By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypostcom
CHINA GROVE ó Three years of frustration ended for Carson’s Jenson Harden last Friday against North Iredell.
The first year of the school’s existence, Harden was a freshman defensive back who suffered through a 43-18 loss to the Raiders. As a sophomore, Carson led 17-7 before losing 27-17. And last season, it was a discouraging 10-6 setback.
Nothing was going to block his path to victory this year. Instead, Harden did the blocking.
The senior leader snuffed two of four blocked punts as Carson blasted North Iredell 41-7.
“It was a feeling of relief to know we finally won a homecoming and beat them,” Harden said. “They had beaten us three times in a row and we felt like we let a couple slip away.”
The 27-17 loss as a sophomore was the most painful.
“I remember Travis Hayes jumping up in the end zone and catching a pass,” Harden recalled. “And Daniel Yates running the opening kickoff back. After that, I remember being so cold and us losing. That bus ride back was horrible.”
Those vivid memories were in the back of the minds of Harden and his fellow seniors last Friday night when they lined up during each and every North Iredell punting situation.
Assistant Travis Billings had seen some things on film so he instructed Harden, Zack Grkman and Zach White to hit the gaps, going 3-on-2 with the Raider linemen. Harden had two blocks, while White and Grkman each had one.
With four minutes left in the second quarter, Harden got his first. Zach White fell on the ball for a score and a 22-0 lead.
“Zach White was on one side and Zack Grkman was on the other,” Harden explained. “I was in the middle of the split. The hole opened up and I took what I could get. I didn’t know who got it. I was trying to figure it out on the sidelines.”
A couple of minutes later, Harden blocked another that he recovered.
“Same thing,” he said. “They didn’t block down on me and the hole opened up and I just took it again.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Harden added of four blocks. “After the first one, we were like, ‘Let’s see if we can get another one.’ ”
Head coach Mark Woody likes Harden’s attitude.
“That’s what you want your seniors to do ó want to make big plays,” Woody said. “Our seniors are coming through for us. Jenson plays hard all the time.”
Billings was certainly happy.
“It’s pretty exciting when something you’ve worked on and planned goes the right way,” he said.
A lot has gone right for Carson this year.
“It feels good to know (the coaches) trust me that I can do my job and that others can depend on me to help them.”
Now, Harden is thinking about a college career. Coastal Carolina, Wofford and Elon are among his suitors.
Asked about how far he has come in four years, Harden shook his head.
“It’s crazy different,” he said. “As a freshman, I was just happy to play well and hoping to win a game. Now, I’m being recruited and expecting to win and play well.”
Harden likes the success. And he’s determined to let nothing block his path in his quest for more.