Archives > Allen American > Sports
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Start strong key to 2008 slogan
By Kevin Hageland, Staff Writer
For anyone that saw Allen’s bi-district debacle last November it’s easy to figure out what the Eagles 2008 slogan of ‘Start Strong, Finish Strong’ is all about.
But for Allen, that phrase is more than just what happened against Rowlett in Texas Stadium.
“It refers to a lot of things, but mostly I think that slogan means don’t overlook anyone,” said Steven Terrell, Allen senior defensive back. “We have some unfinished business stemming from last year, and we aren’t going to go through the motions against anyone this season.”
“Obviously our slogan comes from what happened in the playoffs last year,” said Uzoma Nwachukwu, Allen senior wide receiver. “We let up and didn’t finish things last year because we were looking past Rowlett.
“We won’t look past anyone this season.”
It will be up to Terrell and Nwachukwu, both Texas A&M commits, and fellow senior team captains Nate Bonsu (defensive tackle), Matt McBride (linebacker) and Cody Milam (offensive lineman) to ensure that happens.
Even though Allen is usually known for its offensive attack, three of those captains play defense, which is indicative of what the Eagles expect on the other side of the ball this season.
“This is going to be one of the better defenses we’ve had here at Allen,” said Tom Westerberg, Eagles head coach. “Nate and LaChris (senior defensive tackle Anyiam) will be big contributors and Steven and Jeremy (senior defensive back Reeves) are two of the fastest guys we’ve had.”
Anyiam and Reeves have plenty of athletic ability as they were also important contributors to the Allen basketball team during the 2007-08 season.
“We have athletes all over the field,” Terrell said. “And a few guys, like Jason Butler (senior linebacker) and Josh Reed (junior defensive back), that are going to surprise some people.
“We were good last year and didn’t have much experience. Now we have 9-10 guys that have experience and have gotten to know the system better.”
The Allen defense also has smarts as Bonsu and McBride were both named to the Rogers Recruiting Report Pre-Season All-State Academic squad.
“I think our defense has an edge over the offense this year,” McBride said. “But we are still lethal offensively. I’m expecting big things out of both sides of the ball.”
What most onlookers are expecting from the Allen offense is another explosive season.
“We should be pretty similar to last year,” Nwachukwu said. “We’ve lost some guys, but I think we have some good players stepping in to fix those holes.”
Although the wide receiver known to his team as ‘Easy’ isn’t new to the varsity level, having played since he was a sophomore, he is new to being the No. 1 receiver. Last year that task was on Dan Buckner, who is now at Texas.
“Being the No. 1 receiver means I have to step up my game 10 times,” Nwachukwu said. “Because guys will be looking at me every play, whether I get the ball or not.
“I feel like I have been a vocal leader, now I get a chance to show my leadership on the field.”
Nwachukwu won’t be alone on offense though as junior quarterback Matt Brown will helm the offense once more after a breakout 2007 in which Brown showed Allen fans there is life after the Dick brothers.
Senior wide receiver/running back Bradlee Waddell and senior running back Jeremiah Williams will both be intricate parts of the offense as the duo returns from a unit that averaged 500 yards a game last season.
“I have to say I love seeing Bradlee Waddell run past me,” said Cody Milam, senior offensive lineman. “You know he is going to put a good juke and a spin on somebody. When he gets the ball, you know it’s going to be a good show.”
That’s not to say Allen doesn’t have anything to worry about on offense as there has been a complete overhaul on the line.
“We have had continuity on the offensive line the last couple years, but this season it is our quarterback, running back and wide receivers that are back,” Westerberg said. “We should be bigger than we ever have been on the line, we just need varsity experience.
“It all starts with how we play up front.”
Play up front will be anchored by Milam and senior Justin Esparza with juniors Luke Burleson, Cedric Ogbuehi and Taylor Pierson getting starting time along with sophomore Brad McNulty.
“We are pretty young on the offensive line, but we have the size,” Milam said. “We’ll be one of the largest around. It’s all about power, and we don’t stop until after the whistle blows.
“Other defenses get mad at us because that is our style. But we just don’t stop.”
Familiar faces are abound on special teams as Reeves, Nwachukwu and Williams are expected to handle return duties with senior punter Alex Buhidar and senior place kicker Evan Dobbs handling the kicking duties.
Allen opens the season at 7:30 p.m. Friday when the Eagles host Longview.
“We traded scrimmages and Longview is a very athletic team,” Westerberg said. “They graduated guys on both offense and defense, but we want to prove we are ready to perform every week.”
Watching the Allen players do push-ups spells out the expectations for the Eagles this season as each player says, ‘Win district’ at 10 and ‘Win State at 16.’
“All summer long it felt like there was nothing to do but wait for football season,” Bonsu said. “So we all waited together off the field, we all hung out with each other and it’s just been building up to now.”
“When you have experience like that with people, you will play your heart out for them.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Sports «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
