FREMONT – Less than a week after one of the most controversial endings one is ever likely to see at a high school football game, the Little Giants are trying to put it behind them.
Doing so under normal circumstances would be a challenge, given the nature of any one-point loss, but having the game ruled over after a spiked snap with less than two seconds to play on the clock, ensures everyone has an opinion they just have to share.
Fremont Ross celebrates a touchdown against Springfield. Photo by Genie Moyer
And as Fremont Ross High School started classes Tuesday, even midway through the week, last Friday night was still a major topic of discussion.
“Trust me, I still get questions from anybody new that comes to talk to me,” coach Chad Long said.
Despite the constant conversations and anger still generated from the 30-29 loss to Springfield, Long said his team has taken the right view on the controversy.
“You know what these kids say? ‘We’ll see them in the playoffs,’” Long said. “We hope we get them in the playoffs because then we’ll make sure there is no doubt this time. That’s the mindset these kids have right now.
“We’re over it, we’re moving forward,” he added. “It’s a life lesson. Sometimes things happen in life that aren’t fair and you got to move on. You can’t sit here and dwell on it, nothing is going to change.”
With Springfield in the rearview mirror, the Little Giants (0-1) are getting set to host Sylvania Southview (1-0) Friday night in the home-opener at Don Paul Stadium.
The Little Giant defense pops loose a fumble by the Springfield Blue Devils. Photo by Genie Moyer
The Cougars are coming off a 17-14 win over Millington (Mich.) in which Kaleb Johnson scored a 33-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter for the game-winning score.
The Cougars use a two-quarterback system. Long said the Little Giants expect senior three-year starter Brayton Schmidt to play primarily on running plays and junior Nathan Taylor to be the Cougars’ passer.
While the Little Giants have a 3-0 record against the Cougars over the past three seasons, with a combined score of 92-41, Long sees Southview, which won its season-opener for the first time in three seasons, as an improved program.
“They have better athletes,” Long said.
Last year, the Cougars bottled up the Little Giants for long stretches. Ross relied on a small handful of big plays in its 20-6 victory.
“Defensively, they do the same version of stuff they’ve done for many years,” Long said. “The question is can we run the ball against six guys up on the line? And I believe yes, we can. We really want to establish a little more of a balance of running and throwing.
“I think we have a better blocking scheme and a better understanding of what we can do with our run game compared to last year,” Long added. “We just abandoned the running way too much last year. Me, being on the offensive side now, I can say we’re running the ball.”
The Ross defense was outstanding against Southview last year, allowing just 51 yards of total offense. As the Little Giant defensive front swarmed the Springfield backfield last week, Long is expecting more of the same against Southview.
“The things we took are we think both the offensive and defensive lines controlled the line of scrimmage,” Long said. “I think our defensive line and linebackers put a crap-ton of pressure on that quarterback. I was shocked he was able to get up after some of the beatings he took. It was continually over and over and over.”