Fall 2019 Preview: Rogersville Football

By Justin Sampson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

The 2018 season was a learning opportunity for new head coach Mark Talbert and the Wildcats. The team finished 0-10, but saw areas of improvement as the year progressed.

Now, Logan-Rogersville expects to have an experienced group of 17 seniors and 12 returning starters to lead the charge back to their winning ways.

“We had opportunities in eight of our 10 games to go out and win it late, we just couldn’t get it done.” said Talbert. “I saw the importance of paying attention to the details. We got better as the year went on in terms of our preparedness. This year, I think that’ll be a big change.”

The Wildcats aim to improve upon the 12.7 points per game they averaged a season ago, and they will have All-Big 8 East First Team receiver A.J. Craft back to be the catalyst. He caught 42 passes for 524 yards and three touchdowns as a junior and is the only returning wideout that found the end zone last year.

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Leading rusher Brooks Wilson also returns to the fold after carrying the ball 129 times for 506 yards and three scores. He also expects to factor into the passing game.

Junior Zach Bergmann is back under center after being thrust into the starting quarterback role due to injury as a sophomore. He showed steady improvement throughout the year as he completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,196 yards, eight touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has proven dual-threat ability as he also managed to pick up 275 yards and five scores on the ground.

Seniors Adam Waters and Owen Christian will also be key targets at receiver.

“We have a good core of skill players. Our passing game will help us,” Talbert said. “Our quarterback has had a tremendous offseason. He looks like a completely different kid physically and is throwing the ball well.”

The defense was senior-heavy in 2018, meaning there are some holes to fill. Defensive line could be the biggest position of need, but there are upperclassmen to take on the task. Seniors Andrew Sell and Jack Williams will join Trystan Voss in seeing increased roles in the trenches, and their physical growth is a point of excitement across the team.

Sophomore J.J. O’Neal will be one of the youngest contributors on the Wildcats as he reprises his role in the secondary. He impressed as the quarterback of the junior varsity squad in 2018, but will move to wideout on offense.

Talbert is enthusiastic about what Logan-Rogersville returns and believes that will turn into better results going forward. He will lean on the natural leaders in his group of upperclassmen to keep them pointed in the right direction.

“I expect us to be more physical. Our kids pushed themselves out of their comfort zone in the weight room during the offseason. Our style of play will be the biggest change with the strength we have now.”