Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Lafayette Christian football team is on a tear. The Cougars have rattled off four wins in a row, sit at 7-1 on the season and are on the verge of a region title. One of the chief reasons why is the emergence of two-way star Johnathan Ross. 

With the team transitioning from a run-heavy offense to a pass-first team, Ross’ breakout season has been perfectly timed.

“Learning the plays and motions was the hardest part, really,” Ross said. “It is a new offense that puts a lot on the wide receivers.”

The junior wide receiver has put up gaudy numbers this season. He is second in GAPPS in both receiving yards (623) and touchdowns (10), just 61 yards and one touchdown behind the league leader. 

Ross had a good start to the season, but has produced a dominant two games the last two times he took the gridiron. He had six catches for 219 yards and two touchdowns against Community Christian before putting up 148 yards and three touchdowns last week against New Creation.

“David’s played really well and been hitting me in stride,” Ross said. “The O-line is playing great. That’s a big part of it.It gives me time to get open down field and Davis always puts it on my hands.”

Ross had just 149 yards receiving all of last year.

This season, Ross has formed a strong connection with starting quarterback David Karvelas. But you would not know it at practice according to Ross.

“Well, our chemistry is not as good at practice,” he said. “I do better when I’m covered, and we don’t have enough players on the team to always cover me, so I drop a lot of open passes. I don’t know why. It just kind of happens.”

Ross gets a ton of reps on both sides of the ball. He was formerly a cornerback, the position that comes most natural to him on the defensive side of the ball, but has had to play safety and linebacker this season due to injuries and circumstances. It has not always been the easiest transition for Ross. 

“Last year I played cornerback, I did really well there. Then this year, with the injuries, I had to come in and play linebacker because I’m bigger than most of the guys on the team,” Ross said with a laugh. “I was not happy at first, I liked being able to hit smaller guys and now I have to hit offensive lineman.”

While transition has not been the easiest, Ross has still made an instant impact in his new position. The junior is fourth on the team in tackles with 37 while leading the team with two fumble recoveries, one of those he returned for a touchdown. 

“When we play a team that is fast, it’s exhausting when on defense when you have to chase people around then go back out there on offense and find a way to get the energy back,” Ross said.

Ross always seems to find a way to get that energy back. Remembering that he gets to suit up and play for the school that he has been attending all his life is a big energy boost on any Friday night.

“It’s such a good environment. A bunch of good guys in a Christian environment,” Ross said. “It’s really nice to be around.”