Ross' hot start fizzles quickly against Winton Woods

Rams score in the  first quarter, but then Winton Woods dominates in a 59-7 triumph.

Ross High School wide receiver Logan Hannon (2) makes a touchdown catch during a state playoff football game loss to Winton Woods on Friday, Nov. 6.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch Ross High School wide receiver Logan Hannon (2) makes a touchdown catch during a state playoff football game loss to Winton Woods on Friday, Nov. 6.

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By Jay Morrison, Staff Writer 3:43 AM Saturday, November 7, 2009

FOREST PARK — The Ross High School football team had its fans dreaming of an upset after its first offensive possession was an impressive 81-yard touchdown drive against the No. 6 team in the state.

But it was all Winton Woods after that as the host Warriors rolled up 453 yards of offense on the way to a 59-7 victory in a Division II, Region 8 first-round playoff game Friday night, Nov. 6, at Charlie Fredrick Stadium.

The win moves Winton Woods (9-2) into a second-round game against Tecumseh, while the Rams end their first playoff season since 2001 with a record of 6-5.

“They’re still walking off the field as champions,” Ross coach Brian Butts said, referring to the Fort Ancient Valley Conference title the Rams share with Mount Healthy.

“We told them beforehand this was going to be a monumental task,” Butts continued. “There were 32 teams in the Division II playoffs, and everybody but one team is going to have a night like this. Maybe not scoreboard-wise, but they’re gonna go home crying because it’s over and your dreams are crushed.”

Ross senior quarterback Erik Geiser broke the school record for most passing yards in a career when he connected with Cole Stalker for a 75-yard gain on the Rams’ second offensive play of the game.

Two plays later, Geiser hit Logan Hannon with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7. But the Warriors scored touchdowns on five of their next six possessions to take a 42-7 lead into halftime.

“That was a pretty good half of football,” Warriors coach Troy Everhart said. “You can’t take anybody lightly. Ross does some things well, and I thought we did a good job against them.”

Senior fullback Jeremiah Goins, the school’s all-time rushing leader, led the way with 103 yards and three touchdowns.

Goins and the rest of the starters didn’t play after halftime, but that still didn’t slow down the Warriors. Sophomore running back Aaron Kemper scored a 61-yard touchdown on the Warriors’ first offensive snap of the third quarter, and he added an 8-yard TD run to cap the scoring with 3:38 left in the game.

Geiser finished 16-of-25 for 238 yards and the touchdown, but the Ross running game managed just 3 yards on 22 carries. Stalker caught four balls for 109 yards and also had an interception.

“I told our senior captains, ‘Look, you took us from a 2-8 program to a 6-4 league champion and the playoffs,” Butts said. “Hopefully, this is the start of a special run. We know we’ve got talent coming up, and in five or 10 years when you come back to watch us succeed in the playoffs, you’ll know you were a part of the first team that got us rolling and put us back where we belong.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.

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