Ross meets challenge with 5 TDs

Fountain Lake Coach Tommy Gilleran knows how important running back Parker Ross is to his Veer offense.

So when Ross was held to 91 yards on 20 carries in his first two games this season, Gilleran said Ross needed to break out against Maumelle last Friday night.

Ross answered his coach’s wish.

The senior rushed for a season-high 205 yards and 5 touchdowns on 19 carries in the Cobras’ 57-21 rout of last year’s 5A-West champions at Beckham Memorial Stadium in Fountain Lake. It was Ross’ third 200-yard game of his career.

Ross, 6-1, 200 pounds, scored on runs of 39, 4, 25 and 9 runs in the first half to help Fountain Lake (2-1) take a 43-8 lead into halftime. He added a 24-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put the Cobras up 50-8.

“He saw the holes,” Gilleran said. “He made some good runs. Overall, it was a great night.”

Fountain Lake finished with 471 rushing yards and didn’t complete a pass against the Hornets.

Ross had 61 yards on 14 carries in the Cobras’ seasonopening 47-7 loss at Little Rock Christian. He had 30 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 carries Sept. 11 at Jessieville, a 58-7 victory.

Gilleran said Little Rock Christian bottled up Ross, which was a source of frustration for Ross over the past two weeks leading into the Maumelle game.

“To have a game like he had, it’s huge,” Gilleran said. “We need him to have those type of performances because of what he brings with his size and speed.”

One of Ross’ goals, Gilleran said, is to rush for more yards than his brother Mackenzie did at Fountain Lake. Parker Ross, who had 1,651 yards and 23 touchdowns on 205 carries last season, has 2,731 yards. Mackenzie finished his high school career with 3,048 yards.

“He wants to eclipse that,” Gilleran said. “He’s right up there.”

Mark Makin, who played for Fountain Lake’s 2009 Class 3A state championship team, holds the school record in rushing with 3,883 yards (2008-2010).

Fountain Lake hosts Waldron in its 7-4A Conference opener Friday.