FREMONT – Most teams, and most coaches for that matter, will take a win any way they can get it. And coming off a loss like the one Fremont Ross endured a week ago, a win – any win – is imperative.
But Ross and its head coach Chad Long aren’t interested in just any win. They’re not looking to win a shootout or engineer a late, comeback thriller of their own to offset the one suffered to Sandusky last week.
When they travel Friday night to TRAC rival Findlay, Long and the Little Giants have a very specific win in mind.
“I told the kids, I will be extremely disappointed if we don’t shut these kids out,” Long said. “That’s how great I feel. That’s the expectation we have going into this game. We want a shutout.”
Ross will be looking to shut down an offense coming off a 42-10 win over Toledo Start last week. In that game, the Trojans jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead on their way to totaling 348 yards of total offense, including 239 on the ground.
Findlay dominated the line of scrimmage against Start, opening huge holes for senior running back Owen Morse, who totaled 163 yards on 16 carries. The Trojan offensive starters stand an average of 6-feet-2, 234 pounds.
“We don’t think they’re that big,” Long said. “We don’t think they’re that mobile. Southview was way bigger than this. I think Sandusky was bigger than this team.”
Findlay’s quarterback, junior Tanner Rickle is a first-year starter, as are most of the Trojans. Findlay graduated a massive senior class from last year, returning just eight letter-winners, five offensive starters and one starter to the defense, first-team all-TRAC linebacker Cam Dillon.
Dillon and junior defensive end Khail Stokes are the catalysts on defense for the Trojans, who line up in a three-man front but often move a linebacker or two up to rush off the ends.
Regardless of how Findlay lines up Friday, Long believes the Little Giants offense is ready to break out.
“I think they got a good defensive end in (Stokes). I think they have two good inside linebackers that will shoot gaps quick,” Long said. “They’re corners are undersized, they’re sophomore and they have two seniors at the safety spots. I think we’ll control the line.”
Who: Fremont Ross (2-1, 0-0) at Findlay, (1-2, 0-0)
What: Opener for the Three Rivers Athletic Conference schedule
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Donnell Stadium, Findlay