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STEUBENVILLE, OH𑁋 Reno Saccoccia Field played host to Rock Creek Christian Academy (MD) and Steubenville during week 10 of the 2022-2023 season. For the Steubenville Big Red it is their final contest before the playoffs begin. As for the Eagles of Rock Creek they still have three games remaining in regular exhibition play. Both teams came into tonight with two-game winning streaks.
The Big Red defeated Cardinal Mooney (OH) 28-7 and the Eagles took down Life Christian Academy (VA) 14-6.
One streak came to end as the Eagles stunned the Big Red 36-20 with an impressive display of speed and arm talent from senior quarterback Tahj Smith.
First Half
In another year where Steubenville has been dominant on both sides of the football, this evening’s matchup was something out of the ordinary. The Eagles have had an up-and-down campaign. They began the year with two shutout losses, then escaped with two close victories back-to-back.
Rock Creek also suffered a beat down from the St. Edward Eagles earlier on so this team has certainly been a wild card.
Andre Kates’ squad was engaged from the beginning and continued to fight throughout the first 24 minutes.
Steubenville took the first lead with 7:56 remaining in quarter one. It was made possible with some small mental lapses by the Eagles. A neutral zone infraction penalty kept the possession alive on fourth and five and then another followed seconds later.
Senior tail back Spenser Ostovich moved the chains on a fourth and one which led to the big play over the top. Quarterback Phaeton Hill dropped a beauty into the hands of Isaac Hill for a 30 yard touchdown grab.
Reno Soccoccia’s team has excelled defensively all year with restricting opponents to around 12 points a contest. His unit flashed their prowess by anticipating the snap, especially on Rock Creek’s third drive. Three consecutive plays went backwards﹣-2, -5, and a sack of seven yards by Isaac Hill﹣forced them to hand it back to the Big Red.
With the energy shifting towards the home team, the Eagles needed some form of resistance to fend off Steubenville and a great crowd. They got it in the form of a three-and-out. Rock Creek was able to obtain a scoring drive with the help of some nice chunk plays from quarterback Tahj Smith.
Wide out AJ Myers was a go-to target tonight and he assisted in getting the Eagles in the groove. Myers haunted the Big Red secondary. He hauled in seven receptions for 137 yards, one touchdown, and a two-point conversion.
Arguably the momentum shift in this game came following the Eagles cutting the lead to 6-7. At the 3:58 mark in the second quarter, senior running back Ky’Jhuan Hopkins made a costly error.
Defensive back for Rock Creek, Arnold Edwards, made a heads up play poking the ball loose out of Hopkins hands. Retaining possession at the Steubenville 23, the Eagles would take full advantage of the shortened field. Smith crossed the plain with 1:21 to go.
The Eagles were not done disrupting the Big Red’s flow. Defensive lineman Nasir Taylor got his mitts on the football after Phaeton Hill lost his grip on a bootleg. Smith polished off yet another quick possession with a quarterback keeper from 20 yards out. A two point conversion shot the Eagles up in front 22-7 heading into the third.
Second Half
Steubenville received the second half kick and looked like the team that can put up 30 points a night. Only 1:28 elapsed of the clock before they got back on the scoreboard. A 47-yard connection of Hill to Hill down the right sideline set up another Isaac Hill touchdown from six yards away.
Needing to cut the lead to a one possession game, the Big Red went for two. The attempt came up short so the Eagles hung on to a 22-13 advantage. Even though that quick effort from Steubenville made things interesting, it only lasted a short while.
Rock Creek responded just as fast with a third rushing score from Smith, pushing the gap to 30-13 with 9:02 in the third.
Nasir Taylor continued to be a force up front, tipping Phaeton Hill’s pass and reeling it in for an interception. Smith finished off his fantastic performance utilizing his tremendous speed to bounce to the outside for his fourth and final rushing score.
He got a great block from his running back and sprinted up the sideline from 13 yards to really drive Steubenville into the ground, 36-13.
Talking Points
Tahj Smith was fantastic all night. He tormented and tore up every level of the Big Red’s defense. He finished with 14 carries for 99 yards and four touchdowns. Smith also went 12/24, around 220 yards, one touchdown and three two point conversions. He was the catalyst for Kates’ offense and willed his team to a 5-3 record.
On the contrary, Phaeton Hill struggled with 17 incompletions, two interceptions and only eight completions. Steubenville was not their normal selves. Lots of penalties, four turnovers, and inefficiency on offense and defense is not a recipe for success. The Big Red drop to 8-2 heading into postseason play and they will look to flip the switch to make a deeper run this time around.
Rock Creek continues their regular season with a matchup against Friendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, D.C.).
Out of all the places I’ve been to both as a fan & as a reporter, Steubenville is my favorite.
It was a cool environment for sure. Had a good time!
That’s a great article !!