Evans Takes Control Of Mounties Offense

ROGERS -- Rogers High quarterback Cole Evans probably threw more passes Monday night than the rising senior will throw all season.

Evans and his Rogers teammates ended a three-week break by competing in the first of three Northwest Arkansas Monday Night Passing League events at Springdale High. But the Mounties worked on just 5 percent of their offensive game plan during the passing-only event.

That number could inch up a percent or two this season with Evans under center.

Rogers operates out of the triple-option offense, and it ran the ball 95 percent of the time last season while ending the season with a loss to Fort Smith Southside in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. Four Rogers players attempted a pass last season, and they combined to complete 12-of-30 (40 percent).

Evans saw varsity action last season and was 1-of-3 passing. The lone completion went for a 25-yard touchdown, and Rogers will be looking for more big plays through the air this season.

"We have been working on a lot more passing this year, and that has been exciting for our guys," Evans said. "I'm excited for it. We are just going to keep working hard. When we do pass, it sometimes works out to be a big play."

Rogers did average 22 yards per completion last season, but coach Shawn Flannigan would like to see a much better completion rate.

"Cole ended spring on a high note," Flannigan said. "He looked sharp in our spring game. He threw some real nice balls in the spring, and that is key for us. When you only throw it a few times, they need to be fairly accurate."

Evans said the 7-on-7 passing league allows the Mounties to sharpen their air attack.

"When you only pass four or five times a game, accuracy is a big thing," Evans said. "If you can't be accurate, the passing game we have won't work. That is why 7-on-7 is so important."

It will be Evans' speed and his ability to lead the run-oriented offense that will be key for the Mounties this coming season. Evans rushed for 169 yards on 21 carries last season, and he rushed three times for 112 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-0 win against Mountain Home last September.

"Running is not an issue," Flannigan said. "Cole has great straight-line speed and makes a guy miss here or there with small shifts. He is not going to Barry Sanders a guy in open field, but he does find a way to slide around guys. This is the only offense that he has known in high school, and that is a plus having a program guy.

"You hope that going into his senior year that he is really going to shine and put the teaching to use."

Evans is one of the few offensive players with varsity experience, but he said most of this year's offense gained confidence while going 8-2 in junior varsity games last season. Evans was the junior varsity quarterback.

"I'm excited to see what this offense can do," Evans said. "These guys have been working hard every single day. I think that hard work is going to pay off."

Flannigan is counting on Evans to be a leader on and off the field.

"Cole really took ownership of this team at the end of last season with the JV group," Flannigan said. "He stood up after one of the JV games and said, 'Hey, we are next year's varsity, we are the guys.' I was real proud of that."

Sports on 07/08/2014