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2016 Snapshot: Ross

For the Ross seniors the time has come to prove themselves. Since their arrival on campus this Rams class has never seen a victory over Southwestern Ohio Conference members – Mount Healthy, Northwest or Harrison. Ross is a combined 0-9 against those SWOC foes over the past three years. The Rams are looking to become SWOC royalty and get out of the rut of back-to-back 5-5 seasons that include going 2-4 in league play.

Ross Head Coach Brian Butts (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Ross Head Coach Brian Butts (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

There are things for head coach Brian Butts to be thrilled about and other questions that could make him “gray” even faster. “We have to replace the entire defensive line and our backfield on offense. Our two biggest play makers, the quarterback and running back are gone with little experience returning at those positions,” he says.

“I really like the work ethic of this year’s group. They are great bunch of kids who want to be good. The question lies in can we find enough defensive lineman and who will replace (Dustin) Foley and (Cole) Hannon in the backfield,” head coach Brian Butts states.

Things aren’t necessarily bleak on offense. The majority of the offensive line and four of the Rams top five receivers are back. The new quarterback won’t need to put the entire load on his shoulders.

The defense has veterans at linebacker and in the secondary. They will be a real strength for the Rams. All eyes will be on the Ross defensive line. The performance of this “green” group will be a huge factor in the success of this team.

Division III, Region 12
2015 RECORD: 5-5, 2-4 SWOC
COACH: Brian Butts (57-45 at Ross, 10 years; 57-45 overall)

TOP RETURNEES
Brennan Morton, Sr, WR/FS – In his first year as a starter Morton was in on 63 total tackles and had four interceptions. Look for him to play a more prominent role on offense as a senior.

Zack Arno, Sr, QB/RB/WR/CB – The more ways the Ross offense can find to get the ball into Arno’s hands the more electric the offense is going to be. He will start the season as the Rams number one running back.

Jacob Brewer, Jr, WR/FS – A solid varsity debut saw Brewer lead Ross in receptions with 26 and had 242 receiving yards with a touchdown catch as a sophomore.

Joe Valentine, Jr, TE/LB – A rising SWOC star, Valentine tallied 66 tackles with an interception as a sophomore.

Eric Allgeier, Sr, LB – As a junior, Allgeier became a starter half way through the season and made an impact from that point on. He moved from safety to outside linebacker and totaled 34 tackles, had a sack and three tackles for losses in the last four games.

Austin Hamblin, Jr, OLB – Hamblin had 29 tackles as a sophomore. He is only going to get more productive the games pile up.

Blake Niefield, Sr, WR/SS – A valued member of the offense and defense Nielfield caught 16 passes for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns in ‘15. On defense, he had 20 tackles and an interception.

Sam Stepaniak, Sr, TE – Stepaniak is a proven pass blocker and pass catcher. He had 15 receptions for 106 yards as a junior.

Seniors OG/LB Caleb Apke, OT Tyler Ballauer along with juniors OT TJ Vicars and OG/LB Thomas Woodruff provide depth and experience on the offensive line. They contributed heavily to a unit that averaged 5.9 per carry in ’15.

NEWCOMERS
Dylan Miller, Sr, DB – Miller must be a “sure” tackler and keep the play in front of him if he wants to see consistent snaps.

Parker Orr, Jr, OL – The tools are there for Orr to be a starter for the next two seasons.

Jared Jones, Sr, OL – Jones gives Ross some much needed girth on the line.

Logan Lange, Jr, DL – Coaches have seen signs of good things from Lange in practice now he gets the chance to prove he can do it under the Friday night lights.

Logan Fuller, Jr, QB – Fuller will get his shot at winning the starting quarterback job.

Karsen Chasteen, Sr, DL – Perhaps the switch to a permanent spot on the defensive side of the ball will be just what Chasteen needs to have a productive senior year.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(six appearances, 0-6) – 2011, 2009, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1993

2016 SCHEDULE
The opportunity to exorcise all the Rams demons starts in Week 4 with Harrison at home, the at Mount Healthy, back to Robinson Field to host Edgewood and on the road at Northwest. That’s how SWOC play begins. Ross is a combined 4-12 versus these schools (three of those wins were against Edgewood) since league play began in ’12. Going 3-1 in non-conference clashes versus Goshen, Walnut Hill, Western Brown and Logan may not be enough to get to the playoffs. “The schedule is much tougher this year with Walnut Hills replacing Dixie and Logan (OH) replacing Casey County (KY),” Butts says.

TWO DECADES OF PROSPERITY
In Brian Butts’ 10 seasons the Rams have had only one losing campaign and it was back in ’08. Ross followed that 2-8 year with a Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division Title and trip to the playoffs. It began this current run of seven consecutive season at .500 or better. Butts’ predecessor Dick Ballard led the program to 10 consecutive winning seasons from 1995-’04. Ross has had just three losing seasons in the last 21 years.

JECKYLL AND HYDE
Last fall Ross had a split personality on the field. In the Rams five losses they gave up 43.4 points per game and got beat by a margin of 30.2 points per contest. In its five victories Ross averaged 37.2 points per game with an average margin of victory of 13.4 points per tilt.

PASSED UP
In four SWOC seasons Ross has combined to throw for just 25 touchdowns with 28 interceptions. The Rams have never thrown more than eight touchdown passes in a SWOC season. Ross passers have thrown seven interceptions in all four league campaigns. During that same span the Rams have run for 101 touchdowns.

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