Alpharetta offensive stars Michael Bennett (18) and Brandon Terry(80) make up one of the most dangerous wide receiver tandems in the state. Bennett is headed to UGA next season while Terry will be going to Wake Forest.

By John Breech

New Alpharetta head football coach Jason Dukes has been a varsity assistant coach at the school since 2005, so he’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly of Alpharetta football. In his first year at the school, the then second year program ended the season with a respectable 5-5 record. Last season however, the then offensive line coach could only helplessly watch as the Raiders stumbled to seven straight losses after a promising 3-0 start.

This season, Dukes says things are going to be different and he attributes that to the confidence level of his team, “Our confidence level is pretty high,” the former Georgia Tech standout says. “I think where that confidence comes from is a little different from where it came from in the past. I think this year it comes from the fact that the kids have worked extremely hard in the offseason.”

Dukes also says that his players familiarity with their opponents helps their confidence, “A lot of the teams we play, they’ve played those kids. At Roswell, Milton, South Forsyth, they’ve played them for three or four years now,” says the rookie head coach. “They know what they’re up against, so they feel confident about where they are. It’s not arrogance, it’s a confidence that they’ve gotten better. The kids believe that there is no one on the schedule that they can’t beat.”

Dukes is taking over for the departed Bill Waters. Waters is now at Johns Creek High School coaching under former Alpharetta Athletic Director Mike Cloy. Although Waters is no longer around, Dukes says the team will still run the spread offense that the former coach implemented.

OFFENSE

Led by arguably the top receiving duo in the state, running the spread is a no-brainer for Dukes. UGA bound Michael Bennett and Wake Forest bound Brandon Terry will spearhead a receiving corp that should have a successful season. In 2008, the dynamic duo combined for 42 catches, 825 yards and seven touchdowns. Dukes thinks that having Terry and Bennett on the field will allow his offense to thrive, whether his stars are touching the ball or not. “It’s important to get them the ball, but our offense is going to work the best when it’s balanced and when we get the ball into multiple guy’s hands,” Dukes says. “If a team is going to roll their secondary to them, there is going to be an opportunity for someone else and we have to be able to take advantage of those things.”

However, if the Raider receivers are going to be successful, they’ll need a solid quarterback to get them the ball. The intense summer battle between senior Justin Burns and junior Mikal Abdul-Saboor hit a minor bump in the road ten days ago when Saboor tore his meniscus. The junior running-passi ng dual threat who had almost 1800 total offensive yards last season to go along with 11 touchdown passes and three touchdown runs is expected to miss three to four weeks.

Dukes says that when Saboor returns, the two QB’s will split time because both are vital to the team’s success (After a successful Aug. 18 surgery, Saboor is tentatively set to return for the Raiders’ week three matchup with Centennial).

The new coach also plans to throw in a few surprises with the Raiders’ spread offense and that includes a little bit of option football, “hopefully [the option] gives opposing defenses a little something extra to think about.” The option will also mean more touches for running back James Mincey.

Although Dukes knows his offense has the weapons to strike from anywhere on the field, he also knows that none of that will be possible without solid line play. The former Yellow Jacket offensive lineman thinks that Michael Laman (center) and Connor Hollenbeck (tackle) will be pivotal to the success of the big uglies, “It’s very important for Laman to get the [linemen] in the correct protection so that everybody is on the same page,” Dukes says before adding. “Connor needs to be the anchor, if he stays healthy, he’ll be a big part of what we do on offense.” Dukes also says that his other tackle, Gunnar Bromelow, will be pivotal to the team’s success.

DEFENSE

Three weeks into practice, Dukes is getting exactly what he hoped for out of a defensive line that’s led by brothers Mark and Malon Neal. He also likes the play of his clever linebackers, hard-hitting veterans George Monroe and Derek Balcar. “They always seem to be around the ball, they have good lateral motion and they pursue well,” Dukes says of his senior linebackers. Dukes expected good things from his linebackers and D-line, but he’s been shocked (in a good way) by the play of his defensive backs, “Our secondary has been one of the surprises on defense so far,” an excited Dukes said. “We have a kid, Harrison Hunter, that is going to play safety. He’s coming over from baseball and we expect him to contribute a lot these year.”

SPECIAL TEAMS

The placekicking job may have to be decided with a game of paper, rock, scissors. With only five days until their first regular season game, Dukes says the competition to be the team’s starting kicker is still going on between CJ Cochran, Lehman Howington and Jordan Thomas. Although there’s a chance Cochran won’t win the starting kicking job, he’ll still play a vital part on special teams as the Raiders starting punter.

2009 Alpharetta Raider Roster (Players are listed numerically) Nevin Harton, Greg Jestor, Jordan Clements, James Mincey, Michael Randle, Mikal Abdul Saboor, Jack Goss, Kyle Young, Michael Shilling, Rashad Kershaw, Derek Long, Alex Wheat Jr., Justin Burns, Brandt Grauss, Tyler Griggs, Brett Grauss, Michael Bennett, Lehman Howington, Harrison Hunter, Mark Contigiani, CJ Cochran, Paris Smalls, Weston Kontz, Jordan Thomas, Austin Holtzer, CJ Deputy, Chris Coleman, David Adam, Kwame Larbi, Matthew Reitz, Xavier Leonard, Derek Balcar, Thomas Scrimo, Jordan Fray, Zuri Abdul-Saboor, Randy Robinson, Matthew DeRito, Devante Hudson, Brian Galdamez, Andre Matino, Brennan Thomas, Paolo Guarisco, Manik Choudhary, Nishan Mu, Michael Wagner, Kenneth Reynolds, Andrew Fos, Nick Talathi, Dan Schefer, George Monroe, Jordan Singleton, Delano Rodrigues, Michael Laman, Kyle Stallard, Michael Cooke, Syed Ishaat, John Hager, Hunter Lee, Harry Schaefer, Julian LIdback, Malon Neal, Brain Hatfield, Michael Blanchard, Michael Carter, Michael Bartz, Christopher Nelson, Leo Kenowski, Nick Edwards, Daniel Lumpkin, Aaron Golosov, Vaughn Robinson, Brian Hatfield, Brandon Terry, Quinton Young, JT Pebbles, Michael Mitchell, Samuel Rego, Luis Perez, Syed Isfar, Trevor Puckett, Mark Neal, Jesse Brown Andrew Gardner, John Abdushelishull, Scottie Franklin, Nick Melnykou.

Breech’s Breakdown of Alpharetta

Prediction: Alright Raider fans, the cat’s out of the bag, your team is officially my dark horse for 2009. Alpharetta has more weapons then a military armory. With two division one wide outs at receiver, quarterback Justin Burns doesn’t have to be perfect, he just has to be capable and by all accounts he is. Burns has a rifle for a right arm and if teams start to double team Michael Bennett and Brandon Terry, then Burns need to find the receivers that will inevitably be open.

The return of Mikal Abdul-Saboor will also be instrumental to the success of the Raider offense. Saboor adds a mobility threat that will make Duke’s choice to run the option look like a smart one. The Raider defense surrendered 24.5 points a game last season, if they can cut that down to about 17, then this team could contend for a region 6-AAAAA playoff spot. My prediction, 6-4 and tied for fourth. That’s right, I just copped out and said Alpharetta will ‘tie’ for fourth. Does that mean I think they’ll make the playoffs? Ask me after week one.

Alpharetta Cheerleaders: Back Row (L to R) Betsy Paolella, Saarah Waliaga, Ali Armstrong, Caroline Awbrey, Alex James, Kayla Janas, Kelly Wisner, Libby Van Pelt, Maddie Howard, Abby DiVagno; Middle Row (L to R) Tasya Cooley, Taylor Spung, Alex Bowers, Kaleigh Nattrass, Nicole Moore, Rebecca Stewart, Lindsey Schleicher, Darsie Williams; Front Row ( L to R) Elaine Von Uffel, Katie Kurnett, Austin Edquist, Madison Yancey, Mary Katherine Sweeney, Stephanie Parson, Allie Cheek, Paula Gonzalez, Kaleigh Snyder, Alex Magoon; Seated (L to R) Colleen Greathouse, Devon Currie; Not Pictured: Cameron Robertson