Madison County Red Raiders

(story reprinted from The Madison County Journal, August 28, 2008 edition)

by Ben Munro

(reprinted from The Madison County Journal, August 28, 2008 edition.)

by Ben Munro

Reprinted from The Athens Banner-Herald, August 25, 2008 edition

By Ryan Lavner  |  Correspondent  |  Story updated at 10:58 pm on 8/24/2008

DANIELSVILLE - Before Madison County coach Randell Owens rips into his quarterback for a wayward throw or poor read, he considers the repercussions, dreading "the look" from his 16-year-old son, Jacob.

"I can translate it," Randell Owens said after a recent practice. "It's a 'Will you shut up? I've been hearing this forever' look."

But never like this.

Now the quarterback for the Madison County Red Raiders, Jacob Owens will make his first varsity start at Rockdale County on Friday, when the line between football and family officially becomes blurred.

Jacob has seen the dynamics of his family's working relationship shift before, when his older brother, Jarrod, played for Madison County for three seasons and when his father coached and mentored David Greene before he became one of Georgia's most prolific passers. Occasionally, Mike Bobo, Georgia's offensive coordinator and the Owens' family friend, stops by to talk football.

But this is Jacob's first chance to run an offense - under his father's supervision, of course - and he's equipped with all the tools to turn Madison County, despite its inexperience, into a legitimate contender in Region 8-AAAA.

"I view it as an opportunity, and the only person I can blame is myself," Jacob said.

With a 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame and reasonable speed - he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds - the strong-armed junior will surely command the attention of area scouts this season. So, to mentally prepare his son for the season and the cutthroat recruiting process, Randell took Jacob to the Naval Academy's summer football camp.

"You've only got two years to play football," Randell told his son. "The clock is ticking and you've got to make some wise decisions. It starts now."

And it starts on offense. Jacob no longer has to back up senior Spencer Baird, who will split time at wide receiver, quarterback and slot back. A year ago, Jacob went undefeated with the JV team, playing two or three quarters a game at that level and spot duty with the varsity squad, per high school rules.

"I feel more comfortable," said Jacob, who will turn 17 at the end of the month. "I knew that every time I screwed up (last year), I was coming out. Now I can focus on making plays and winning games."

Because of Jacob's wide frame and natural athleticism, Madison County coaches said they won't hesitate to insert him at linebacker, a position he had never played until this season.

"He's good enough to be our starting linebacker," defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mike Haynes said of Jacob, who will likely play half the snaps on defense and be used primarily as an outside linebacker.

As with any first-year starter, there are obvious areas for improvement, especially on offense. Jacob can be slow going through his read progressions. He sometimes throws off his back foot, or doesn't follow through.

But he has been able to shore up his mechanics because of unprecedented access, the kind only a coach's son can get.

"[Playing for my father] has its benefits," Jacob said.

After spending six hours at weight-training class and practice, Jacob and his father are often stuck at school until about 10 p.m. So, after he finishes his homework, Jacob sits and digests film for hours, studying highlights and game tapes.

And then there's the hour-long ride back home to Monroe. Jacob considers that the drawback.

"The whole ride home I have to listen to the mistakes I made," Jacob said. "But it's better for me because he pushes me to work harder than everyone else."

Randell defers much of the instruction to his assistant coaches, Haynes and Chris Smith, the quarterbacks coach. Otherwise, things can get personal.

During a recent preseason practice, when the quarterbacks and receivers were working on shallow crossing routes, the coach was barking plays from the sideline. Annoyed with his father's repetitiveness, Jacob flashed him "the look."

"He got ticked off, and I thought about it, and what I did was uncalled for," Randell said. "He knows it. I took a step back. Sometimes I make it a military practice and I can be irrational."

Even Randell admitted that this unique situation is somewhat challenging. But it is also a special opportunity for both he and his family, two years after his oldest son played at Madison County.

"It's got to be hard to be the coach's kid. It gets personal with him," Randell said. "But it has been very rewarding. I don't know how many dads get eight hours a day with their kid."

Reprinted from The Athens Banner-Herald, August 24, 2008 Athens Area Prep Sports Preview edition

By Jeff Cochran  |  jeffrey.cochran@onlineathens.com  |  Story updated at 3:04 pm on 8/21/2008

DANIELSVILLE - Madison County coach Randall Owens doesn't know what to make of senior Aldreakis Allen.

It is a good problem for a coach to have.

"What is he?" Owens said. "Is he a linebacker? Is he a safety? Is he a receiver? Is he a running back? He's got a lot of ability."

For Allen and the rest of the Red Raiders, the answer to all of Owens questions is an assertive "Yes." The do-it-all senior will be reprising his multiple roles this season while adding a new one: team leader.

"It feels good," Allen said. "I'm just trying to be a leader and help out my team when I can."

As for the problem of when and where to line up, Allen has a simple solution.

"Wherever they put me, I'll play," he said.

After a sophomore season in which he was named first-team All-State as a receiver, Allen added the roles of running back and safety in his junior season. It was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

"I was excited," Allen said. "I always wanted to play defense, but they would only let me play offense. I wanted to hit some one."

During 2007, which the Red Raiders finished 5-5, Allen embraced his multi-role responsibility, leading the team in three key categories.

He led the team in rushing with 616 yards (5.4 per carry) and seven touchdowns. He also was the Red Raiders' top receiver, catching 37 passes for 796 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he finished the season with 58 tackles and three interceptions.

"It's his versatility," Owens said. "As a receiver, he does a great job of getting to the football. We used him so much as a running back that his yardage quadrupled. On top of that, what he did for us on defense was big."

Allen is just one of several skill players returning for Madison County. Junior quarterback Jacob Owens and junior wide receiver Bracken Turner add some potency to the offense.

The Red Raiders are lacking experience on both offensive and defensive lines. Each only feature one senior and are mostly comprised of juniors.

Allen, however, is going to make sure that senior leadership is one of Madison County's strengths this season.

"This year is more about leadership," he said. "I've just got to take over. I've been listening to seniors and upperclassmen all my life and I just pick up on what they told me and relate it back to this year."

As for next year, the prospects of Allen playing in college are strong, but he doesn't want to commit until after the season.

Even college scouts don't know what to make of the receiver/running back/safety. Liberty University in Virginia is scouting him as a receiver and Presbyterian College sees him as a running back.

Until then, he's not worried about wearing himself out filling three roles.

"It's tiring," he said, "but I'm a little energizer batter. I just keep going because I love the game."

CLOSER LOOK AT THE RED RAIDERS

BRICKS AND MORTAR

Region: 8-AAAA

Last year's record: 5-5

Last year's region record: 3-3

Coach: Randell Owens

Stadium: Red Raider Stadium

Offensive scheme: Spread

Defensive scheme: Multiple eight-man front

Key players: WR/RB/S Aldreakis Allen (Sr., 6-0, 208 pounds), LB Cody Esco (Sr., 6-0, 215), TE/DB Claude Johnson (Sr., 5-10, 190), DB Alex Young (Sr., 5-8, 160), QB Jacob Owens (Jr., 6-4, 205).

Key losses: OG Lance Childers, DE Nick Ginn, OT/DT Brent Russell

School enrollment: 1,400

Total varsity players: 104

BLUEPRINTS

Offensive outlook: The Red Raiders have five starters returning on offense, but only one is on the line - senior center Bo Dalton. Madison County's offense revolves around the multi-talented receiver/running back Aldreakis Allen, but it will be up to junior quarterback Jacob Owens to get the ball into his hands.

Defensive outlook: Madison County has the same problem on its defensive line as it does on its offensive line - inexperience. Senior James Anglin is the anchor of this group of players. Cody Esco (LB), Alex Young (CB) and Allen (S) bring some play-making ability to the secondary.

Special teams outlook: The positions of kicker and punter are in flux for the Red Raiders after losing all-region kicker and punter Jack Orr to graduation. No other player had a field goal attempt or punt last season.

Schedule: Owens thinks playing a 10-game region schedule will add a lot of excitement to the season. The Red Raiders will face defending sub-region champs Salem and Habersham Central back-to-back on Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.

CAUTION TAPE

Key game: at Salem, Sept. 26 - This will be the Redskins' homecoming game this year. Salem is one of the favorites to take the region title. A win here could boost the Red Raiders' chances at a playoff spot.

CORNERSTONE

The team leader: WR/RB/S Aldreakis Allen - Not only is Allen the Red Raiders' main offensive weapon, the senior is also their playmaker in the defensive backfield. This season, he will add senior leader to his resume.

"He's shown a lot more maturity this summer," coach Randell Owens said. "His work ethic has improved."

REMODELING

The key newcomer: WR/FS Bracken Turner - Turner made a small impact last season with 17 catches and a touchdown, but he will likely be the Red Raiders' go-to receiver when Allen is lining up as a running back.

(story reprinted from The Madison County Journal, August 21, 2008 edition.)

by Ben Munro