The heart and soul of Amherst’s (VA) varsity football squad, Peter Rose has totaled close to 2,500 yards passing and rushing and scored 43 total touchdowns in the 2007 season. But, while Amherst captured a state championship in 2006 and has gone undefeated to this point this season, its 6-1, 180-pound star will not be satisfied with anything less than a state championship.

“It would mean everything,” Rose said of capturing a second consecutive state championship. Amherst faces fellow unbeaten Sherando in the Group AA, Division 4 state championship game on Saturday. The game takes place at 4:30 at Liberty University.

“This is what I planned on for this year. I want this thing real bad.”

Playing with a less than 100-percent throwing shoulder – Rose suffered a bruised shoulder during practice earlier in the playoffs – he scored an astounding six touchdowns (five rushing, one passing) in leading his team to a 48-35 win over Salem in last Saturday’s state semifinal. He rushed for 262 yards on 19 carries in what was a career performance.

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