Dynamite Dozen: Southland’s Clay Owens is a workhorse back

AMERICUS — Football runs in Southland running back Clay Owens’ family.

His father played high school ball in the Birmingham, Alabama, area, for a school that was replaced by southeastern powerhouse Hoover. Other relatives played the game, as well.

It’s no surprise then, where Owens’ collegiate allegiance rests.

“I’m a big Alabama fan,” Owens said. “My whole family on my dad’s side grew up in Alabama, my dad in the Birmingham area. I was born and raised an Alabama fan.”

Owens, a junior, emerged as a key part of Southland’s offense during a 10-2 season last year.

Playing on a team that had multiple offensive options, Owens became the go-to in establishing the ground game. He racked up 1,422 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per carry for an offense that averaged 34.5 points per game.

“We had a big senior class last year,” Owens said. “A lot of them were really athletic and we had a lot of good skill players, which allowed us to open up the offense and do more.

“When they handed me the ball, they didn’t know sometimes that I was going to get it because they thought (someone else) would get it. It really freed up the offense and caused confusion on the defense.”

The work Owens put in earned him GISA Class 3A all-state honors, the only sophomore in Class 3A to earn that recognition.

Owens is part of this year’s Albany Herald Dynamite Dozen, a team whose members will be revealed daily through Aug. 12.

“Clay’s got a lot of energy,” Southland head coach Rod Murray said. “He wants to play anywhere, any position. He works hard, has a great attitude, and he’s a real humble kid. He’s got a lot of ability, but he’s humble and appreciates all of his teammates. He’s a great locker room guy, and he’s got some skill to go with it.”

While Southland’s offense is set up so that he is one of several go-to players, what Owens is able to do with the football makes him difficult to stop.

Owens, who is listed with a 4.59-second 40 time on his Hudl page, is quick to the hole and has an even faster cut move. His running style makes it difficult for defenders to bring him down.

“He gets north very quickly,” Murray said. “He has a great lateral move, so you feel like you’ve got him in the hole and all of a sudden he’s gone. He doesn’t like to run out of bounds. He’s a physical guy and a good running back. He has natural ability, sets up blocks, and he’ll also block for his teammates.”