Rogers Football: Does the streak end?

With winless Rogers taking on winless North Central this week, is their a chance that the Pirates can snap their 40-game losing streak?

BRANDON’S TAKE: Streaks are those rare points of consistency in athletics that sports fans follow. Streaks find their way into record books, as people try to make sense of the sheer geometry of sports. They will follow even the most mundane or asinine streaks in athletics for novelty or historical importance.

Think about it. Cal Ripken’s consecutive game streak. Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. UCLA’s basketball’s 88-game regular-season win streak.

And more infamously, Rogers High School’s 40-game losing streak.

It dates back to 2004, which means that this year’s seniors weren’t even in high school the last time the Pirates had a victory.

However, as of late it’s been more of a case of bad luck than how competitive the team has been. Outside of games against Central Valley and Gonzaga Prep, who are among the best in the Greater Spokane League, Rogers has played tough football and were constantly close to a victory.

But no cigar. Yet. Their next game against the 0-6 North Central Indians could mark the end of an era. If you’ve seen the Indians’ final scores for this season so far, it hasn’t been close.

It’s no fault to their players, but the GSL is dominated by the 4A schools, and NC is a 3A member who’s found themselves just simply outmatched. They’ve been outscored 304-52 so far this season.

Rogers, on the other hand, is a bad bounce or two from already having a win. They have a potent running game that has gone over 200 yards three times this season. North Central hasn’t reached the century mark in rushing since their season opener against Ferris, 106 yards, in a 49-6 loss. Statistics aside, there’s the psyche of the whole streak. It hangs over the program, and gives the team and its players an unfair reputation. Any remarks made about Rogers in terms of its kids, staff and fans are usually completely unfounded and a slap in the face by richer GSL schools.

Anyone going out to Joe Albi Stadium can attest to the Pirates’ competitiveness. You don’t gain over 200 yards rushing unless you have the athletes to run the ball and the linemen to block for them. You can’t ignore the way the coaches support their kids on the sideline, by far the liveliest in the GSL. Ending the streak will send the GSL a message. Don’t overlook us. And NC certainly shouldn’t be doing that when they face Rogers this Friday, because they’re the underdogs going into this matchup.

DYLAN’S TAKE: There is no denying that it’s been a rough go of it for the varsity football team of the North Central Indians thus far on the season.

They had to open up their season against last year’s (and eventually, this year’s as well) GSL power Ferris Saxons, losing 49-6.

In their next three contests, against East Valley, Mt. Spokane and Mead, the Indians were outscored by a combined total of 149-13.

However, over the last two weeks, despite suffering big losses (albeit to two of the league’s top teams), the offense has shown signs of improvement, scoring 13 points in a 51-13 defeat at the hands of the undefeated Central Valley Bears, and then 20 in a 55-20 loss to the Gonzaga Prep Bullpups.

With that sense of hope, they head into Friday’s meeting against the only other winless team in the GSL, the Rogers Pirates.

Rogers has definitely made great strides this season, even if the win-loss record doesn’t reflect it. They have hung with some of the top GSL competition and have yet to give up more than 35 points in a single contest, a great sign since their Achilles heel over the years has been defense.

Meanwhile, the Indians have yet to yield less than 45 in a game and have scored double digits in just those aforementioned last two games.

However, with this being their best chance to record a win on the season, sometimes, you have to have faith in your alma mater and stick with them no matter what.

Quarterback Justin Materne is just one of the seniors who are running out of time for a win on the season. After they face Rogers, North Central will have two weeks to prepare for their season finale against their rivals, the Shadle Park Highlanders.

While Shadle is not one of the league’s elite, they have shown the ability to play very well, defeating both Rogers and the East Valley Knights early in the season.

So for the Indians, getting a win in 2008 may come down to their 5:30 battle against the Pirates.

Head Coach Grady Emmerson will have his team fired up, as his team will not be the ones to want to be on the losing end of Rogers’ first win since 2004. While the battle of the unbeatens takes place in Spokane Valley at 7 p.m., when Ferris meets Central Valley, Joe Albi Stadium will be hosting a game which should be just as close and exciting.

And you can bet both teams will be fighting just as hard for that elusive W.

Story by Brandon Hansen and Dylan Kitzan. You can reach them at brandon@htsports.org and dylan@htsports.org.