Article published October 09, 2010
Gambrell's dash sparks Rogers
By STEVE JUNGA BLADE SPORTS WRITER
After four weeks away from football, you could say Rogers' standout DerJuan ?PeeWee? Gambrell was a little hungry when he returned to the field Friday night at Waite's Mollenkopf Stadium.
And, it didn't take long for the Ohio State University recruit to take a bite out of the host Indians on their homecoming night in a 36-6 City League victory for the Rams.
The first time Gambrell touched the ball, he motored around right end and bolted 80 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead for Rogers (3-3, 2-1 CL).
This was the next play after the Rams' Antwon Dupree had ended a promising Waite drive by intercepting a Michael Kachmarik pass in the end zone.
?It was hard not helping my team, seeing them taking losses and watching from the sideline,? Gambrell said of his time away. ?We had been planning [that play] all week.
?Coach [Rick] Rios told me he was going to get me back in action real quick, and the first play I took it 80 yards. I got good blocking on the perimeter, hit the sideline, and turned on the speed. I loved it. I couldn't wait to celebrate with my teammates.?
Gambrell had missed Rogers' previous four games after sustaining a knee injury in the Rams' 21-0 road loss to Southview on Sept. 4.
?We scripted it,? Rios said, ?and we let him know, ?Hey, you've got the ball first. We want to see how that knee is feeling.'
?He said it felt pretty good, so I said, ?Well, then we should be lining up for an extra point because it should be a touchdown,' and sure enough that's how it happened.?
For good measure, the second time Gambrell touched the ball also turned into a touchdown, this one on an eight-yard run up the middle 1:27 into the second quarter as Rogers grabbed a 14-0 lead.
Gambrell, who did not play any defense against Waite, ended with four carries for 90 yards.
Hearing that Gambrell may be rethinking and looking at Michigan...