TOLEDO – Talk about a back-breaker.
Moving the ball for the first time all game, the Fremont Ross football team was knocking on the door of the end zone in the final moments of the first half against heavily-favored Toledo Central Catholic.
A touchdown would bring the Little Giants within 14 points and, as they’d begin the second half with possession, would get them right back in the game.
On first-and-goal at the Irish 4-yard line, Ross quarterback Hayden Lehmann’s pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage and into the hands Central’s Matthew Griffin who returned the interception 99 yards for the touchdown, taking the wind from the Little Giants’ sails and sending the Irish on to a 49-0 win Friday night.
“It would have been great, being 21-7 (at halftime),” Ross coach Chad Long said. “They did a great job, they knew our one weapon that we had and they did a good job guarding it. It was a tipped ball and the kid took it and returned it.”
The pick-6 was Central’s second defensive score of the quarter. Trailing 7-0, Lehmann passed quickly to a receiver over the middle who hadn’t yet turned to locate the ball. Central’s Justin Schiets picked it off and returned it 20 yards to put Central ahead 14-0.
The Irish defensive touchdowns gave Central a cushion is needed because the Little Giant defense was nearly as stout as Central’s in the early going.
The Little Giant defenders sacked quarterback Troy Durden six times in the first half and limited the Irish to just 68 yards of offense in the first two quarters.
“I think our defense, in the first half, played lights-out,” Long said. “We, on offense, cannot turn the ball over and give up 14 points. Our defense played outstanding. It’s our offense. I’m going to challenge our coaches on the offensive side, to watch their positions and watch what we’re doing and see how we can correct that.”
The momentum Central seized at the end of the first half continued right into the third quarter as the Irish came up with their third interception of the game on Ross’ first pass of the second half.
Central scored two plays later on a 41-yard quarterback keeper by Troy Durden. The Little Giants lost their fifth turnover of the game on the first play of their next possession on a fumbled exchange of a handoff. Once again, the Irish took advantage of the short field and increased their lead to 35-0 nine plays later.
“We played poorly on the offensive side, credit them they’re good, but they’re not that good,” Long said. “We made them look way better than what they were.
“One thing we have to get better at, as a football team, (is) don’t hang your head,” Long continued. “Keep playing. Play for some pride. Play for your school. Play for your coaches. Play for your brothers. Keep fighting. No matter what.”
Playing without two of its best offensive play-makers in receivers Noah Hotz and Bryce McKinstry, Ross managed just 33 yards of total offense and while Lehmann finished 6-of-15 for five yards and three interceptions, Long said the offense’s struggles were not on the senior quarterback.
“Hayden didn’t play a bad game, he played excellent on both sides of the ball, he really did,” Long said. “It’s tough when you don’t have those weapons that you’ve relied on for so long and we had no one step up.
“We were outmanned tonight and you could obviously tell we didn’t have anyone step up to want to make plays to help Hayden out.”
With the loss, Ross drops to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference. The Little Giants host Whitmer next week in their final home game of the season.
“Central is a really good. Flat-out, they’re better than what they were last year,” Long said. “I’ll be shocked if they don’t win state this year.”
Score by quarter
FR – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
TCC – 7 –21 – 14 –7 – 49
First quarter
TCC – Jase Bowen 35 run (Jerod Landrum kick), 3:52
Second quarter
TCC – Justin Shiets 20 interception return (Landrum kick), 9:19
TCC – Troy Durden 5 run (Landrum kick), 2:07
TCC – Matthew Griffin 99 interception return (Landrum kick), 0:00
Third quarter
TCC – Durden 41 run (Landrum kick), 9:47
TCC – Jonzell Norrils 4 run (Landrum kick), 2:56
Fourth quarter
TCC – Tae-Shaun Johnson 18 pass from Noah Zak (Andrew Ducket kick), 5:40