Rebels secure share of City League crown

Bowsher’s Mark Washington ran 19 times for 219 yards and five touchdowns as the Rebels beat Rogers on Thursday night.

THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON
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Bowsher’s Mark Washington ran 19 times for 219 yards and five touchdowns as the Rebels beat Rogers on Thursday night.

With at least a share of the City League title on the line, Bowsher senior Mark Washington was a one-man wrecking machine as the big running back scored five touchdowns Thursday night.

Washington carried the ball 19 times and rushed for 219 yards to lead the Rebels to a convincing 34-8 road win over Rogers. Washington scored on runs of 19, 29, 2, 10, and 8 yards.

“I wanted to provide for my team and I wanted to put my team on my shoulders,” Washington said. “I was focused.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Bowsher vs. Rogers football

Bowsher threw the ball just five times and finished with 419 yards rushing yards on 58 attempts.

Khane Collins had 28 carries for 132, while Steve Johnson had nine for 40 yards.

“I didn’t think they would be physically able to stop us,” Bowsher coach Craig Lubinski said. “Mark is a big kid. It was his turn tonight.”

Washington, who is 6 feet, 2 inches and 230 pounds, is being recruited by several Mid-American Conference schools.

“He is a power runner who is deceivingly fast,” Lubinski said. “For a big man he has a second gear. Any moment he can take it to the end zone. As the game wore on he realized they couldn’t tackle him.”

The Rebel defense was equally dominant, forcing eight turnovers. Bowsher senior Kolton Davis had two interceptions, and senior Jonathan Stockard recovered two fumbles.

“It's a different mindset on defense,” Lubinski said. “Those kids love to fly around and are having lots of fun.”

Bowsher, which won the school’s first City title since 1979 last season, remained undefeated at 4-0 in league play with one game left against Start.

“We want to repeat and we don't want to share it,” Lubinski said.

Rogers (2-7, 2-2) scored the first touchdown and led 8-0 after the first quarter. But Bowsher then scored five unanswered touchdowns.

Washington rushed for 103 yards and scored on runs of 19, 29, and 2 yards in the first half as Bowsher built an 18-8 lead.

“It's a great feeling to repeat,” Washington said. “It’s wonderful feeling.”

After the teams exchanged turnovers early in the first, Rogers got on the board first. Quarterback Charles Carter connected with Anthony Amison on an 11-yard TD strike.

Carter then ran in for the two-point conversion for a 8-0 Rogers lead with 6 minutes, 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

However, the Rebels marched 82 yards on 14 plays. Washington capped it with a 19-yard scamper. The two point conversion failed and the Rams still led 8-6 early in the second quarter.

Bowsher then caught Rogers off guard with an on-side kick. Stockard recovered and four plays later Washington scored on a 29-yard run. The two point conversion failed again but Bowsher seized a 12-8 lead.

“We were undefeated in the City League last year, and we were outright champs, and now we have another chance to do that,” Lubinski said.

Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.