FREMONT – Two weeks remain in the football season but, if Ross wins its last two games and gets some help, the Little Giants could find themselves playing at least one game beyond Week 10.
Ross coach Chad Long walks the sideline prior to kickoff against Whitmer. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
Ross currently ranks one spot out of a playoff position in Division II, Region 6, sitting ninth with 11.75 playoff points. However, a clear path remains for the Little Giants to earn their first postseason appearance since 2014.
And that path begins Friday night as Ross plays host to Clay at 7 p.m. at Don Paul Stadium.
“We mentioned (playoff scenarios) Monday,” Ross coach Chad Long said. “We need to take care of each game and there is a good chance we can still be there. But we have to focus and we have to have the effort and get back to playing Fremont football.”
Ross currently trails Amherst Steele (5-3) for eighth in the region while Avon Lake (6-2) is one spot behind Ross. Amherst Steele faces off against the region’s top team Avon (8-0) this week. If Amherst Steel loses to Avon, Ross should move ahead of the Comets.
Ross’ biggest challenge for a playoff spot may come from Avon Lake as the Shoremen host their next two games against Olmsted Falls (7-1, fourth in the region) and Midview (6-2, sixth in the region). If Avon Lake upsets either team, it could pass Ross in the standings.
Ross Noah Hotz lines up prior to a play against Whitmer. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
All of this, however, requires Ross beat Clay (4-4) Friday and St. Francis (1-7) next week.
“We’re ready for Clay,” Long said. “We know we have a lot at stake. It’s week-to-week but we laid it out on them. If we win out, there is a really, really good shot we’ll be in.”
Ross has put itself on the bubble with back-to-back losses to TRAC powers Central Catholic and Whitmer. While Clays isn’t one of those traditional powers, Ross only has to ask St. John’s what can happen if a team takes the Eagles lightly.
Clay defeated St. John’s last week for the first time in program history, 27-22.
As Clay had played Central Catholic and Whitmer the week prior to Ross doing so, the Little Giants have been watching film of the Eagles for three weeks now and are well-acquainted with the challenge brought by a much-improved Clay program.
“Clay is a way better team than what they have been,” Long said. “Their offense is dynamic, they do a lot of really good things.
“You can tell in that game, St. John’s totally overlooked them, thinking they were going to come in and walk through them. We’ve been watching Clay and we know how good they can be.”
Roger Burlings helmet starts to come off as he is tackled by Whitmer. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
The Eagles’ offense largely runs through junior quarterback Reese Wamer who will be the Eagles’ primary ball-carrier. Clay runs a spread offense with similar formations as Ross does, however, its run game features many designed quarterback runs and jet sweeps. Clay’s run game will attack the perimeter of the defense, as opposed to between the tackles.
“The quarterback is the one that scares me the most,” Long said. “Because he is a winner. He finds ways to always make plays. The reason I think St. John’s overlooked them, is they abandoned the middle and he just (exploited it). Gone. You can’t do that, not against a kid (like that).”
St. John’s defensive front bullied its way through the Clay offensive line, which proved to be to the Titans’ own determent. The Little Giants want their defensive line to not over-pursue the ball, but rather limit Wamer’s escape routes outside of the pocket and make the Eagles beat them through the air.
Ross also wants to force Clay to have to drive the field to score points. The touchdowns the Eagles scored against St. John’s came on big plays: 50-plus-yard run by Wamer, a long touchdown pass and a interception returned for touchdown. Clay was unable to score touchdowns on long drive, but rather had to settle for field goal attempts, though they do have a strong-legged kicker who connected on a 50-yard field goal and narrowly missed another.
“They moved the ball on Central, they moved the ball on Whitmer, they moved the ball on everyone, they just don’t score it,” Long said. “They got a really good philosophy, they just screw it up somehow. They’re trying to find their winning ways, a lot like we are.
“We always have been a defense that kind of bends but not break all the way. We can’t bend,” he added. “We got to get stops. Field position is key importance and it has been the last two weeks and we failed to have field position in both either by specials teams, defense or offense, we’ve failed. I think the key component is to win the field position battle.”