By Bill Bray
FREMONT Fremont Ross coach Chad Long presents his 2023 Fremont Ross football team Friday night at Don Paul Stadium in a non-league contest with Tiffin Columbian.
Long, in his ninth season at the helm of Ross football, has worked tirelessly to come up with a line up to replace one that included four All-Ohioans from the 2022 edition. “
Not only that, but now the Little Giants join the Northern Lakes League in the small division.
“We are excited to be playing in the Northern Lakes League this year, Long said. It’s such a classy, traditionally good football played in the NLL. We know it because they are right there playing with the TRAC. Two solid conferences. I am glad we are merging and got rid of some of the other schools. I think it is the fairest that can possibly be by joining with other PUBLIC schools. Because everyone is going to have their ups and downs. We no longer must worry about teams that are recruited, Long said with a chuckle. “But I can’t say just how excited we are. I know a lot of the coaches in the NLL. There are some traditionally great programs with Perrysburg, Anthony Wayne and you can go all the way through. We played many of these same schools in the Great Lakes League, so we are familiar with them.’
Getting to the line ups that Ross will present Friday night when they when they kick off their 2023 campaign.
On the offensive side of the ball, for new coordinator Jalen Slick (Fremont Ross class of 2015) by position are. left tackle will be manned by Zavier Lopez (junior, 205 lbs). left guard is Kole Myers (sophomore, 270 lbs), snapping the ball from the center position will be Grant Miles (senior, 230 lbs). Evan Franks (junior, 280 lbs) will be at right guard, Kaden Mayle (junior, 315 lbs) will be at right tackle and Tykell Patterson (senior, 180 lbs) will be tight end.
Those “root hogs” will be protecting a back line of offense that includes Karson Kayden (junior, 219 lbs) at quarterback; JD Moncrief (senior, 145 lbs) at running back. Owen Shanahan (senior, 150 lbs); back side WR Jadrian Brown (145 lbs); and wide receiver Elijah Simms (senior, 165 lbs).
Kayden has big shoes to fill replacing two-year First Team All Ohioan Kaiden Holmes who broke every passing record for Ross the last four years. Kayden brings a different style to the position. He can run the ball, but his passing has been very consistent in preseason scrimmages according to coach Long. “Karson is a guy that has experience starting and playing a whole game at quarter back last year. In that game, Kayden threw for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Lima Sr. “I think that’s a pretty good start,” Long mused. “I think his leadership and understanding the offense that Jalen Slick is putting in place has made huge gains for him. Kayden is also a defensive linebacker so he will be performing both ways for Ross.
Jalen Slick, the new offensive coordinator, is a familiar face to the Fremont Ross faithful. Slick, a 2015 graduate of Fremont Ross, was Craig Yeast’s quarterback at Ross. He’s bringing in a very good offensive system. It’s the same offensive system he learned from former head coach Yeast.
Defensively, coach Long says the strength of this year’s defense is the defensive line. “I love my D-line, Long said. We have three of our four starters back, I even count Payton Heschel because of his experience last year. We have so many kids play. So, we have a lot of guys who had experience last year. That’s all part of building a program,” Long continued. “it’s to get your future players ready to be starters. I feel like we have accomplished that.”
The defense, with new coordinator, Dustin Patton, consists of linemen: Luke Durbin (DE, senior 210 lbs); Peyton Heschel (DT, junior, 285 lbs); Dominic Brown (NT, senior, 215 lbs) and Blake Schoch (DE, senior, 195 lbs).
There are two linebackers including: JRhein Hottinger (senior, 200 lbs) and Kayden (junior, 219 lbs). Two other veterans in the defensive linebacker corps are Zalen Harris (nickle back, junior, 160 lbs) and Shanahan (rover, senior, 150 lbs).
The defensive secondary includes Jayce Frymire (corner back, junior, 150 lbs), Brown will play both ways including corner back.
Patton returns after a season at Lakota at the defensive coordinator. ““My brother Ray, Long’s brother and last season’s defensive coordinator is taking a step back. He’s still helping, he’ll still be there on Friday nights, but more family time with his wife wins out after 30 years of coaching, coach Long concluded.
Special teams have some new faces as well. It is customary for the football coaches to (steal) one or two soccer players to help with the kicking responsibilities. This season is no different. “We have two kids off the soccer team and the third is a freshman,” Long said. “Junior Bryce Estep will play dual roles for football and soccer this season. Sophomore Stephen Reiter has switched away from soccer and on the football team full time. Reiter will be kicking all the extra points according to Long. Braylon Garza, a freshman will be handling the punting for Ross.
