Rogers High School Football: Never surrender, never retreat Part II
What if you tried as hard as you could and still lost? That's what some Rogers football team members thought as they walked out of Joe Albi Stadium last week after their third loss, this one to Rogers' rival, North Central. Nearly halfway through the season, the players are eager for a win, still hoping to change the image of the team as the worst in the league. While its coaches say there are more important battles to win, like those in the classroom, they're eager, as well. View the first part of the "Rogers High School Football: Never surrender, never retreat" series
Section:Picture story
Rogers High School football players Jacob Meusy, Dom Sanders and Dalton Waggy, along with teammates, bow their heads in prayer during optional chapel time before the first game of the season, Sept. 6, 2013.
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Rogers High School football defensive coordinator Ben Cochran tries to fire up the team during a pre-game talk at the school before playing Shadle Park in the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013.
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Rogers High School football players Charles Smith, Marcus Phillips and Khalil Winfrey are greeted by bus driver Teresa Keller as they load up at the school before the first game of the season against Shadle Park, Sept. 6, 2013.
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Rogers High School football RB/LB James Welty has eye black applied as the team prepares in the Albi Stadium locker room before the first game of the season, Sept. 6, 2013, against Shadle Park.
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Rogers High School football DE Jesse Hegar finds solitude in the training room at Abli Stadium to reflect on the upcoming game as teammates suit up for the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, against Shadle Park.
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Rogers High School football player Dom Sanders spends a moment with his father, Ron, before taking the field for the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, against Shadle Park.
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Rogers High School football players Dom Sanders and Dalton Waggy lead the Pirates from the Joe Albi Stadium locker room to the turf before the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, against Shadle Park.
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Rogers High School football player Dalton Waggy carrying the Pirate flag, leads Dom Sanders, Cody Risinger, James Welty and the team onto the Joe Albi Stadium turf for the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, against Shadle Park.
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Rogers High School QB Dom Sanders (11) gathers the team during warm-ups before the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013.
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Rogers High School QB Dom Sanders (11) and lineman Jacob Meusy watch the coin toss before the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, against Shadle Park. The Pirates lost the flip.
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Rogers High School RB James Welty scores the team’s first touchdown of the season on the old Statue of Liberty play, Sept. 6, 2013, agaisnt Shadle Park. Linemen Eric Scollard and Kyle Eldredge plowed the way.
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Rogers High School football coach Matt Miethe celebrates the Pirates’ first touchdown of the season after James Welty (32) scored against Shadle Park during the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium.
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Rogers High School cheerleaders shout support for their team as rain falls in the first quarter against Shadle Park during the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium.
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Rogers High School football coach Matt Miethe tries to come up with a play for QB Dom Sanders to get the Pirates back in the game after falling behind Shadle Park in the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium.
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Rogers High School QB Dom Sanders (11) cuts up field with support from James Welty and Charles Smith during the season opener, Sept. 6, 201, against Shadle Park.
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Rogers High School Cody Dodson takes the high road and Charles Smith the low route in bringing down Shadle Park’s Alvin Welch after a 25 yard pass reception and run during the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium.
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Rogers High School LB Brandon Rose and RB James Welty wear disappointment on their faces after heading into the locker room down 48-6 against Shadle Park, Sept. 6, 2013.
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Rogers High School lineman Melvin Vassar shakes hands with Shadle Park QB Brett Rypien after the Highlanders defeated the Pirates 62-14 in the season opener, Sept. 6, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium. Rypien threw for five touchdown passes and 323 yard in the first half.
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Danish exchange student and soccer player Mads Tranberg drills one of 19 field goals in a row during his second day of practice with the Rogers High School football team, Sept 11, 2013. He missed the first attempt of the day. It was only his second day ever kicking a football. Senior Hank Schmook serves as the place holder for Tranberg.
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Rogers High School football special teams coach David Casteal watches Danish exchange student Mads Tranberg kick one of his 19 in a row field goals during practice, Sept. 11, 2013.
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Rogers High School senior Quinton Cassidy lines up in his Junior ROTC uniform as part of the Color Guard before the school’s homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013. Cassidy changed into his football jersey after the presentation.
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Rogers High School principal Lori Wyborney welcomes members of the football team onto the floor during the homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013, in the school’s gym.
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Rogers High School juniors let their voices be heard during the homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013, in the school’s gym.
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Rogers High School seniors are loud and proud during the school’s homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013, in the school’s gym.
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Rogers High School senior cross country runner Noal Warren flies the Pirate colors around the gym during the homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School teacher and football coach Tony Moser, left, slaps a high-five with junior Desmond Iverson as the pair dress in women’s clothes during the homecoming game pep con before playing North Central, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School choir director Christina Thomas leads her students in a version of Alicia Keys’ Streets of New York during the school’s homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School sophomore Khalil Winfrey gets some love from students when announced as royalty during the homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013, in the school’s gym.
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Rogers High School dance team members perform during the homecoming pep con, Sept. 20, 2013, in the school’s gym.
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Rogers High School senior RB Charles Smith joins the homecoming royalty court as a prince after the pep con, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Long after the crowds exited the Rogers High School gym, teacher Lori Shauvin along with senior football players Jacob Meusy and Jean Trotchie clean up the remains of the homecoming pep con.
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Rogers High School football players James Welty and Cody Dodson listen to music during a pre-game gathering at the school during the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School band and other students gather outside Joe Albi Stadium for a rally with free hot dogs before the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School junior Eddy Aldana shows his team spirit before the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School football players file out of the locker room past an inspirational message on the chalkboard before the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium.
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Rogers High School football player Mads Tranberg, right, and his teammates honor America during the playing of the National Anthem before the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013.
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North Central’s James Weigel (22) battles Rogers CB Marcus Phillips for a pass in the second quarter, Sept. 20, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium. The ball bounced up and landed in Weigel’s hands for a touchdown.
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Rogers High School football RB Marcus Phillips dances his away past North Central’s Jamaal Edwards during both team’s homecoming game Sept. 20, 2013.
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Rogers High School senior RB Nick Challinor roars with delight after the Pirates score on a pass interception against North Central during thier homecoming game, Sept. 20, 2013, at Joe Albi Stadium.
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Rogers High School football players walk off the Joe Albi Stadium field after the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013. Rogers lost 28-21 and fell to 0-3 for the season.
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Rogers High School football player Jacob Meusy is consoled by cheerleader Kasandra Carter after the homecoming game against North Central, Sept. 20, 2013. “We go to practice. We work our butts off. We just want to win”, says Meusy. Rogers lost 28-21 and fell to 0-3 for the season.
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Rogers High School football WR Khalil Winfrey attaches his new Pirate stickers to his helmet after practice, Sept. 24, 2013, at the school. The stickers are awarded by the coaches for outstanding plays on the field during games. Two of Winfrey’s stickers are for a touchdown reception against North Central.
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