ROGERS — Handing the football off seems to be working out for Rogers High.
After losing starting quarterback Andy Couture to a season-ending injury, coach Ronnie Peacock and the Mounties coaching staff fi gured the only way to put points on the scoreboard would be to change directions.
Rogers scrapped the Spread offense and installed a running attack centered around the Dead-T and the Power-I.
Things didn’t go well in a 45-10 loss to Fayetteville on Oct. 23, but Rogers rushed for 285 yards in last week’s 38-35 overtime loss to Fort Smith Northside. In fact, the Mounties had more than 300 yards of positive yardage, but a fumble on a punt snap ended with a 20-yard loss.
If Rogers can repeat that effort Friday and throw in a few more pass completions, then the Class 7A playoff s could be in the Mounties’ future.
Despite being winless in the 7A-West Conference, Rogers (2-7, 0-6) can extend the season with a victory of four or more points against Springdale High and a Fort Smith Southside victory against Fort Smith Northside.
Quarterback Graham Parker is thepoint man in the new off ense, and Peacock said the junior has adjusted not only to the new formations but to also being the Mounties leader at quarterback.
“Graham has learned it well,” Peacock said. “(Parker) did a lot of good things last week and I expect him to get better this week.”
Parker started the season as the Mounties’ top target at receiver but made the switch to quarterback when Couture suff ered his second concussion of the year.
“Getting up underneath centerand taking the snap was a big deal,” Peacock said. “Then you have the timing on the exchanges. But we were a whole lot better last week. It’s athletes making adjustments to the new system.
“It’s something we didn’t want to do, but this gives us the best chance at winning. This is just a whole new ball game, but it has been exciting for the kids. To see it work, like it did against last week, was exciting for the whole team.”
Senior Jason Oller rushed for 219 yards on 24 carries against Northside and had a 59-yard touchdown run against Fayetteville. Oller, who was mainly a receiver before the switch, also completed a 38-yard pass last week.
“Oller has really stepped up and embraced his new role,” Peacock said. “He has done a real good job. I think we will be a little bit better at it this week than we were last week as far as execution and where to go.”
Parker said having the off ensive line open up holes and hold blocks has made his job easier. Parker rushed for 26 yards against the Grizzlies but kept Northside off balance by completing 3-of-6 passes for 107 yards.
“It took a while to get used to it, but I like running the football,” Parker said. “The off ensive line did a great job of giving us holes. When we did throw it, they gave me plenty of time. It took a lot ofpressure off me. We just have to practice-up and do a good job this week. We still have a lot to play for.”
Rogers off ensive line coach Rob Bray said the Mounties linemen have adjusted well to the new attack.
“It’s nothing we wanted to do but we are dealing with it and trying to make the best of it,” Bray said. “When you pass block, you want to stay a big as you possibly can. In the running game, you want your pads lower to allow some movement. Hopefully, we can continue to improve, but we have a long way to go if we are going to beat Springdale.”
Peacock has been married to the Spread off ense going on two decades, but he hinted that the Mounties could center the off ense around the run game next year.
“If we don’t have a passing quarterback and the receivers we have had in the past, it’s something we will look at,” Peacock said. “It’s something that we will decide in the spring, what will be the strengths of next year’s team.”
Sports, Pages 7 on 11/03/2009
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