2013 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Rogers Rams

City League

8/28/2013

Team photo from left:

Row 1: Aaron Hilyard, Joshua Fowlkes, Robert Overton, Davon Lewis, Keon Rayford, Anthony Amison, John Elizade, Stratmon Cooke, Rondale Ensley, Brandon Cruz

Row 2: Kameron Jones, Wendell Warren, Dimitri Anderson, Jamar Russell, Brady Garrett, Elijah Triplett, Jacob Hayward, John King, Antonio Ellis, John Cavitt

Row 3: Micah Conway, Gabe Comer, Romale Frazier, Ravon Williams, Mike Mooore, Taqim Price, Dujuan Henry, Walter Boykins, Darir’yon Watson

Row 4: Cody Nagle, Vonte Middleton, Austin Amison, Amon Amison, Xavier Price, Cory Collier, Mark Jones, Micah Smith

Row 5: Dan Williams, Dontae Williams, Jerell Wainwright, Jacob Spivey, Kenneth Scott, Hunter Hicks

Row 6: Coaches Rodney Gordon, Todd Price, head coach Keith Dawson, Ric Turner, Garland Parker

 

ABOUT THE TEAM:

Coach: Keith Dawson, second year

Last season: 6-4, 3-2 CL

Returning letter winners: 8

Returning starters: Offense 3, defense 5

Schemes: Spread/​3-4

Top players: Seniors Anthony Amison, 6-3, 170, WR; Keon Rayford, 5-8, 165, LB; Joshua Fowlkes, 6-3, 175, DE-WR; Charles Carter, 5-11, 175, DB-QB; Stratmon Cooke, 5-11, 180, RB-DB.

Outlook: The Rams are not looking back on a disappointing 2012 season in which they lost momentum down the stretch.

The loss of nearly a dozen players to graduation has Dawson working with a younger and smaller roster with 35 players at the start of two-a-days.

Amison is the top returner for a no-huddle offensive unit that looks to keep an up-tempo pace. He pulled in 21 receptions, including four touchdowns.

Rayford is considered one of the top defensive returners in the league coming off a season in which he registered 100 tackles.

"It's a young team, but a very eager team," Dawson said. "They listen well and they're open to learning.

"We're installing a new offensive [no-huddle] system. It's something that Rogers has run in the past, but we're just doing it a little differently this year."

Consistent play from other returners like Fowlkes, Carter and Cooke on both sides could make the Rams much more formidable in the City League race.

 

ROGERS SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-Piqua

Sep. 6-Dayton Dunbar

Sep. 13-at Napoleon

Sep. 20-Columbus DeSales

Sep. 27-at Delta

Oct. 4-Waite

Oct. 11-Woodward

Oct. 17-at Start

Oct. 24-Bowsher

Nov. 1-Scott