FREMONT – Shawn Newsome’s first touchdown gave the Little Giants the lead.
His second touchdown gave them the game.
Ross’ senior defensive end, who moonlights as a running back, powered his way into the end zone twice inside of three minutes in the fourth quarter to held Ross take a 28-17 win over Oregon Clay.
Key to the game
Newsome’s touchdown sandwiched around a big defensive series by the Little Giants. On third-down and 4 to go at Clay’s 26-yard line, senior defensive back Tanka Eckford intercepted a pass from Clay quarterback Reese Wamer, giving the Little Giants the ball at the 31, setting up Newsome’s game-sealing touchdown.
First half highlights
Ross’ second possession was one of its bets this season. The Little Giants drove 80 yards in eight plays, doing so mostly on the ground as Chrystjan Mancini carried the ball five times for 55 yards, including the final eight yards for the game’s first touchdown five minutes into the game.
Ross added to its lead just a three minutes later. On the first play of the drive, Clay bit on a play-action pass, allowing Devyn Jagodzinksi to slip behind the Clay defense where Hayden Lehmann hit him in stride for a 44-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 lead with 2:12 to go in the first quarter.
But before Ross could start thinking about a route, the Eagles quickly responded.
On the opening play of the second quarter, quarterback Resse Wamer connected with Jacob Novack on a slant pass that Novack took 28 yards for the Eagles’ first touchdown.
The Little Giants were forced to punt on their next possession from the back of their own end zone. The snap on the punt was high, forcing Noah Hotz to reach for it. With the Eagles pressuring him, Hotz had to carry the ball and kick it on the run. He got the ball away but Clay ended with up great field position, at Ross’ 29-yard line. Seven plays later Wamer scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 14-14 where it remained until halftime.
Ross outgained Clay in the first half, 217-99. Of Clay’s 99 offensive yards, 89 came on the Eagles’ two scoring drives.
Second half highlights
Clay took the lead on the only score of the third quarter, a 42-yard field goal.
After Ross’ touchdown by Newsome, Clay did not go away, however, marching down the field and ending in a 5-yard touchdown pass to trim Ross’ lead to five, 28-23.
Ross drove down inside Clay’s 5-yard line an looked on the verge of putting the nail in the coffin until an unsportsmanlike penalty moved Ross back to the 20 for third and goal. From there, Lehmann threw an interception and Clay took over at its 5 with 44 seconds to play, giving the Eagles a last chance. Ross, however, stopped the Eagles, allowing clay no further than its own 31-yard line.