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Preview: Ross at Walnut Hills

It is only appropriate this week’s U.S. Marines Battle of the Gridiron Series matchup is between two squads that used defense to propel them to Week 1 victories. Marx Stadium on the campus of Walnut Hills will be full electricity on Friday night. The Eagles are ushering in a new era and their riled up fans are sure to be a nuisance for visiting Ross. The Rams did not allow a touchdown in their win over Goshen. They will be tested by a Walnut Hills offense that showed some real spark to open 2015 by posting 35 points against Woodward. The Eagles only allowed eight points in that affair to a Bulldogs team that has shown it can put points on the board in bunches.

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

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

There is plenty of reasons for Ross and Walnut Hills to be optimistic about what lies ahead this fall. The winner of this game will go to 2-0. That optimism these teams are feeling will start turning into confidence and belief with another victory.

Possibilities will start to seem endless as wins start to accrue. It’s hard to fathom but this is very meaningful Week 2 game. The future looks bright for the victors.

ROSS RAMS (1-0) at WALNUT HILLS EAGLES (1-0)
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m at Marx Stadium
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: The future looks bright for Ross behind QB Logan Fuller. The 6-foot-3, 235 pound junior is bigger than most of the Rams linemen. Senior TE/LB Sam Stepaniak scored the Rams lone touchdown this season on a pass from Fuller. Classmate WR/CB/RS Brennan Morton is a playmaker on defense and has a nose for the ball. He had five takeaways in ’15 (four interceptions, one fumble recovery).

Walnut Hills sophomore DL Jowon Briggs is one the Class of ‘19’s hottest commodities. He has offers from Miami (OH), Cincinnati and Iowa State. It’s and Eagles defenseThe offense started to develop an identity last week against Woodward behind the leadership of junior QB Solomon Cummings and senior WR/DB Michael Davenport. This unit has weapons that Walnut Hills has not seen in a while.

TEAM TRENDS: Dating back to last season Ross has won four of its past five tilts. Three of the victories were by seven, four and three points.

The 35 points that Walnut Hills scored against Woodward was its most in a game since posting 38 in the 2013 season finale against Turpin. Last week’s win broke a seven game losing streak for the Eagles. In that span they allowed an average 37.2 points per game. Walnut Hills gave up just eight points in Week 1.

ROSS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: Putting points on the board was a struggle last week. Ross can ill-afford to play catch up. The offense must show they can run and pass. The last thing they want is for Walnut Hills to stuff the line of scrimmage and apply pressure. The Rams must keep the Eagles defense honest.

WALNUT HILLS’ KEYS TO VICTORY: The Eagles will look to be the more physical and aggressive team. Establishing that in front of the home crowd will make life tough for Ross. Any points the defense or special teams can generate would make the hill even steeper for the Rams to climb.

Prediction: WALNUT HILLS 14, ROSS 13

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