Rogers stays hot, Wheaton Warrenville South’s defense dominates in win at Glenbard North
Wheaton Warrenville South has had its share of top-notch quarterbacks throughout the last 30-plus years.
Names like current Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester, Lyons head coach Jon Beutjer, who threw for a state-record 60 touchdown passes in one season, Jordan Davis, who led the Tigers to the Class 7A state finals in 2011, and two-time Class 7A state champion Reilly O’Toole.
Only a junior, AJ Rogers is quickly making a name for himself as the Tigers’ next big-name quarterback.
One week after throwing for a school-record 481 yards against Geneva, Rogers completed 15 of 23 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown during the Tigers’ 17-0 DuKane Conference victory over Glenbard North (2-3, 0-3) Friday night in Carol Stream.
“Our offense was a little slow today, but the defense picked us up,” said Rogers.
Defensively, the Tigers swarmed to the ball, led by Chris Riggs, Cole Elste, Clark Jensen, Anquan Thomas, Ben Menzer and Eric Hecker.
“We were heavy on stopping the run,” Jensen said of the unit that limited Panthers senior tailback Angelo Gatses to 55 yards on 14 carries. “They had to pass because they couldn’t run on us.
“We adjusted — we just beat them.”
Capitalizing on a 13-yard punt by the Panthers midway through the second quarter, the Tigers marched 45 yards in five plays, capped by Rogers’ 17-yard touchdown strike to junior wide receiver Blake Ittersagen (five catches, 52 yards) to make it 14-0 with 5:44 left in the first half.
Rogers kept the drive alive with a 34-yard pass to 6-foot-4 junior receiver Steven Harvey on a third-and-11 play from the Panthers’ 46.
“He’s a special player,” Tigers coach Sean Norris said of Rogers. “He can make every throw, and he has a lot of great targets. He has great command, and he’s a phenomenal leader.
“He’s one of our captains as a junior, which we usually don’t have.”
Following a three-and-out defensive series to open the game, Rogers gained 22 yards with his legs to help set up Trent Simpson’s nine-yard touchdown run for the Tigers’ first score.
Simpson finished with 53 yards on 17 carries.
Drew Maletich’s 34-yard field goal with 55 seconds left stretched the lead to 17-0, and junior defensive back Sean Lyle’s interception a few moments later sealed the decision.
“I’m proud of the defense,” said Norris. “They came up big in the big moments. We put pressure on the quarterback throughout the game.
“Sean’s interception late was a big moment for us.”
Panthers quarterback Logan Kramer finished 11 of 28 for 62 yards and an interception.
“We really couldn’t get into a rhythm,” said Panthers coach Justin Kerwin. “We missed some shots that we had — and that’s a real good defense that we faced.”
Rogers, who took a few hits in the second half, was replaced by senior Brady Adams in the fourth quarter.
“He’ll be fine,” Norris said of his quarterback.