FREMONT – As Fremont Ross readies itself to meet its rival on the football field for the 113th time, one might think the Little Giants are taking to practice with an extra intensity or more attention to detail.
Noah Hotz hauls in a pass against Sandusky in Ross 16-15 loss to the Blue Streaks in 2017. All Photos Tony Zimmerman
But head coach Chad Long insists that’s not the case.
While Ross travels to Sandusky Friday to renew the second-oldest rivalry in Ohio, the Little Giants are viewing the Blue Streaks like any other opponent.
“Down to business. Just another game,” Long said. “We don’t want to get them too overhyped over the team we’re playing.”
But don’t mistake the Little Giants’ just-another-game approach with being unmotivated. All the motivation Ross needs can be found by watching the game film of last year’s 16-15 loss where the Blue Streaks scored 13 unanswered points to rally for the victory, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 45 seconds to play.
“The only thing I can say is they want paybacks from last year,” Long said. “I really feel that that’s all the motivation we need. We feel we lost by letting them drive the field. We have great leadership out of our seniors and they let the kids know. It’s definitely been told by the seniors that that’s not happening this year.”
The sting of the defeat is still felt largely due to the Little Giants’ own miscues leading to their downfall.
Twice Ross’ offense had to settle for field goals with the ball inside Sandusky’s 10-yard line. Another time with goal-to-go Ross’ came away empty-handed due to an interception in the end zone, which came one play after a touchdown was called back for holding.
Chrystjan Mancini reacts following Sanduskys late go-ahead touchdown in 2017.
The most notorious of Ross’ mistakes in the game came with under five minutes to play. With Sandusky punting from its own end zone, the Little Giants were called for a roughing the punter personal foul, giving the Blue Streaks a fresh set of downs which they later turned into the game-winning drive.
“We’ve been looking at this since last year,” Long said. “We should have beat them last year and we didn’t. We had a couple bonehead plays that allowed them to stay in the game.
“We’re focused and we’re ready to go.”
If the Little Giants are going to redeem themselves and snap the Blue Streaks’ two-game win streak in the series, Ross is going to have to find a way to contain junior running back Terrion Stewart.
As a sophomore a year ago, Stewart rushed for 1,212 yards and 20 touchdowns and he’s only gotten better. In two games thus far this year, Stewart has rushed the ball 39 times for 497 yards and 11 total touchdowns.
He tied Sandusky’s single-game record for touchdowns by scoring six times in the season-opener against Port Clinton which included runs of 65, 32, 26 and 54 yards as well as a 31-yard receiving touchdown and a 69-yard kick return. Last week, against Huron, he totaled 303 yards on 30 carries with five more scores, including touchdown runs of 94 and 80 yards.
Last year Ross limited Stewart to 86 yards on 20 carries.
“The strength of our defense is our run and they don’t pass a whole lot,” Long said “They’re a lot different from last year where they were balanced in what they did. We don’t think they have as many weapons as they did, but they do have the weapon who can run the ball and score at any time.”
They key to keeping Stewart contained is to going to be swarming the ball and not allowing him to break tackles and get into space.
The Little Giant defense puts pressure on Sandusky quarterback JaVez Alexander in 2017.
Of his 30 carries against Huron last week, Stewart was held to one yard or less on nearly a third of his attempts. But when Stewart, whose 5-foot-7, 205-pound frame gives him a low center of gravity and hard to tackle, was able to escape after first-contact, he ran away from the defense.
“I honestly think, Port Clinton and Huron did a great job of getting in the backfield, let’s say that,” Long said. “I think their offensive line is suspect and our strength is our front seven and I think we can do very well not letting him get off on any big carries.
“Swarm the ball. If we don’t get all 11 guys running the ball, it could be a long night. We need all 11 going to the ball, taking good angels, playing their gaps on defense.”
Sandusky leads the all-time series 55-49-8. If Ross is to climb closer to even in the series, not only will the Little Giants have to limit Stewart, but also continue to show the offensive progress they showed n last week’s 49-21 win over Southview.
Long said Ross expects Sandusky to play a 3-3-Stack defense with three down linemen backed up by three linebackers and five defensive backs. Barring any surprises, the Little Giants believe such an alignment will play into their hands.
“I feel we match up very, very well,” Long said. “We love that (alignment) because we’re going to run the ball. They’ll jump into a 4-3 defense as well and I still love it. We’re going to run the ball. And what’s that going to do? It’s going to open up the pass.”