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Ross sophomore Stalker loves to hit, win

Two-way starter sets the tone for hard-charging underdogs headed straight for Winton Woods.

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By Rick Cassano, Staff Writer 12:35 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

ROSS TWP. — Cole Stalker is glad he doesn’t have to choose.

Catching passes? Leveling people on defense? His football world is great. The Ross High School sophomore gets to do both.

“I like catching the ball and scoring touchdowns, but man, I just love hitting people,” Stalker said. “They can’t win if they can’t score. It’s all defense, really.”

Stalker is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound free safety and wide receiver for the Rams, who are heading to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

Ross visits Winton Woods on Friday, Nov. 6, and Stalker can’t wait for the opportunity to square off with the heavily favored Warriors.

“We’ve always been the underdog,” Stalker said. “Honestly, I think we play better as the underdog. A game like this gets me pumped up more than anything. I’m not really ever nervous. When all the lights are on you, it’s just a great experience.”

He is a rarity, a two-way starter as a freshman last season. Stalker was in the lineup as a receiver all year and took over at free safety midway through the campaign.

So Stalker faced high expectations in 2009, and he has performed, even while missing time because of a shoulder injury.

“When D-I schools come through, they want to see him,” Ross coach Brian Butts said. “He’s got all the tools. He’ll light you up with a hit, and he can defend the pass. When the ball’s in the air, he thinks it’s his ball.”

Butts said Stalker is often a sideline-to-sideline force, though a little less since suffering a grade 1 AC shoulder separation in Week 4 against Little Miami.

“He was a beast before he got hurt,” Butts said. “Our last game (against Northwest) was the first time I’ve been him back to normal since the injury.”

Stalker, who missed the 56-0 loss to Turpin in Week 5, agreed.

“I felt like I was finally back 100 percent last week,” he said. “I couldn’t really do much right after I came back. I just played and never thought about it. If you’re thinking about your shoulder and maybe backing off, they might as well fire you because you’re not going to do anything.”

Stalker has two interceptions and 51 tackles on defense this season. He’s caught 19 passes for 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“I just want to win,” Stalker said. “I love winning. We won all through Little Pro, and last year was kind of an eye-opening experience because I’ve never had a record like that (2-8) before. I wanted to win so bad this year. It just feels so good that all the hard work has paid off.”

He’s become more of a leader this year while improving his ball-catching skills. Stalker said he dropped a few too many passes last season.

As a team, the Rams have a simple philosophy that Stalker finds appropriate.

“Our motto is to play physical and just always hit people harder than they hit us,” he said. “You never give up. You’ve got to play until the whistle blows. If you think your opponent is wrapped up, you’ve just got to stick your nose in there and make sure he’s down for good.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.

Next game

What: Division II, Region 8 football quarterfinal

Who: Ross Rams (6-4) vs. Winton Woods Warriors (8-2)

Where: Charlie Fredrick Stadium, Forest Park

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6

Radio: None

Notable: The winner advances to face either New Carlisle Tecumseh or West Carrollton on Friday, Nov. 13, at a neutral site.

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