Ross’ Chrystjan Mancini squats dejectedly after Sandusky scores the game-winning touchdown. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
FREMONT – There is no question it hurt.
But there is also no dwelling. No looking back.
A ‘1’ stands in the loss column instead of a ‘3’ in the win column and the Little Giants know it’s their own fault. Sandusky’s last-minute touchdown to snatch victory away from Ross last week, left a bitter taste in the Little Giants’ mouths, but the time for anger and disappointment has passed.
“We’re flat-out honest with the kids, it’s a game we should have won,” coach Chad Long said. “It’s a game we lost ourselves. They didn’t beat us, we beat ourselves. Lesson learned. You’ve got to continue moving forward.”
Instead of their usual film-watching session, Long and his staff gave their players Saturday off to recover physically and mentally. When the team reassembled Monday, a pall still hung in the air but it was soon cleared away.
“(Monday) the mood was still kind of bitter, everybody is still hurting about it,” senior Devyn Jagodzinksi said. “Losing by one point to Sandusky is going to hurt. But everybody is pretty much focused, ready for Findlay.”
Ross must move on. With the opening of the Three Rivers Athletic Conference portion of its schedule, getting caught looking in the rearview mirror will only continue the misery because another rival looms.
Ross travels Friday to Findlay, home of the 1-2 Trojans coming off a 42-10 win over Toledo Start. Despite the history of the rivalry with Sandusky, Long said his players have a deeper personal stake in the rivalry with the Trojans.
“These kids hate Findlay more than they hate Sandusky, so it’s easy to get them (over the loss),” Long said. “Findlay, they’re better than us, they think they’re wealthier than us, they’re arrogant. Everything. These kids hate them.”
Ross is looking to get off on the right foot in the TRAC for only the second time since the league formed in 2011. Last season’s Week 4 win over St. John’s was the first time the Little Giants won their conference opener. As they look to win their second, they’re also looking to snap a two-year losing streak to the Trojans.
“Findlay is usually a good team that we play, if we beat them it’ll regain some of the confidence from Sandusky,” said senior defensive back Jerardo Eckford said. “We got to be ready.”
With the onset of the TRAC season, Long is eager to prove to the rest of the conference how far the Little Giants have come. He sees Ross not just being more competitive than the team that went 2-5 in the league last year. He believes Ross is ready to challenge for the top.
“I think we’re in the upper tier, I really do,” Long said. “Findlay is in the middle tier and St. John’s and Lima (are) upper tier with the two big guys, Central Catholic and Whitmer. And I think we’re the third team (behind Central Catholic and Whitmer). I really do believe that.”