Harden's presence looms large at Cretin-DH

Everything about Cretin-Derham Hall defensive tackle Jonathan Harden is big, from his 5-foot-10, 300-pound frame to his 46-inch waistline to his impact on opposing offenses.

He catches your eye with his size before surprising you with his quickness -- the root of which he revealed after a pause and a big, bright smile.

"I was actually a dancer," said Harden, who took ballet classes as a first-grader at his mother's behest. The principles stuck.

"Dancers have incredible footwork and balance," he said.

Utilizing all those elements makes Harden one of the state's top defensive linemen. The No. 3 Raiders (2-0) are riding two strong defensive performances into their game at 7 p.m. Friday at No. 10 Stillwater (2-0). Harden is once again the dynamo inside, posting 17 tackles, three tackles for a loss and a sack.

Those numbers are the simplest way to tabulate his impact. Others, such as how much time opposing coaches spend watching Harden on film or how many double-teams he faces during games, are tougher to count.

Current Stillwater and former Woodbury coach Beau LaBore, who will face Harden for the fourth time Friday, said the big fella "requires careful planning on every play" and "disrupts the run with strength and is in the backfield chasing quarterbacks with speed."

"He's got an easygoing personality," Raiders defensive line coach Bill Hennessey said. "Plus, he's an interior lineman. His name's in the paper, but he's not a prima donna."

Added Raiders head coach Mike Scanlan: "You worry about kids getting envious of kids who attract a lot of attention. But it's not like that with Jonathan. He's humble; he's a good teammate."

Football is serious business for Harden, but he doesn't take himself too seriously. During a break in Monday's practice, he long-snapped a ball to a teammate, then went out for a pass he just missed catching behind his back. The fun continued even as the Raiders resumed practice. At one point between plays he let out a laugh as large as his frame.

Watching his best friend, wide receiver Taylor Montero, suffer a season-ending knee injury this summer reinforced Harden's humility.

"[Football] goes by too fast to act like you're bigger or better than someone because at any point it can be taken away," Harden said.

Some of Harden's most important contributions have come behind the scenes. He's a third-year starter playing for a team on which many players are seeing their first significant varsity action this fall. And while the defense has impressed so far this season, the offense is struggling with injuries and inconsistency. Instead of pointing fingers, Harden has spoke up in the name of team unity.

"In the locker room both games, the offense was kind of anxious to get going, but I was trying to make the point that there's going to be a game where the defense can't hold someone and our offense is going to be magical and score 60 points," Harden said. "You have to have each other's back."