Washington County Enterprise-Leader
From Jock To Touchdown King
Last season the only time Charles Rowe carried the football was while returning an interception for a touchdown after alertly catching a tipped pass right in front of him.
Rowe was a full- time defensive end wearing jersey No. 58, which limited his eligibility to line play only on offense in 2013. As a junior, he didn’t see much action when Lincoln had the ball. Neither did classmate Dusty Hudson, who wore No. 72 and frequently shed blocks at nose guard to stop plays at the point of attack. Both were numbered among a host of playmakers Lincoln boasted on defense carrying the Wolves to an unprecedented 11 wins and run to the state quarterfinals.
Fast-forward to this year with only knowledgable observers realizing Lincoln’s offensive backfield arensal had been nearly emptied from their 2013 squad.
Not only did 2,058 yard rusher Tyler Cummings graduate but two-year starting quarterback Drew Harris transferred with his dad, former Lincoln coach Brad Harris, to Benton to be close to grandparents.
Not only that but Drew’s younger bother, bruising big back Brayden Harris, one of the stalwarts from Lincoln’s 2013 junior high team, also transferred and Ryan Frazier, another top runningback from last year’s junior Wolves, was also not available.
On the plus side was the return of quality fullback Kaleb Ayers, a punishing lead blocker and sure-handed receiver out of the backfield. Still, someone was going to have to step into leadership roles as skill players to fill out the Lincoln backfield.
The coaching staff had their eyes on Rowe and Hudson ( 5- 8, 211 pounds, 4.9 speed) for their athleticism switching both defensive linemen to linebackers on defense and issuing both new jerseys (number 2 and 33) so they would be eligible ball-carriers on offense. New coach Scott Davenport came on board just in time to conduct spring practice and was suitably impressed with Rowe.
Davenport says Rowe still likes rushing the quarterback and will be utilized in that role off blitzes but the young man and some of his teammates such as Hudson along with sophomore starting quarterback Harrison Swayne have been given a lot more responsibility this year on both sides of the ball.
While Lincoln, with a varsity football roster (36 players) smaller than some 3A schools such as Booneville ( 42 players), was overmatched in 36-0 loss on Sept. 1 during the Hootens Kickoff Classic against Hot Springs Lakeside (5A South), the decision to move Rowe to running back is probably Lincoln’s best option.
The 5-foot-10, 164 pound senior, ran the ball well in Lincoln’s 40-30 loss at Keys, Okla. — scoring four times, on a 60- yard breakaway touchdown, 5-yard carry and pair of 2-point runs Friday.
Swayne also performed well in his second game starting on varsity. The 6-foot-2, 162 pound, tenth grader took a quarterback keeper 40 yards to the house when the defense was keying on Rowe. Swayne also threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Hamby and ran for Lincoln’s final points on a conversion.
Rowe’s contributions can be traced back to decision to put his team first. Rowe’s weight had increased to 200 pounds as a sophomore in 2012 and former coach Brad Harris stated, “We thought he was going to balloon on us.” Then Rowe stopped drinking soda pop, and not only has he toned up, but he has also stepped up his game big time.
This is the sort of leadership Lincoln needs both on the field and off the field as the Wolves seek to break into the win column at former 3A-1 foe, Cedarville, on the road this Friday.