Ponder becoming next big-time Allatoona back
By Jake Jennings
MDJ Sports Writer
When a program compiles more
than 100 wins over a 10-year period,
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something is going right.
Allatoona has become a model of
consistency, posting 107 wins since
2011, including a Class AAAAA
state championship in 2015. Coach
Gary Varner has a special formula
that leads to success and produces
talent — running the football
at an elite level.
Since 2011, Allatoona has run
the ball an average of 500 times
a season, compared to only 159
passes. To run the ball that effectively,
especially when the other
team knows you are going to do
it, a team needs talented running
backs. It is exactly what the program
has in junior Jayden Ponder,
but not exactly what it has had for
the past decade.
Over the last 10 years Allatoona
has had a rusher surpass 1,000
yards in every season except
one. Ponder followed the trend
in 2020 by running for 1,068
yards and eight touchdowns in
his sophomore season, however
he was not the starter as the
season began.
“Jayden really earned that
spot through merit,” Varner
said. “There were one or two
seniors ahead of him and in
that first game against Harrison
he didn’t even play the first
half. We always tell guys to take
advantage of opportunities and
when Jayden got the ball in the
second half he did just that.”
Ponder ran the ball 11 times for
85 yards in the second half of the
Harrison game. It was only up
from there as he led the team in
carries and yards over the rest of
the season. Varner said his ability
is unlike any running back Allatoona
has had before.
“He is not the fastest guy we have
had and he is still growing,” Varner
said. “He’s really a new type
of running back. He is quick in
the hole and has great vision. His
vision and ability to make people
miss are where his money is being
made right now.”
Varner said Allatoona definitely
has a running back friendly
system, but he says they still
need guys to step up. The Buccaneers
coach also said Ponder
is the type of guy that will usually
make the right reads, which
is what puts him on a path to
success. Ponder said he is ready
for the challenge.
“It was exciting,” Ponder said.
“Coming out here and hearing
the fans, scoring touchdowns and
putting the team on my back, it’s
really fun.”
This year, Ponder will have to
step up on the field and as a leader.
Varner said the tailback, who
now sits at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds,
has grown physically and mentally
through the offseason. He sees
him as a natural leader heading
into the 2021 season.
“I’m looking to bring the team
together as a family,” Ponder said.
“Especially the underclassmen
because we lost a lot of our seniors.
Right now it is time for us
to step up.”
Varner said he has seen a plethora
of talented tailbacks at Allatoona
before Ponder. The success started
in 2011 when Miles Jones, who
went on to play at Jacksonville
State, carried the ball 272 times
en route to 2,142 yards and 30
touchdowns. Every year since, the
offense has run the same system
with a next man up mentality at
running back.
After Jones was TJ Herron and
Josh Bettistea (Gardner-Webb) who
each put up over 1,000 yards in
2012. Then came Russell Halimon
(Arizona) who put up 2,217 yards
in 2014, and then 1,543 yards the
following year as Allatoona won
its state championship behind a
15-1 record.
Three more 1,000 yard rushers
followed through the program in
Charles Anderson (2016-17), Daniel
Parsons (2018-19) and Alex
Wilson (2019-20).
“We should be pretty strong at
that position this year,” Varner
said. “We are really excited about
(Jayden). He grew a lot over the
offseason and should really step
into a larger role for us.”
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