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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rogers High School Football: Never surrender, never retreat

Rogers High School has had one winning football season in the past 39 years. Coach Matt Miethe and his staff are installing new attitudes and positive thinking to turn the program around. Personal growth for the players is a goal set by Miethe. This the first installment of a continuing series throughout the season.

Rogers High School football players including from left, Brandon Rose, Storm Fissette, (front), Jordan Roth and Cody Risinger, listen to coach Matt Miethe address the team during the first gathering of the season, Aug. 16, 2013.

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Rogers High School senior Jonathan Petersen tries his best in the long jump. Players stats are recorded measuring athletic ability.

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Rogers High School football players, including, from left, Eric Schollard, Jacob Meusy, Jessie Hegar and Bonnie Fissette, listen to coach Matt Miethe address the team.

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Rogers High School junior Melvin Vassar fights to get up the 13th rep of 135 pounds during athletic measuring tests on the first day the team gathered on Aug. 16.

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Coach Matt Miethe times his players streaking past in the 40-yard dash.

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Rogers High School football player Davonte Gendron reaches the 37 mark on the tape during the season’s first gathering, Aug. 16, 2013. Coach Roger Carver records the score.

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A T-shirt commemorating a football homecoming 14-7 win over Gonzaga Prep in 1994 is displayed in the Rogers High trophy case. It was the last time the Pirates had a winning season. Rogers’s current head coach Matt Miethe was a member of the ‘94 team.

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Rogers High School football coach Matt Miethe gathers his players at the stroke of midnight Aug. 21, 2013, to begin a short Midnight Madness practice under the stars on the school’s football field. Teams were not allowed to practice before this date. Most other schools began their first day of practice later in the morning.

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Rogers High School football players, from left Michael Webb, Tyson Pack, Cody Dodson and Elijah Rodriguez streak past the goal posts during their Midnight Madness practice Aug. 21, 2013. The players ran around the field to different stations singing the school fight song.

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With teammates supplying encouragement, senior Hank Schmook gets a chance to hit the tackling dummy during Midnight Madness practice.

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Rogers High School football players Tristen Carl and Jessie Hagar show sings of bonding after their first full practice Aug. 21, 2013. The coaches are preaching teamwork and a sense of togetherness for the players this year.

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Rogers High School football player Tristen Carl attacks the blocking sled during the first day of full practice Aug. 21, 2013.

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Players take a five-minute break on the track from the heat and offensive workouts during the first full practice.

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Rogers High School sophomore football player Devin Hamlett takes a water break by using a down spigot during the first full practice Aug. 21, 2013.

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Rogers High School junior Jessie Hegar ends his first day of full practice by getting his helmet fitted.

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Players walk the empty second-floor hallways after receiving their helmets at the end of the first day of full practice.

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Rogers High School football coach Matt Miethe and player Ryan Tran bump fists after coming to an agreement to move Tran from QB to receiver or running back during a meeting before practice in Miethe’s office, Aug. 26, 2013.

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Rogers High School football players dog-pile on Reed Johnson, bottom left, after his teammates caught him kissing his girlfriend near the field just before the start of practice, Aug. 26. “It’s football time, not girlfriend time,” said teammate Jacob Meusy.

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