Eric SorensonYou may not notice Cules Rose on the sidelines but you won’t miss him when he steps on the field.
The 5’9, 155-pound senior wide receiver has been the catalyst for the Pioneers’ high-powered offense and favorite target for fellow senior and Michigan State commit Brian Lewerke. Pinnacle (8-1, 4-0) has reeled off six-straight wins after a tough two-point loss to Hamilton back in mid-September in large part due to an offense which averages 43 points a game and is one of the most balanced in the state. They can beat you on the ground (averaging 229 yards per game) or in the air (223 yards per game) and figure to be a major player in the Division I playoffs which begin next month.
The guy who simply goes by “Q” is doing a little of both. He leads PHS in catches (38), yards (865) and receiving touchdowns (12) and his chipped in 133 more on the ground.
“I’ve gotten a little more game speed, I’ve gotten a lot faster,” Rose told Sports360AZ.com after the Pioneers routed rival Horizon last week in Scottsdale. “My hands [have] improved better and better each year.”
Those hands were on full display against the Huskies. Rose was a one-man wrecking crew catching six passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns.
“He’s just a playmaker, he’s really dynamic,” head coach Dana Zupke explained to Sports360AZ.com. “I really think he’s like a DaVonte’ Neal from Chaparral…he’s a little undersized but I think when people start watching his film they’re going to realize he’s a Division I athlete.”
You won’t get any argument from his quarterback.
“He’s easily the fastest receiver I’ve played with,” Lewerke said. “I think he’s very under recruited.”
For now Rose, whose only offer to this point is from Arizona Christian, is more concerned about finishing the regular season strong on Halloween night in Anthem against Boulder Creek and building the momentum heading into the postseason where the Pioneers could be a top five seed.
“I keep getting more and more impressed with this team. It’s amazing what these guys can do.”
Pretty sure they feel the same way about you, “Q.”
