Overtime TD Sinks Mounties

PEACOCK KNEW FIELD GOAL WAS SURE THING FOR ROGERS

By By Paul Nielsen <a href="mailto:PNIELSEN@NWAONLINE

Posted: November 1, 2009 at 1:52 a.m.

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ROGERS — After quarterback Graham Parker was sacked for a loss on third down in overtime, Rogers High coach Ronnie Peacock faced a tough decision.

Should the Mounties send out reliable kicker Spencer Dunlop for a 28-yard field goal, or should they go for it on fourth-and-goal at the Northside 11.

Peacock knew that a fi eld goal probably wouldn’t stand up as Northside quarterback Tanner Knight had already passed for 316yards and rushed for another 37.

But Peacock knew that a fi eld goal was a sure thing, and the Mounties coach was hoping that Rogers could come up with a stop or a turnover.

Dunlop gave Rogers a 38-35 lead, but Knight hit Authur Poole for the game winner on first down as Northside posted a 41-38 victory in Mountie Stadium.

Knight finished with 326 yards passing after completing 32 of 43 passes. His touchdown to Poole was his third of the game.

Peacock said before the gamethat Knight was a “difference maker,” and that statement proved true for Rogers (2-7, 0-6 7A-West Conference).

“Going into overtime and knowing that he (Knight) is going to have the opportunity to throw for or run for 10 yards, pretty good chance,” Peacock said. “I couldn’t make myself do that (go for it on fourth down). Hindsight, maybe you could have gone for it on fourth down.

“But I knew we were going to get a field goal. A tipped ball, a turnover, a sack with a fumble or something like that (couldhappen). But if he (Knight) is going to throw it in the end zone four times, pretty good chance they are going to get it in there.”

For the second straight week, Rogers kept the ball on the ground and the e◊ort paid big dividends. The Mounties finished with 285 yards rushing on 55 carries. Jason Oller led the way with 219 yards on 24 carries, and the senior had runs of 19, 10 and 23 yards as the Mounties tied the game at 35-35 with just under 6 minutes left in the game.

“We have run that thing fora couple of weeks, and I think we got a bit little sharper,” Peacock said. “(Oller) ran well and broke some tackles and did a real good job. We are not a running team. To be able to change offenses like that, and for the kids to play up on another level, I’m proud of the kids.

“(Northside) is doing what they have done all year. We are doing what we have done for just a couple of weeks. I thought we played hard.”

Northside coach DarrellHenry was not surprised by the success the Mounties had running the football.

“(Rogers) did a great, great job of putting in a new offense,” Henry said. “We knew they would be better this week. They lined up and did it well. They were going 4 yards a pop.”

Normally pass-happy Rogers completed four passes on seven attempts, but three completions by quarterback Parker and another by Oller went for 145 yards. SeniorCasey Caton caught all four passes.

“We had several plays in that we thought would be big plays for us,” Peacock said. “Just about every one of them were.”

Rogers also lost three fumbles, and the Grizzlies turned two of the miscues into touchdowns.

That put the Mounties in an early 28-14 hole.

“The difference was just one or two plays,” Peacock said.

Sports, Pages 7 on 11/01/2009

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