Rogersville runs past Aurora in playoff opener

Junior Quarterback Evan Gruener had a big second half throwing the ball

The first week of high school playoff football did not disappoint with Rogersville running away from Aurora 28-6.

Yes, you read that correctly: tonight’s match-up of 6-4 Aurora against 9-1 Rogersville was one of the most exciting games I’ve seen of the high school season to date.  The score does not really tell the story as the Houn Dawgs fought more like starved wolves in the effort against the Wildcats.

Rogersville opened up the game with a drive that got well into Houn Dawg territory but ended with a failed fourth down rushing attempt by senior running back Joe Zimmer. Aurora couldn’t sustain a drive for their first offensive possession and they fumbled away their second.  Rogersville gladly took what had been handed to them in a 40 yard scoring drive with a rushing touchdown by senior halfback Dylan Cole with one minute left in the first quarter.

The score managed to fully awaken the Houn Dawg offense and were able to move the ball from their own 10 yard line to across midfield into Wildcat territory squarely on the back of junior rusher Everett Basham –an appropriate surname for one of the most physical backs in the greater Springfield area.  He’s listed as 6’1 but plays much bigger than that.  Once this young man gets into the first level of the defense he’s got the speed to run past linebackers and get to the secondary; once he’s in the secondary a defense’s best hope is to have at least two defensive backs there to take him down –chances are that might not be enough anyway.  This drive showcased his power in carrying those fortunate enough to tackle him for an extra handful of yards after contact.

This had all the makings of an equalizing drive; quarterback Clayton Sumners completed a huge pass for a shade over 30 yards to Kurt Hadlow… which was summarily called back on an illegible man downfield call.

Aurora would score on their next possession by finishing off a 54 yard drive with two yard pass from Sumners to senior fullback Michael Helms, but fail on a 2 point conversion to go into the half down one point –the closest the score would prove to be for the rest of the game as Rogersville manages to score on their next two possessions of the second half to all but put the game away en route to their first victory of the post season.

Rogersville, who initially struggled in passing with junior Even Gruener going for 1-5 14 yards in the first half, but came back strong in the final twenty-four minutes of the game going 9-10 2TDs 153 yards.

Aurora goes home 6-5 for 2011 but will have talent going into next season while Rogersville will have a rematch against Springfield Catholic next week.

STAT ATTACK!

Aurora: 297 yards total 1TD INT

#44 E. Basham 193 yards 28 carries

#7 C. Sumners 9-20 89yds, TD INT

Rogersville: 322 yards, 4 TDs 1 Fumble

# 31 D. Cole 54 yards 13 carries (19yd TD reception)

#10 E. Gruener  10-15 167 yards 2TD