Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

After spending two years playing out of the spotlight at linebacker most prep players would jump at the chance to move to the offensive side of the ball.

Especially for the limelight that comes with being the starting quarterback.

Faced with that transition Clear Creek Amana senior Andrew Rohret wasn't so sure.

“His biggest concern talking to him in the offseason was he didn’t think we’d let him play defense if he was a quarterback and he didn’t want that,” Clear Creek Amana coach Gabe Bakker said of Rohret.

A two-year starter at outside linebacker Rohret wasn’t ready to give up his time as a defender even if it meant leading the offense.

Once Bakker explained that the plan was for Rohret to play both positions he was all in as a quarterback.  

“I told him rest assured you are going to play linebacker for us,” Bakker said. “Once he knew he could go both ways he was all about it.”

It has turned out to be a wise move.

Rohret has sparkled in his first season under center at the varsity level while helping Clear Creek Amana to a 3-0 one year after the Clippers opened the season with three consecutive losses.

Having two years of varsity experience on defense has helped Rohret this season as he took over the quarterback duties after spending his first three high school seasons as a back-up quarterback.

“It helped a lot because I know my sophomore my first time every playing varsity I was really nervous having all the lights on you and having everybody watching you,” Rohret said. “It got me prepared for everyone watching me and all the pressure.”

Rohret spent the off-season immersed in the Clear Creek Amana playbook as he prepped for his role as offensive leader.

That was the biggest adjustment for Rohret who had never take varsity snaps on offense.

“I learned the entire play book, I had to learn what everybody was supposed to be doing,” Rohret said. “To be a game manager you have to be able to get everyone in the right position and try to make everything work.”

Having a quarterback that starts on defense, especially at a spot like linebacker can be a concern for some coaches.

Not so much for Bakker who hasn’t tried to take the linebacker mentality out of Rohret when he is taking snaps.

“It kind of gives the offense an identity when the quarterback is going to go out there and try to run somebody over,” Bakker said. “Everybody kind of rallies around that. It’s just a good mindset for our whole offense.”

In his first three games as a varsity quarterback Rohret has been impressive.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder has completed 65 percent of his passes for 364 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions.

“My reads are getting quicker and better every day,” Rohret said. “In practice Bakker has stuff for me to work on every week to improve the little things and I think I just keep getting better.”

Rohret has brought his linebacker mentality to the quarterback spot and it has paid off in the Clippers running game.

He leads the Clippers with 291 rushing yards and five touchdowns while averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

“I love running the ball,” Rohret said. “I like bring that other style to the offense where I can run and throw the ball.”

Rohret is coming off his best game of his career in a 38-0 win over previously unbeaten Fort Madison.

He completed 13-of-16 passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 111 yards and two more touchdowns.

The touchdown tosses for Rohret went for 29, 22 and 21 yards and he added a 42-yard touchdown run.

“He looks way more confident, he is doing better with his drops and he is making quicker reads but the biggest thing is he getting the ball to guys that can make plays,” Bakker said. “He has done a great job with that.”

The offensive numbers attract most of the attention last week but Rorhet did his job on defense as well.

He had four tackles that included three solo stops and a sack and also added an interception.

“It helps that he is a competitor first and foremost,” Bakker said. “He hates to lose so everything he does is 100 percent and it is really starting to pay off for him.”

Did you enjoy this subscription-free content? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by becoming a member.