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PAGE 4C — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. AUGUST 27. 2009
m Madison County
continued from page 3C
chart) ... Heck, I want them all
on the field," Owens said.
But the team can’t get it done
with speed alone.
Along the lines of scrimmage,
the Raiders are better but not
dominant. Madison County has
enough players on the offensive
and defensive fronts, but they’re
not all battle-tested in the var
sity trenches. So depth there is
Owens’ major concern.
“We just don’t have a lot of
depth for key players to get
injured,” Owens said. “There’s
a pretty good drop-off between
the starters and guys who would
have to go in and back them up
— both sides of the football.”
Still, Madison County moves
on with its focus set on the 2009
season, and week one opponent
Rockdale County.
Though Owens says 2008 is
gone from his mind, does he
think his players have effectively
left last season in the past?
“Yeah, I do," Owens said. “But
the test of the pudding will be
against Rockdale, We’ll see,”
QUARTERBACK
Jacob Owens returns at quar
terback, where coach Owens
said the senior has gained con
fidence (Note: J. Owens suffered
an injury in Madison County’s
scrimmage game and his sta
tus remained unknown at the
Pigskin Preview’s press time).
Meanwhile, wide receiver/safety
Bracken Turner serves as Owens’
backup. Alex Jordan ranks third
in the depth chart.
RUNNINGBACK AND
RECEIVERS
Senior Kendrick Butler
moves from tailback to start
ing fullback this fall with
Kasey Samples and Matt Dean
pushing for playing time there,
too.
Jamal Cooper, the reign
ing 200 meter champion in
8-AAAA, moves to tailback
this year after playing wide
receiver last year. Cedric Bush
and Trey Curruth serve as his
understudies.
At the wide receiver posi
tions, Turner — a reliable target
— and talented newcomers Stan
Maxwell and Patrick McCrary
are the starters.
McCrary, a basketball stand
out and a sizeable target, is still
learning the position but is a
welcome addition with his work
ethic and leadership, Owens
said.
Presly McKeever, Marcus
Johnson and Matt Dean are the
backups at the receiver slots.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Veterans John Gunnells (quick
tackle) and Connor Boyett
(strong tackle) anchor the offen
sive line as bookend tackles.
Steven Goldman (quick guard),
Jeremiah NeSmith (center) and
Tyler Adams (strong guard)
are the other starters. Demetris
Pattman, Aaron Bridges, Andy
Holloway and Kyle McLendon
are listed as subs.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The Raiders feature a few new
starters up front on defense with
Matt Dove bringing toughness
to the no. 1 tackle spot (backed
up by Demetris Pattman) and
Ruben Luna bringing plenty of
physical strength into his new
starting role at nose guard,
according to Owens.
Meanwhile, Marquis Thomas
steps into a starting job at one
defensive end spot, though
Connor Boyett,
OL-DE
Demarcus Long is challenging
for playing time.
Connor Boyett returns at the
other defensive end spot, backed
up by Emarcus Long and Kyle
Gordon.
LINEBACKER
Tyler Adams and Jeremiah
NeSmith have moved from the
defensive line and will platoon at
middle linebacker.
On the outside. Kale Bodiford
starts at “bandit” linebacker —
with Haden Martin and Kasey
Samples vying for playing time
— and Donavan Carey starts at
“will" linebacker. Samples is also
pushing for snaps there.
SECONDARY
Presly McKeever and Cedric
Bush are the starting comer-
backs, with T.J. McGuire and
Ben Smith backing them up.
Bracken Turner returns for a
third year as the starter at free
safety, where he picked off three
passes last year. He’s backed up
by Kendrick Butler and Stan
Maxwell, who Owens calls
“probably the best pure athlete at
the position.”
At rover (a hybrid between a
free safety and outside lineback
er), Matt Dean has earned a start
ing role, backed up by Quinton
Thomas and Trey Curruth.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game “is up in the
air” due to an injury to Branden
Wilson. With Wilson out, Ian
Webster has put in most of the
work at place kicker.
Kasey Samples is listed as the
no. 1 punter.
GOOD LUCK
/jftj To All The R'\
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