaClearcreek and Marion Pleasant moving up
from Division V and Division IV playoff contenders Canton Central Catholic, Akron St.
Vincent-St. Mary, Orrville,
Bellaire, Ironton, Martin’s Ferry,
and Coldwater among others,
Division IV is sure to be a buzz
saw in 2007.
“Hopefully we’ll be one of the
teeth on the saw,” Saccoccia
joked. “But it’s not any different
than Division III. The challenges
are the same just with different
teams. The good programs in
Division IV are just taking the
place of other good programs
that we faced in Division III. The
coaching is still going to be competitive and the kids are going to
be competitive. That is the key
word in high school football – it’s
Elite Company
Since the inception of the OHSAA football playoffs in 1972, just five schools
have succeed in winning three or more
state championships in a row.
Steubenville, which has won back-toback Division III state titles, will attempt
to win a third this year as a member of
Division IV and join this elite group. Here
is a look at the schools that have won
three or more consecutive state titles:
Steubenville also holds state records in
most consecutive shutouts (17; 1929-31) and
most rushing yards in a game (734; 1931).
Individual records include most consecutive
extra points made by Mike Jones (86; 19881990) and the longest kickoff return for a
touchdown (109 yards) by Perry Jeter against
Canton McKinley (10/20/1950).
In 1930, Steubenville was unbeaten (9-0)
and unscored upon (277-0).
Home Sweet Home
Steubenville, a city of nearly 20,000, sits
on the Ohio River in Jefferson County. Down
through the years, it served as an important
Cincinnati Moeller, 1975-77
outpost for those heading West and later
Newark Catholic, 1984-87
became a key piece in the steel industry.
Cle. St. Ignatius, 1991-95
Steubenville’s home stadium is one of the
more unique high school football venues in
Versailles, 1993-95
the country and it simply adds to the tradition
Delphos St. John’s, 1997-99
and grandeur of the program. Completed in
1930, Harding Stadium is a 10,000-seat
capacity venue that features a ProGrass synthetic field turf playing surface and the
getting your kids to compete. We just hope
famous ‘Man ‘O War’ fire-breathing horse
we’re able to compete at this level just like
atop the scoreboard, which was installed in
we we’re able to compete in Division III.
“We have a schedule that we feel we are
1970.
going to have to be ready to compete every
The Big Red has an all-time 435-133-11
week.”
record at home for a winning percentage of
75 percent and has a current 40-game home
For The Record
When considering the top Ohio high school winning streak at the friendly confines.
Harding Stadium -- commonly referred to
football programs that maintain deeply rooted
as “Death Valley” -- is the focal point of the
traditions, histories, legends and excellence,
community and the electric atmosphere on
Steubenville is among that group of elite
Friday nights rivals that of some of the top
teams.
high school football experiences in the
The 2007 season marks the 108th official
year of football for Steubenville and the 107th nation.
“We feel it is a stadium that our administraseason (the Bid Red didn’t field a team in
tion and our community have put a lot of
1906). The season opener will be
time, effort and energy into to make it a place
Steubenville’s 1,008th game and the 678where our kids are proud to play on Friday,”
295-34 record places the Big Red at No. 3 in
Saccoccia said. “It’s just part of an experiall-time wins in Ohio behind Massillon
ence that we try to create here. My job is to
Washington (774) and Canton McKinley
try and bring the best out of every one of our
(751).
kids in an athletic way and in a
way that makes them feel good
The Big Red’s home
about themselves and makes
field advantage
them be a positive reflection of our
community throughout the state.
“We try to make Friday night
very important. I feel it should be
one of the best experiences of
their high school careers but
hopefully it’s not the experience of
a lifetime. Hopefully when they
graduate they get some experiences that are more meaningful
as far as their families and their
wives and their children are concerned. But during their high
school days, I just hope to make
that a great experience for them
Submitted Photo
and that is how I, our coaching
Death Valley
JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h
J J H U D D L E . C O M 31
Steubenville Big Red Football
2007 Steubenville Big Red Schedule
Graduates Zack Collaros (#7) and Tamawi McGhee
(#22) leave holes in the Big Red backfield. Collaros
(headed to Cincinnati) accounted for five TDs in last
year’s state final, while McGhee was the team’s
leading rusher in the game.
staff and our administration approach athletics. We want it to be a positive experience for
our players and on Friday nights we just try
to bring the best out of the players we have.”
Earlier this year, the field was dedicated to
Saccoccia and named in his honor. The official name of the stadium now is Reno
Saccoccia Field at Harding Stadium.
In 24 seasons as Steubenville’s head
coach, Saccoccia (who also serves as assistant principal) has a 245-45 record ranking
him in top 15 all-time among Ohio coaches in
total wins.
He has coached 10 regular season undefeated teams, led 17 of his teams to the playoffs (36-14 playoff record) with 11 regional
titles and three state championships.
Under Saccoccia, Steubenville has earned
six Associated Press poll championships,
including the last four, and he was named the
AP Division III co-coach of the year in 2006
in addition to earning Ohio High magazine
football coach of the year honors.
A graduate of Steubenville Catholic
Central, Saccoccia spent his college days at
32 J J H U D D L E . C O M
Aug. 23
Wintersville Indian Creek
Aug. 31
Akron Buchtel
Sept. 7
at East Liverpool
Sept. 14
Buffalo (N.Y.) St. Joseph’s
Sept. 21
Lisbon Beaver Local
Sept. 28
Columbus Bishop
Watterson
Oct. 5
Baltimore (Md.)
St. Joseph’s
Oct. 12
at Wheeling Park, W.Va.
Oct. 19
at Canton Central Catholic
Oct. 26
Springfield (Pa.)
Cardinal O'Hara
the University of Akron lettering in football for
the Zips.
“For me, (the dedication) is an honor that is
really special and I take it as a gift from our
players, parents and the administration,”
Saccoccia said. “I just hope in the next few
years I can be worthy of that.”
Saccoccia credits the help and support of
his coaching staff over the years as a catalyst for his personal success.
“As a coaching staff, I don’t look at them as
just working with me. We are all good friends
that have a common goal and I hope they
accept (the field) as something that we have
all earned and not just something for me,” he
said. “Our coaches know how I feel about
them and they know I would never accept
anything without their name on it. So, I hope
they feel the same about me as I feel about
them.”
He also mentioned two coaches in particular that he drew inspiration from and has
modeled his coaching career after including
his uncle Rick Saccoccia (Wintersville, SCC
coach) and Sam Fornsaglio (Indian Creek
Photo by Nick Falzerano
coach, member of the Ohio Valley Athletic
Association Hall of Fame).
“Put those two at the top of the list,” he
said. “I learned from their competitive nature,
and from my uncle, the most I took from him
was to coach every kid like he’s my own. I try
to coach every kid like he is my own although
you can’t treat every kid equally but you can
treat every kid fair.”
Like those who came before him,
Saccoccia will go down in Steubenville history further enriching the tradition and legend
of the program. And with the opportunity to
win a third straight state title this season,
Saccoccia and the Big Red look to add
Steubenville to yet another category in the
OHSAA record book.
“Our goal right now is to work our way
back up the mountain everyday,” he said.
“There is a price to be paid and I hope we
have it in us to pay the price everyday. It is a
long struggle but it is something worthwhile.
Whether we get there or not has yet to be
determined, but if hard work is involved then
we’ll have an opportunity.” — OH
JJ H u dd le’s O h io High