Submitted by Tim Gayle
PIKE ROAD — Friday’s region opener between Pike Road and Wetumpka featured two contrasting styles as the Patriots played with a confidence unaffected by an 0-2 start this season and the Indians countered with an intensity that had helped them overcome obstacles for a surprising 2-0 start.
Both were put to the test on Friday in a game that challenged each team’s poise and ability to overcome penalties and mistakes while both defenses tried in vain to corral the talent of Wetumpka quarterback Nathan Rogers and Pike Road tailback Anthony Rogers.
Anthony Rogers’ 72-yard slant reception with 51 seconds remaining turned out to be the game winner as the Patriots blew a lead, then regained it in the final minute for a 35-33 win over the Indians in the 6A Region 2 opener for both teams.
“I actually made a pre-snap read myself,” Rogers said. “When I saw how they were lined up, I went up to the quarterback and let him know this play is going to be open, just get me the ball.”
Rogers lined up in the slot position on the left side of the field and took off toward the center of the field, catching a short pass from Kaleb Foster, then turning on the jets to race past four Wetumpka defenders down the right sideline to the end zone with the game-winning points.
“We had called a slant, the same exact play but to another player,” Pike Road coach Ed Rigby explained. “Jordan (King) switched it with Rogers and told him to run it. And once Rogers made the horn, that curve, I’m like ‘it’s over.’ He’s one of the fastest dudes in Alabama. You’re not catching him.”
Both teams seemed to feed off of the energy of their best offensive star. Nathan Rogers completed just 7 of 22 passes for 47 yards but he was electrifying with his feet, rushing for 240 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. He scored on runs of 74, 24 and 78 yards and had two more touchdowns of 38 and 16 yards wiped out by penalties.
“We said all week, if we stop him, we stop them,” Rigby said. “That’s what you see on film. He’s a one-man wrecking machine with his feet. He’s a great player. He’s got some wheels on him for sure.”
Ironically, in a game that featured 218 penalty yards and more than its share of early-season mistakes, it was Nathan Rogers’ miscues late in each half that fans might remember.
With seconds remaining in the first half after taking over on downs at the Wetumpka 8, Rogers was grabbed in the end zone on a pass play by Pike Road linebacker Bishop Singleton and unloaded the ball, resulting in a grounding penalty and a safety.
While the 29-14 Pike Road lead was probably overlooked at the time, the two points turned out to be the difference in the game.
In the final seconds of the second half, after being tackled by linebacker Stephon Andrews, Rogers jumped up, lined up his team, took the snap and spiked the ball to stop the clock. Pike Road took possession with 9.3 seconds because it was a fourth-down spike.
“Nate Rogers has really taken a leadership role, not just on the field with what he does but his intentionality and commitment to the team is a huge deal,” Wetumpka coach Bear Woods said.
Miscues and mental lapses aside, the two teams traded early touchdowns before Anthony Rogers ran 8 yards to put the Patriots on top late in the first quarter. A 38-yard touchdown pass from Foster to Brennen Jordan and a 25-yard sprint to the end zone by Anthony Rogers helped the Patriots to a 29-14 halftime lead.
But defensive adjustments by the Indians — along with several costly penalties — seemed to stall the Patriots and Wetumpka rallied with a Logan Weighall field goal, a Nate Rogers’ touchdown following a fumbled kickoff and another Weighall field goal trimmed the Pike Road lead to 29-27 midway through the final quarter.
A 78-yard run by Nate Rogers with 3:17 left put capped the improbable Wetumpka rally, but when Weighall’s kickoff went out of bounds, Rigby dismissed the field position and had the Indians kick to Pike Road — and Anthony Rogers — once again.
Rogers returned the kickoff 50 yards to the Wetumpka 42.
“Any time he touches the ball,” Rigby said. “That’s what we were wanting, move them back five (yards on a penalty) so we can get a return.”
A sack and penalty later, Pike Road was facing third and 22. Foster lobbed a pass over the middle and Rogers pulled it in for a 32-yard gain, only to have another penalty wipe out the gain.
“Sometimes, we got a little emotional and got our head down,” the sophomore running back said. “I actually had my head down at one point in the game and had people telling me to keep my head in the game because I know the team feeds off my energy.”
A fourth-down sack of Foster seemed to end the Patriots’ chances, but two quick timeouts and a fourth-down stop of Michael Dillard gave Pike Road the ball at the 28-yard line with 63 seconds left.
All they needed was Anthony Rogers, a play call by offensive coordinator Barry Loyal and 12 seconds.
“He made the call, the kids made it a perfect call,” Rigby said.
Rogers finished with 173 yards on 18 carries, scoring on runs of 8 and 25 yards. He had one reception for 72 yards and one kickoff return for 50 more, giving him 295 all-purpose yards.
Pike Road, 1-2 overall and 1-0 in region play, will face Sidney Lanier at Cramton Bowl next Thursday after Rigby won his first game as Pike Road’s coach.
“An incredible victory,” he said. “The thing is the fight of Wetumpka. We talked about it at halftime. Last week, they were down big at halftime and came roaring back. We expected that. The big thing was the turnovers and all of the penalties. We fix it and we’re going to be special. The one thing that (the Pike Road players) proved tonight is if there is still time on that clock, they’re going to battle and still think they’re going to win. There was no doubt among them. And you just don’t find that every day.”
Wetumpka, 2-1 overall and 0-1 in region play, returns home to play Park Crossing next Friday. Woods liked the fight in his team despite the heartbreaking loss at the end.
“We are always improving, starting with the coaching staff, starting with me,” Woods said. “If we do that, they’ll be growth in our process. Trust the process. We’re early on in our process. What I need to see is that passion to play for one another.”
