The Mustangs’ talented 6-foot, 260-pound offensive and defensive lineman, has started every East game on offense and defense since the first game of his freshman year.

That means, if Misenheimer plays in East’s final four regular-season games, he will have started both ways in a school-record 48 games over four seasons, breaking former teammate Adam Horton’s record of 46. Horton started at linebacker all four years and also saw a lot of offensive action.

There is no official county record, but Horton and North Rowan’s Greg Yeldell each started in 46 varsity games, followed closely by South Rowan’s David Teal with 45. Yeldell missed two games with an injury. Teal had to play with a back injury in the final game of his senior season to start in every game for the Raiders.

Misenheimer, a three-sport standout, doesn’t remember missing a wrestling match or a track meet during his four years at East.

“The first day when I came over here (opening practice as a freshman), I went to jayvee practice and, halfway through, they went ahead and moved me on up. I don’t believe I’ve ever missed a game in anything that I can remember as far as injuries go, unless it was maybe pee wee baseball, from third grade up,” he said.

Misenheimer, of course, has had to play through injuries, just as Teal did for South as a senior two years ago.

“I’ve pretty much played hurt for the past two years. I really don’t try to think about it, because it’s not going to make it any better. You’ve just got to do what you’ve got to do,” said Misenheimer. “You play that two hours and then you have the rest of the weekend and the rest of the next week to heal up. You just kind of go with the flow,” he pointed out.

“I think I would feel hurt if I would let myself not start every game; that’s just the way I am. I feel like, if I’m not playing, I’m not helping,” he said.

Coach Jeff Safrit says, “For four years, we know he’s always ready to play. When the lights come on and the whistle blows, he’s ready to go.”

Safrit adds, “I wish we could play him just on offense. He and Henry (Faavesi) could be a dominant side of the ball for us, if they were totally fresh and could rest some on defense. We move the ball better when they’re in there. But we’ve got to have him and Henry both on defense.”

Faavesi, also a senior, is bigger than Misenheimer at 6-4, 260, but Misenheimer points out that East’s offensive line is really small.

“We’re really young, and we’re small. Take away Henry’s size and my size, and the average is probably about 175 or 180,” he said.

Misenheimer had to think a second before saying whether he likes offense or defense the best.

“Probably defense,” he responded. “It’s really more just tackling somebody and just going at somebody. On offense, you’ve got to worry about turning the right way, blocking the right guys and all that. Defense is pretty much wide open, going after the ball.

“Both of them have their strong points. Offense: Whenever you knock somebody back about 10 yards or flatback them, it just makes your day. It’s the same for defense when you get a sack or make a tackle for a loss.”

However, he knows that if East, 2-2 in the South Piedmont Conference and 4-3 overall, is to make a run at one of the league’s three berths in the state 3A playoffs, defense is going to be crucial. The Mustangs have yielded 26, 31 and 28 points in their losses to North Rowan, Central Cabarrus and West Rowan, respectively.

“I think defense is what’s won and lost all our games. You can win with a high-scoring offense, but if you don’t have a defense, you’re not going to win a game,” he said. “When your offense score points, it’s the defense’s job to keep them on the field and let them have possession. It we don’t do our job, it’s not going to work at all.”

East has held its other four opponents to a combined 14 points, including last Friday’s opponent, Harding, which fell 38-0 to the Mustangs.

“Harding is not a bad team by any means,” said Misenheimer of the Rams, who have an 0-6 record. “They’re probably one of the biggest hitters in our conference. I just thought we played great defense. If we can play like that every game, I don’t see where we’ll get beat.”

East held the Rams to 66 total yards and seven first downs.

The Mustangs, after this week’s open date, play Northwest Cabarrus, Concord, Kannapolis A.L. Brown and Sun Valley in the final month. One loss would probably eliminate East from the playoffs.

Misenheimer was on the winning team as a freshman and sophomore in East’s upset victories over Kannapolis, but he hasn’t tasted victory against Concord.

“I’d like to beat them. I believe it’s very possible,” he said of Concord’s Spiders, who appear to be picking up momentum after a slow start. “The past couple of years, it’s been very possible. We were in the game, then we took ourselves out of it. ... I believe this year we have a real chance of beating Concord and Kannapolis again. If we win all the rest of our games, we definitely have a shot at the playoffs. As long as we do our job, I think everything will fall into place.”

The defense will have to be at its best against Kannapolis, Concord and Northwest Cabarrus, who have solid offenses.

“I honestly believe that we can stop anything that comes at us as long as we work as a team. ... I honestly believe that if everybody does their job, then our defense can be great,” said Misenheimer.

The East lineman will soon be making his decision about college football and possibly wrestling and/or track. He’s had official NCAA visits to Catawba, Western Carolina and Elon with trips to Appalachian State and Wofford on his schedule.

“He’s probably going to have to play center or nose guard,” said Safrit, adding that he feels Misenheimer can be a productive Division I-AA player.

“It’s wide open. I’ve still got wrestling season to go.I really haven’t made up my mind if I want to play football, wrestling or track,” he said. He wrestles in the superheavyweight division and competes in the shot put and discus in track.