ST. CLAIRSVILLE – It was billed as the game of the year in OVAC grid circles.

It did not disappoint.

The “meetin’ of unbeatens” played out Thursday night as the Red Devils hosted Steubenville Big Red. A record-crowd of more than 5,000 was predicted. The actual turnout dwarfed that number.

As has been the case all season, Steubenville was superb in posting a hard-earned 27-0 victory.

Reno Saccoccia’s charges have blown out big-time foes such as Massillon, Youngstown Ursuline and Dover this fall. The Big Red will be a very tough out as the Division IV playoffs commence this week, with Saccoccia looking for his fourth state championship.

The loss, meanwhile, does nothing to tarnish another sparkling season for the Red Devils, one in which they repeated as OVAC champions. Brett McLean has elevated the Devils to one of the premier D-IV programs in Ohio.

St. C. was one possession away from being state champs three years ago, losing to Clinton-Massie, 46-36. The final score was inflated as the winners tacked on a meaningless TD in the waning moments.

Since that game, McLean has led the Red Devils to regular season marks of 9-1, 10-0 and 8-1, all of which has placed them in the post-season.

St. C.’s decision to play Steubenville is noteworthy. Only two OVAC schools step to the plate to play Big Red in football – Brooke being the other. The Bruins yielded 60 points to Steubenville this season.

The Red Devils acquitted themselves quite nicely against Big Red, holding the explosive visitors scoreless for the first 18 minutes. Barring any health issues incurred Thursday night, St. C. enters the playoffs an improved team.

“We want to get to their (Steubenville) level, and the only way is to start playing them,” McLean said prior to the game.

He is correct.

Thursday’s performance by his Red Devils helped in that regard. Should the two heavyweights meet in the playoffs, St. C. will enter with an increased dose of confidence.

UMASS QB

BLAKE FROHNAPFEL has scripted a sparkling grid career at the University of Massachusetts after transferring from Marshall.

He currently ranks seventh nationally in pass attempts (309), No. 12 in completions (179), No. 2 in attempts per game (44.1) and No. 8 in completions per game (25.57). He totals 5,379 career passing yards at Massachusetts.

Frohanpfel – with Ohio Valley roots – has also been selected as one of 12 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame 2015 National Scholar-Athletes and a finalist for the 2015 William V. Campbell Trophy.

Frohnapfel earned his undergraduate degrees in finance and economics from Marshall University in May with magna cum laude honors. Finishing in just three years, he earned a GPA of 3.65. He is currently a full-time MBA/MS student at UMass with a 3.67 graduate GPA.

Frohnapfel has completed 179 of 309 attempted passes for 14 touchdowns and six interceptions through seven games. He averages 290.6 yards per game to rank No. 20 among FBS players and No. 3 in the MAC.

He is also a candidate for the Manning Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Wuerffel Trophy and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Frohnapfel’s dad, Steve, was an all-Ohio gridder at St. John Central in 1978. They still have relatives in the Colerain area.

BUBBA’S BITS

THE 50-50 drawing paid out $4,126 at Thursday’s Steubenville-St. Clairsville game. St. C. Athletic Director Kelly Rine said things went smoothly with only a few minor glitches.

THESE ARE not the best times for WVU football, but brighter days are on the horizon. The Mountaineers, losers of four straight, can easily win their next four with Texas Tech, Texas and Iowa State coming to Morgantown with the lone road trip being to Kansas.

THE HARLEM Ambassadors – a world famous comedy basketball team – are coming to Wheeling Jesuit University on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the event will help fund the 25th Annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Giveaway with Bethlehem Apostolic Temple in Wheeling and the Shiloh Apostolic Faith Assembly in Weirton.

Kapral may be reached at bkparal@timesleaderonline.com