FREMONT – For much of the season, Fremont Ross football was able to avoid, crucial, momentum-turning mistakes. Not Friday night. The Little Giants were victims of a blocked punt, several crucial down sacks and a killer kickoff fumble in a 27-7 loss to Toledo Central Catholic Friday.
Key to the game
Ross’ failure to capitalize on a long run by Chrystjan Mancini turned the game in the Irish’ favor. Mancici took off for a 59-yard gain from the Ross 8-yard line to the Irish 33, a gain of 59 yards. Ross, however, stalled and was sacked on fourth down, giving the ball back to the Irish at its own 41.
The next play, Jase Bowen took a wildcat formation keeper and took off for a touchdown, giving Central Catholic a 20-7 lead. Ross fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the ball back to the Irish. Two plays later, Bowen scored again, this from 19 yards out, putting the game out of reach.
First half highlights
Ross’ opening drive showed promise, as the Little Giants picked up a quick first down and then charged into Irish territory only to lose a fumble.
The Irish scored the first points of the game late in the first quarter, when Devon Rivers plunged in from 3 yards out just two plays after Central Catholic blocked a Ross punt from deep in its own end of the field.
Central Catholic looked to add to its lead after a quick Ross three-and-out and a good punt return into the Little Giants’ end of the field. However, defensive end Dontrez Brown came up with an interception to give the ball back to Ross with momentum. Ross moved quickly, marching 69 yards in six plays, capped off by a 34-yard pass from Hayden Lehmann to Devyn Jagodzinski for a touchdown and a 7-7 tie.
Central Catholic retook the lead, however, with 3:20 remaining in the first half on Rivers’ second touchdown of the night, this from six yards out.
The Little Giants looked to knot the game up going into halftime, moving the ball from its own 11-yard line down to the Irish 15. A third-down sack, however, forced Ross to try a 41-yard field goal, which was partially blocked, sending Ross into halftime trailing 14-7.
The Little Giants’ defense did the best it could in the half, playing consistently on a short field. The Irish scoring drives began at Ross’ 9- and 38-yard lines. The Irish totaled just 103 yards in the first half. Ross, meanwhile, whose best starting field position was from its own 31, totaled 183 yards in the first half, including 152 passing yards by Lehmann on 9-of-19 passing.
Second half highlights
No scoring took place in the third quarter though Ross came close. Ross took a drive deep into Irish territory, to the 10-yard line. But back-to-back sacks pushed the Little Giants out of scoring position and the drive ended in a turnover.
The game remained 14-7 until the Irish’s quick scores early in the fourth quarter.
Scoring summary
First quarter
TCC – Devon Rivers 3 run (Jarod Landrum kick), 1:01
Second quarter
FR – Devyn Jagodzinski 34 pass from Hayden Lehmann (Mikey Contreras kick), 8:25
TCC – Rivers 6 run (Landrum kick), 3:20
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
TCC – Jase Bowen 59 run (kick fail), 10:21
TCC – Bowen 19 run (Landrum kick), 9:33