For the first time since 2013, the Fremont Ross football team is 1-0.
Behind a tenacious, opportunistic defense, the Little Giants knocked off a Springfield team that went undefeated in the regular season a year ago, 28-18.
Key to the game
In a word: Turnovers. Ross defense came up with five interceptions, one for a touchdown, and recovered two muffed punts, the last of which came with less than six minutes to play to help Ross ice the game.
Ross first half highlights
Ross’ defense was lights-out early, holding Springfield to just 123 yards with a pair of interceptions. The defensive front swarmed, totaling six tackles for loss. Special teams also came up big for Ross, recovering a muffed punt inside the Springfield 5-yard line. That lead to the first touchdown of the game, a 5-yard scamper by quarterback Hayden Lehmann. After Springfield scored early in the second quarter, Ben Rozzell blocked the ensuing point-after attempt to preserve a 7-6 lead.
Ross answered Springfield’s touchdown with its best possession of the half, marching 80 yards in eight plays, keyed by a 30-yard run by Lehmann to convert a fourth-down-and-1 to inside the 5-yard line. Two plays later, Remy Bulger crashed into the end zone from 1 yard out to take a 14-6 lead.
The offense, however, struggled to avoid costly mistakes as the Little Giants were flagged six times for -67 yards.
Ross second half highlights
The Ross defense stopped a Springfield 2-point conversion to preserve a 14-12 lead early in the third quarter.
The Little Giants answered back when Shawn Newsome took a swing pass 60 yards for a touchdown. Moments later, Roger Burling took an intercepted pass 30 yards for a touchdown and a 28-12 lead.
Springfield, however, came back with another touchdown only to get stopped once again on a 2-point conversion.
After a quick Ross 3-and-out, Springfield marched deep into Ross territory only to be thwarted by Noah Hotz, whose interception in the end zone preserved the 10-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
First quarter
FR – Hayden Lehmann 5 run (Mikey Contreras kick), 0:37
Second quarter
SHS – LaKeith Jackson 43 pass from AJ Gucciardo (kick blocked), 6:39
FR – Remy Bulger 1 run (Contreras kick), 3:02
Third quarter
SHS – Alex Legeza 14 run (run fail), 9:47
FR – Shawn Newsome 60 pass from Lehmann (Contreras kick), 7:40
FR – Roger Burling 30 interception return (Contreras kick), 6:08
SHS – Jackson 9 pass from Gucciardo (pass fail), 3:42
Fourth quarter
No scoring