FORT WAYNE – Bishop Luers receiver Michael Rogers has benefited from catching passes from quarterback James Knapke for three years, or maybe it’s the other way around.
“(Rogers) has benefited from having an outstanding passer, but I suppose that goes both ways with James having (Rogers) to throw to,” Luers coach Matt Lindsay said. “It probably has something to do with James’ numbers too.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Rogers holds the school record for touchdowns in a career with 24 and is closing in on the single-season touchdown marks of 15 (with 14), single season yardage of 1,180 (924) and career yardage of 2,196 (1,821).
“He is just a big play waiting to happen,” Lindsay said of Rogers, who is getting some looks from Mid-American Conference schools, as top-ranked Luers (11-1) prepares to face No. 5 Bremen (13-0) at home in Friday’s football semistate.
A three-year starter, Rogers has come into his own this season in the Knights’ quest for a Class 2A state title three-peat. He has 41 catches for 924 yards and 14 receiving touchdowns (16 overall with two punt returns for scores) after having a combined 40 catches, 897 yards and 10 scores in his sophomore and junior years.
So why the improvement? It has to do with a stepped-up offseason workout regimen and his continuing relationship with Knapke, a Bowling Green recruit.
“Just the offseason workouts and working real hard in the summer and running good routes and getting a lot of good balls from James,” Rogers said of his success this season. “I treat James like one of my brothers. We have a real close relationship. It’s been real nice to play with him for three years. Our connection has just been getting better, and I will be missing him next year. He knows my routes very well, and he gets the ball to me on point when I cut out of my routes.”
Lindsay said the increased receiving output also has to do with Rogers becoming the team’s go-to receiver after spreading things around the past couple of years.
“I don’t know why the change, but it has something to do with James getting him the football,” Lindsay said. “(Knapke) hits him in the chest every time. Mike is certainly more physically mature. He has the experience, and a lot of the tools to go with it. We definitely scheme for him and try to isolate him. They can’t double everybody, we have others. Dwenger chose to take (Rogers) away, and we ran for 300 yards. It is an advantage to have other weapons.”
Rogers’ big numbers have come with an injured right thumb suffered in the summer that causes Rogers discomfort but hasn’t affected his ability to make plays. “Catching is painful for him, especially the way James rifles the ball in there,” Lindsay said. “I cringe every time he catches the ball.”
