Allen-Dean combo strengthens FHS: Bulldogs' talented juniors have two more years remaining to make plays.

While most high school sophomores were learning how to drive, Brandon Allen and Demetrius Dean were learning how to drive down the field.

Thrust into starting roles as sophomores for the Fayetteville Bulldogs last season, Allen and Dean passed coach Daryl Patron's version of Driver's Education with flying colors, often moving the ball effortlessly towards the opponent's end zone.

Allen emerged as one of Arkansas' premier quarterbacks in his 10th-grade season, throwing for more than 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns against some of the top defenses in 7A. Nearly half of those touchdowns passes landed in the hands of Dean, already an Arkansas Razorback commit with two more high school years to play. Dean, who measures 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, poses a monstrous threat in the red zone.

Fans in Little Rock will get the first look for 2009 at what Patton has seen developing between Dean and Allen for years.

"Brandon's got a lot of confidence in Demetrius, especially when we get down in the red zone," Patton said. "Brandon throws a real nice fade and Demetrius can go up and get it."

Allen is thankful for the big-bodied target, especially when he sees Dean lined up against much smaller defensive backs.

"Definitely he's a mismatch for pretty much any corner in the league," Allen said. "I know that if I just throw it up there he's going to come down with it."

The scary news for defenses is that Dean isn't just a red zone threat, but a complete receiver capable of doing damage from any spot on the field.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

After tallying almost 1,000 yards, Dean has spent the off-season working becoming a better all-around receiver.

"I've worked a lot on my speed," Dean said. "I've improved my route running too, but definitely my speed."

Patton knows what kind of weapon he has in Dean and feels his athleticism will serve him well at a number of positions.

"At the next level he's going to play some defensive end and tight end and we'll see him there some this year," Patton said. "His agility and smooth hips could make him a force off the edge."

Size and versatility will allow the coaches to play Dean at different positions. Patton knows Dean is too valuable as a receiver not to have him there as much as possible.

"He gives us a big advantage out wide," Patton said. "He's a great blocking receiver and has excellent hand-eye coordination."

Allen also gave a ringing endorsement for Dean to stay put at wideout.

"He's got the best hands I've ever seen," Allen said.

All of that skill would be put to waste, however, if no one was under center to get him the ball.

Fortunately for Dean, Patton and the Bulldogs, that is far from the case. And together, Dean and Allen form a dangerous combination the rest of the state will struggle to stop.

So while other juniors around the state continue to learn how to drive, Allen and Dean will be steering a different well-oiled machine, hopefullly right into War Memorial Stadium again in early December.

TEAM NOTES

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It is evident BRANDON ALLEN's dad, BOBBY ALLEN, an assistant coach for the Razorback-s, has helped aid his son's learning experience.

"You can tell he's been around the game a long time," Patton said. "He's worked with his dad and seen a lot of great QB's come through the U of A."

Allen hopes that his longtime relationship with football and an off-season packed full of training and 7-on-7 tournaments will result in even more improvement this fall.

"What I worked on pretty much all off-season was decision making and accuracy," Allen said. "I had a lot of picks last season and I'm working on getting that number down this season."

Patton has high praise for his junior quarterback. "Brandon Allen is by far one of the top quarterbacks I've coached," the coach said. "As long as he's in the pocket, we've got a chance to win."

ROSTER

Head coach

Daryl Patton

Team

NO.     NAME                 GRADE    HT/WT     POSITION

2       REID MURRY            12     5'11/200      DB
3       MATT MCEVER           10     5'10/175    QB-FS
3       BENTLEY BANISTER      12      6'/190       LB
4       MICHAEL HEINTZMAN     12     5'10/195    RB-CB
5       DOXOVAN RAGLANO       11     5'9/160       CB
5       DEVIN HARYEY          10      6'/170     QB-SS
6       J.T. MCCORMICK        12      6'/190     QB-FS
7       WILL STUKENBORG       11     5'8/150       CB
8       MARK HOLLENBECK       10     5'9/160     REC-SS
9       DREW GORTON           11     5'10/175    QB-CB
10      CASEY PERKY           10      6'/165     REC-CB
11      COLBY JORDAN          11     5"11/165    REC-CB
12      DREW PATTON           12     6'1/160      K-P
12      BRAD CULP             10      6'/165     REC-FS
13      DOUG RICHART          12     5'10/155    QB-REC
14      TROY UNDERWOOD        11      6'/170      REC
15      DYLAN HALE            11     5'10/195    RB-LB
17      REID HOLMES           10     5'10/175    REC-DB
1a      BRANDON ALLEN         11     6'3/205      QB-P
19      KAMPBELL WALKER       10      6'/175      REC
20      DEMETRIUS DEAN        11     6'3/245     REC-FS
21      DAVONE CRAWFORD       11     6'1/170       RB
22      FARICO BAYMAN         10     5'8/175       RB
23      KEWEI XU              11      6'/185       FB
23      CAYMAX MOORE          10     5'10/195    RB-LB
Z4      JASON REHBLOCK        11      6'/180       LB
24      TIM CAVELL            10     6'2/195       LB
25      NICK ARMSTRONG        10     5"10/155     REC
26      AUSTIN BRAMWELL       10     5'10/165      DB
26      NICK TALIFFRRO        10     5'8/140       DB
27      CAMERON BAKER         11     5'9/175       CB
28      JUAUN ARNOLD          11     5'9/165       CB
28      PARKER MEINECKE       10     5'10/175      LB
30      WILL ROSTECK          12     5'7/155       K
30      JOHN CALE             10     5'9/145      REC
31      CHAD LEVIN            11     5'8/155       K
31      MAX COFFIN            10     5'9/150       K
32      MICHAEL MAHLER        10     5'9/170       RB
33      ATHEN BRANDOX         11     5'10/190      FB
34      DRAKE HARRISON        11     5'10/180    RB-DB
34      COLE JACKSON          10      6'/150       TE
35      TROY KING             10      6'/170     FB-LB
36      ANDREW HEILMAN        12     6'2/205       TE
38      TAYLOR JONES          11     5'10/165      LB
38      NEIL WATSON           10     5'10/155     REC
39      PEYTON BAKER          12     5'10/195      LB
40      COLBY MHOON           11     5'10/171      LB
4t      MARSHALL MCCOMAS      12     5'10/235      FB
41      DESNUNN THOMAS        10     5'9/160       LB
42      NATHAN GRADY          12     6'3/190       FS
42      DONDRE WHITE          10      6'/165       DB
43      BRIAN JONES           10     5'9/155      REC
44/78   AARON JOHNSON         12     6'5/235     DE-OL
45      CHAZ WILLIAMS         12      6'/225     FB-LB
47      BOBBY STINSON         10     5"10/175      LB
48      QUSUAY ALFAOIRI       12     5"10/185      LB
a9      QUENTIN SMITH         12     6'2/180      REC
50      RICHARD VINES         12      6'/245       OL
53      J.T. FINLEY           10     6'/1190     OL-DE
54      RAY DAVIS             10      6'/230       DT
54      LUCAS BRUTON          10     6'4/225       OL
55      REID ABERNATHY        11     5'10/225      LB
56      JESUB RODRIGUEZ       11      6"/215     OL-DE
57      NICK PERKINS          10     5'9/185     OL-DE
58      WILL WATSON           11      6"/270     OL-DL
59      SIMS TERRY            11     6'2/250       OL
59      CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL    10     6'2/250       OL
60      JACK SHIELDS          10     6'3/210       OL
61      KYLE HALLAM           11     6"2/215       OL
61      JACOB HARRIS          10     5'9/225     OL-DL
63      TYLER TIPTON          10      6'/230     OL-DL
64      ALEX RODRIGUEZ        11      6"/215     OL-DE
65      BEN DUBOIS            10      6'/225       LB
66      MARK GLASS            11     5'9/270       DL
66      FERNANDO ROCHA        10     5'11/250      DL
67      MICHAEL COLE          12      6"/225       OL
69      EVAN DALY             10     5'9/180       DB
70      OMERO RODRIGUEZ       11     5'10/215      DT
70      JUSTIN TOMLINSON      10     5'9/225       DT
71      MATT TRAVIS           10      6'/235     OL-DL
72      NATHAN WATSON         12     6'1/245       OL
7Z      ERIC RODRIGUEZ        10     5'10/200      DL
73      COREY HARRIS          12     5'10/205      DL
73      DIEGO SANCHEZ         10     5'8/185       DL
74      BILLY MCEVER          10     5'10/225      OL
76      RYAN BARNARD          10     6'1/215     OL-DL
77      DAVID ELDER           10     6'4/270       OL
79      MATTHEW ZWALONEK      12     5'9/250       DL
80      JOSH HALE             12     6'4/214     TE-DE
81      BOBBY LANING          11      6'/170     REC-CB
82      GARRETT KING          10      6'/170      REC
82      CHRIS HILL            10     5'10/175     REC
83      TRAEVAN ALEXANDER     10     5'10/150     REC
84      GARRETN BOOTH         12     6'1/195       LB
84      DIONDRE JONES         10     5'9/155       DB
85      DEVIN BOWERS          11     6'1/215     TE-DE
86      JOSEPH KISER          10      6'/165      REC
87      BRANDON SAVOY         10     5'10/155    REC-DB
88      NATHAN VARADY         10      6'/175     REC-SS
90      ALECK GARRETT         10     5'8/145      REC
94      BOBBY NEFZGER         12      6'/210       DE
95      DIONDRE WHITAKER      11     6'4/230       DE

LAST SEASON: 5-6 overall, 3-4 in 7A-West

SCHEDULE

Aug. 31                at LR Central
Sept. 11        Jefferson City (Mo.)
Sept. 19                Russellville
Sept. 25               Bentonville *
Oct. 2                  Springdale *
Oct. 9     at Fort Smith Northside *
Oct. 16    at Fort Smith Southside *
Oct. 23                     Rogers *
Oct. 30.     at Springdale Har Ber *
Nov. 6                 at Heritage *