THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 9, 1995 TAG: 9509090412
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Instead of the usual ``Dada,'' the first words out of James Rogers' son were his dad's name.
Although he's now 4, Joshua probably doesn't understand that he and opponents of the Hampton Roads Sharks have plenty in common. Dad's name is being spoken quite often around the Mason-Dixon Football League.
Rogers is one of the top runners in the league and a big reason why Hampton Roads is 4-0 heading into tonight's home game against the Arbutus Big Red. So far this year, Rogers has 413 yards and four touchdowns in 50 attempts, getting a whopping 8.3 yards per carry.
But never has the 1989 Princess Anne High graduate been more in his element than last Saturday's overtime against Mason-Dixon rival, the Peninsula Poseidons.
Rogers scored the had-to-have two-point conversion that tied the game to force overtime, and won the contest on a 17-yard touchdown dash around the right end that was classic raw determination.
At about the 5, Rogers was met by a host of Poseidons. He bowled over three of them and carried two more in for the score.
``That was big league,'' coach T.J. Morgan said. ``For a 195-pound back, that was just amazing. . . . Totally amazing.
``He's just getting more and more seasoned as he goes.''
In his fourth season with the Sharks, Rogers is contemplating the future and whether or not it will include more of the game that he loves so much.
``I don't know, this might be my last year if I can't get into a college somewhere,'' the 25-year-old said. ``If that doesn't work out, I want to become a police officer.
``And I want to spend as much time with Joshua as I can.''
After finishing his senior year as the Beach District's second-leading rusher with more than 1,000 yards, Rogers attended Lees-McRae College in North Carolina for one year. But he was forced to quit for financial reasons. He still has college eligibility and hopes to take advantage of a new Sharks program to get players back into school.
``He's definitely Division I material,'' Morgan said. ``We're looking at Norfolk State or Hampton. He's a great player who could benefit either program.''
Right now Rogers is benefiting the Sharks, who enter tonight's league game unbeaten and leading the Southern Division of the Mason-Dixon League. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
James Rogers
by CNB