Ross Chrystjan Mancini squats dejectedly after Sandusky scores the game-winning touchdown. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
FREMONT – In a rivalry that spans well over a century, Fremont Ross needs to go back more than 25 years to find a defeat as stinging as the one sustained Friday night against arch-rival Sandusky.
Despite leading since the early stages of the second quarter, the Little Giants fell victim to the Blue Streaks with just 45 seconds to play. That’s when Keith Williams caught a pass in the end zone between a pair of Ross defenders for the game-winning score, giving Sandusky the 16-15 victory.
“They made plays down the stretch,” Ross coach Chad Long said. “That big pass was unbelievable for him to come down with it.”
Not since a 7-6 Sandusky win in 1991 have the rivals played a game decided by a single point.
Adding insult to injury is the Little Giants’ knowledge that the game-winning drive was stopped in its infancy. Ross forced Sandusky to punt from its own endzone with five minutes to play. Ross, however, was flagged for a personal foul for roughing the punter, giving the Blue Streaks new life and a first down at their own 22-yard line.
“They’re hurting, they’re crying, they’re upset,” Long said of his team. “(To) lose a game like we did, on a bonehead situation, we have safe (return) called and we have a kid run in there and clock the punter. That killed us.
“We would have had the ball at the 30 because he shanked the punt,” Long added. “Just a bonehead mistake.”
From there, Sandusky drove the field in nine plays, keyed by a 42-yard pass from Alexander to Tevin Stewart to put the Streaks at Ross’ 25 with under two minutes to play.
Hayden Lehmann, 4, and Bryce McKinstry, 86, listen to coaches speak after losing to Sandusky 16-15 Friday. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
Sandusky’s game-winner capped a comeback that wiped out a 15-3 Little Giant lead.
Ross took the lead with 10:28 remaining in the second quarter when Roger Burling hauled in a 14-yard pass from Hayden Lehmann to go ahead 7-3.
While Ross added to its lead before halftime, the Little Giants missed out on a chance to put the game away.
Mikey Contreras hit a 28-yard field goal with 2:26 to play. Just 30 seconds later, Ross’ defense forced an Alexander fumble which bounced out of the back of the endzone for safety and a 12-3 lead. Ross took the ensuing free kick down to Sandusky’s 7-yard line on a terrific return by Noah Hotz.
The Little Giants punched the ball into the end zone three plays later but was called back to a holding call.
“That would been the dagger, I think, truly,” Long said. “Unfortunately, that’s how things go.”
The next play Lehmann’s pass was deflected and intercepted, though Ross caught a break of its own. Sandusky returned the pick more than 90 yards for a touchdown, but that was called back as well for a block in the back on the return and the teams went into halftime with Ross holding a 12-3 lead.
While Ross moved the ball with some consistency in the first half, totaling 140 yards of offense at halftime, the second half found the Little Giants stuck in the mud. Ross completed just five of 13 pass attempts in the second half.
Long said he and the coaching staff deserved some of the blame of Ross’ offensive woes.
“We puttered quite a bit,” Long said. “What is our identity, is what we’re trying to find at Fremont on offense. Do we want to run the ball or do we want to pass the ball? I think we’re foretelling it, and giving it away with formations, based on what we’re wanting to do. That’s something we have to correct as staff and move forward and get better.”
The loss drops Ross to 2-1 on the season as the Little Giants enter conference play next week, traveling to Findlay (1-2), who defeated Toledo Start Friday, 42-10.
Scoring summary
First quarter
SHS – Max Corso 29 field goal, 8:30
Second quarter
FR – Roger Burling 17 pass from Hayden Lehmann (Mikey Contreras kick), 10:28
FR – Contreras 28 field goal, 2:26
FR – safety, 1:59
Third quarter
FR – Contreras 21 field goal, 9:04
SHS – Malachi Campbell 16 pass from Ja’Vez Alexander (Corso kick), 3:28
Fourth quarter
SHS – Tevin Stewart 20 pass from Alexander (pass fail), :45
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING – Sandusky: Terion Stewart 20-86; Eian Sherman 1-0; Ja’Vez Alexander 11-9. Total – 35-95.
Fremont Ross: Ethan Chumley 15-55; Chrysjan Mancini 4-26; Hayden Lehmann 2-7; Shawn Newsome 1-4. Total – 22-92.
PASSING – Sandusky: Alexander 14-26 191. Fremont Ross: Lehmann 14-27 171.
RECEIVING – Sandusky: Malachi Campbell 10-93; Keith Williams 1-20; Tevin Stewart 2-65; Tamyus Johnson 1-13; Terrence Reed 1-0. Fremont Ross: Roger Burling 7-90; Devyn Jagodzinksi 2-9; Shawn Newsome 1-6; Noah Hotz 3-70; Ethan Chumley 1- (-4).
| Football box score | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score by quarter | |||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Tot | |
| Sandusky | 3 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| Fremont Ross | 0 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| Ross | San | ||||
| Total yards | 211 | 286 | |||
| Rush-yards | 22-92 | 35-95 | |||
| Pass yards | 171 | 191 | |||
| Comp.-Att-TD-INT | 14-27-1-2 | 14-26-2-1 | |||
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 2-1 | |||
| Penalties-yards | 8-90 | 9-75 |