Trenton Allen is relishing the chance to get a head start on many of his gun-toting cohorts and record a kill during the state’s youth deer firearm season November 2-3.
“This is my last year for youth season (as a 15-year-old). I've got to kill a big one,” he said. “There's nothing better than buck fever.”
Already, Allen has his Clever varsity football career off to a head start. He’s emerged as a freshman phenom after making his first start two weeks ago and following up by scoring two touchdowns in the Jays’ stunning 27-26 Mid-Lakes Conference upset of Forsyth last week.
Allen book-ended Clever’s most memorable win to date by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown and catching a winning touchdown pass with less than two minutes remaining.
Maybe he did discover something better than buck fever.
"I've never been more happy in my life,” Allen said of his winning touchdown catch. “It was a big moment. When I caught that deep ball, there’s nothing better than that moment, not even close.”
With Clever trailing 26-21 and facing a third-and-nine from its own 49-yard line with 1:54 to play, quarterback Rex Deters sent a spiral in Allen’s direction. Allen hauled in the pass and raced away from two Forsyth defenders to end the end zone.
“We had a bubble play earlier that drive and I got hammered,” Allen said, referring to a drop. “Coach called my name again. I wasn't afraid and made the play.
“I had outside release on my (defender) and knew I had a couple steps on him,” he added. “I looked back and saw Rex threw me the ball. I knew I had to make the play. It was a great ball, probably the best ball I've seen. I expect that out of Rex. He's that good of a player, a big-time guy. We look for him to make the big plays when big plays need to be made.”
Allen also answered the challenge when the opening kickoff came to him. He had the option to let the ball roll toward teammates Lucas Peebles or Xavier Robinson, but snagged the pigskin himself.
“I’m mostly there just to set a wedge when (the ball) gets to Peebles or 'X.' But I saw the ball coming my way and knew it was my responsibility, that it was my ball to take,” Allen said “I saw the wedge forming. Jack Whitlinger had a big block to open up some space. I saw green grass and was gone.
“When I got back to the sideline, I was thinking that did a good job setting the tone for the game and getting our guys hyped,” he added.
Allen is seeing action on offense at running back/wide receiver for about 40 percent of Clever’s snaps. He’s started at cornerback the past two weeks.
Allen became the Jays’ lone freshman starter this season following a broken finger suffered by cornerback Skyler Broaddus.
“I knew I was going to get (to play) this year. But a start wasn't really in the picture for me,” Allen said of his pre-season expectations. “When coach first broke the news to me, it was a great feeling knowing I was going to start as a freshman. I knew I couldn't let the big moment get to me.
“Coach called my name, so I knew I had to make the play as needed. I've held my position,” he added. “Our leaders are helping me calm the game down, not let the game get ahead of me.”
Howard thinks Allen’s football IQ is beyond his years, thanks to the influence of Trenton’s father, Stephen. A 2002 Parkview grad, Steven was a defensive lineman during his glory days.
“Trenton's dad having played football is a rarity in Clever,” Howard said of his players’ fathers. “He understands football from what his dad has taught him, so we are starting to open up the playbook for Trenton.”
Like Clever, Parkview doesn’t have a winning tradition on the gridiron and indeed Stephen was part of a 1-9 Vikings team his senior year. He’s provided advice to Trenton on how to handle adversity.
“He told me it's tough, but you've got to keep your head up and keep going,” Trenton said.
That said, Trenton and his freshman teammates are unique among the Jays by having experienced a whole lot more winning than losing. In addition to Clever’s 3-1 start this year, the Jays’ freshmen were 6-0 as eighth-graders a year ago.
“That group had a lot of success through youth and junior high,” Howard said.
Howard is hoping they can maintain their wining ways in future years, with Allen leading the way.
“I've always been one of those guys who think freshmen need to earn what they get. Trenton has earned his spot,” Howard said. “He knows what he is doing. He finds a way to get open. He's going to be wherever we need the ball to go. He's going to excel wherever you put him on offense.”
