Madison County Red Raiders

Reprinted from the Athens Banner-Herald October 31, 2006 edition | | Story updated at 10:29 PM on Tuesday, October 31, 2006 Although Friday's rain stopped before the Region 8-AAAA North match-up between Madison County and Jackson County, the conditions didn't look favorable for a diversified offense.
Keeping the ball on the ground seemed like a good strategy. Working against the Jackson County defense and the elements, Red Raiders sophomore Aldreakis Allen didn't seem to have any trouble hanging on to passes from quarterback Jarrod Owens. It was what happened after Allen made catches that caused aggravation. "Al struggled early," Madison County coach Randell Owens said of his team's top receiver. "He'd try to plant and then burst, but his wheels kept spinning out from under him. He was very frustrated, but he had to figure out what he was doing. We told him to run at the (defender) and then cut, so he made the adjustment." Said Allen: "There were plenty of puddles everywhere. I couldn't plant well and kept sliding. (Owens) said to take shorter, choppy steps when I was trying to cut. "It worked out well." It worked out so well that Allen finished the game - which Madison County won 36-17 to keep pace in the chase for a region playoff berth - with 11 receptions for 159 yards and a 38-yard touchdown catch. The versatile back also had a 12-yard touchdown run. Allen said his most memorable play was his touchdown grab from Jarrod Owens, which started as a short pass. "It was just a little tunnel screen," he said. "I did a three-step comeback, got behind the wall and took off." For the season, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Allen has caught 46 passes for 627 yards and four touchdowns and has run for two additional scores. He has posted 100-plus-yard receiving performances against Eastside (a 10-7 win on Sept. 15) and Elbert County (a 49-7 victory on Sept. 8). "We list Al as a tailback but we move him all over," said Owens, who added he believes Allen has committed only one turnover the entire season. "He's our best deep-ball threat but a lot of his stuff comes from the shuttle pass. If we were an I-team, he'd be our tailback, but we need him everywhere." Allen's rushing statistics aren't as impressive as his aerial numbers, but he sees plenty of activity due to his ability to run and catch. But it's clear his contribution against Jackson County was the most significant of the season. Allen said Owens' pregame speech about having an 'opportunity for greatness' inspired him. "It was a huge game, one we really needed to nail down," said Owens, whose Red Raiders are 6-2 overall and in third place in the sub-region with a 3-2 mark. "Al showed a lot of maturity for us. It would have been a great game on any night, but with the field conditions the way they were, I didn't think we'' be throwing it around as much." But the play calling didn't bother Allen. "I like to line up at receiver," he said. "But maybe later in my career, I'll wind up more coming out of the backfield. But at receiver, I can make the plays and block for the guys. I don't want to be the center of attention; I just want to get out there and let it go." Madison County visits Winder-Barrow (1-7, 0-5) for its final regular-season game on Friday. A region playoff game will follow on Nov. 10. But the Red Raiders' win against Jackson County was also significant because it gave the team back-to-back-to-back winning seasons (while playing a region schedule) for the first time in school history. If the team makes the Class AAAA state playoffs, it will be only the second time Madison County has been in the postseason since 1983. Reprinted from the Athens Banner-Herald October 31, 2006 edition