SYLVANIA – If the adage ‘Any win is a good win’ is true, then certainly some wins feel better than others.
Whereas Fremont Ross’ Week 1 win over Springfield was cause for celebration, Week 2’s triumph over Southview had a much different feel.
While Ross won the game, 20-6, the feel afterward was much less joyous. Funereal might be a bit strong, but it was certainly somber.
Coach Chad Long did not sugarcoat his displeasure.
“Disappointed with only wining 20-6,” he said. “We had many opportunities.
“I feel we had a setback this week with our performance.”
That they did. Ross’ defense set up its offense to put a pounding on the Cougars. An interception ended Southview’s first possession of the game but, instead of taking advantage and putting Southview in an early hole, the drive ended in seven plays on a turnover on downs.
Another interception in the third quarter went wasted when Ross fumbled a handoff near the red zone, giving the ball back to the Cougars.
The offense was out of sync all night. Big plays bring fans out of their seats, as demonstrated by long touchdowns by Roger Burling and Noah Hotz. Long, methodical drives, however, win important games. As good as the defense has been in the first two weeks, it’s neither realistic nor fair to demand such high levels of performance every week just to make up for the offense’s woes, particularly when the Little Giants enter into league play.
Last week’s win against Springfield was so exciting in part because it flashed the potential this team possesses. It was a tantalizing thought, what these Little Giants could be when they ironed out the natural Week 1 kinks. But when those kinks remain, and are even more pronounced, the following week against a much inferior team like Southview, those tantalizing thoughts can quickly turn into something much less fun to contemplate.
Friday night pulled Ross back down to earth. This is not a team without flaws. If those flaws continue to display themselves next week against Sandusky in the fashion they did against Southview, next week’s postgame mood will make Friday night’s look positively jubilant.