Rowland back

Charleston junior quarterback Jackson Rowland will return to the starting lineup Friday against Danville after missing the past two games with a knee injury, Coach Greg Kendrick said.

Rowland, 6-0, 185, suffered a noncontact knee injury in practice Sept. 9. He ran a quarterback draw and planted his right foot into the FieldTurf surface at Charleston.

“He’s had a really good week of practice,” Kendrick said.

In the Tigers’ seasonopening 77-49 loss against Shiloh Christian on Sept. 1 in Fayetteville, Rowland completed 13 of 23 passes for 322 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception.

Senior Wade Gerlick, who plays linebacker and running

back for Charleston, filled in for Rowland at quarterback. Gerlick, 6-2, 205, completed 20 of 34 passes for 179 yards and rushed for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns on 34 carries the past 2 games.

Charleston (1-2) beat Ozark last Friday 7-3 behind Gerlick’s 1-yard quarterback sneak. Gerlick rushed for 46 yards on 18 carries and completed 3 of 6 passes for 11 yards last week.

Kendrick admired Gerlick’s toughness over the past two weeks playing an unfamiliar position.

“He’s a linebacker playing quarterback,” Gerlick said. “I’ve never had a kid in my years of coaching who has gutted it out more than that kid did.

“He put us on his back and carried us. He’s one of the toughest kids in terms of a two-game span. He was Mr. Everything for us — defense, special teams and offense.”