ROSS TWP. — Kenyon Commins isn’t looking for the Ross High School football team to reinvent what the program stands for.
He wants the Rams to rediscover what once made them successful — with a few changes along the way.
Ross enters the 2026 season with 20 seniors, a collection of experienced playmakers and a renewed emphasis on consistency after finishing 3-7 last year. The Rams went 1-3 in the Southwestern Buckeye League Southwestern Division and missed the playoffs.
“Be consistent and get back to where we used to be,” Commins said. “The past three or four years have been pretty rough. So to get back to where we were prior to all those things is the goal.”
Commins, entering his 10th season as Ross’ head coach, has experienced the program at its best. The Rams went 8-3 in 2019, and Commins was named Southwest District Coach of the Year. Ross later went 7-3 in 2021 and 6-6 in 2022, winning a playoff game that season.
The road since has been more difficult, with Commins pointing to circumstances ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic and school levy issues to challenges his family faced during his daughter Kenley’s battle with lymphoma.
This year’s roster gives Ross reason to think a turnaround is possible.
“This is a really, really good class for us,” Commins said. “They’ve played a lot of football. So get back to those winning ways. And just to be consistent, man. This class deserves a lot.”
The Rams will look different offensively.
Long associated with a run-heavy, triple-option attack, Ross brought back Eric Geiser as offensive coordinator. Geiser previously coached at Ross and gives Commins an opportunity to expand an offense that recorded just 180 passing yards last season.
Senior Parker Jackson figures prominently in those plans.
Jackson rushed for 360 yards and three touchdowns on just 22 carries last season — an average of 16.4 yards per attempt — while also intercepting four passes defensively. He earned All-SWBL recognition.
“I think the key will be getting the ball into his hands,” Commins said.
Ross has other options, including seniors Sam Marcum, Alex Galante, Levi Smith, Chase Vowell and Charlie Armstrong. Galante was one of the SWBL’s top tacklers last season with 116 stops and 13.5 tackles for loss, while Smith also received all-league recognition.
Carter Gipson returns at quarterback after being thrown into the varsity lineup as a sophomore. Commins also pointed to younger multi-sport athletes in sophomores J.J. Buehner and Ryan Smith as potential matchup problems.
Much of the senior class gained experience earlier than expected. Ross carried only seven seniors last season, forcing underclassmen into prominent roles.
That experience will be tested immediately.
Ross opens Friday at Wyoming, which defeated the Rams 24-21 in last year’s opener before finishing 10-2 and reaching a Division IV regional semifinal. The Rams’ schedule also includes Harrison and Talawanda before SWBL play against Edgewood, Franklin, Monroe and Bellbrook.
Regardless of how much the offense evolves, Commins said the Rams’ fundamental identity will stay the same.
“You come watch us play, that’ll be our effort,” Commins said. “Our effort will be relentless, especially from the defensive side of the ball, and then physicality. We want to be as physical as we possibly can be.”
