ROSS
Coach: Brian Butts, 11th season (57-45)
OHSAA designation: Division III, Region 12
Playoff history: 0-6 in six appearances (1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2009, 2011)
2015 record: 5-5 overall, 2-4 in the Southwest Ohio Conference (fifth)
Schedule: Aug. 26 — Goshen, 7 p.m.; Sept. 2 — at Walnut Hills, 7 p.m.; Sept. 9 — Western Brown, 7 p.m.; Sept. 16 — Harrison, 7 p.m.; Sept. 23 — at Mount Healthy, 7 p.m.; Sept. 30 — Edgewood, 7 p.m.; Oct. 7 — at Northwest, 7 p.m.; Oct. 14 — at Little Miami, 7 p.m.; Oct. 21 — at Logan, 8 p.m.; Oct. 28 — Talawanda, 7 p.m.
There are plenty of question marks, but also much optimism, as Ross High School’s football team prepares for the 2016 campaign.
“Things are cyclical. You go up and down sometimes as far as talent and ability, and we’re looking to improve our record from last year,” said 11th-year coach Brian Butts, whose squad went 5-5 last season.
“We seem to have each other’s back, and the kids really like each other. I think we could surprise ourselves. This senior class didn’t have a lot of success growing up, but they’ve worked really hard recently, and I think they’re tired of losing.”
The Rams are looking to take a big jump defensively this year after allowing 33.6 points per game in 2015.
Junior inside linebacker Joe Valentine (6-0, 209) and senior safety Brennan Morton (5-11, 161) are the top returnees in Ross’ 3-4 defense.
Other returning starters are senior outside linebacker Eric Allgeier (5-11, 191), junior inside linebacker Austin Hamblin (5-10, 173) and senior outside linebacker Blake Niefield (6-2, 184). Hamblin played on the outside last year, while Niefield was a safety.
“Valentine and Morton make us strong up the middle,” Butts said. “I would say Allgeier is the emotional leader over there.”
The Rams need to be consistently better up front this year. Butts is hopeful that junior tackle Logan Lange (6-0, 235), sophomore tackle Garrett Boyle (5-11, 175) and senior nose guard Jared Jones (5-9, 239) can get the job done.
Senior cornerback Dylan Miller (6-1, 157) and sophomore safety Sean Lange (5-11, 151) are first-year starters. So is sophomore cornerback Jordan Hodge (5-9, 151), who didn’t play last season.
“Jordan’s been a total surprise,” Butts said. “He throws his body in there, and he’s not scared to make a mistake. We’re really high on the fact that he might be an answer at corner that we haven’t had in a long time.”
The spread offense has four returnees on the line. Senior Tyler Ballauer (5-11, 181) and junior T.J. Vicars (5-10, 237) will be the tackles, and senior Caleb Ake (5-7, 200) and junior Thomas Woodruff (5-7, 257) will be the guards.
The O-line newcomer is sophomore center Taylor Polly (6-0, 215).
“We’re not big up front, but I think we’ve got adequate size,” Butts said. “Those guys have some football smarts. They love being linemen.”
Senior tight end Sam Stepaniak (6-1, 192) and junior slotback Jacob Brewer (5-8, 153) are returning starters, as are senior Zach Arno (5-10, 172) and Niefield at wide receiver.
Arno’s 2016 position is up in the air. Butts said he’ll start at quarterback, running back or wideout.
“We know what he can do at all three spots,” Butts said. “It really comes down to the other guys in those spots. Wherever Zach can be the biggest difference maker, that’s where he’s going to start.”
Logan Fuller (6-3, 236), a strong-armed junior, is battling Arno for the QB position.
“Both of them are competing really well,” Butts said. “Arno’s going to be a better runner, but Fuller is really throwing the ball well right now. I think it’s a win-win for us.”
Morton, Hamblin and sophomore Thomas Coleman (5-11, 178) are all in the mix at running back. Senior Drew Slay (6-0, 198) could be an impact wide receiver … he’s a former St. Xavier player who sat out last season.
“Ideally, we’re 50-50 run to pass and we’re using the entire field,” Butts said. “That’s our goal. We want to stretch the field sideline to sideline. We’ll face teams that have more pure sprint speed than we do, but football isn’t always about pure sprint speed. We have to be in better shape and play better team football.”
Coleman is expected to handle the place-kicking. Valentine will be the punter.
The Rams have two scrimmages this week, at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (with Norwood) on Monday at 9 a.m. and at Kings on Friday at 7 p.m. The last tune-up will be at home against Amelia on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.
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