The Huntsville Item, Huntsville, TX

Local Sports

Discussion

June 29, 2010

Former Hornet shines brightly in team’s first playoff victory

Ross rushes for 98 yards, three touchdowns in Stampede’s 45-35 win

By Tom Waddill Sports Editor

HUNTSVILLE — Last week was a pretty good one for former Huntsville High School football star Derrick Ross. This week looks to be even better.

Named Offensive Rookie of the Year in the Indoor Football League last week, Ross scored three touchdowns and rushed for 98 yards Monday, helping the San Angelo Stampede Express to its first-ever playoff victory, 45-35 over the Fairbanks (Alaska) Grizzlies.

“Me and my o-line ate 18 carries, 98 yards and three TDs,” Ross said after the game. “I’m a little sore after this game. Epsom salt here I come.”

In the IFL’s final first-round playoff game Monday, the Fairbanks Grizzlies (9-6) traveled quite a distance to take on San Angelo (11-4).

Ross turned in what the league is calling, “a breakout performance” on Monday night in San Angelo. The powerful running back (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) who played collegiately at Tarleton State and professionally for one season with the Kansas City Chiefs, helped the Stampede build a commanding 35-12 lead with just over two minutes to play in the third quarter.

Over a seven-minute span leading into the fourth quarter, Fairbanks rallied back and cut the advantage to just three points at 35-32 with 11:03 left in the game.

“We had a letdown,” Stampede Express head coach Clint Dolezel said. “There’s no question about it, we just stopped making plays.”

San Angelo was suddenly struggling to move the ball and was facing a fourth-and-long with a chance to turn the ball over to a red-hot Grizzlies offense.

“The huddle is our comfort zone,” receiver Jonathan Ferguson told the San Angelo Standard-Times. “We talked about how somebody needed to make a play, and there wasn’t a guy in that huddle that didn’t think we were going to do it.”

On fourth down, Ferguson laid out in a full stretch to bring in Dustin Almond’s 35-yard pass as he sailed across the goal line.

“Without that, there’s a good chance we don’t win the game,” Dolezel said in a postgame interview. “It was a money catch and a money throw at a perfect time.”

The touchdown was Ferguson’s second of the game and pushed the Stampede advantage back to 42-32.

Fairbanks could not match the Stampede Express’ ground game, having only 5 total rushing yards for the game in comparison to 102 yards by San Angelo.

Grizzlies quarterback Justin Rummell tried to compensate with a tremendous passing game. The Fairbanks quarterback threw for 186 yards and three touchdown. However, Stampede Express quarterback Dustin Almond more than matched him with three touchdowns and 172 yards.

Overall, it was a tight game with the Express capitalizing on a strong ground game to advance. Ross will hope to put another strong showing when San Angelo travels to Billings, Mont., to try and knock off the defending United Bowl champions, the Billings Outlaws.

“I think we can go all the way, of course,” Ross said before the Stampede Express kicked off their playoff season.

Ross said he dreams of playing in the NFL again. He’s trying to make that dream come true by giving his all to the Stampede Express.

“When I felt that I had made rookie of the year I really was just happy. It was like I still can do it,” Ross said. “I work hard and I’m just never going to give up, no matter where I play. I just love playing football and I’ve got to be thankful for the opportunity to play.

“Everyone doesn’t have that chance. I’m going to make the most of it.”

Text Only
Local Sports
  • Tommy Vaughn

    December 17, 2010

  • Plenty of interesting stories to follow at the 2010 National Finals Rodeo

    When the 2010 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo begins tonight in Las Vegas, the biggest story line will be Trevor Brazile of Decatur, a cowboy who stands on the brink of clinching a record eighth world all-around title.

    December 1, 2010

  • Lady Hornets set up showdown with Caney Creek

    The Lady Hornets had to fight tooth and nail Tuesday night, but the Huntsville girls volleyball team came away with a four-set victory on the road at Summer Creek.
    The Lady Hornets evened their district record at 4-4 by handing the Lady Bulldogs a 25-23, 25-18, 23-25 and 26-24 setback.

    October 5, 2010

  • Anderson-Shiro downs Lady Dogs in three sets

    The Lady Bulldogs played well at times Tuesday, just not well enough to knock off the team that is battling state-ranked Centerville for the top spot in District 23-2A.

    October 5, 2010

  • Fantasy Focus: Coaching decisions, game-time decisions and byes

    There is nothing worse than getting up on Sunday morning to set your fantasy football lineup and seeing one of your star players listed as a game-time decision. That was the dilemma for owners of Andre Johnson on Sunday.

    October 5, 2010

  • 10-1-nw-adv.jpg Home, sweet home

    For two weeks now, the Bulldogs have had to stew over their previous performance, an embarrasing 49-6 shellacking against Franklin. New Waverly certainly doesn’t want its worst loss in nearly two years to be the lasting impression heading into district play.

    September 30, 2010 1 Photo

  • 9-30-hornets-hazlewood-thr.jpg Huntsville coaches keep pushing

    Tackle better and cut down on turnovers. That was the big emphasis last week in the Hornets’ district opener against Summer Creek.
    Huntsville’s young bunch succeeded on both accounts.

    September 30, 2010 1 Photo

  • Southland Notebook: ‘We want to finish this week right’

    Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz called the Bearkats into a huddle at the end of Thursday afternoon’s workout at Bowers Stadium.

    September 30, 2010

  • Lady Lions look tired, but still win in three sets

    Maybe the Lady Lions were a little tired after winning the silver bracket at the Living Stones varsity volleyball tournament in Alvin over the weekend. But Alpha Omega Academy head coach Talara Cox felt her squad could have played a lot better Tuesday night.
    Regardless, the Lady Lions took care of business, and despite a sluggish second game, cruised to a 25-15, 26-24, 25-16 victory over Northeast Christian Academy of Kingwood. Alpha Omega improved to 3-2 in district action with the win.

    September 28, 2010

  • 9-26-18-pressures-qb.jpg Kats come to life

    The Bearkats are far from a finished product, but they sure looked like it Saturday night.
    Sam Houston State electrified the crowd with explosive plays in the passing and running games and the defense brought the heat as the Bearkats whipped the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb 30-14 at Bowers Stadium.

    September 25, 2010 1 Photo