Springdale High’s Joseph Calcagni looks to pass against Fayetteville on Oct. 3 in Fayetteville.
Photo by J.T. Wampler
ROGERS — When Ronnie Peacock was asked about Friday’s regular-season finale against Springdale High, the Rogers High coach responded by saying the Mounties were still blinking.
Despite losing all six 7A-West Conference games this season, the Mounties can get o◊life support and earn a spot in the Class 7A playo◊s with a victory of four or more points against the Bulldogs. Rogers also need Fort Smith Southside defeat Fort Smith Northside on Friday.
To have any hope of extending the season, the Mounties must stop a Springdale o◊ense led by junior quarterback Joseph Calcagni and a stable full of Bulldogs receivers. Calcagni has passed for 2,163 yards this season and was 27-of-50 for 354 yards two weeks ago in a 64-45 loss to Rogers Heritage.
He had 117 yards last week in Springdale’s loss to Bentonville.
Peacock said there is no one way to stop Calcagni. Rogers plans to use a combination of pressure and di◊erent defensive formations to keep him off balance. Peacock compared Calcagni to Northsidequarterback Tanner Knight, who hit the Mounties for 326 yards through the air last week. Knight also rushedfor another 37 yards.
“(Springdale) is a lot like Northside in that they have a very good passing game,” Peacock said. “You have to pressure (Calcagni) some, you have to confuse him sometimes with your coverage. You have to make him think he is throwing into one coverage when we are playing another coverage.
“If we can keep him from getting into a rhythm, that will be a big key for us.”
Rogers also must move the chains on offense, Peacock said. Part of that equation is limiting turnovers. Rogers lost three fumbles last week, and Northside scored 14 points o◊the miscues.
“Man, we are just giving people touchdowns,” Peacock said. “We have to maintain control of the football and not turn it over. That is something we haven’t done the last two games. We have to avoid those things.
“It’s just been one of those things that happen. Because we have had to change o◊enses, the ball handling is not going to be perfect.”
Although the Bulldogs haven’t shown it the past twoweeks, Peacock said Springdale is equally dangerous on the ground. Springdale rushed for 97 yards against Heritage and 82 last week against Bentonville.
“Springdale is balanced,” Peacock said. “They use the pass to set up the run and they use the run to set upthe pass.”
Springdale has had trouble stopping the run and that could be to Rogers’ advantage as the Mounties gained nearly 300 yards on the ground last week.
Two weeks ago, Heritage’s Zac Stewart burned the Bulldogs for 262 yard andBentonville finished with 262 yards rushing last week. Rogers was forced to switch to more of a running team after starting quarterback Andy Couture was lost with a season-ending injury.
“Since we changed offenses, we have become more one-dimensional,” Peacock said. “You can game-plan to stop our run. But we did complete some huge passes (against Northside). But with what we do, they will be able to keep a lot of people in the box.”
Springdale coach Dennis DeBusk said the Mounties have adapted well to the new o◊ense and he still expects the Mounties to throw the football.
“Rogers runs the ball extremely well and they are throwing much better, too,” DeBusk said. “They have improved dramatically.”
Rogers also took another hit on the injury front as backup quarterback Andrew Conley broke his collarbone in two spots during Monday’s junior varsity game. Senior Casey Caton will slide into the backup role. Caton also plays receiver and defensive back.
News, Pages 7 on 11/05/2009
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