Big Red meets Dover at Fawcett Stadium for Region 11 title

CANTON - Two down, three to to go.

Big Red's quest for another state title takes a turn through turbulent weather Friday night, when the Red face off against the Dover Tornadoes for the Division III, Region 11 championship at Fawcett Stadium.

Both Steubenville and Dover enter Friday's showdown with 11-1 marks and the similarities do not stop there.

Both teams bring a balanced attack and solid lines to the table.

For the Red, that means 2,781 yards rushing and 1,666 yards in the air.

The Tornadoes have run for 2,232, while throwing for 2,149.

"Dover would rather run then throw the ball, but at the same time they have a very balanced team," Big Red coach Reno Saccoccia said.

"Their quarterback is an above-average runner and an above-average thrower and I think their strength is their offensive and defensive lines."

Marcus Mamarella, the Tornadoes senior signal caller, has completed 110-of-184 attempts for 1,665 yards. He has throw 22 TD passes, six interceptions and a 69-yarder on the season.

Mamarella, who was named the Eastern District Tri-Player of the Year along with Steubenville senior QB Dwight Macon and Harrison Central running back Ben Palmer, is also Dover's leading rusher with 1,117 yards and 14 TDs on 193 carries.

Capable of the big plays on the ground as well as in the air, Mamarella gained 69 yards on one rush.

Kent Johnson is second on Dover's rushing list with 528 yards and 12 scores on 102 totes.

When it comes to receiving, Colton Zahner leads all Tornadoes with 950 yards. He has scored 10 times on 66 receptions. Ricky Maz has 510 yards receiving with eight TDs on 21 catches, while Ian Drapoho has pulled in 26 passes for 236 yards and five scores.

Much like Mamarella, Macon also leads his team in both passing and rushing. Macon is 92-of-152 for 1,314 yards, 14 scores and three picks in 10 games played. On the ground, he has gained 700 yards and scored eight more TDs on 109 carries. His longest pass completion covered 66 yards, while his longest run was for 66.

Sophomore JoJo Pierro, who was also sidelined for two games, has added 645 yards and seven scores rushing on 150 carries.

The Big Red wideouts have been paced by Trey Wiggins who has a team-high 541 yards on a team-high 31 receptions. He has four TDs. Anthony Pierro has six touchdown receptions and 388 yards on 27 catches. Tight end Dominic Garay stepped up with three TDs and 13 receptions.

Saccoccia said balance is needed in a big way this week.

"We have to be balanced. We have to be able to run inside. That's a definite and we have to be successful in our short passing game," he said.

And on defense?

"We have to stop the run and tackle the pass," he added.

Big Red's defensive leader is junior linebacker Shaq Petteway, who has 72 tackles, a team-leading seven sacks and a forced fumble. Junior DB Jordon Meyer has 68 tackles, a pick, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. Defensive lineman Jamey DeVaul has cost opponents 38 yards with four sacks.

Brandyn Murtaugh leads Dover with 104 tackles, six sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Andrew Bache has 98 tackles with three sacks.

The Tornadoes, the No. 2 seed, earned a spot in the regional finals by beating Canal Fulton Northwest, 28-21, in overtime. The top-seeded Red rolled past Salem, 34-10, scoring 28 answered points in the second half after being down 10-6 at the break.

Big Red's biggest challenge against the Quakers proved to be penalties. Steubenville finished with 11 for 115 yards. Salem Quakers finished with just 10 first downs, six of which came on Big Red penalties. The Red also committed three turnovers - two fumbles and a pick - in the first half.

"I was pretty happy with the way we played. I wasn't happy with penalties. In first the half we just had too many penalties and turned the ball over three times. Given that, we were lucky to come out only trailing 10-6 in the second half," Saccoccia said. "Of course we were happy with the second half but I just I think no matter how playoff experienced the name of our team is, our players are not. Steubenville has playoff experience, but this team doesn't. Once we settled down, we were fine. I think this week we should do better. We have two playoff games under our belts and we shouldn't commit the early mistakes we made last week.

"Two of our turnovers came early in the game and we had two penalties on third down that just of snowballed into rest of the half. We we're able to come out of our funk and get an early touchdown in the second half, but when you look at the mistakes we made early, things could have been a lot worse at the half."

This week, the Red have a chance to obtain a goal the team sets at the start of every season, a shot to win their region. Saccoccia sees it for exactly what it is - a chance.

"We've been very fortunate and we have the opportunity to win our region. But Dover has an opportunity too. A lot of people have opportunities. It's what you do with those opportunities that matter," he said. "At this point, the team that takes care of the football, tackles the best and does all of the little things will take advantage of that opportunity."