By Bill Bray
TOLEDO – If it was feared that the Little Giants would look past Start for their annual rivalry game next week against Sandusky, all fears were forgotten very quickly. Ross defenders, Bowen Schoch and Dean Hetrick (Hetrick is pictured below), found the Start running back in the end zone for a safety and with that, the Little Giants stepped on the gas. Schoch and Hetrick’s wrap up came with just :49 second gone in the first quarter. Less than two minutes later the Giants were in the end zone as Kayden Holmes completed a short 6-yard pass to Bryson Hammer. Johan Silver’s kick split the uprights and Ross was rolling 9-0.With 5:59 remaining in the 22-point quarter for Ross, Labronze Barnett found a crease and scored from 6 yards out. Silver again was good with the extra point and Ross found themselves in command with a 16-0 advantage. Holmes found his target again with 2:24 left in the opening period when he connected with Bryson Hammer (Hammer is pictured in feature photo with arms raised in celebration) for 22 yards. The extra point was missed, and Ross had a comfortable, although hot, 22-0 lead with two minutes left in the quarter. The next scoring play for Ross contained some trickery on the part of Chad Long and his offense. It was Anthony Vann, normally a receiver, took the hand off and found Kaden Holmes for and 11-yard touchdown. The extra point again was missed, and Ross had a 28-0 lead with 5:43 left in the half.
The second half was a different story. With the excessive heat getting to both teams, it was obvious that the Giants didn’t come out with the same spring they had in their step in the first half. “It is what it is.” Coach Chad Long said about the second half. “Between shooting ourselves in the foot and a few bad calls and not being very fancy in the second half it all led to very few points.” It wasn’t until with 4:19 left in the contest that Ross get their final points on the toe of Johan Silver. His 45-yard field goal fell just two yards short of the school record held by Tim Rakes who in 1995 boomed a 47-yard field goal against Napoleon.
Statistically, Kaden Holmes was a little off his rhythm. Holmes completed just 11 of 24 passes for 184 yards. Two of his completions went for touchdowns and he committed his first interception of the season. Holmes was also on the end of an Anthony Vann pass as he now has some receiving yardage to go with his passing and rushing totals. Labronze Barnett led the team in rushing finishing with 46 yards on eight carries. Holmes added 45 yards on four carries. Bryson Hammer was the top receiver for the Little Giants hauling in six passes for 70 yards and catching two touchdown passes. LITTLE GIANT PRIDE..”Catch it”.
