Little Giants run over rival Streaks, 48-14

SANDUSKY — Sandusky started with some sizzle, but it didn't take long for Fremont Ross to extinguish the threat. In a rivalry game marked with plenty of early offense and penalties, Fremont Ross' running game and defense wore down the Blue Streaks. Ross claimed its fifth straight victory in the series with a 48-14 decision over Sandusky in front of a big crowd at Strobel Field on Friday. The Blue Streaks, stinging from a 42-point loss to Amherst Steele in Week 1, got off to a fast start — as fast as a start can get. Sophomore speedster Dante Shipp Jr. took the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, cutting left behind some good blocking and outrunning the Ross kickoff crew. After the Little Giants (2-0) tied the game seconds later on a 79-yard pass from Breylen Garza to Mason Englund, the Streaks answered. Sandusky (0-2) drove 60 yards on seven plays, scoring when Dale Johnson found Shipp in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard score. Shipp made a diving catch two plays after Keylan Howell went high to make a one-handed catch that was good for a 29-yard gain to the Ross 8-yard line. Ross tied the game on a 17-yard Garza run and took a 20-14 lead when Joel Pickard scored on a 9-yard run to give Ross a 20-14 lead after one quarter. The Little Giants took over at the Sandusky 38 after a fumble. The second quarter was scoreless and the first half included 17 penalties for 159 yards. Ross had 11 for 96 yards and self-destructed on a drive midway through the second quarter with four consecutive penalties. The Little Giants had second-and-6 from Sandusky's 48 when they were called for holding, a false start, delay of game and holding again. The end result was fourth-and-33. Ross did move the ball effectively in the first two quarters, rushing for 117 yards — 66 from Tallon Brown on 10 carries. He ran behind five offensive linemen who weighed an average of 277 pounds. Garza threw for 156 yards in the first half and was intercepted by a diving Terrell Ruiz. Sandusky used Johnson as a runner early. The senior quarterback had carries of 10 and 20 yards in the first half but also threw an interception. While the first half was competitive, the second half was all Ross. The Little Giants limited Sandusky to 47 total yards after halftime. Fifty of those came on a Johnson-to-Ruiz run and catch that ended in a fumble. Ruiz also caught a 30-yard pass in the first quarter. Ross totaled 520 yards, led by Brown on the ground. The 200-pound senior finished with 17 carries and 156 yards — many of them while dragging or pushing Blue Streaks down the field. Sandusky totaled just 158 total yards after a fast start. Brown rumbled for 46 yards on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter and Garza later scored on a 6-yard run on fourth and 1. On the ensuing kickoff, Shipp hit the turf and exited the game with leg cramps. He did not return. Garza connected with Stephen Reiter on a 6-yard pop pass for a touchdown to give Ross a 34-14 lead. Garza later scored on a 14-yard run and backup running back Ben Waggoner scored on a 3-yard plunge for the final margin with 3:55 on the clock. Sandusky and Ross — both Division II schools — face Division I opponents next week. The Blue Streaks host Lorain while Ross travels to Perrysburg. Sandusky dropped an 8-0 decision to Lorain in the rain last year. Ross 20 0 21 7 — 48Sandusky 14 0 0 0 — 14 S — Dante Shipp Jr. 97 kickoff return (Kayli Gundlach kick)FR — Mason Englund 79 pass from Breylen Garza (Carson Lewis kick)S — Shipp 13 pass from Dale Johnson (Gundlach kick)FR — Garza 17 run (Lewis kick)FR — Joel Pickard 9 run (kick failed)FR — Garza 6 run (Lewis kick)FR — Stephen Reiter 6 pass from Garza (Lewis kick)FR — Garza 14 run (Lewis kick)FR — Ben Waggoner 3 run (Lewis kick)