Head coach Chad Long looks on from the sidelines during Ross’ win at Southview. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
FREMONT – No week is like Sandusky week. Then again, no other week on the schedule brings with it 112 years of history.
The Little Giants and Blue Streaks renew the second-oldest rivalry in Ohio Friday night when Sandusky visits Don Paul Stadium at 7 p.m.
“Sandusky week is one of the biggest rivalries in Ohio, it’s what we all look forward to,” junior linebacker Caleb Wood said. “We have the same mentality, but there’s a little bigger urge to beat them.”
Ross is looking to avenge its 40-8 loss to its rival a year ago, a game that snapped the Little Giants’ six-game win streak in the series. Sandusky leads the all-time series 54-49, with eight ties.
But unlike recent years, this week’s clash finds two teams entering the game with momentum and eyes on success long after this week’s final whistle.
The Little Giants and Blue Streaks each enter the meeting 2-0, the first time both teams have been unblemished since they began playing one another in Week 3 in 2014. From 2011-2013, they played one another in the season-opener.
Not since 2010, the last time they played one another in Week 10, have the Little Giants and Blue Streaks played one another with both teams as strong as they appear to be this year. Ross entered that game 8-1 while Sandusky stood 6-3.
Ross won that night 21-7, and both teams made the playoffs. That 2010 season is the last time both teams ended with winning records in the same year.
Ross’ Devyn Jagodzinski carries the ball against Southview. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
“With us both coming in 2-0, somebody has to lose,” linebacker Garrett Schneider said. “Somebody’s going to have to take the 2-1 and someone is going to be 3-0. It’s one or the other and I have a strong hope we’ll come out on top.”
Said head coach Chad Long: “There is a lot at stake, there’s a lot of (playoff) points. It’s good for both communities, especially for us, since we’re home. We expect a packed house on both sides. It’s going to be a lot of excitement.”
But with excitement can come over-excitement. There is a fine line to be walked between playing hard and with intensity and playing dirty and after the whistle. The Little Giants are determined to stay on the right side of that line, whatever may be said on the field or on social media in the days leading up to kickoff.
“We can’t let the rivalry or anything like that come in from the outside and distract from what we have to do,” said senior Ben Rozzell. “My role now is to get everybody else focused, so the younger guys aren’t reading into it, going back and forth. We’ll settle it on the field.”
Long said whichever team keeps its cool and doesn’t take penalties for losing it, may have the advantage.
“We both hate each other, but It’s one of these things that we have to keep our composure,” Long said. “We’re going to play clean football on our side and we’re going to smack them in the mouth and let our pads do the talking.”