FREMONT – Call it truth in advertising.
The Fremont Ross football team billed itself as a team built around its defense. Throughout the preseason, the Little Giants said their success would be led by the play of the defensive side of the ball.
The reasons for their optimism were on full display Friday night.
The Ross defense forced five interceptions, six tackles for loss, three sacks and innumerable pressures of quarterback as the Little Giants swarmed their way to a 28-18 victory over Holland Springfield.
“They say defense wins championships and sometimes defense wins games,” coach Chad Long said. “In my opinion, we have the best four D-linemen and the best three linebackers in the conference. We got a lot of speed, do a lot of crazy things in front and cause havoc and that’s exactly what they did.”
It is Ross’ first win of its season-opener since 2013, and it comes against a team many expect to win the Northern Lakes League once again, having gone 10-0 in the regular season in 2016.
“The last time we went 1-0, I think was my brother’s senior year,” said Devyn Jagodzinski, referring to his older brother Dylan. “And to have that happen my senior year is really nice.”
Holding a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Springfield appeared to be on the verge of getting itself back in the game. The Blue Devils drove from their own 26-yard line down to inside the Ross 10-yard line when Springfield quarterback AJ Gucciardo’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Noah Hotz.
“We knew they liked the quick slants and the short game so I kind of knew it was coming when no one else came out,” Hotz said. “I just kind of held the corner and it was right there. It was a feeling of relief and excitement to help do my part to win the game.”
Ross’ ensuing possession ended in a punt, however the Blue Devils muffed the return and Ross sophomore Dontrez Brown came up with the loose ball near midfield and effectively iced the game for the Little Giants.
“We all wanted to prove something,” junior linebacker Caleb wood said. “We came out as the underdogs and we proved something. And the rest of this season we want to keep on proving things.”
Ross’ first touchdown of the season was set up by another muffed punt recovery. The Blue Devils lost control of a punt late in the first quarter and Bryce McKinstry came up with the loose ball inside the 5-yard line. One play later, quarterback Hayden Lehmann scored on a 5-yard keeper for a 7-0 lead.
Springfield answered midway through the second quarter but linebacker Ben Rozzell blocked the point-after attempt. Ross continued to lead and Springfield attempted to make up for the lost point on each of its later touchdowns, both times failing to convert on the 2-point conversion.
“We were prepared very well this week,” Rozzell said. “We came in Monday focused and ready to go. We saw the film, saw the weaknesses and exploited them.”
After Springfield trimmed the Ross lead to 7-6, the Little Giants responded. Lehmann converted on a fourth-and-1 with a 30-yard run down to the 3-yard line. Two plays later, Remy Bulger scored from a yard out for a 14-6 lead going into halftime.
Leading 14-12 midway through the third quarter, Ross decided to use an unconventional weapon.
Defensive end Shawn Newsome checked in at tight end and took a Lehman swing pass along the Springfield sideline, fought off a couple would-be tacklers and took off for a 60-yard touchdown.
“I’ve been waiting for a pass to get thrown to me,” Newsome said. “I had to make a play. Coaches are always telling me to be a leader and make plays. That’s what I did.”
Less than two minutes after Newsome’s touchdown, Burling took his interception to the house and the Little Giants were on their way to victory.
“It feels good,” Long said. “These kids have been busting their butts all summer long in the weight room, conditioning and running. I just had a really good feeling about our this team.”
| Football box score | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score by quarter | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Tot | ||
| Springfield | 0 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 18 | |
| Ross | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 18 | |
| Ross | SHS | |||||
| Total yards | 330 | 297 | ||||
| Rush-yards | 43-145 | 22-49 | ||||
| Pass yards | 185 | 248 | ||||
| Comp.-Att-TD-INT | 7-14-1-2 | 16-30-2-5 | ||||
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 2-2 | ||||
| Penalties-yards | 13-125 | 3-35 | ||||
| Time of Pos. | 29:54 | 17:54 |
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