Madison County Red Raiders

reprinted from The Madison County Journal Thursday, August 30, 2007 edition 

by Ben Munro 

While it was a mere dress rehearsal for bigger nights to come, Raider head coach Randell Owens said he would liked for things to have gone a little smoother on the field Friday than they did. 

Chamblee topped Madison County 29-17 in Danielsville in the last tune-up of the preseason as the Raiders now turn their thoughts to Franklin County this Friday. 

“We got a good evaluation of our personnel, so it was successful from that standpoint,” Owens said.  “But I was disappointed in both sides of the line of scrimmage fundamentals and techniques on both sides.” 

Held to a field goal in the first half, the Raiders picked up a fourth quarter touchdown and added a score during predetermined overtime period. 

But mainly, Madison County—who pulled their varsity players during the third quarter to make way for the younger players—used the scrimmage to get every player in the game, and on film, for a final depth chart evaluation before the season opener with Franklin County. 

“I think we got tested in all phases,” Owens said.  “The (Chamblee) were a good team that tested us in all phases.”   

Madison County’s offense found a spark late. 

With the Raiders down 21-3, Jacob Owens’ 48-yard completion to Al Allen to the Chamblee 29 with 54 seconds left in regulation set up the Raiders’ first score. 

Owens capped the drive when he scrambled and connected with Brody Dudley for a score with 32 seconds left. Madison County alternated between Spencer Baird and Jacob Owens most of the night at quarterback with Baird getting the start. 

The junior came in and guided the Raiders to an overtime score, hitting Allen on a touchdown strike for Madison County’s final points of the evening. 

Chamblee scored more steadily during the night. 

The Bulldogs, who led 6-3 at the half, built an 18-point lead fourth quarter and finished the night with a score on their overtime possession (each team received one) and two-point conversion. 

Owens noted that Chamblee scored just once on the Raiders’ first team defense, but still “moved the ball too well.” 

Senior placekicker Jack Orr accounted for Madison County’s only first half points with a 30-yard field goal in the second quarter after the Raiders failed to full cash in on a fumble recovery around the Chamblee 5 yard line. The first half ended with Jack Orr missing a 62-yard field goal attempt. 

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal Thursday, August 30, 2007 edition 

FOOTBALL 

Months of Anticipation, Work Build to This 

by BEN MUNRO 

Randell Owens knows a thing or two about starting 1-0.  After all, this is a coach who has won his last six openers to date going back to his days with Heritage High School.

 

Owens—whose Raiders open Friday at home against Franklin County—feels this time of year carries a certain gravity, given the months of build-up.

 

“I think there is,” he said.  “It sets a tone.  It creates momentum.  Success tends to breed success.  How important it is to get a pay check at the end of the month after working your butt off?”

 

Owens is referring to a month’s work of slugging it out—and battling brutal heat—during preseason practice in August.  Then throw in summer passing league, which preceded summer practice, and all that time spent in the weight room and a team puts in quite a bit of equity hours before the first block is thrown on that first Friday night.

 

“Our kids have invested a lot,” Owens said.  “Coaches have invested a lot . . . There’s a lot invested not to get a pay back.  It’s painful.”

 

Well, that’s a disappointment the Raiders haven’t had to deal with in a while.

 

Madison County has won each of its four season openers since 2003 with all wins coming against Franklin County (three under Owens).  In fact, the Raiders have parleyed those victories into four consecutive 3-0 starts.

 

“If you get it done, no excuses necessary.  It feels really good,” Owens said of winning the opener.  “It gives you more energy to go to work next week and keep going.”

 

Speaking of energy, there might be a lot of nervous energy come Friday night. 

 

Madison County begins this season with new starters at receiver, defensive back, linebacker and quarterback.  Meanwhile, Franklin County, a 5-6 team last year in Class AAA, finds itself in a similar situation due to a mass exodus due to graduation last year.

 

All that just adds to the mystery of the first night out.

 

“When you’ve got as many starters as we have that haven’t been there before, you’ve got to remember, it’s a new experience for them . . . How are they going to perform?  That’s the exciting thing about this job,” Owens said.

 

One of the Raiders’ lingering questions from the summer has been who will be at the controls of the offense.

 

Owens said the saga really continues after neither Spencer Baird or Jacob Owens separated themselves as clear cut number 1 after this past Friday’s scrimmage.

 

Baird has been given the starting nod and will see more playing time.  However, Jacob will have opportunities Friday night as well.

 

“We’ll see,” Owens said.  “Right now, Spencer is in the lead.”

 

But Madison County stands to find out a  lot more about itself Friday night than just at quarterback when it puts pads on against the Lions.  That’s the nature of the season opener when the lights are turned on real scenarios present themselves.

 

“There’s something about the game being on the line win loss column, you never really know until you’re actually there,” Owens said.

 

Of course, the bottom line Friday night is to win—the ultimate prize for months of summer anticipation and perspiration.

 

“If you don’t bring home the paycheck, it doesn’t matter how hard you worked,” Owens said.

 

Coming Up

Who:  Franklin County @ Madison County

Where:  Danielsville, Georgia

Last Meeting:  Madison County – 20; Franklin County – 18

Series:  Madison County leads 16-15

Notes:  Madison County has won four straight in this series. . . Franklin County’s last win against Madison County came in 2002 (7-6) . . . The Raiders longest winning streak against the Lions is six games, spanning 1979 to 1984.

 

Franklin County Facts: 

Region:   8-AAA

Record Since 1970:  175-208=3

Head Coach:  Danny Durham (6^th year, 27-44)

2006 Record:  5-6 (lost in first round of playoffs to McNair)

Players to Watch:  OL Tyler Fowler, LB Quan Johnson, RB Jarvis Knox, RB Jay Moon, LB Ryan King

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal Thursday, August 30, 2007 edition

 The Opponent:  Franklin County 

by BEN MUNRO 

Danny Durham might sound as if he’s talking about Madison County’s team when he’s describing his own.

 

That’s because his Franklin County squad graduated a host of players, will have to press a lot of sophomores into service and has a new quarterback operating their offense.

 

Like the Raiders, the Lions are going through a transition year.

 

“We’ve just got a lot of shoes to fill and we’re filling them with young guys,” said Durham, now in his sixth season with Franklin County.  “We’ve got a lot of sophomores on the field.”

 

Madison County and Franklin County face each other Friday night in the border rival’s 32ns installment of this old series.

 

Graduation has hit Durham’s Lions hardest in offensive and defensive trenches and the coach said he and his staff are putting an emphasis on developing players there.  Meanwhile, Dashan Merritt takes over at quarterback for four-year starter Kyle Harris.

 

“The kids are good players and all, but again, the experience—we miss the experience factor because a lot of the guys who graduated started for three years.”

 

Last year’s experienced Lions’ team went 5-5 in the regular season before losing to McNair in the Class AAA state playoffs.

 

Meanwhile, Madison County has also seen its share of turnover from last year after a trip to the state playoffs.  However, Durham expects the Raiders to be fully up to the task when the teams kick things off Friday.

 

“They seem to—not that they don’t play other people hard—but to play us extremely hard,” Durham said.  “So a lot of time if you do have a younger player in there, they’re going to probably step it up and play a little harder and play with a little more experience that night.”

 

This marks the sixth straight year Madison County and Franklin County have met to open the season.  Durham has been on the Lions’ sidelines for each of those six contests and said he enjoys having this rivalry game first upon the schedule.

 

Durham said that Madison County, given its success, is a good measuring stick for his team as it prepares for the 8-AAA schedule.

 

It’s usually a close game, too, Durham points out.

 

The coach is 1-4 against the Raider.  Three of those losses have been by eight points or less.  His win over Madison County came in 2002 in a 7-6 barnburner.

 

Durham added that he has a lot of respect for Raider Coach Randell Owens, who is 3-0 against the Lions.

 

“It think it’s a good game and a good game for both teams, because it usually a good gate and its great competition,” he said.

 

For now, Durham is keeping things simple as he and his staff prepare for this game.  Like the Raiders, Friday night will be the first test for several Lions players.

 

“The less complication, the more the kids can remember,” Durham said.  “ . . . That’s been our philosophy.  Whether it’s going to work or not, I don’t know.”

Reprinted from Athens Banner-Herald, Sunday, August 26, 2007 edition

By Jon Page  |   Staff Writer   |   Story updated at 11:54 PM on Sunday, August 26, 2007

DANIELSVILLE - Madison County coach Randell Owens was running late for the second day of practice, but he wasn't worried. As he drove to the practice fields, Owens saw exactly what he expected: His offensive linemen running a drill.                 

  Photo courtesy of Jon Page, Athens Banner-Herald Staff.

Leading the charge was senior tackle Brent Russell."I've been working on defense only last year, and I really don't know the drills they go through, so I try to get them going," Russell said. "I'm trying to be a leader. (My twin brother) Brad Russell and the rest of the seniors think I'm picking on them when I say, 'Let's go, hustle up.' They're like, 'I'm a senior, too.'

"Brent Russell stands out on a veteran line not only for his leadership, but also for his versatility. The 6-foot-21/2, 305-pounder also plays defensive tackle. Last year he played tight end in goal-line situations, and also ran for a few touchdowns.

After running for two TDs and scoring a two-point conversion in the Red Raiders' 34-21 victory over Clarke Central last season, Russell earned the nickname 'The Tractor' from former quarterback Jarrod Owens.

"In the excitement after the game Jarrod said, 'Pittsburgh has "The Bus," but we have "The Tractor," Randell Owens said. "The next morning, Jarrod read the article and said, 'Oh my God, I said "The Tractor. I meant to say "The Bulldozer." Brent's going to kill me.'

"If Russell minded, he was probably too busy to show it.

The reserved senior is a three-sport letterman. Last year he won the Class AAAA state wrestling championship in the heavyweight division, and finished the season with a 56-1 record. He also won the region championship in the shot put.

With a bench press close to 400 pounds and the ability to squat 500 pounds, Owens said Russell has yet to garner much attention from Division I colleges because of his size.

"For the people that are turning over rocks and having to work for a living, he's going to be a great player," Owens said. "Troy State wants him as an offensive lineman, and Wake Forest is looking at him at defense. ... he could go to Georgia and whip everyone they've got but I don't think they'll recruit him because he's not tall enough.

"For this season, Russell will obligingly play both ways. But defense clearly is his favorite side of the ball."You just get to hit everything that walks," Russell said. "If you mess up and don't know what to do, then you just hit everything.

"Sort of like a bulldozer.

Shaken, not stirred

Region: 8-AAAA North

Last year's record: 8-3

Last year's region record : 5-2, third place

Coach: Randell Owens (21-11, fourth season; 42-31 overall)

Stadium: Raider Field

Offense: Spread

Defense: Multiple eight-man front

Key returners: OG Lance Childers (Sr., 6-foot-2, 325 pounds), DE Nick Ginn (Sr., 5-10, 230), RB Marcello Lattimer (Sr., 5-10, 190), OT/DT Brent Russell (Sr., 6-21/2, 305), OT Brad Russell (Sr., 6-2, 310), OG Ethan Scarborough (Sr., 6-3, 235), LB Alex Tilton (Sr., 5-10, 185), WR Aldreakis Allen (Jr., 6-0, 205)

Key losses: FS Hunter Adams, LB Tyler Berryman, LB Jarvis Long, OT Nick May, QB Jarrod Owens.

Promising newcomers: CB T.J. McGuire (So., 6-1, 160), QB Jacob Owens (So., 6-31/2, 190)

School enrollment: 1492

Total players for varsity: 68

Last playoff appearance: 2006, lost to East Paulding in first round

Noteworthy: Last season, Madison County reached the playoffs for the second straight year. The feat marked the first time a Red Raiders' team made the playoffs in consecutive seasons, according to records dating back to 1957.

In the clear: The Red Raiders scored their most lopsided victory last season with a 49-7 victory over Elbert County, but didn't catch a break in region play until the eighth game of the season against Jackson County.

No. 1 enemy: The season opener against Franklin County should provide a strong test for quarterbacks Spencer Baird and Jacob Owens. The upperclassmen might have an axe to grind on Oct. 5 at Habersham Central, the only team to shut out Madison County last year.

License to Thrill

Allen has the potential to play in college. As a sophomore, he caught 62 passes for 851 yards and six touchdowns, and he ran 38 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns. The halfback was First-Team All-Northeast Georgia at wide receiver.

High stakes

Offense: Four of five starting linemen return for an offense that averaged 23 points per game last season, but replacing quarterback Jarrod Owens won't be easy. Randell Owens' eldest son threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 31 touchdowns as a three-year starter for the Red Raiders. His younger brother Jacob will battle for the starting position with Baird, a junior. Owens has the size but lacks experience, and Baird lacks size but knows the offense.

Defense: The Red Raiders lost leadership in the secondary with the graduation of Adams, but former cornerback Dusten Randall will take over for Adams. The unit also must address the loss of several key linebackers who were three-year starters. But the line is solid with two-way players Brent Russell and Ethan Scarborough at the tackles and seniors Nick Ginn and Alex Kraeline on the ends.

Special Teams: Jack Orr kicked the Red Raiders into the playoffs last season with a 40-yard field goal in the final minutes of a 47-44 victory at Salem. Owens said the honors student, who recently completed a tour of Ivy League schools, is stronger than last year. Orr also punts.

Intangibles: Four of the Red Raiders' offensive linemen are taller than 6-feet, and three of them weigh more than 300 pounds.Schedule: Getting off to a good start in region play could provide a big boost for the Red Raiders. Last year they lost two of their first three region games to Eastside and Habersham Central, but won their next three games. This year's team might lack the leadership at quarterback necessary to rally the offense after an early slide.

What's inside the attache case?

Secret weapon: A two-sport letterman as a freshman (baseball and basketball), Bracken Turner has not spent gobs of time in the weight room, but he has the athleticism and speed to make big plays.

Coach Randell Owens said Turner could play quarterback if the Red Raiders ran the option. "Bracken could be the real deal before he graduates," Owens said. "He's a great all-around athlete."

Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on 082607