By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Jenson Harden took the direct snap from center and did what he was told.
“Take it up the field and run as hard as you can go,” Harden grinned.
Twenty-one yards later, he had given Carson one if its 13 first downs, helping preserve a 33-21 win over East Rowan.
Pretty good run for a back.
A defensive back.
Harden, who makes his name on defense, was called on for a fake punt attempt and the junior made the most of his chance on the other side of the ball. According to coach Mark Woody, it shows the versatility of Harden, the Cougar safety.
“He’s the kind of kid you can build a program around,” Woody said. “He’s going to play at the next level somewhere.”
While Harden and Woody joked about moving him to offense, they both know that won’t happen. He was more valuable playing against the East offense.
Harden leaped and came down with an interception. He stopped one Mustang drive with a good tackle on fourth down.
In fact, his fourth-down hit may well have been the big play of the game. Carson led 26-14 but East had driven inside the 10 with seven minutes left. Marquise Weddington was smothered by Harden, and the Mustangs turned the ball over.
It was the first home win in Carson history and the first North Piedmont Conference victory for the school. Harden and his teammates walked off the field with confidence ó and a 2-2 record.
“Last year, it was ‘I hope we win,’ ” Harden said. “This year, we expect to win. We acted like we’ve been there before.”
Harden stays humble because he remembers being a skinny freshman on an 0-11 team. Another winless year followed as a sophomore. Harden entered this season having only one win under his belt since little league.
So he made sure he entered 2008 with plenty of muscle under that belt. He has gained 30 pounds and is a sturdy 170 right now.
People notice him more, too, considering he has changed his number from 52 to 2.
“People say I look more athletic with No. 2,” Harden laughed.
Woody thinks Harden’s demeanor has a lot to do with his success ó success he’s convinced will continue next year and into college.
“Jenson’s an A student,” Woody pointed out. “He’s a kid everybody wants to be around. Everybody loves him to death.”
Especially his position coach, Jim Grkman, who praised the entire secondary, including Harden, Scott Ashby, Zack Grkman and Joseph Keophilavanh.
“Jenson’s full-speed all the time,” Grkman said. “There are a lot of reads he has to make. Defense is like being in the classroom. I’m lucky all four of those kids have brains.”
By Tuesday, Harden’s brain was already focused on this week’s opponent, Lake Norman. He quickly showed the new mindset down in China Grove. He doesn’t hope to do well. He’s expecting it. He even has a message for the rest of the NPC.
“They better take us seriously,” Harden nodded. “We’re trying to gain as much respect as we can get. Beating East was big for us.”
And then, he had a message for Lake Norman.
“I think they’re going to put the ball in the air,” he said. “I hope they do.
“I hope they do.”