Mr. Reliable helps prevent last-minute touchdown as Ross football ends three-game skid

Fremont Ross defensive lineman Peyton Heschel told Cade Reineck what was coming.

Reineck, though, still had to make the play on fourth-and-goal with about one minute left in the fourth quarter Friday in the Little Giants' 26-20 victory over Napoleon in the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division.

"Peyton told me it was a sweep outside and I dragged (the running back) to the ground," Reineck said. "The mentality was to empty the tank. We worked too hard all game."

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Ross coach Chad Long characterized Reineck as Mr. Reliable.

"Our defense, we bent but we didn't break," Long said. "We had kids step up when we needed plays. Kole Myers had a sack. Mason Englund had a big stick. I'm proud of the boys. They live for the moment; they drive me nuts. There's a reason I have so many greys."

Bryce Shiets caught a touchdown pass from Karson Kayden for a 20-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. Napoleon responded with a touchdown run midway through the quarter.

"Everything was the coaches," he said of his first varsity touchdown. "We overcame a little adversity. (The touchdown) means a lot, especially in our first conference game. It was a close, hard fought game. We needed this."

Tallon Brown opened the scoring with a touchdown run for Ross (2-4, 1-0), which snapped a three-game losing skid.

"Ty Brown blocked it, I hit the hole and lowered my shoulder," Tallon said.

The Little Giants led 13-0 after Jadrian Brown returned a punt for a score.

"The blocking was doing just enough," he said. "I love special teams. I caught the ball, saw a lane and hit it as hard as I could. As a returner, I'm just back there with my thoughts. I just try to break one loose, do it for my team. Build my confidence.

"I trust my guys in front of me."

Elijah Ysaguirre ran in for a 20-0 margin early in the second quarter. He also ate up a chunk of the third quarter with a handful of carries.

"Come out and punch them in the mouth," Ysaguirre said. "I wanted to keep getting first downs and give the defense a break. The o-line, the blocks were there. I went outside and scored a touchdown, finished it."

Reineck put a bow on it on defense.

"We were able to run the football," Long said. "Elijah stepped up huge, and it was by committee. They knew we were running the ball, but they couldn't stop us."

mhorn@gannett.com

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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Mr. Reliable helps prevent last-minute touchdown as Ross football ends three-game skid