ROSS TWP. — The philosophy for the Ross High School football team hasn’t wavered.
And if Rams coach Kenyon Commins has his way, it never will.
“We’re going to run the ball. We’re going to be physical. We’re going to play good-to-great defense and good special teams,” Commins said. “That’s our fingerprint, and it hasn’t changed.”
Now entering his ninth season at the helm, Commins is energized by a new year — not because Ross is overhauling its system, but because the pieces are beginning to click again. After a couple challenging seasons following school levy cuts, the Rams are showing signs of restoration.
Ross is coming off two losing seasons since entering the Southwestern Buckeye League — including a 4-7 overall, 2-2 SWBL Southwestern Division performance last year.
“Our numbers are coming back up,” Commins said. “We’ve got seven seniors — the smallest class I’ve ever had — but those were eighth graders when the levy hit. The younger classes are in the 20s. So we’re moving in the right direction.”
Ross remains committed to its signature triple-option offense, and the Rams have key players in all the right places to run it.
Sophomore Carter Gipson will step in as the starting quarterback, but he’s got stability around him — a senior center in front and a senior fullback, Lucas Kunkel, behind. Kunkel was just shy of 1,000 rushing yards with six touchdowns last year and will again be the workhorse on offense.
Helping power that rushing attack is senior Lincoln Mackie, the team’s leader up front at the center position.
“I’ve been playing since kindergarten,” said Mackie, who is expected to play on the defensive line as well. “I’ve loved every second of it. This year, I just want to help the team any way I can — offense, defense, whatever’s needed. It’s about being team-first and making sure everyone knows what this program’s about.
“Part of being a senior is stepping into the shoes of the guys who left last year,” Mackie added. “Coaching each other up, being a good teammate, keeping the values we’ve always had — working hard, getting better every day, listening to the coaches. That’s how you win.
“You get one chance at your senior year. You’ve got to give everything you’ve got.”
Mackie is as dependable off the field as he is between the lines, Commins said.
“Lincoln’s one of the best kids I’ve ever coached,” Commins said. “Great in the classroom, great at practice, great at home. And he’s a multi-sport guy, which we love. He’s taken ownership of leading this group.”
Joining Mackie on the line is returning starter Will Arno, giving the Rams a strong core to pave the way for the run game.
Junior Levi Smith, a former quarterback, also deserves praise for his unselfishness after shifting positions to help the team, according to his coach.
“He might be the most selfless player I’ve had here,” Commins said of Smith, who is listed as a running back and linebacker. “That kind of attitude is why I think this team is going to work.”
Ross brings back nearly its entire defense from last season, with the lone exceptions being Blake Holmes and Kellan Wright — who are both playing college football. While those losses are significant, Commins believes the returning group is ready to step up.
“We lost two scholarship guys, no doubt,” Commins said. “But we’ve got a lot of production back, and I like where we are defensively. We’ve got experience at every level.”
The defensive mindset mirrors the team’s overall identity — be physical, be disciplined and win the line of scrimmage — Commins said.
One major area of focus this offseason has been special teams, which is a phase Commins admits the program hasn’t prioritized enough in recent years.
“It’s a third of the game, and we haven’t been good enough at it,” he said. “We’ve made it an emphasis this year, and we’re going to be better.”
Perhaps the most critical goal for Ross this fall is something intangible — consistency.
“We’d beat a great team like Jackson, then turn around and get blown out by Franklin,” Commins said. “And that’s on us as a staff. We’re trying to fix that by stacking days — that’s our motto right now.
“Be better today than we were yesterday. Be better tomorrow than we are today.”
After navigating adversity the last two years, the Rams are getting back to being the blue-collar, no-nonsense program that’s made them a respected contender.
Ross opens up the season at home against Wyoming on Aug. 22.
“The fingerprint’s the same,” Commins said. “We’re going to run the triple. We’re going to hit you. And we’re going to keep stacking days.”
