(Above, Fremont Ross’ Spencer Price celebrates in teh end zone after catching a touchdown pass during the Little Giants’ 41-23 win at Toledo Start.)
TOLEDO – It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
With a freshman quarterback under center and first-year starters nearly everywhere else, the Fremont Ross offense was supposed to be a unit reliant on its defense to keep it in games.
Instead the Little Giant offense bailed out the defense Friday night.
After taking what appeared to be a comfortable 21-point lead late in the third quarter, Start climbed back into the game, scoring touchdowns on back-to-back possessions, whittling the lead down to just five points midway through the fourth quarter.
Daniel Rusher
Andrew Born
But behind an offensive line controlling the line of scrimmage, running backs Andrew Born and Daniel Rusher, along with Xavier Urbina, re-established the Little Giants’ grip on the game, leading Ross to a pair of late touchdowns to take a 41-23 victory.
“It’s important to get a W here tonight,” said Ross head coach Chad Long. “I think we were all embarrassed by our performance and how we played last week.
“All our kids played with excitement and enthusiasm tonight,” he added. “We didn’t have that last week. We challenged the seniors personally in a group meeting and they came out and executed. Those kids had something to prove tonight and hopefully this is a stepping stone to moving forward.”
Ross looked firmly in control following an 18-yard touchdown pass from Kaden Holmes to a wide-open Spencer Price for a 28-7 lead with 2:49 to play in the third quarter.
Kaden Holmes
But Toledo Start answered on its first play of the next series with a 70-yard touchdown strike. Ross then turned the ball over on downs at the Spartans’ 30-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Start then connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass to pull within 28-23 with 8:11 to go.
Ross’ offense, however, had no intention of letting Start getting any closer. Born ripped off a 33-yard run to put Ross deep into Start territory. Rusher then ran the next three plays, eating chunks of yardage 10, four and seven yards at a time. Holmes then ran an option-keeper and scampered into the end zone from three yards out to extend the lead back to 24-23.
Ross’ defense then forced a turnover on downs in just four plays, setting up the offense at Start’s 29-yard line. Two plays later, Born put on the finishing touch with a 17-yard score.
Born finished the night with 139 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carried. Rusher added 72 yards on 15 carries and Urbina had 22 yards on five carries.
“Overall, I was pleased with how we were able to run the ball,” Long said. “Born and Rusher, they’re both so dynamic, I mentioned it earlier in the year, we have two really good backs we can use and I really feel this backfield is better than any backfield we’ve had in the seven years I’ve been here.”
The night got off to a rocky start as the Spartans marched the ball down the field on the game’s first possession, scoring on a 77-yard, 11-play drive to get off to a 7-0 lead.
The Little Giants got on the board early in the second quarter no a 19-yard up the middle by Born. The extra point failed, however, due to a wild snap, an issue that plagued Ross in last week’s loss to Tiffin Columbian and was a frequent issue against Start.
Cyrus Lagrou
Ross took the lead on a highlight pass and catch. Holmes connected with senior Cyrus Lagrou in the corner of the end zone, giving the Little Giants the lead courtesy of a spectacular catch from one of the team’s most popular figures.
“The thing is Cyrus is respected,” Long said. “He lost the starting (quarterback) job, but he’s also a captain. He took it like a champ. All he wants is for these kids to win. That’s all he wants. He doesn’t hold any ego.
“We, as coaches, said, ‘We have to get this kid on the field, he’s a special kid.’ With his size, it can be a mismatch, you put him with Dion (Bradley), that’s some height there, and Cyrus has great hands. It was very, very nice for us, as coaches to see. He may not be a quarterback, but he’s still helping us. That was a great catch. I’m excited for him. It shows that he didn’t quit, not matter what’s given to him, he’s still playing and doing a good job.”
Born scored a second touchdown on Ross’ next possession, this coming from eight yards out with 1:15 to play in the second quarter, putting Ross ahead 20-7.
Ross’ defense got on the scoreboard thanks to a safety on Start’s first possession of the third quarter. A poor snap sailed over the head of the Start punter who was soon tackled by Carson Brandon and Carson Clark.
Despite the late touchdowns allowed, Ross’ defense played stellar for much of the night. The Little Giants totaled seven quarterback sacks, pushing the Spartans backward to -20 yards rushing. But Start quarterback Jeremiah Beringer completed 18-of-30 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns.
“We got to correct some things up front,” Long said. “We had the guy in our grasp but we don’t make the play and get the sack, instead we let him outside the pocket. Then, in the secondary, a couple big plays. Dion undercuts one, thinking he’s going to get (an interception) and instead they break a 70-yard touchdown. Then the other one was flat-out laziness by a player and that’s why he’s not on the field anymore after that play.”
Holmes did a nice job running the offense. He finished the night completing 13-of-18 passes for 148 yards with three total touchdowns.
“Kaden impressed me tonight,” Long said. “He didn’t seem nervous and he played under control tonight. Kaden has composure. There is something about the kid that he puts us in the best position to win and he carries himself properly. He accepts challenges. He’s just a smart kid. He’s going to special for years to come.
The victory raises Ross’ record to 1-1 overall on the season and gives the youthful Little Giants a boost of confidence as they get set host arch-rival Sandusky (2-0) next week at Don Paul Stadium.
Fremont Ross 41, Toledo Start 23
FR| 0–20–8–13 41
TS| 7–0–8–8 23
Scoring Summary
First quarter
TS – Adriel Maddox 6 pass from Jeremiah Beringer (kick good), 7:41
Second quarter
FR – Andrew Born 19 run (PAT fail), 9:32
FR – Cyrus LaGrou 30 pass from Kaden Holmes (Alec Slemmer kick), 4:07
FR – Born 8 run (Slemmer kick), 1:15
Third quarter
FR – Safety (Carson Brandon and Carson Clark with tackle), 6:25
FR – Spencer Price 18 pass to Kaden Holmes (PAT fail), 2:49
TS – Antoine Adams 70 pass from Beringer (Adams pass from Beringer), 2:30
Fourth quarter
TS – Maurice Parker, Jr. 33 pass from Beringer (Maddox pass from Beringer), 8:11
FR – Holmes 3 run (PAT fail), 4:56
FR – Born 17 run (Slemmer kick), 3:43