Steubenville Central broke open a close game with 20 unanswered points to defeat Bridgeport on the road, 34-18, on Friday evening. The Crusaders opened a 14-0 lead before the Bulldogs fought back with two scores to narrow the lead to 14-12, which was the score at halftime. After Central’s three second half TDs, Bridgeport closed the scoring in the final period with a late score. Central improves to 5-3 and takes on Conotton Valley (also 5-3) on Saturday at Harding Stadium.

Matty Jones threw five touchdown passes to lead Steubenville Central to a 39-6 victory over Southern Local on Saturday evening at Harding Stadium. Central drove down the field on their first possession, culminating in a 27-yard toss from Jones to Daveon Thorn. The two connected again for another score from 24 yards out. Joseph Vranish converted on both extra points, giving the Crusaders a 14-0 lead. The Indians narrowed the lead to 14-6 before Central closed the first half scoring on a pass from Jones to Michael Fabbro with 13 seconds left, giving the hosts a 20-6 lead at intermission. Ryan Holzworth scored from three yards at the beginning of the third quarter, and Jones capped his night with two more TD passes, Fabbro’s second plus another to Seth White. The Crusaders improve to 4-3 and visit Bridgeport (2-5) next Friday.

Steubenville Central got off to a slow start on a Homecoming night Saturday evening at Harding Stadium but ended up winning going away 47-23 vs. Louisville Aquinas. The Crusaders fumbled on two of their first three plays from scrimmage, and the second turnover gave the Knights a short 30 yard field that they capitalized on to go up 6-0. Aquinas scored on their next possession thanks to a 71 yard run, pushing their lead to 12-0. Central immediately answered as Rahim Mitchell ran back the kickoff 89 yards to cut into the lead. Then Central struck twice in the last 25 seconds of the half: first on a Ryan Holzworth four yard run, set up by a 20 yard Daveon Thorn pass reception on fourth down to the two yard line; then after an Aquinas fumble, Matty Jones connected with Mitchell for a 33 yard TD, to put the Crusaders up at halftime 20-12. The Knights scored on their first possession of the second half to cut the lead to 20-18, but Central quickly drove down the field, culminating with Jones finding Michael Fabbro all alone in the end zone on a short three yard TD. Jones and Fabbro connected again two and a half minutes later to put Central up 34-18. Aquinas scored with thirteen seconds left in the third period, but once again the Crusaders immediately answered, as Daveon Thorn ran the ensuing kickoff back 75 yards for another TD. Thorn put the game away in the middle of the fourth quarter, catching Jones's fourth touchdown pass of the night. Central evens their record at 3-3, and hosts Southern Local (1-5) next Saturday.