FREMONT – Through its first five games of the season, the Fremont Ross football team grew used to coming back from deficits much more so than holding onto leads.
So, when Lima Senior scored early in the third quarter to trim the Ross lead to 17 points, the Little Giants knew, from their experience at overcoming second-half deficits the last two weeks, that a large lead can quickly vanish when a team with nothing to lose starts to gain momentum.
Ethan Chumley
The Little Giants weren’t about to let that happen. Ross answered Lima’s touchdown with one of its own, capped by a 1-yard end zone plunge by Ethan Chumley. That touchdown stopped Lima’s momentum and sent Ross well on its way to a 45-28 victory over the Spartans.
“I feel like that one really was a gut-punch for them,” Chumley said. “We drove all the way down the field and it was a heck of a job of the O-line tonight, they did amazing and they took me right down the field. I’m glad we got the win.”
Ross entered second half holding a 31-7 lead, thanks to a 24-point second quarter. But, on its second possession of the third quarter, Lima put together its best offensive possession of the game, moving 72 yards in just six plays, capped by a 5-yard touchdown pass to trim Ross’ lead to 31-14.
Ross then retook momentum by asserting itself on the ground. Quarterback Hayden Lehmann began the drive with back-to-back keepers, totaling 32 yards, followed by a 6-yard pass to Noah Hotz. Chumley then carried the ball on the next three plays, including a tremendous second-effort on a run up the middle, carrying defenders on his back as he took the ball down to the 1-yard line on a 12-yard gain. The next play, Chumley finished what he started with his 1-yard touchdown.
“I think we came out strong and throughout the game we kept picking on their weaknesses and exposing their secondary and big plays kept happening,” Lehmann said. “And the defense played good too, so it was all-around a good game for us.”
Ross put the game out of reach on its next possession when Lehmann, moving around in the pocket to buy time, connected with Bryce McKinstry in the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown and a 45-14 lead. Though Lima scored a couple late touchdowns to trim the margin, Ross rolled to the win from there.
Hayden Lehmann
Bryce McKinstry
The Little Giant offense moved the ball mostly at will, totaling 344 yards of offense, which includes a pair of sacks of Lehmann totaling 45 yards of negative yardage. Throwing the ball, Lehmann was outstanding, completing 18-of-23 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns. His five touchdowns are tied for the second-most in a single game in Ross history (behind his own record of six, set last season against Findlay) and his 78.2 completion percentage is the fifth-highest in a game by a 200-passer and the highest of Lehmann’s career.
“I felt we could do just about anything we wanted,” said Ross head coach Chad Long. “If we wanted to pass the ball up and down the field, we could, but we know we need to work on our run game and that’s why we were running the ball more in the second half.”
Ross struck first early on, taking advantage of a Lima miscue. Garrett Schneider recovered a Lima fumble on the Spartans’ second possession of the game, giving Ross the ball at Lima’s 42-yard line. The first play of the ensuing series, Lehmann found Andrew Born in the end zone for a touchdown and the 7-0 lead.
The Little Giants added to their lead early in the second quarter when Alec Slemmer connected on a 35-yard field goal, for a 10-0 advantage. But it didn’t last long. Lima returned the ensuing kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown, trimming Ross’ lead down to three.
“The kid broke it back across the field, and our three guys ran into each other,” Long said. “No wonder there’s no one there. We have younger kids on special teams and they have to get better at that.”
Deryante Hardin
Noah Hotz
But, again, the Little Giants had the answer. Lehmann found Deryante Hardin on a screen pass and Hardin weaved his way through the Lima defense to score from 19 yards out and a 17-7 lead.
Ross’ next possession looked like it might end in bitter disappointment. Ross found itself first-and-goal from Lima’s 9-yard line but Lehmann, trying to make a play under pressure was sacked for a 29-yard loss, moving Ross back to second-and-goal at the 38.
No matter. Lehmann put the play behind him and then connected with Noah Hotz on the next snap for a 38-yard touchdown.
“I know, as a quarterback mistakes will happen,” Lehmann said. “To be a good quarterback you can’t think about it. You’ve got to play the play. I took a loss, whatever, I’ll come back next play and throw a touchdown.
“Maybe it was a good thing, we needed more room,” he joked.
Lima’s turned the ball over again on its next possession, as Jason Burling pounced in a loose ball and gave Ross the ball at Lima’s 47-yard line with 50 seconds remaining before halftime.
Lehmann connected with McKinstry for 32 yards on the first play of the drive, then hit Hardin on another screen pass and Hardin scored his second touchdown of the night, going untouched for 15 yards and Ross’ third touchdown in just over six minutes.
Lehmann’s night could have included a defensive highlight as well. Inserted into the defensive secondary as a safety, Lehmann nearly had himself an interception but the ball bounced off his hands and to the ground. He knows he hasn’t heard the last of it from his teammates.
“As soon as I came to the sideline, that was the first thing I heard,” Lehmann laughed. “I think everyone came up to me, I’ve never had that many people in my face before. I just misjudged the ball a little bit.”
Aside from Lima’s kickoff return, Long said Friday’s victory was Ross’ strongest all-around game of the season.
“I would say, thus far, this would be the closest we’ve come,” Long said. “We’re not perfect, by no means. We don’t have all three phases working great right now.
“I’m proud of the kids. They’re weren’t really sloppy, they were sound, and they did what we asked the to do, for the most part.”
The Little Giants will need an even stronger effort next week when the Little Giants (3-3 overall, 2-1 TRAC) travel to Toledo Central Catholic (6-0, 3-0) which is coming off a 21-0 victory over Whitmer.
“They’re pretty darn good,” Long said of Central Catholic. “Their defense, from what I see, they’re the real deal. It’s crazy to think that year-in and year-out, they always have a really stout defense… Coach Dempsey believes this is one of the best teams they’ve every had under him, so we’ll see.”
BOX SCORE
Score by quarter
LS – 0 – 7 – 7 – 14 – 21
FR – 7 – 24 – 7 – 7 – 45
First quarter
FR – Andrew Born 42 pass from Hayden Lehmann (Alec Slemmer kick), 7:36
Second quarter
FR – Slemmer 35 field goal, 10:40
LS – Ahmir Curtis 87 Kickoff return (Cole Mericle kick), 10:27
FR – Deryante Hardin 19 pass from Lehmann (Slemmer kick), 6:42
FR – Noah Hotz 38 pass from Lehmann (Slemmer kick), 2:19
FR – Hardin 15 pass from Lehmann (Slemmeer kick), 0:34
Third quarter
LS – Jaleel King 5 pass from Da’san Clair (Mericle kick), 6:36
FR – Ethan Chumley 1 run (Slemmer kick), 4:35
Fourth quarter
FR – Bryce McKinstry 20 pass from Lehmann (Slemmer kick), 10:13
LS – Brayden O’Dell 9 pass from Clair (Mericle kick), 6:41
LS – King 1 pass from Clair (Mericle kick), 0:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Ethan Chumley 13-54; Caleb Wood 4-15; Deryante Hardin 4-11; Tridarrion Taylor 3-1; Cyrus Lagrou 2- (-3); Noah Hotz 1-(4); Spencer Price 1- (-5); Hayden Lehmann 10 (-15). Totals, 38-54.
PASSING – Hayden Lehmann 18-23, 290 yards, 5 TD, 0 INT.
RECEIVING – Noah Hotz 6-89; Bryce McKinstry 5-71; Andrew Born 1-42; Deryante Hardin 3-37; Garrett Schneider 1-21; Raleigh Weaver 1-18; Ethan Chumley 1-12.
TEAM STATISTICS
| Ross | Lima | |
| Total yards | 344 | 297 |
| Rush-yards | 38-54 | 26-21 |
| Pass yards | 290 | 276 |
| Comp.-Att-TD-INT | 18-23-5-0 | 23-36-3-1 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-2 | 4-3 |
| Penalties-yards | 2-20 | 6-55 |
| Punts | 3 | 5 |