Madison County Red Raiders

Reprinted from the Madison County Journal May 10, 2006, edition

There’s no prize on the line Friday night.  Just a few positions perhaps.  Madison County will turn on the lights Friday night and trot out the referees, but the annual Red and Gray scrimmage game is still one last spring practice for Raider coaches to get a feel where players will fit in for 2006. “(It’s) just a lot of evaluation of things and trying to project where they could help and what they might do,” Owens said.

Owens said there’s a few battles going on at certain positions as coach try to workout out the depth chart heading into summer. They’ll start with trying to sort out the defense where Owens said he wants his 11 best players. “You’re trying to find as many one-way players as you can,” Owens said.  The third-year coach said it’s an “educated guessing game” as far as positioning personnel for the scrimmage. Still, Owens thinks this practice game can tell a lot about how much a player has absorbed from two weeks of coaching. “I think we’ll find out a lot of things,” he said. “We go out there like teachers ... Friday will be a test for the players. How much did they transfer from practice to the first scrimmage and how much better did they get in the second scrimmage?”

While the spring scrimmage play book will be similar to the one Owens uses this fall, spectators can expect the Raiders to put the ball in the air more than usual Friday night. “There will be some similarities,” he said. “During the spring time, we tend to focus more on the passing game. For one, it’s more fun. You get a lot of kids out there ... The other part is that the scrimmage is wide open and you tend to have less injuries to running backs and linemen.” Madison County’s two-week practice session has been an enjoyable one to Owens who will try to find a way to get his team back into playoffs this fall after the Raiders broke a 22-year playoff drought in 2005.

“It’s been good,” he said. “The kids seem to be having a lot of fun and working hard with a lot of enthusiasm.” He also notes that 78 players in grades 10-12 are on the roster, something that’s a plus for the spring game. “We’ve got enough people out there that we can somewhat matchup and challenge,” he said. Owens and the athletic program also want to make this more than a practice game.

A $2 admission will be charged for adults and $1 for students. At halftime, the golf and track teams will both have their senior nights. As for the end of the game, there’s no steak dinner incentive right now for the winning team. “It’s just for bragging rights,” Owens said.

Raider players are planning for college and they are working hard to get there.

 Ten Varsity Raider Football Players
recently attended Mrs. Bulloch's SAT Prep Course
in preparation for this Spring's SAT.

Through a telescope

Region: 8-AAAA, North
Last year's record: 7-4
Last year's region finish: 6-3, tied for second
Coach: Randell Owens (13-8, third season; 30-22 overall)
Stadium: Raider Field
Offense: Spread
Defense: Multiple 8-man front
Key returners: T Nick May (Sr., 6-foot, 305 pounds), DT/OT Brent Russell (Jr., 6-2, 300), OG Tyler Ingram (Sr., 6-1, 260), DB/LB Jarvis Long (Sr., 5-10, 195), FS Hunter Adams (Sr., 5-10, 175), K Jack Orr (Jr., 5-9, 175), Tyler Berryman (Sr., 5-7, 190)
Key losses: WR Josh Mattox, DB/WR Metric Shivers, FB/LB Jamey Rice, LB/TE Garrett Hochstetler
Promising newcomers: CB Claude Johnson (So., 5-8, 180); RB/SS Aldreakis Allen (So., 6-0, 190); RB/LB Drew Carey (Sr., 5-11, 175)
School enrollment: 1,495
Total players: 70
Last playoff appearance: 2005, lost to Rome in the first round
The inside slant:
Quarterback Jarrod Owens will start for the third consecutive season in Randell Owens' spread formation, but it's actually his fourth year working in the system. Jarrod was a backup quarterback when Randell coached at Heritage in 2003.
Smooth sailing: Sept. 15 - Eastside should be a great way for the Raiders to make their home debut and begin play in Region 8-AAAA. The Eagles have not won since Oct. 17, 2004.
Troubled waters: Sept. 22 - Although Dacula must make the trip to Danielsville, the newly arrived Falcons should be a tough foe. Dacula moved down in classification a year after its trip to the Georgia Dome. The Falcons' only losses last season were to Brookwood to start and end the season.
The first mate Tyler Berryman, LB, Sr., 5-7, 190
Berryman must help fill a void at linebacker with the loss of standout Jamey Rice. Randell Owens said Berryman plays much bigger than his frame might indicate.
Bow to stern
Offense Rice will be hard to replace at fullback, but Owens thinks Jarvis Long and Claude Johnson will add depth at the position. Aldreakis Allen, Marcello Lattimer and Drew Carey also will give the Raiders depth at running back.
Defense The Raiders return four starters, but lack experience at linebacker and end. Owens said his biggest concern was at safety and cornerback. The interior line will be strong with Brent Russell.
Special teams Kicker Jack Orr will start for the third season in a row. He attended a kicking camp at Notre Dame this summer.
Intangibles
Jarrod Owens wants to have a big season to improve his chances of playing in college and as a parting gift for his father.
Team heading Northwest
Madison County ended its 22-year postseason absence and should retain some momentum, but the Raiders have a tough slate ahead.
Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on August 27, 2006.

As the RAIDERS begin their Fall 2006 season, a terrific group of students have volunteered to support the team as a manager, a trainer, or a videographer.  

Team sponsor for the group is Coach Marty Tate. 
 
These students make sure to keep the RAIDERS safe and well hydrated throughout practices and games, as well as catch every play on film!