GRAVETTE — There will be one common item between fans and foes during Gravette football games this fall.
All of them will have to keep a close eye on where Peyton Rose is positioned when the Lions’ offense takes the field.
The senior lined up as a receiver during the Vype 7-on-7 tournament last weekend, but he could also be in Gravette’s backfield as a fullback, depending on the formation and the play that is called at the time. He could also see action at tight end, if necessary.
“He’s kind of a like an Hback,” Lions coach Bill Harrelson said. “He’ll be doing a lot of motion, andhe’ll be in the backfield lead blocking part of the time. When we get into our four-wide set, he’ll be an inside receiver.
“He’s got really good hands and does a great job of being able to adjust to the ball. He’s not really a speed guy, but he can make plays on offense as far as the passing game. He can catch it.”
Rose (5-foot-10, 195 pounds) loves everything about being a receiver, from the routes to the receptions. He was mostly an outside receiver until he switched positions and learned how to be a fullback.
He doesn’t mind the new position, either. As a fullback, it allows Rose to display the toughness he has shown as a linebacker the last two seasons.
“There’s a lot of contact there as a lead blocker,” he said. “And I like to hit. I’ve been playing inside linebacker my whole life, and it’s what I like to do.”
Rose played his entire sophomore season at inside linebacker despite a labrum injury he suffered around midseason. He still managed to record 64 tackles and four quarterback sacks in 11 games, as well as an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
He had surgery during the offseason last year, and he didn’t return to Gravette’s lineup until the Oct. 14 game against Farmington. He played seven games and recorded 43 tackles, as well as forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a win over Berryville.
He takes pride in being a run stopper on the Lions’ defense, and it shows.
“I like it when the gap opens up and you get the lead up in there,” he said. “The running back is coming through there, and you get to light him up.”
Now as the only player on defense with significant starting experience, Rose knows he will have to shoulder a much bigger load on both sides of the field.
“He’s the only returning starter we have on defense,” Harrelson said. “I’m counting him as a returning starter since he returned from his injury. Offensively, we have three starters - him not being one of them - but he’ll be playing a lot on offense.”
Sports, Pages 10 on 07/25/2012