Playoff-novice Quakers face crown-caliber Steubenville

Vindicator staff report

How does the coach of a team making its 22nd playoff appearance diplomatically respond when asked about the chances of a first-timer opponent?

“We’re both 1-0,” Steubenville Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia said of his team’s meeting with Salem tonight after both schools’ postseason-opening victories last week.

Steubenville, a state champion in Div. III in 2005 and 2006 and runner-up in Div. IV last year, uses three tailbacks — JoJo Pierro, LeShawn Luke and Shaquille Petteway — and two fullbacks — Lucky McLure and Danny Bayne.

Leading ground gainer Pierro had 503 of the team’s 2,341 rushing yards through 10 games.

That’s because yardage is spread around in Steubenville’s multiple I offense, especially since first-teamers are replaced in the first half of games in which Big Red has a comfortable lead.

Through 10 games, Steubenville threw for 1,340 yards with Ohio’s offensive player of year in Div. IV in 2008 — Dwight Macon — at quarterback.

Big Red’s only loss this season was in Week 9 to Inkster (Mich.).

The 36-29 defeat snapped a 68-game regular-season winning streak for Big Red, which is 69-1 in regular-season games in the last seven years.

Although not many players go both ways, Petteway is the middle linebacker and leading tackler in Steubenville’s 4-3 defense, while Najee Murray is second-leading tackler.

Punter Anthony Pierro is also the extra-point kicker, but, if Steubenville has a weakness, it’s field goal attempts — Big Red hasn’t attempted any.

“Our kids know that Salem’s offense includes two track champions,” Saccoccia said of receivers Ben Eisel and Zach Penick. “And Trent Toothman will be one of the better quarterback we’ll have gone against this year.”

Eisel and Penick were members of Salem’s state-champion 200-meter relay last spring.

Salem’s first-year coach Mike Kopachy acknowledged the tough task awaiting the Quakers.

“For the last seven weeks, we’ve been playing playoff games to stay alive in the regular season,” he said. “We know they’re very talented. But the only way we know how to prepare is to prepare to win.

“So we’re going to put a good plan into place and coach our kids up this week and see if we could do some damage against them.”

Kopachy described what the Quakers’ defense will face.

“They’ll line up in two tights and play smashmouth football and then spread you out and use their quarterback on the perimeter and get the ball to their wideouts,” he said. “So, it’s a challenge because of how multiple they are.”

Kickoff: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Stadium: Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium, New Philadelphia

If you go: West to I-77. South on I-77 toward Marietta. Get off at New Philadelphia exit and turn left. Proceed to the square (1.5 miles). There is a light at the intersection. Turn left on North Broadway. Proceed through town, past the tennis courts. Turn left on Wm. Kidd Drive. Baseball field and Quaker Stadium are at the bottom of the hill.

Records: Salem 9-2, Steubenville 10-1

Region seed: Salem 5th, Steubenville 1st

Playoff history: Salem, 1st year, 1-0 all-time; Steubenville, 22nd year, 43-18 all-time with three state titles

Radio/TV: WSOM-AM 600