Rose excels in new role for Fountain Lake
FOUNTAIN LAKE — Fountain Lake head coach Kenny Shelton informed Abe Rose in spring football he would be the Cobras’ next quarterback after the previous starter decided not to play this season.
Rose had never played the quarterback position but did not hesitate when it came to the challenge. After a 5-for-5 passing performance for 168 yards and three touchdowns along with two scores on the ground against Rose Bud, it looks like Rose has adapted just fine.
“It’s really easy when you’ve got great teammates,” Rose said. “Receivers making me look good. Linemen giving me time. All praise goes to them.”
The Cobras cruised past Rose Bud 4918 and scored 42 of their points in the first quarter. Rose accounted for four touchdowns in the game’s opening 12 minutes.
“Just tremendous to see how far he’s come since spring football when I told him, ‘Hey, I need to see what you look like playing quarterback,’” Shelton said. “He said, ‘Sure coach. Wherever you need me.’ That’s the type of attitude you want from any of the guys.”
Rose made the switch from receiver to quarterback in the spring.
“Challenges, just mentally knowing (the position),” Rose said. “Last year I only had to know one position, receiver. Now I have to know everybody’s job. Other than that, not much.”
Receivers Evan East and Juan Diggs accounted for 161 receiving yards against Rose Bud, helping their quarterback by providing speed at the receiver position.
“He has just come night and day from that first week of spring ball where it was like, ‘Oh my gosh I don’t know if he can do it,’” Shelton said. “To right now, he’s got not only the support from all the coaching staff but the team’s rallied around him. It really has shown so far how much he’s excelled this season.”
Rose only got to play in a half against Mountain Pine in Fountain Lake’s season opener after the game was called due to lightning. He went 2-for-4 for 47 yards in the shortened contest.
“I think I did a lot better the second game than the first,” Rose said. “I had a lot of butterflies. After the first game my confidence went way up because I know I have good guys protecting me up front and good receivers to make plays.”
The next challenge for Rose and the Cobras (1-1) is a two-and-a-half-hour drive at the least to Cedar Ridge for a contest against the Timberwolves (1-1).
“The first challenge is going to be the trip going there,” Shelton said. “It’s a very long road trip. A lot longer than what we’re accustomed to. Our thing this week is we’re taking a business trip.”
Fountain Lake will stop around the halfway point of the drive to feed players, and the team will leave school plenty early today to not be in a rush to get ready once they arrive at the stadium in Newark.
“Anytime you’ve got a bunch of teenage guys on a road trip, especially a trip this long, we’ve got to make sure we stay focused,” Shelton said. “So that’s No. 1.”
Cedar Ridge played 8-man football last season and made the playoffs, so the Timberwolves have their fair share of experience while the Cobras only have six quarters of 8-man competition to their name.
“I mean it’s been interesting,” Rose said. “Field’s a lot smaller. Obviously eight players. We’re adapting pretty well and a lot easier than I expected.”
Cedar Ridge plays with a two-man front, but the Timberwolves do have a couple of big linemen. The Cobras worked on their running game a lot this week and look to set up passes by establishing the run.
If the offense stalls in the red zone, the Cobras have another weapon to call.
Fountain Lake received a gift from overseas at the start of the season. Exchange student Mats Koller instantly elevated the Cobras’ kicking game when he decided to play football for the first time in his life, and so far his soccer background has come in very handy.
“He’s having a ball,” Shelton said. “He’s enjoying it quite a bit. Just really pleased. He’s not missed an extra point yet. We did try to kick about a 47-yard field goal last week and it was a little short and to the left. He was really upset with himself. He was more upset that he missed than making all his extra points.”
If the Cobras need three points against Cedar Ridge, Shelton feels confident in Koller.
“I’m looking forward to down the road, whether it’s this Friday or another Friday, I feel comfortable with him kicking,” Shelton said. “He’s made 50-yard field goals in practice. We really feel like that’s his full range. It’s nice just to have another weapon and know how consistent he’s been on kicking extra points. That’s definitely been beneficial.”
After immediate negative feedback when Fountain Lake originally announced it was switching to 8-man football, Shelton said the school and community really supported the team against Rose Bud and more people are coming around to the idea of the new style of football.
Fountain Lake is the No. 2 team in the 8-man 4A-3A conference, and Cedar Ridge will be looking for a big win at home over the Cobras.
“Well obviously everyone’s after us,” Rose said. “Coming into 8-man we were like the team to beat. We’re going to have a big target on our backs. We’ve just got to overcome and play our best ball.”