FREMONT – One year ago, as the Ross football team played its final game of the season, at Don Paul Stadium, then-senior Austin Busold handed the reins of the the Little Giants over to then-junior Ben Rozzell, telling him they were his team now.
Quarterback Hayden Lehmann looks to pass against Clay. RSR/Tony Zimmerman
“It meant a lot,” Rozzell said. “It’s a great feeling to know it’s time to step up. All those years you were the follower, now you have to be the leader.”
As Rozzell and the rest of his senior classmates’ see their careers in the purple and white near their end, the time to pass the torch is quickly approaching.
“I was thinking about that the other night, who’s going to wear my jersey, who’s going to get my locker, stuff like that,” Rozzell said. “Who’s going to be leaders next year? That’s as much as I’ve thought about it.”
The Little Giants (5-4 overall, 3-3 TRAC) are playing their final game of the season at Don Paul Stadium Friday night as they host St. Francis de Sales. However, a victory, could give them another game next week.
Ross currently sits in the eighth and final playoff position in Division II, Region 6. A victory alone, however, does not guarantee the Little Giants their first postseason appearance since 2014. In addition to defeating St. Francis Friday, Ross needs St. John’s to lose to Toledo Central Catholic.
In addition, Avon Lake (vs. Midview) and Springfield (vs. Anthony Wayne) could potentially pass Ross on secondary points with victories of their own Friday night.
But before other team’s fortunes become a relevant topic of discussion, Ross must first take care of itself.
“We mentioned it (Monday) to the kids, absorb every day and understand this could be your last week,” coach Chad Long said. “We can’t determine, we can only do our part, but this could be your guys’ last week, last time in a football uniform for some. We talked about it and we’ll continue talking about it all week long.”
At first blush, it might appear Ross drew a favorable opponent against which to end the season. After all, St. Francis has just a 1-8 overall record, is winless in the TRAC and its only win of the season came against a winless Division III team, Madison Comprehensive, by a 52-0 final score.
Ross Shawn Newsome runs the ball Friday night against Clay. RSR/ Tony Zimmerman.
However, a closer look at the Knights indicates the Little Giants may not be in for such a cakewalk. The Knights have played a tough schedule outside of Madison Comprehensive. All of its losses have come to teams with no worse than a 4-5 record. It’s non-conference schedule included Anthony Wayne (8-1) and Bedford (Mich.), who made the playoffs with a 6-3 record.
St. Francis lost to Clay in overtime and by one point to Lima Senior after being tackled on the 1-yard line as time expired on a kickoff return that nearly gave the Knights a miracle win.
“They’re a good 1-8 team,” senior Tanka Eckford said. “Some of the games they lost, they could have won, like Lima, they got tackled at the 1-yard line. They were running the ball against Whitmer better than we did. All that adds up. They’re not trash like people might say because of their record. They have athletes.”
The Knights’ do the bulk of their attacking on the ground with a run-heavy offense with running back Sean O’Donnell and quarterback Cam Long.
St. Francis will often run behind its large left side of the line, anchored by 6-foot-3, 330-pound tackle Keishawn Flowers and 6-4, 280-pound guard Austin Biggs.
While last week, Ross’ defense needed to play patient, disciplined, gap-filling defense, the Little Giant defensive front will just need to watch for pulling guards wing backs and attack the football.
“When you pull so much you’re vulnerable to pressure and that’s one thing we do, we’ll bring pressure,” Long said. “We’re going to have our linemen pin their ears back and go after it.”