Alpharetta's 2009 record of 3-7 may not reflect it, but the Raiders were pretty good last year. Four of their seven losses were by 10 points or less and a fifth loss, a 20-7 setback to Walton, was a tie game until Walton scored on a controversial play in the third quarter.

If Alpharetta is going to contend for a playoff berth this year in a completely revamped Region 6-AAAAA, second year coach Jason Dukes knows his team is going to have to do one thing: win the close games. "We taught the kids how to fight, but we had trouble finishing," the former Georgia Tech lineman says. "In tight games you have to make plays when the game is on the line and we kind of faltered with that. This year, we're looking for our veteran players to help us finish those ball games."

Although Alpharetta has finished with records of 2-8, 2-8 and 3-7 in the last three years (only the 3-7 season was under Dukes), the soft-spoken coach doesn't see why his team can't make the playoffs this year, "We know its going to be competitive," Dukes says of his team's new region. "We know its not going to be easy, but we think we can [make the playoffs]."

Offense

Dukes expects big things from his offense this year and that’s mainly because it's going to be led by three-year starter Mikal Abdul-Saboor. In 2008, Saboor saw a lot of action from under center, but he injured his meniscus during preseason workouts last August, which enabled Justin Burns to earn the starting quarterback spot. With Burns now graduated and playing at the University of Delaware, 2010 will be the Abdul-Saboor show.

Dukes says that Abdul-Saboor brings a versatility to the offense that Burns did couldn't, "Last year, Justin Burns was a great quarterback for us, but at the same time, he was a little one-dimensional," the coach admitted. "Mikal brings in that added dimension of being able to run the football and making plays with his legs."

It’s a good thing Abdul-Saboor can make plays with his legs because he won't have the contingent of D-1 wide receivers that Burns had. Gone are Michael Bennett (UGA) and Brandon Terry (Wake Forest), which means a lot of the receiving load will literally fall in the hands of sophomore Carlos Burse.

"With Carlos at wide receiver, we're looking for big things," Dukes says. "We expect our offense to be pretty good." If any opposing defense should decide to start double-teaming Burse, Saboor will have the option of throwing to senior targets Nevin Harton and Paris Smalls.

Justin Mincey, the Raiders leading rusher from last year, graduated; the new faces in the backfield will be sophomore Mike Randle and senior Kwame Larby. Even though the season opener for Alpharetta is only a day away, Dukes says there is still a fierce competition going on to see who will be the Raiders starting guards. Senior Michael Carter, juniors Andrew Fos and Matt Laman and sophomore Alex Behrend will all be fighting for playing time on the offensive line. The tackle spots are se thought with senior Gunnar Bromelow and junior Kyle Stallard; senior Michael Laman (Matt's brother) will play center.

Defense

Football coaches will tell anyone that will listen that games are won or lost in the trenches. If your offensive line can block, you're probably going to win. If your defensive line can be disruptive, then the other team will have problems scoring.

Dukes thinks his line can be disruptive, "I think the strength of our defense is going to be our defensive line," the coach says. "We have a 6'5" 220 pound lineman in Andrew Gardner who's rangy and really aggressive." Along with Gardner on the defensive line will be twin brothers Malon and Mark Neal. Their numbers – Malon is 68, Mark is 93 – might be the only way to tell them apart. Michael Chang will be opposite Gardner at the other defensive end spot.

At linebacker, Alpharetta will have freshman Andre Harton and juniors Matthew DeRito and Michael Wagner. With no seniors in the unit, Dukes knows his backers are young, but he says they're 'very physical.'

In the defensive backfield, the Raiders will have three seniors and a freshman. Although they can't see a rated-R movie together – freshman safety Bryce Grauss is barely old enough to see a PG-rated movie – Dukes says the group is gelling well. According to the coach, Samuel Rego "has the ability to be a shutdown corner," while his other cornerback, Xavier Leonard, "will be a big asset to our defense." Senior Greg Jester will be opposite Grauss at the other safety position."

Overall, Dukes likes his defense. "I think our defense is going to play really well, and I'm expecting a lot out of the seniors in the group."

Special Teams

The Raiders went through an extended kicking competition last year, but that shouldn't be the case this season. Lehman Howington – who earned the starting placekicking job in last year's competition – is back for his junior season. Howington may also punt this season, but right now it looks like sophomore Evan Troutt will handle punting duties as Alpharetta heads into week one.