FREMONT – All the elements for a classic trap game are in place.
The Fremont Ross football team is coming off a statement-making victory a week ago. In a week’s time the Little Giants will be preparing for their arch-nemesis, Sandusky. And the opponent Ross is facing this week, the Southview Cougars, are in the midst of a 15-game losing streak. Ross travels to Southview Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Mel Nusbaum Stadium.
So how does the coaching staff keep its team focused on the task at hand rather than get distracted by the one next week?
Take them back to a 7-on-7 scrimmage, of course.
What…what?
In early July, Ross met with Lakota for a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage. Given the disparity in the schools’ size and talent pools, the Little Giants figured they’d walk all over the smaller Raiders. They were mistaken.
“Lakota put it to us,” coach Chad Long said. “They beat us, I think, 4-1. Not enough of kids showed up to compete. They thought they could just show up and win.”
Long and his coaches used the Lakota example to remind Little Giants what can happen if they assume a victory, rather than work for it.
“We were a different team then than we are now,” quarterback Hayden Lehmann said. “(We learned) we can’t take anything for granted.”
The Cougars are coming off a 29-26 loss to Millington (Mich.) and have been winless since Week 6 of the 2015 season. Ross defeated Southview 35-7 a year ago.
“A lot of their kids are three-year starters, they have the experience,” Long said of Southview. “Last year they ran for a long touchdown against us. The running back ran for almost 100 yards against us. They had some successful things last year against us that we remember because we have all of our kids back, for the most part. They know this isn’t going to be a game we can just show up and win easily.”
Southview possess a third-year starter at quarterback in junior Brayton Schmidt, who threw for 719 yards and three touchdowns last year on 67-of-137 passing. Schmidt will be looking for 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior receiver Zach Miller, the Cougars’ top offensive weapon.
Southview likes to line up in a run-and-shoot formation and tries to get the ball out to the perimeter of the field quickly. The Cougars will frequently line up three receivers to one side of the field, sending two long but throwing to a quick slant or out route.
The Little Giant defenders will have to play tight coverage in the secondary while the defensive front needs to read its keys and not over-pursue the ball, remaining aware of the option.
“Our kids have to be disciplined on our cross-read,” Long said. “If you see a breakdown and a long run happens, it’s because our kids weren’t being disciplined. That’s what we really have to harp on this week.”
Defensively, Southview plays four down linemen but will often send their outside linebackers in a blitz, leaving just one linebacker to help a secondary in man-to-man coverage.
“I think we can exploit their man coverage that they play,” Lehmann said. “They play man coverage across the board and I don’t think they can all cover our receivers.”
Who: Ross at Sylvania Southview
What: Week 2, first road game
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Southview High School, Mel Nausbaum Stadium
At Stake: Beginning the season 2-0 for the first time since 2013