Madison County Red Raiders

 
"It was against Rockdale County and the senior in front of me got hurt," the senior lineman said. "I had to go in and it wasn't like JV ball at all. I went right out and got pancaked. I'm not going to lie."

That play was two seasons ago in Dove's sophomore year. As Dove prepares for his senior season, he is one of the most experienced players on a team full of youth and inexperience.

The Red Raiders graduated a large majority of their starters from last year, including quarterback Jacob Owens, receiver Patrick McCrary and lineman Connor Boyette.

With just six starters back, coach Randell Owens is faced with the difficult task of preparing a team full of newcomers for their first Friday night.

"Across the board, we are very inexperienced," Owens said. "This is the youngest team I've had since I've been here. And we are playing the toughest schedule in school history. ... We have some kids that have a lot of potential, but they are young and inexperienced. The only thing that is predictable about working with high school kids is that they are unpredictable."

As a team leader and one of the few returning starters, Dove has tried to prepare the rest of his team for what their first varsity football experience will be like.

"If you are inexperienced, you need to really go hard at practice because Friday nights are not like practice at all." Dove said. "It was really tough. If you have heart and you trust your teammates, you'll be fine."

Senior lineman Demetris Pattman made his first start three games into last season, making him one of the top veterans on the team.

Like Dove, his introduction to varsity football was a rough one. But as the season progressed, he grew more and more accustomed to it. But that doesn't mean he is immune from the pre-game jitters.

"I know my role and I understand what I have to do now," Pattman said. "The nerves and stuff before the game still come, but I know I have a job to do. I'm here to do that."

Last season, the Red Raiders started strong, but struggled down the stretch as the playoff picture started to become clearer.

They started the year 5-1 and were tied for second in Region 8-AAAA for much of the season, but Madison County lost its last four games.

Owens points to the teams they played in the latter half of the season, like Apalachee (10-0 in the regular season) and Clarke Central (state runner-up).

This year, the early part of the season might be the toughest part for the Red Raiders, as positions are solidified and nerves are eased.

"The biggest thing for us is if we struggle early, our kids can't let themselves get down," Owens said. "We have to keep working and keep getting better every week. That has to be the challenge."

The Red Raiders have some veterans on both lines, like Dove, Pattman and senior guard Kellen Harris, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL. But most of the skill positions will feature new names.

Owens hopes to rely more heavily on the running game to allow first-year quarterback Alex Jordan time to grow. That means running backs Cedrick Bush and Stan Maxwell will be the gasoline in the offense's engine.

But like the rest of the team, Bush and Maxwell will be getting their first taste of starting in a varsity football game when the Red Raiders host Flowery Branch on Aug. 27.

Dove said the sooner those players get past the intensity, the sooner they will be able to help their team.

"It is either get used to it," he said, "or get my butt kicked."