Injury forces change at quarterback for Bob Jones
MADISON- For the first time in two years, someone other than Caden Rose will start at quarterback for Bob Jones. Rose has started 20 straight games but late in the Austin game he made a tackle and his right hand hit the leg of a runner and broke the small bone above his first finger. He is in a cast for four weeks.
Slate Alford, a sophomore who has never taken a snap in a varsity game will start and the stakes couldn’t be much higher. Win against Huntsville Friday night and the Patriots are in the playoffs and the streak of 10 straight seasons making the playoffs continues. A loss will end the season as Bob Jones is open in week 10.
Playoffs start Nov. 9.
Alford was taking snaps with the first team this week. If Bob Jones can make the playoffs it would mean at least two more weeks of practice with the first team for him.
“He has played well on our JV team and he will do a good job for us and give us a chance to win,” Bob Jones head coach Kevin Rose said of Alford. “We are going to put him in and try to go win a football game.
It’s important to us as a football program to make the playoffs and with all we have faced this year it would be a tremendous accomplishment.”
Caden Rose has played well at safety and has two interceptions in limited action. He went in to bolster the defense against Sparkman and is cleared to play defense Friday.
Among the players on defense stepping up this season are Jacoby Green, Tavais Clark, and Chris Cobb. Khalil Griffin has played both ways a lot. But there was no way for Kevin Rose to make up the loss of Hill, an SEC commit.
“We’ve struggled in the secondary since Jadon (Hill) has been injured and we put guys with the best ball skills over there against Sparkman and we felt that was the difference in the game. We did a good job defending Austin and cut the lead to eight. Caden could play safety or corner.”
Friday night’s game is also Senior Night and the team will honor 20 senior players. Recognition ceremony starts at 6:30.
“It’s a big night for them. Not just them but team managers, cheerleaders, and band members. It’s the last time they will play at home and we encourage our fans to come out early and support these young people who have represented Bob Jones the last four years,” Rose said.
