The game was a study in contrasting offensive styles. The Eagles (5-1 overall, 2-0 district) of first-year coach Jeff Walker relentlessly pounded the ball on the ground with their Slot-T formation, while Jarrell (2-5, 0-3) had more success passing.
With linemen Michael Brenek, Jacolby Brown, Devin Zamora, Matthew Peikert and Cameron Doskocil opening the holes, Rogers churned out 29 first downs and 436 yards rushing on 61 carries.
Larkin led a flock of five Eagles with more than 60 yards rushing each. Rogers’ ground attack was so potent that quarterback Chance Marek attempted only two passes.
Meanwhile, his counterpart for Jarrell, Chris Trevino, attempted 23, completing 10 for 132 yards. His favorite targets were Daniel Tucker (five catches for 77 yards) and Kreece Cooper (four for 50).
As dominant as the Eagles were running the ball, Rogers' defense was just as dominant preventing the Cougars from moving the ball on the ground. With Bronc Rice, Tim Weir, Cory Murray and J.C. Garcia leading the charge, the Eagles held Jarrell to 32 yards on 20 carries.
The Cougars’ defense was sparked by the play of Aaron Mueller, Matt Mueller and Johnny Pena.
Rogers scored on its first possession, moving 57 yards in 10 plays. Jordan Sebek finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, and Ben Baecker made the first of seven extra-point kicks on the night.
Jarrell came right back, moving from its 22-yard line to the Rogers 28 in nine plays before being forced to give up the ball on downs.
Early in the second quarter a botched punt attempt gave the Eagles excellent field position at the Jarrell 47, and they capitalized.
Marek capped the six-play drive by sneaking over from the 1, giving Rogers a 14-0 edge with 6:34 left in the half. Big plays on the drive were a 22-yard run by Robert Campos, who finished with 101 yards rushing on 14 carries, and a 12-yard run from Larkin.
The Cougars looked like they might get back in the game on their next possession when Trevino and Tucker hooked up on a 49-yard pass play that moved the ball to the Rogers 33. But Jarrell could move no farther and turned the ball over on downs.
The Eagles took possession and drove 67 yards in nine plays to grab a 21-0 halftime lead. Marek exhibited good moves on the 19-yard scoring play, leaping out of the grasp of two would-be tacklers and hurdling over a third en route to the end zone. Other big plays on the drive were a 13-yard run by Sebek, a 10-yard gain by Larkin and a 24-yard scamper by Campos.
The Cougars started the second half with an onside kick attempt that Rogers recovered at its 49. Five plays later Larkin sprinted into the end zone from 11 yards out, making the score 28-0 with 10:13 left in the third.
Just 42 seconds later the Eagles scored again when Garcia scooped up a Jarrell fumble and dashed 30 yards to the end zone.
Larkin scored again on Rogers’ next possession, bulling in from the 1 with 3:59 remaining in the period. The touchdown capped an eight-play, 65-yard drive.
The Eagles’ next drive covered 51 yards in nine plays, but the results were the same as Larkin scored yet again, this time from 3 yards out.
Rogers’ last scoring drive might have been its most impressive of the night. Starting at their 3, the Eagles marched 97 yards in nine plays. Kason Lowrance finished it off with a 1-yard run, making the score 56-0 with 5:35 remaining.
With Academy’s 34-29 loss at Lago Vista on Friday, Rogers and defending champion Salado (3-0 in district) are the only 25-2A teams without a league loss. Rogers will play at Salado on Nov. 7 in Week 10 of the regular season.
Next week Rogers will host the Lexington Eagles, while Jarrell will travel to Florence to play the Buffaloes.
rray@temple-telegram.com
