For Caden Ross, the expectations heading into the 2021 high school football season are nothing less than a state championship.
The Ada senior defensive lineman is ready to go, as his Cougars take on Ardmore Friday night in their season opener. After a disappointing end to last season, Ross is prepared to take things further this year.
“My expectation every year is to end up with a Gold Ball,” Ross said. “This year, I think we’re going to take it step-by-step, game-by-game. Every day, we’re going to go in and practice our butts off, because we’re not as big of a team as we used to be, but I think we’re going to be pretty scrappy. Definitely don’t count us out, because you never know.”
Ada went 5-4 last year, winning their Class 4A first round playoff matchup with Elk City 47-7, but before they got a chance to face Clinton in the second round, the game was cancelled due to a Covid-19 outbreak on the Cougars. That ended Ada’s season on the spot, while Clinton got to advance and ended up in the 4A state final. That was a major disappointment, but now, Ross is using that experience as motivation.
“We were about 30 minutes from getting on the bus and Mr. Harwell, our athletic director, comes down and tells us that we’re not playing,” recalled Ross, who started playing flag football in first grade and moved to tackle in third. “That was a sad time for us, because we had all those seniors leave and everything kind of hit reality, but this year, our expectations are to play that second round game and to have that thought in practice that we’re going to play for that Gold Ball.”
While football is his first love, Ross also plays basketball and baseball at Ada, and this year also plans on adding track and field to his spring schedule. He also has a full slate of extracurricular activities.
“I am in Business Professionals of America,” Ross said. “I’m in graphic design, into logos, so every year I make a logo for BPA and try to get placed nationally and win state and stuff like that. I’m in the Ada Chess Club and the Spanish Club. One of my teachers told me I need to get in a lot more than what I am in. There’s also United Way, that’s my Leadership class. We go to shelters, or Mama T’s (homeless shelter in Ada), food drives, stuff like that to help people in need.”
As a senior, Ross is also planning on becoming certified as an auto mechanic while also possibly playing football at East Central University in Ada next year.
