2005 🏈 Steubenville Big Red vs. Columbus St. Francis Desales | D3 Championship Game.

2005 D3 Championship game between Columbus St. Francis Desales & Steubenville Big Red @ Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon, Ohio.

Big Red dominated the second half of a 28-7 victory.

MASSILLON (AP) -- Columbus DeSales came into the Division III state title game wary of Steubenville's passing game.
Instead, the Big Red ran all the way to their second state championship.
Zach Collaros ran for two touchdowns and passed for another, and top-ranked Steubenville's defense did the rest in a 28-7 victory over Columbus DeSales Friday.

"They respected our passing game and quickness a little more than our ability to run," Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia said.
Collaros, a special mention All-Ohioan, directed an attack that continually came up with big plays against a DeSales (10-5) defense that had permitted only 21 points in its four previous playoff games.
Darrell Longmire blocked a punt and then returned it for a touchdown for the opportunistic Big Red.

Nearly 200 all-purpose yards
Collaros, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior, rushed for 159 yards on 21 carries, scoring on runs of 24 and 28 yards. He also completed 6-of-11 passes for 37 yards, including a 5-yard TD pass to Anthony Gossett.
"We were really afraid of his ability to throw the ball, but he [Collaros] really burned us with his feet," DeSales coach Bob Jacoby said. "He's a quality kid and he showed a lot of poise out there."
The Big Red's only previous title came when they beat Whitehall-Yearling 12-9 in overtime to win the 1984 Division II crown. It was their fourth state title game, but first since losing to Akron Buchtel in double-overtime in the 1988 Division II finale.
Tamawi McGhee rushed for 79 yards on 16 carries for Steubenville, successfully ending its 18th trip to the state playoffs.
DeSales quarterback Matt Mangini rushed for 88 yards on 23 carries and scored DeSales' only touchdown on a 5-yard run. He also completed 4-of-13 passes for 86 yards with one interception.
After a scoreless half, Matt Belardine brought back the second-half kickoff 31 yards and the Big Red then marched 57 yards on seven plays. McGhee had three carries for 20 yards, with Collaros going the final 24 after first-team All-Ohioan Angelo Magnone sealed off the end. Steve Rose's kick made it 7-0.
"Our defense showed up in the second half and our offense began moving the ball," Magnone said.
Second score
The Stallions were forced to punt on their next possession, with Longmire breaking through to block the kick. Two Big Red teammates tried to pick up the ball, but it ended up back in Longmire's hands and he sprinted the remaining 30 yards for the score. Saccoccia then pulled a surprise when he had holder Sam Busic pull back the placement, roll right and throw a two-point conversion pass to Dan Vogel, all alone in the right corner of the end zone.
"They challenged us in every way, shape and form," Jacoby said. "We hung with them the first half, but they got an edge in the special teams and that swung the momentum in their favor."
DeSales came right back, using just five plays -- including Mangini's 63-yard pass to second-team All-Ohioan Chris Thomas -- capped by Mangini's 5-yard burst off left tackle that cut the lead to 15-7.
The Big Red owned the fourth quarter, however.
Collaros made a series of big plays as they drove from their 20 into scoring position. He rushed for gains of 15 and 9 yards, then kept on third and 7 at the DeSales 31 for a 13-yard gainer. On third and goal at the 5, he made the defense hesitate with a play-action fake, then rolled right and tossed the scoring pass to Gossett to push the lead to 21-7.





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