BJHS Rogers reaches milestone, Mountain Brook next
Jay Rogers (23) went over 1,000 yards rushing last week photo by Barry Anderson
In the playoffs, the games get bigger and the competition gets tougher. But that has not slowed down Bob Jones’ leading rusher, Jay Rogers. The husky 5-foot-10, 205 pound junior running back just went over the 1,000 yard mark for the season.
It is the best season for a Bob Jones running back since Trai Ragland rushed for 1073 yards on 158 carries in the 2008 season.
Against Gadsden City last week Rogers rushed for 90 yards on 19 carries against a defense that featured two SEC-caliber players. He had a 6-yard touchdown run as Bob Jones used the running game to build a 28-0 lead but had to hold on in the final minutes.
Bob Jones is now one of only 32 teams in class 6A still playing in the state playoffs.
Rogers now stands at 1018 yards on the season and has scored 10 touchdowns.
While most fans see the playoffs as an elimination tournament in which only one team survives, Rogers says that each playoff win brings other benefits that may be overlooked by fans.
“The playoffs really challenge you because playing in the post season says your team has something special. It helps get exposure to college recruiters and it shows how good our team and coaches are by the fact you can advance in the playoffs.”
The farther you advance the level of competition gets higher so you have to push and play better and prepare harder than you do in the regular season,” Rogers said.
Most of Rogers’ yardage comes between the tackles.
“He’s got to continue to become a faster back,” said head coach Kevin Rose. “That’s the only thing keeping him from being great. He runs hard, he’s physical, he’s a good 6A back and if you added that one more step of finishing speed it would put him over the top.”
Rose was quick to point out that the success of the Patriots running game “is a tribute to our offensive line.”
Along with Rogers, Kevin Wright has been the one-two punch for Bob Jones this season. In addition to being the teams leading receiver, Wright has also rushed for 782 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
The running game will again be tested this Friday as Bob Jones hosts Mountain Brook in the second round of the state football playoffs. Mountain Brook comes in with a 10-1 record while playing in rugged Region 6 consisting of all Birmingham area teams. They qualified second behind Vestavia Hills.
Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose knows Mountain Brook well even though he has not faced them as a coach while at Bob Jones. The last time the two teams met was the opening week of 2007 when Bob Jones won 49-24.
“They are extremely well coached, the kids play really hard, and I think it should be a great football game. These are two schools that are similar. They graduated 19 starters just like we did last year. I’m looking for a close exciting game,” Rose said.
Bob Jones will have to contain defensive end Adam Harvey #89 who had a huge game against Hillcrest in the first round win.
“He makes a ton of plays, he is a fast athletic defensive end,” Rose said.
Both Rogers and Rose agree Mountain Brook will be a different kind of challenge than Gadsden City.
“They are really disciplined and they are not going to make many mistakes so we will have to be on top of our game and take care of the football,” Rogers said.
The winner of the Bob Jones-Mountain Brook game will face the winner of the Clay-Chalkville Tuscaloosa County game.
