Changing it up

Cousins Taariq Allen and Ben Patrick have made an immediate impact at the Rivers School in Weston in the first half of the season, with Allen providing the deep-ball threat and Patrick providing the gliding, yet violent rushing style that makes him so tough to tackle.

“It’s like Christmas every Saturday,’’ said Patrick with a smile. “It’s . . . Wow, you know. That’s all I can say.’’

You might say the timing was a perfect storm.

The two, along with another cousin, Donald Bland, grew up tight, first in the Roxbury neighborhoods and later with the Boston Raiders Pop Warner program. And when it came time for fun, they knew where to turn, whether it was a friend’s house or roller-skating sessions at Rollerworld in Saugus.

The three had planned on sticking together through their high school years.

“It’s always been about us three,’’ Allen said. “I had always wanted to play with at least one of my cousins, high school and maybe college, know what I mean?’’ Things didn’t go as planned.

Bland enrolled at Catholic Memorial in West Roxbury for the fall of 2006 (this season he is a senior captain), while Allen and Patrick applied to the Rivers School.

Patrick was accepted, but Allen settled for a daily hour-long ride on the Metco bus from Randolph to Marblehead High.

Down the road in Southborough, self-employed Sudbury resident Rich Fisher had just started up the Gold Academy, and was looking to establish his name as a PGA professional.

Four years ago, he was offered a position as head football coach at Rivers.

Fisher certainly had the credentials. The Sugar Land, Texas, native played linebacker on Colorado’s 1990 national championship squad; has 10 years of coaching experience at Oklahoma State, Idaho, and his alma mater; and counts Nebraska coach Bo Pelini and Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable among his best friends and closest mentors. But without his golf academy having established its footing, he passed.

Then, last winter, everything seemed to fall in place. The Red Wings’ job opened up again in January. This time, Fisher - with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and wide receiver Wes Welker, and Celtics owner/senatorial candidate Steve Pagliuca among his golf clients - couldn’t turn it down.

Patrick felt the impact of Fisher’s calm demeanor and football acumen almost immediately. Inspired, he added nearly 20 pounds of muscle mass over a 10-week program, up to 172, and has managed to cut a tenth of a second off his 40-yard dash, now in the high 4.5 range.

Allen’s day came, too. Fisher first caught a glimpse during a basketball open gym at the Rivers School and was impressed with his athleticism. He applied to the school again, and this time, as Fisher recounted, “It was a slam dunk.’’

This fall, Rivers won its first three games and at 3-1 was off to the team’s best start in school history, thanks to the contributions by Allen (12 rushes, 93 yards; 19 catches, 301 yards), Patrick (76 carries, 537 yards), and a score of others, including linebacker Christian Dalmus, tight end John Bullett, sophomore transfer quarterback Shaquor Sandiford, and a sizable offensive line.

This season’s success is after averaging roughly two wins a year for the last two decades.

Allen, with his speed and leaping ability, should continue to turn heads over the next year or so. Southern Utah and New Hampshire have already offered football scholarships to the 6-foot-2-inch 17-year-old, while interest is starting to build for the 5-foot-8 Patrick.

The two are on the field every snap, and have assumed leadership roles, but they give all credit to their coaches.

“There’s an old adage that the kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,’’ Fisher said. “We want to do everything in our power to make sure they have the information to succeed. What they do with that information is obviously up to them.’’

Said Allen, “It’s like having a respect for your parents. You don’t talk when someone else is talking. That’s just disrespect. He’s almost like another parent.’’

Fisher’s presence has the Red Wings playing disciplined, smarter ball. And not to mention, they’re having a blast doing it. “It’s hard work, but it’s fun,’’ Allen said.

After operating for a year in the shadows of his brother on the basketball court, St. Mark’s sophomore Eli Lubick is making a name for himself on the gridiron for the Southborough prep school. The sophomore wide receiver had five catches for 172 yards and two scores, helping the Lions mount a 24-point second half comeback to top St. George’s, 30-25, last Saturday.

Like teammate Jaymie Spears, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder uses the athleticism he has developed on the hardwood to make football plays. With his frame, he’s able to go up and grab balls out of the air and wrestle them away from defenders.

“The key thing is he’s got good hands, and that you can’t teach,’’ said John Campanale, head coach at St. Mark’s.

In the last two weeks, Spears (a transfer from Georgetown High) has caught nine balls for 228 yards, and quarterback Brian Ayers has thrown for 618 yards - including his first 300-yard passing game two weeks ago against Groton.

Brendan Hall can be reached at bhall59@hotmail.com.