Wright, Rogers carry Bob Jones to win over Sparkman

Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose told his team all week to not take Sparkman lightly despite the Senators one win record.

Then his players took the field Friday and followed through with a key region win 15-0 over county rival Sparkman.

Playing on a wet muddy field the game turned into a contest of wills and attrition.

Sparkman lost starting quarterback Danny Johnson to an ankle injury on the first series of the game. Bob Jones top running back Jay Rogers played through a deep thigh bruise that hampered his speed.

“I took a helmet to my quad on about the third play,” Rogers said. “I knew it was bad but I came back and made some plays for my team. With the weather conditions we knew if we could jump out on the board first our defense was playing good.”

Sparkman got the first break of the game when quarterback Trey Bates threw a pass that was intercepted by Jordan Joiner and returned to the Bob Jones 30-yard line. After a defensive stand Bob Jones stayed mostly on the ground with Kevin Wright and Jay Rogers.

After a scoreless first quarter, Kevin Wright capped a long drive with a 5-yard touchdown run. Seth Parker came in a quarterback for the 2-point conversion and hit Mitch Davis to make it 8-0.

Sparkman moved to the Bob Jones 12-yard line behind backup quarterback Jordan Joiner’s 35-yard pass to Devon Johnson but a high snap over Joiners head cost the Senators 20 yards and a 42-yard field goal came up just short.

Jay Rogers had 55 yards rushing at halftime on 8 carries and finished with 78 yards on 16 carries. He had rushed for over 100 yards in the last three games and now has rushed for 726 yards on 119 carries and 7 touchdowns on the season.

Sparkman had a drive in the third quarter to inside the 10-yard line but Bob Jones’ defensive back Ryan Crooks intercepted a pass at the four yard line to end the threat.

Bob Jones offense responded with a long 15 play 96 yard drive keyed by a Kevin Wright 22 yard run and short passes to Ben Washington. On fourth down from the one yard line Wright carried it in and the extra point by David Mitchell made it 15-0.

“We just did what we had to do to win against a very athletic football team at home and in very wet conditions against our biggest rival,” said Coach Kevin Rose. “The interception by Ryan Crooks was probably the biggest play of the game,” Rose said. “Sparkman has some skill guys as good as any in the region so to shut them out is a major accomplishment.”

Rose said Sparkman’s quarterback going out made it difficult because they had prepared to face a passing attack but Sparkman went to a two tight end power running game.

Bob Jones goes to 52 (4-1 in region) and Sparkman goes to 1-6 (1-4 in region).