Wary Leads Mounties To Playoffs

CLASS 7A PLAYOFFS

Nick Wary, Rogers High quarterback, carries the ball on a keeper play Oct. 26 during the game against Siloam Springs at Mountie Stadium in Rogers
Nick Wary, Rogers High quarterback, carries the ball on a keeper play Oct. 26 during the game against Siloam Springs at Mountie Stadium in Rogers

— Switching from the spread offense to the run-oriented triple option was more than just switching from passing to running for Nick Wary.

After years of standing five yards behind the center and getting a soft snap, the Rogers High quarterback had to make the adjustment of handling the snap under center last season and making the option pitch at times. That, and learning the multiple reads in the triple option offense last season, was a slow learning process as Rogers finished 2-8 while fumbleing 32 times.

Wary lost five of 13 fumbles during an injury-plagued year last season, while backup Max Harrell lost five of 11 fumbles while taking about half the snaps last season. Not all the fumbles came under center, but the center exchange was a problem, coach Shawn Flannigan said.

“All those guys, having grown up in a shotgun system from youth ball all the way to high school, had never had their hands under center,” Flannigan said. “That was a shock. When you are a quarterback and you are standing five yards away, the ball comes to you nice and clean. Then all of the sudden you have to put your hands underneath the center’s sweaty butt, that’s not appealing sometimes.

“It was also different for the center. It takes a little time to get used to.”

But those problems are history, and that is why the Mounties are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Rogers (6-4) travels to Conway (7-2) tonight and kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Rogers has done a much better job of handling the football this season and its shows in the stats. Rogers has almost doubled its rushing output after posting 3,285 yards on the ground compared to 1,860 in 2011. Last year through 10 games, Wary rushed 103 times for 355 yards while this season the senior has rushed 117 times for 979 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“Nick was voted a team captain as a sophomore, and that shows you what type of kid he is,” Flannigan said. “There is no doubt that Nick makes us go. There is no one that can argue that. He demands the attention of the defense because of the type of runner he is. Nick can also throw the ball, and that can be a big difference.”

Wary said he and the rest of the offense are more comfortable running the offense. That better execution has cut down on drive killing fumbles.

“We know our assignments,” Wary said. “Last year, we didn’t know what to do at times. It wasn’t a lack of capability. This year, we have been better prepared going into each game.”

Wary missed the Springdale Har-Ber game and all but a few plays of the Bentonville and Fayetteville games with an ankle injury but the three-year starter is close to full speed for tonight’s game. He said missing three games after missing a good part of last season was frustrating.

“The ankle feels good,” Wary said. “It was tough because I think we could have done better. But, we are still in the playoffs and everybody has a clean slate.

“Conway is a very good football team, but we feel we can beat them if we play our game.”

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