ST. CLAIRSVILLE junior wide receiver Colin Oberdick makes a move against a Meadowbrook defender during last week’s game. Oberdick is the Red Devils’ biggest play threat in the passing game. He’s approaching 900 yards receiving for the season. He and the Red Devils will take on Bloom-Carroll on Saturday at Red Devil Stadium in the regional championship game.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Brett McLean has been around coaching and enough extended runs in the Ohio playoffs long enough to understand that not a whole lot of time can be spent enjoying a win before moving onto the next game.

That’s even true when his team rallies from a 28-point deficit to win like it did last week in the Division IV, Region 15 semifinal against Meadowbrook.

There simply isn’t time to rest on accomplishments because what lurks next is an even better foe and such is the case in Bloom-Carroll, which dispatched Newark Licking Valley last weekend, 13-6, to earn its second consecutive trip to the regional final.

“We got moving on Bloom-Carroll as soon as we got in the fieldhouse (after the Meadowbrook game),” McLean said. “One thing about playing Saturday night (in the tournament), there is no downtime whatsoever. We met Sunday morning, Sunday evening at my house and then again at school on Monday. You just have to keep moving (forward) this time of the year.”

The Red Devils probably surprised some with how they went about getting to this week’s game, which will kick off at 7 p.m. at Red Devil Stadium. St. C. spotted the Colts a 28-point lead before roaring back with 42 unanswered, including touchdowns on five consecutive possessions.

“We know we won’t be able to inflict on any errors with penalties or turnovers this week,” McLean said. “We need to play clean and fast.”

The appearance in the regional final is the fourth for the Red Devils under McLean. They won the regional in 2012 en route to playing in the Division IV state final, but fell in other appearances (2007 and 2018).

This is the second meeting all time between the Red Devils and Bulldogs. They clashed in a regional semifinal in 2018 at Zanesville’s Sulsberger Memorial Stadium with St. C. winning convincingly, 41-14.

McLean remembers not only that game, but recognizes many of the names that will be lining up again on Saturday from that chilly night in Muskingum County.

“When we played them a couple of years ago, they had some really good players and those kids are still there,” McLean said.

Bloom-Carroll comes into the game at 8-0. The Bulldogs received a double bye in the playoffs. After earning one week off, it received a second when Indian Valley had to opt out due to a COVID-19 incident. The Bulldogs then knocked off Carrollton, 35-0, before turning their attention to Licking Valley in a rematch of last season’s regional final.

“We’re excited to be back (in a regional final),” Bloom-Carroll head coach Wade Bartholomew said. “Our kids know the feeling of what it’s like to be in this game and they’re ready to play.”

Making the almost 2-hour trip to Belmont County to play a true road game is a first Bloom-Carroll, but the Bulldogs won’t get caught up in worrying about it.

“Obviously, 2020 is a different time and different (season),” Bartholomew said. “The playoffs are the playoffs. We’d be traveling to play this game no matter what, so we’re just trying to make it as normal as possible. With the (crowd) restrictions, they won’t be able to put their normal (home) crowd in the stands, but there is still a little bit of a home-field advantage, but not as much as it could be.”

The Bulldogs are bringing a lights-out defense with them to Red Devil Stadium. It’s a unit that returned nine starters from last year’s club and one that is yielding just four points per game.

“Their defense is definitely what jumps out when you watch them on film,” McLean said. “Hardly anyone has scored on them and no one has really figured out how to crack the code (to move the ball on them) consistently. It’s been a great puzzle that we’ve been working all week trying to figure out.”

Bloom-Carroll has four shutouts to its credit and has allowed 14 points just once. It’s also an opportunistic bunch with 16 turnovers forced, including 14 interceptions.

“Our defense has been unreal,” Bartholomew said. “The kids have really taken pride in keeping people out of the end zone. The number one thing is they play fast. We don’t make the kids think a whole lot. We just want them to go tackle the ball and get there together, as a group.”

The Bloom-Caroll defense will have to deal with a dynamic St. C. offense, which has been clicking on all cylinders most of the season. The Red Devils average 34 points a game.

“St. Clairsville does multiple things so well on offense that it makes it difficult,” Bartholomew said. “You can’t afford to load the box because (Tyler Tonkovich) will make you pay and they have capable running backs behind that big-bodied and physical offensive line that can hurt you, too.”

Senior quarterback Tyler Tonkovich makes it go for the Red Devils. He’s passed for 1,302 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s also ran for 496 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The junior two-headed backfield monster of Jacob Jordan (136-823-9TDs) and Logan Shields (59-342-8TDs) has been impressive. Senior Will Balgo lines up at fullback.

In the passing game, junior Colin Oberdick has been the guy to provide the spark. He’s caught 35 balls for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior Austin DaRe (15-255-2TDs) is another threat in the passing game. Junior Jaren Starks returned to the lineup last week and has also had some big moments.

A big key to the Red Devils’ success has started up front where the line has performed well all season. Avery Henry, Joey Balgo, Will Smith, Jason Davenport and Jalen McCall will get the start this week in the trenches. Drue Jozwiak has also seen quality time as the top substitute.

“Honestly, the progress all year with those guys up front is a big reason we’ve had the success we’ve had,” McLean said. “They’ve molded together very well and they communicate with each other well on each snap. Their play has been crucial for us.”

The Bloom-Carroll offense has been proficient with first-year quarterback K.J. Benedict leading the way. He’s thrown for 1,039 yards and 13 touchdowns without an interception.

The top rusher for the Bulldogs is Hobie Scarberry, who has accumulated 644 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Cody Harmon is the second-leading rusher with 41 carries for 261 yards.

Bloom-Carroll spreads the ball around in the passing game. No fewer than six different receivers have gained at least 100 yards. The leader, however, is Branyon Dobbs, who has caught 12 passes for 321 yards.

“They give you a mixed bag of tricks on offense,” McLean said. “They can get in some power sets, run some veer option, have a little Wing-T influence and then some five wide sets. They can do a lot of things offensively because of the personnel they have. They don’t just highlight one kid. All of those receivers can make big catches and are good after the catch.”

The Red Devils’ defense is led by senior defensive end Reese Skaggs, who has posted 10 sacks and 60 total tackles. Balgo roams at middle linebacker and has 90 tackles to his credit.

Carson Woodford has been impressive with 73 tackles. Drew Sefsick, who is an outstanding punter, is a standout at outside linebacker.

Mason McCort has been another impressive pass rusher for the Red Devils from his defensive tackle spot with five sacks. Dominic Panepucci has also put forth a solid season with 43 tackles.

“St. Clairsville gives a lot of looks (defensively),” Bartholomew said. “We’ve seen them in three and four-man fronts. They use a combination of big and smaller kids. They have great athletes on the back end and their linebackers are very good. The key for us is recognizing what they’re doing and executing a play call from it, but they make that tough because of how well they mix things up.”

Special tems are certainly a strength for the Red Devils. Sefsick is an All-Ohioan at punter and Jake Bolyard has been impressive as the placekicker with 33 PATs and a pair of field goals.

Chase Alwood handles the kicking for Bloom. He’s made three field goals and 22 PATs.

The winner of the game advances to the state semifinals where it will take on the winner of the Youngstown Ursuline and Mentor Lake Catholic contest at a site to be determined on Sunday by the OHSAA.