Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 10/4/04 Section: Campus News

Facing a 27-point deficit in the second quarter, head coach Fitz Hill approached quarterback Dale Rogers and asked him if he could play.

Rogers' response was "yes," and on the first play of Rogers's first series, he handed the ball to tailback Tyson Thompson, who found an open hole and never looked back.

"Mister Rogers" used to always be on in the morning, but this Rogers proved that he is also on at night.

With Rogers at the helm, the Spartan offense put up 63 points en route to an exhilarating 70-63 Western Athletic Conference come-from-behind victory over Rice University Saturday at Spartan Stadium.

In what would end up as the highest- scoring game in Division I-A history, the Spartans splurged for 455 yards, with 372 of those coming in the air.

Rogers said going into the game, he didn't know how much time he'd see on the field.

"They came to me and asked me if I could play," Rogers said. "I said, 'If you guys want me to play, I'll go out there and play.' "

Rogers, who is entering his second year under Hill, was named starting quarterback by Hill after the Spartans split their first two nonconference games, losing to Stanford University and picking up a win at home against Morgan State University.

In the Spartans' first WAC game against Southern Methodist University, Rogers hyper-extended his knee and was slated to see only limited playing time against the Owls.

Despite the aches, Rogers said he didn't have any reservations about being on the field for a long period of time.

"I was ready to play for the whole game and do whatever it took to win," Rogers said.

As the Spartans and Owls traded blows back and forth, Hill said he realized it wasn't going to be an ordinary game.

"The conventional rules of football did not apply," Hill said. "Every time you'd get the ball, you realized you had to score if you wanted to be in it -- you either score or you didn't have a chance to win."

When Rogers said he would go out on the field and take snaps, Hill said Rogers showed fortitude.

"The courage in (Rogers') heart ... is something that is astounding," Hill said.

En route to a football game that included a free air show, the Spartan offense took the laws of gravity into their own hands.

Wide receiver Rufus Skillern and tight end Brian Watje each grabbed a pair of touchdowns, while return specialist John Broussard caught a 67-yard pass from Rogers in the second quarter exactly one minute after Thompson's touchdown run.

Broussard also returned five kickoffs for 183 yards with a long run of 66 yards.

Hill said he was proud of his receivers, and their performances refl ected their evolution.

"They grew up today," Hill said. "Guys like Broussard -- every time he'd touch the ball, he'd make plays. Guys like Skillern ... Watje, they all grew up today."

Watje said Rogers' performance ignited the squad.

"(Rogers) is a beast," Watje said. "He is one of the toughest guys I have ever met in my life."

On one of Watje's touchdowns, he caught the ball on a corner route from tailback Lamar Ferguson on a halfback option pass.

"I was looking at the safeties, seeing where they were running," Watje said. "I was going down, pretending to block the linebacker, and I saw the corner(back) jump up -- and once I saw that I ran a corner and (Ferguson) just threw a perfect ball."

Although not a quarterback, Ferguson said his tossing ability is above average for a runningback.

"We don't do (that play) a lot, but when we practice it, I'm pretty accurate, so I was confi dent," Ferguson said.

Hill said having an arsenal of receivers open downfield and good decisions made by Rogers were both key factors in the execution of 10 touchdowns.

"Knowing that (Rogers) is our quarterback and he can distribute the ball to all our playmakers -- it makes (the other team) cover the whole field," Hill said.

Rogers would fi nish the game completing 10 of his 17 attempted passes with five touchdowns.

The ability to sling the ball up and down the field more often sat well with Rogers.

"Quarterbacks like to throw," Rogers said. "If I wanted to run, I'd be a runningback -- but without a doubt, I love to throw the ball."

In addition to getting good protection from his offensive line, Rogers said the athleticism the offense brought to the game was key in the victory.

"I wasn't able to run around as much, so I had to stay in the pocket," Rogers said. "The line did an outstanding job allowing me to throw the ball down the field and the receivers did an awesome job getting open."

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