A year ago, Alden Barreras was still finding his place on a young Lake Oconee Academy football team.
The Titans were navigating their first varsity season, facing plenty of challenges along the way, but Barreras used the experience as an opportunity to grow. Now entering his junior season, the two-way standout is ready for a bigger role and a chance to make a larger impact.
Lake Oconee Academy opens the 2026 season at home against Mount Pisgah on Aug. 21, looking to turn the page after finishing 2-8 last fall and ending the year with a 27-7 loss to rival Greene County.
For Barreras, the 2025 season came with “a lot of disappointment,” but he also saw it as a valuable learning experience for a program still building its identity.
“We only had a couple seniors last season, so we have a lot of room for growth,” Barreras said. “I think that’s exactly what we’ve done so far throughout the summer, and I’m looking forward to big things.”
Barreras made an impact on both sides of the ball last season. He carried the ball 53 times for 211 yards and a touchdown while playing a limited role on offense, but he spent much of the year at linebacker, where he recorded 32 tackles.
This season, Barreras is expected to take on a larger role at running back while continuing to be one of the Titans’ key defensive contributors.
Looking back on his first two seasons with the program, Barreras said his mindset has evolved. When he first stepped onto the field, his goal was simply to compete and enjoy playing football. Now, as an upperclassman, he wants to become a player who can change the outcome of a game.
“I just wanted to get out there and play football,” Barreras said. “Now I want to impact the game in my own way.”
That mentality has carried into the offseason, where Barreras and his teammates have put in extra work to prepare for the upcoming season.
He said several of the Titans’ skill players have spent additional time together outside of practice, focusing on conditioning, routes and improving their overall game.
“Me and a lot of the other skill players like to meet up at the field on weekends or sometimes after practice, with just sprints, routes, all that fun stuff,” Barreras said. “All of us had to deal with losses because this didn’t go the way we wanted to, but it taught us to push harder. So we’re not taking anything for granted, and we’ve been working.”
The transition into a bigger offensive role is something Barreras is looking forward to. After spending much of last season on defense, he is excited about having more opportunities to contribute with the ball in his hands.
“It’s fun to be able to play on both sides,” Barreras said. “It keeps you more active, and so it feels great. This year it looks like I should be starting mostly at backer, but hopefully making a bigger role on offense being a playmaker.”
While Barreras enjoys the challenge of stopping opposing offenses, he is eager to help the Titans create more success on the scoreboard.
“It’s fun to keep the other team out of the end zone, but I really want to be able to put up the points to put us ahead,” he said.
With scrimmages against Bethlehem Christian and Social Circle ahead of the season opener, Barreras believes the Titans have an opportunity to build confidence before the regular season begins.
After a difficult first varsity season, he and his teammates are motivated to show that last year was only the beginning of the program’s growth.
“I think we’re all pretty excited to prove ourselves because there’s a lot of doubt around us after last season, so we’re excited to prove them wrong and show that we are a talented group,” Barreras said. “This whole program has been a lesson, teaching us toughness, getting through adversity, and just constantly wanting to be better.”