The game has slowed down for Boone Grove sophomore quarterback Mark Rowland.
He spent virtually all of last season as the Wolves’ starter, taking over in the second game after getting snaps in the opener.
“I’m more calm this year, since last year I was a freshman coming into varsity, going against big dogs, big boys,” Rowland said. “It was scary. But now, being a sophomore, it’s different. I’m smarter, faster, stronger.”
Ahead of a rivalry game against Wheeler, Rowland has completed 64 of 111 passes for 786 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions for the Wolves (2-2, 2-1). He had six TDs and no interceptions in back-to-back Greater South Shore Conference shutouts.
Nate Hilty has been a primary beneficiary of Rowland’s development. The senior standout has 23 catches for 356 yards and two TDs.
“Mark’s been getting me the ball,” Hilty said. “We’ve had a good connection. We went to the field a lot during the summer, worked on stuff when we didn’t have practice on the weekends.
“He’s definitely hit the weight room, gotten stronger and faster, and worked on reading keys. He’s definitely throwing the ball more accurately.”
Rowland completed 40 of 105 passes for 456 yards with three TDs and 12 INTs last season.
“It was weird last year,” Rowland said. “It was all new to me, a different type of speed. These varsity players are faster, dedicated. They have a lot of momentum to play the game. It was weird for me coming from eighth grade ball to freshman varsity quarterback. Going against these varsity teams, it was insane.”
Rowland, who credited the offensive line for giving him “way more time” to throw so far this season, has put his freshman experience in the rearview mirror. He has an eye on reaching 2,000 yards and 25 TDs this season.
Rowland put in the work in the offseason.
He focused on the weight room, gaining around 15 pounds on his 6-foot frame to get to 160, and on refining his mechanics.
He also received tutelage from Aaron Ellis, a Boone Grove graduate who plays professionally in Europe.
“He taught me about good reads, coverages, short game throwing, making quick throws, release points on deep balls, good footwork,” Rowland said. “That’s all helped me a lot this year.”
Rowland also joined the track team for the first time. Even though he was limited after he aggravated a pulled right hamstring initially suffered during the junior varsity basketball season, his participation as a sprinter was beneficial. He said he reduced his 40-yard dash time to 4.8 seconds from 5.1.
“I feel like that’s really impacted my game,” Rowland said. “Now I’m a running threat too. I really wasn’t mobile last year.”
Rowland has added two rushing TDs this season after having none last year.
Boone Grove coach Dan Kukulski, who has been part of the program since it was founded in 2009 and has been leading it since 2017, praised Rowland’s instincts and progress.
“I’ve been here since the beginning, and of all the kids we’ve had, of all the quarterbacks we’ve had, as young as he is, he by far has the football smarts that are second to none,” Kukulski said. “He got guidance from Aaron Ellis on what he needs to do, and Mark took it and ran with it.
“He’s definitely improved physically and mentally. He’s faster, stronger, and he’s definitely (grown by) leaps and bounds as a sophomore.”
Rowland said there is room for additional growth for both him and the team, especially given the Wolves’ composition.
“Last year we were really young,” he said. “This year we have a few more seniors, but we’re still young. If we keep going, we have great potential. A lot of us trained in the offseason. We just have to keep working, and good things will happen.”