Friday, Oct. 03, 2008

Out-of-Door Academy has speed to burn

If you want to be on A.J. Strong's team, quitting is not an option.

When Out-of-Door Academy head football coach Brett Timmons demanded 40 up-downs at the end of a recent practice, Strong wasn't content to complete the drill in silence. Noticing a Thunder lineman in near-agony, Strong exhorted the big man to keep up with the rest of the team.

"If I'm in a street fight, A.J. is a guy I want to bring with me," Timmons said of his junior running back-linebacker. "He is the emotional leader of this team. Other guys feed off his energy."

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Strong, who has rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns and caught five passes for 92 yards and a score entering tonight's game at Fort Myers Gateway Charter, is one of four speedy game-breaking threats for the Class 1B Thunder.

Strong, senior quarterback Tony Gurry, senior receiver Nick Hepp and sophomore receiver Chris Ragone all run the 40-yard dash between 4.5 and 4.7 seconds, a rarity for a small-school team. Ragone and Hepp were members of ODA's 4x100-meter relay squad that qualified for the state track meet.

Of the four, Strong seems to play most as if every run might be his last.

"I trust those guys to make plays," Gurry said. "But I look for A.J. to make plays all the time. He's our home run guy."

After missing the entire 2007 season because of a fracture and ligament damage in his right shoulder, Strong can't help but display his passion for the game, whether it's Friday night or at practice.

"For a lot of our guys, A.J. shows them it's OK to let loose and yell and scream on the field," Timmons said. "From 4 to 6 p.m., it's their opportunity to relieve stress, let loose and be a kid."

How much did Strong miss not playing last season?

"I would grab my uniform and put it on like I was going to play, and everyone would laugh," the Ellenton resident said. "I missed it a lot, but I always came out to cheer the team on, help out at practice and watch the games."

Strong - who tries to emulate the moves and running styles of New Orleans Saints back Reggie Bush and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia - also had the chance last season to watch former Thunder back Waymon Bowden, now at Southeast, gallop for 1,018 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"From what the coaches say, I have a little bit of both, speed and power," Strong said. "I try to look at those guys, take some of the stuff they do and use it in my own game. Once I get outside and get to the corner, I don't think anyone is going to catch me."

The return of Strong, who also is a standout baseball player, gives the Thunder (1-2) a multi-faceted attack and an opportunity to contend in District 6. Ragone, who also starts at cornerback, has eight receptions for 99 yards and Hepp - who doubles as ODA's placekicker - has three catches for 33 yards.

"Chris has tremendous hands and vision and what I call that 'wiggle' factor," Timmons said. "He can get out of stuff without you knowing how he does it.

"Nick is probably the fastest of the four. He's a guy we expect to stretch the field for us, and his kicking adds a dimension we sorely lacked last season. The sky is the limit for those guys."

Strong attended Lincoln Middle School in Palmetto and applied to attend Manatee High on a school-choice waiver. His application was denied, but a heart-to-heart talk with good friend Sean Fleeman two years ago convinced him to give the private school a try.

"(Manatee) may have some guys who are bigger, faster and stronger than a lot of our guys," Strong said. "But we are still going to ram the ball down people's throats and get in the end zone."