Trojans aiming for fourth straight win, will face rival Fremont Ross

FINDLAY – It's not been easy for the Findlay High football team.It's certainly not going to get any easier.But the Trojans are 3-1, they've increased their offensive yardage and points on the scoreboard in three straight wins, and they're playing with an intensity that might have been just a smoldering ember when the season started."Especially when you're coaching, whenever you're teaching something and the kids are able to see it coming to fruition, that builds confidence," said FHS coach Stefan Adams."When you are able to go out there and make plays, like last week when we were able score some touchdowns and put points on the board in a variety of ways, that builds confidence as well."The key now is consistency. We don't want peaks and valleys. Now we have to be able to execute at a high level Monday through Thursday, so we can go out and do the same thing on Friday."Findlay has been gearing up this week for one of those memorable marked-on-the-calendar-since-June matchups when the Trojans travel to Fremont Ross to face the 2-2 Little Giants. It will be the 103rd meeting between the two schools, who first clashed on the gridiron in 1902, met again in 1906 and have been regulars on the schedule almost every year since 1917. Most of those matchups were as league rivals when both were members of the Buckeye League (1935-54), Buckeye Conference (1954-87), Buckeye Central Conference (1987-95), Great Lakes League (1995-2003), Three Rivers Athletic Conference (2011-22) and now the Northern Lakes League, although in separate divisions.Adams may be in his fifth year as FHS head coach, but he's well aware of the history between the schools and what Fremont Ross, the preseason pick to win the Northern Lakes League's Cardinal Division this year, traditionally brings to the table."Tough defense and offensive skill players that can hurt you at any point in time. Good athletes and always some big dudes up front. A dangerous team," Adams said."After five years (as head coach) I think we're always saying the same things. I was talking with some of the other coaches and they said it's always been that way with Fremont."Fremont Ross opened the season with a close 13-9 win over Tiffin Columbian, then crushed Sandusky, 48-14, in the 120th meeting between those long-time rivals. The Little Giants have struggled offensively the past weeks against 3-1 NLL Buckeye Division teams Perrysburg (31-0) and Whitmer (27-6), although Adams saw things in the Fremont/Whitmer matchup that impressed him."They did some good things against a Whitmer team that wants to run the ball," Adams said.Running the ball is what Findlay has done best since an opening loss to Pine-Richland, Pa. The Trojans had 215 yards rushing in a 17-7 win over Lima Senior, 222 in a 28-7 win over Springfield, and 245 in last week's 41-14 win over Sylvania Southview. With senior Miles Bailey completing 10-of-15 passes for 156 yards, Findlay had season highs in both total yards (401) and points (41) in that game. It's been a bevy of backs churning out the yardage. Shawn Hines III has 189 yards, Lance Miller 167, Bailey 144 yards and five touchdowns, and quarterback Bishop Pfister 138. Ramier Williams (77) and Griffin lane (61) have been in the mix as well."There are still areas we want to improve on. But for me, the running backs coach, this is where I always wanted to get it to," said Adams, a former running back himself."I came from a school where we ran the ball 80-20 (percent of the time). We had a stable (of running backs) every year. The best part, and what frustrated other teams so much, was come the fourth quarter we'd bring in fresh legs, fresh bodies and they'd be running all over the place."That's tough for a defense."Complementing Findlay's improving offensive numbers is a defense that could be booked for larceny after coming up with 11 takeaways (five fumble recoveries, six interceptions) over the last three games."A lot of that is the result of hustle, effort and a lot of things other than just athletic ability," Adams said."We always talk about pursuit to the ball and being in the right spot, plus we're throwing a lot of different looks at people, too."When you do all those things with great effort, passion and pride, good things happen. I always say when you hustle you are rewarded, and I look at those (takeaways) and being rewarded for doing things the right way."Sebastian Brankamp leads Findlay's defense with 22 tackles and has two fumble recoveries. Will Hammer. Bailey and Trace'son Hyde (4 sacks) all have 20 tackles. Alex Gonzalez (12 tackles) and Jacob Gebhardt both have two interceptions, and Chase Harris has 11 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery that he returned 36 yards for Findlay's first TD against Southview.Findlay's defense will be tasked with trying to contain a Fremont Ross attack headed by quarterback Breylen Garza and running back Tallon Brown, a 200-pound senior who rumbled for 156 yards in the Little Giants win over Sandusky. Fremont generated 520 yards total offense in that game."We're going to have our hands full," Adams said."They've had some peaks and valleys. We have too. We expect them to be at their best against us because of what this game means. We expect them to be on fire, and we have to try to limit their big plays."Today's game at Fremont Ross wraps up the cross-over portion of NLL play. Findlay will host Oregon Clay next week in its NLL Buckeye Division opener, then has road games at Perrysburg (Oct. 3) and at Whitmer (Oct. 10).