Rogers Puts Perfect Record on the Line Against Bentonville
Two years ago Rogers did not win a single football game. Coming in to this year head coach Shawn Flannigan was a gut wrenching 2-18. To see the turnaround this team has made is miraculous,5-0 in 2012, averaging 50 points a game. But our McDonalds Team of the Week is going to play the #14 team in the entire country when they host Bentonville Friday night. This is where we truly see how close Rogers is to being back on top.
“We may not be great on paper and we may not be huge and intimidating but we’re just like anybody else,” said senior quarterback Nick Wary. “We can beat you if you don’t come ready to play.”
The offense has proved it can’t be stopped so far, but there are some weaknesses to point out. The defense has been shaky giving up more than 40 points each of the last two games and they haven’t even come close to playing a team as good as Bentonville.
“We’re going to have to get turnovers,” senior safety Chase Lamers. “That’s what it comes down to; turning the ball over and our offense will do what they do best and score.”
“We’re going to do what we do which is run the football,” said head coach Shawn Flannigan,“and make our adjustments and call our plays like we have been and we’ll see what happens and hopefully things will work in our favor.”
Rogers averages a ridiculous 420 yards rushing each game. It’s an option style offense that is hard to defend when a team’s not used to facing it.
“I think that gives us an advantage because they don’t have a lot of time to prepare for us,” said Wary. “They just have this one week.”
“Those guys are well coached over there and they’re going to know what’s going on and how to defend us,” said Flannigan.”
Bentonville barely gives up one touchdown in each game. The Mounties are calling this a heavyweight fight where they know they have to take each hit and keep getting up.
“I feel, and our players feel that we can be competitive and that’s a step in the right direction,” said Flannigan. “We’re going to approach this like it’s a game for us to win.”
The two unbeatens meet at 7:30pm Friday at Rogers.
