Rogers Qb Doesn’T Know How To Quit

There haven’t been a lot of reasons for Nick Scott to get back up after he gets knocked down.

You could say there have been just two.

That’s how many wins Rogers has in Scott’s two years as the Pirates’ starting quarterback.

But that’s not how Scott counts.

He counts his classmates, who have endured consecutive 1-8 seasons with him.

“I’ve played football with these guys growing up,” the senior said as his teammates walked past on their way to the locker room after practice. “When we have a good year, I want to be with them.”

Move his 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame to a position where it can do more good? Not a chance.

Stay down when he’s pounded to the turf on most every play of the weekly desperate, throw-every-down situation? Never.

“I’ve just been raised that way, never give up,” Scott said. “No matter how hard they hit you, get up.”

That’s the first lesson coach Dave Pomante has to teach every year. Few have grasped it as well as Scott.

“We don’t get hung up on the scoreboard,” Pomante said. “Do you have what it takes to persevere? … Obviously, Nick is mentally tough. He’s consistent. He has a great competitive spirit. He wants to be good.”

And in spite of what the record might show, he has been.

Last fall he threw for 1,373 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

He completed just 46 percent of his 197 passes, but that isn’t bad when sophomore linebackers are bragging about getting two sacks in the Rogers game. A running attack that produced just 658 yards on 2.7 yards a carry makes that possible.

As a sophomore thrown to the wolves, Scott threw for almost 800 yards.

That’s why Scott has received letters from Pac-10 schools.

“I think about that when I’m working out, preparing,” Scott said.

Not when he’s flat on his back.

“He’s a very level-headed kid,” Pomante said. “He doesn’t go very high and he doesn’t go real low. He takes the good with the bad.”

Although it’s mostly been bad, Pomante believes Scott’s time will come, hopefully this fall, but if not, sometime soon.

“He has above average strength, above average speed and he’s really intelligent to go with that,” is the scouting report from Pomante, Whitworth’s career sacks leader. “He can definitely play at the next level. Where he fits in, he has to perform on the field. Then we’ll see.”

Scott isn’t afraid to challenge defenses, although the challenge is as much for him and his teammates. Still, his goals will be on bulletin boards before the day is out.

“I’d like to have a 400-yard passing game. That would be cool.

“I’d just like to throw as few picks as possible. Maybe none.

“I’d like to average 240, 250 yards a game.”

And the big one:

“The team goal is to at least make the playoffs, even be league champions.”

That’s a long climb from 1-8.

“We have people willing, who want to work hard, who want to do what it takes,” Scott said. “Plus, everybody gets along, pushes each other. Everybody wants to be successful.”

Past teams not only had some players who made bad decisions, Scott said, others had “no real purpose in playing.”

Scott does.

“(Individual glory) doesn’t (make up for) the lack of team success,” he said. “It makes you feel good you’ve done everything you could to help the team win. It doesn’t come close to the feeling of being successful as a team.”

Winning is a real pick-me-up.