Here are updates from Friday’s high school football game between Clay and Fremont Ross. This story will be updated after each quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
Fremont Ross needed to travel just 44 yards on its next possession, scoring on Kaden Holmes' 25-yard pass to Elijah Simms for a 50-23 lead.
Clay answered with a 48-yard TD pass from Mason Heintschel to Evin Baker, and Heintschel added a two-point conversion pass to Troy Hazuda to get the Eagles within 50-31 with 8:09 remaining.
But Ross added two more touchdowns, one on a 25-yard pass from Holmes to Bryson Hammer, and another on a 90-yard interception return by Brasen Sims to finish the 64-31 victory.
THIRD QUARTER
Fremont Ross took the first possession of the third quarter and drove 60 yards on eight plays, scoring on a 2-yard run from Kelandre Jones to go up 35-23 on Clay with 9:29 left in the period.
After a Clay drive ended on downs at the Ross 13, the Little Giants marched 87 yards on eight plays to increase their lead to 20 points. Jones rammed in from a yard out for the touchdown, and Kaden Holmes passed to Bryson Hammer on a two-point conversion to put Ross up 43-23.
SECOND QUARTER
Fremont Ross needed just five plays to move 77 yards and score for the third straight time, this time on a 47-yard pass from quarterback Kaden Holmes to Adam Hrynciw, lifting the Little Giants to a 21-8 lead with 10:06 left in the first half.
Clay answered with its own scoring march, moving 62 yards on seven plays. The Eagles scored on Mason Heintschel's 7-yard pass to Christian Mays to get within 21-15 with 7:16 left in the first half.
Ross responded just before the break, closing a 51 yard drive on a 7-yard TD run by Kelandre Jones for a 28-15 edge 33 seconds before halftime.
That was enough time for the Eagles – with a good kickoff return from Evin Baker, and the help of two Ross penalties – the score once more. Heintschel hit Baker on an 11-yard TD pass with one second left, then ran for the two-point conversion to get Clay within 28-23 at the half.
FIRST QUARTER
Fremont Ross got out of the blocks quickly, scoring on its first two possessions with little resistence from the Clay defense.
First, the little Giants covered 40 yards on four plays with quarterback Kaden Holmes running 3 yards for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead 3:04 into the game.
After forcing a second punt by the Eagles, Ross then marched 76 yards on seven plays with Holmes completing three passes for 37 yards, then capping things on a 17-yard keeper through the middle for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 4:00 left in the period.
Clay got on the scoreboard on the final play of the quarter, when quarterback Mason Heintschel hit Troy Hazuda on a 26-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles' Jase Kennedy than ran for the two-point conversion to get Clay within 14-8.
PREGAME
Fremont Ross travels to Clay Friday night to begin Three Rivers Athletic Conference football play.
Both teams enter with 3-0 records after the nonleague portion of their schedules.
The visiting Little Giants are led by four senior fourth-year players – quarterback Kaden Holmes, receiver/defensive backs Bryson Hammer and Adam Hrynciw, and linebacker Mason Villarreal.
Holmes, who was named Division II first-team All-Ohio in 2021, is 39 of 59 passing for 549 yards and 5 touchdowns, and has rushed 36 times for 268 yards and 5 scores. Hammer has 15 catches for 158 yards, and Hrynciw has nine catches for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ross has outscored its three foes 140-35.
Clay has been keyed offensively by the 1-2 QB tandem of sophomore Mason Heintschel (46 of 55, 712 yards, 10 TD) and junior Jackson Schultz (19 of 24, 184 yards, 6 TD), and several playmakers, including WR Evin Baker (15 catches, 242 yards, 8 TD), WR Christian Mays (17 catches, 202 yards, 2 TD), and RB Kale Wilkins (33 carries, 265 yards, 2 TD). The Eagles have topped their three opponents 131-50.
In 11 meetings since the two teams joined the TRAC in 2011, Ross holds a 7-4 edge in the series, including a 48-14 home win last year. Clay's last win over the Little Giants was a 43-7 triumph in 2019.
First Published September 9, 2022, 7:12 p.m.
