Herden, Warriors off to fast start
By Rodd Baxley The Fayetteville Observer USA TODAY NETWORK
Prior to joining the football team at Fayetteville Christian School in 2019, David Herden had only played quarterback as a middle-schooler in Hawaii.
The problem is Warriors coach NelsonSorianodidn’tknowthat information until the final two games of the 2019 campaign.
“He was wondering why I didn’t tell him earlier,” Herden said with a laugh.
After being sidelined with an injury, Herden started serving as the scout team quarterback. That's when Soriano started noticing Herden's arm strength and presence in the pocket.
Transitioning from his role as a kicker and cornerback, the rookie made his first appearance as the signal-caller in Fayetteville Christian’s 28-0 loss at Arendell Parrott Academy.
On Friday night, Herden will return to Kinston with a 2-0 record and hopes of making a bigger impact for the Warriors, who have matched their win total from last season and are off to their best start in 14 years.
“It’sa big boost of confidence,” said Herden, who has accounted for four touchdowns through two games as the starting quarterback this season.
“We just want to keep rolling and get a championship.”
A 5-foot-10, 158-pound sophomore, Herden racked up 107 rushing yards and scored on a 19-yard touchdown run in Fayetteville Christian’s 14-6 win at Cary Christian on Oct. 2. His frame won’t overwhelm defenders, but he’s come a long way from his days as a football player on the island of Oahu for the Wahiawa Junior Mules.
“Tackle football there is way different than it is here,” Herden said. “Height difference, weight difference. I played in fifth grade, sixth grade and seventh grade there, and I was barely hitting 100 pounds or whatever. Everybody was already like 180 and 5’10.”
Part of a military family, Herden lived in Hawaii for six years before his father transitioned more than 4,700 miles to Fort Bragg in 2017.
In his eighth-grade year at New Century, Herden primarily played wide receiver. Ahead of his freshman year, he made the move to Fayetteville Christian but was a bit unsure about joining an 8-man football team.
“Itwasn’tasbigofachangeasI thought it would be,” he said.
“I didn’t know if I wanted to dothis,butIthinkit’sbeengood. I’ve been able to learn a lot from Coach Soriano.”
The second-year coach is happy Herden decided to play for a program that had lost 20 consecutive games before earning a pair of wins in 2019.
“I saw that he has a lot of potential,”Sorianosaid.“Tobea sophomoreandyoung,he’sgoing to go far.”
The Warriors will be halfway through their six-game slate when they leave Kinston on Friday night.
Soriano expects Herden, who completed just two passes for six yards last season in his first appearance against the Patriots, to “settle down” with an improved confidence and knowledge of the position in this season’s matchup.
“He has a lot to prove to himself fromlastyear,”Sorianosaid.“.... I’m pretty sure they’re looking at him to be a big factor in the game this weekend.”
For Herden, it helps to have a reliable offensive line and a solid target on the outside in senior Shahron James.
“When we’re on the field, I know they have my back,” the sophomore said. “We might goof off, but when the time comes, I know they have my back.”
So far, so good for Herden and the Warriors. That match has made for brighter days around campus and on the practice field.
“I love the smiles,” Soriano said. “I love the pride coming back to the school. I love the confidence that everybody’s showing.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
By Rodd Baxley The Fayetteville Observer USA TODAY NETWORK
Prior to joining the football team at Fayetteville Christian School in 2019, David Herden had only played quarterback as a middle-schooler in Hawaii.
The problem is Warriors coach NelsonSorianodidn’tknowthat information until the final two games of the 2019 campaign.
“He was wondering why I didn’t tell him earlier,” Herden said with a laugh.
After being sidelined with an injury, Herden started serving as the scout team quarterback. That's when Soriano started noticing Herden's arm strength and presence in the pocket.
Transitioning from his role as a kicker and cornerback, the rookie made his first appearance as the signal-caller in Fayetteville Christian’s 28-0 loss at Arendell Parrott Academy.
On Friday night, Herden will return to Kinston with a 2-0 record and hopes of making a bigger impact for the Warriors, who have matched their win total from last season and are off to their best start in 14 years.
“It’sa big boost of confidence,” said Herden, who has accounted for four touchdowns through two games as the starting quarterback this season.
“We just want to keep rolling and get a championship.”
A 5-foot-10, 158-pound sophomore, Herden racked up 107 rushing yards and scored on a 19-yard touchdown run in Fayetteville Christian’s 14-6 win at Cary Christian on Oct. 2. His frame won’t overwhelm defenders, but he’s come a long way from his days as a football player on the island of Oahu for the Wahiawa Junior Mules.
“Tackle football there is way different than it is here,” Herden said. “Height difference, weight difference. I played in fifth grade, sixth grade and seventh grade there, and I was barely hitting 100 pounds or whatever. Everybody was already like 180 and 5’10.”
Part of a military family, Herden lived in Hawaii for six years before his father transitioned more than 4,700 miles to Fort Bragg in 2017.
In his eighth-grade year at New Century, Herden primarily played wide receiver. Ahead of his freshman year, he made the move to Fayetteville Christian but was a bit unsure about joining an 8-man football team.
“Itwasn’tasbigofachangeasI thought it would be,” he said.
“I didn’t know if I wanted to dothis,butIthinkit’sbeengood. I’ve been able to learn a lot from Coach Soriano.”
The second-year coach is happy Herden decided to play for a program that had lost 20 consecutive games before earning a pair of wins in 2019.
“I saw that he has a lot of potential,”Sorianosaid.“Tobea sophomoreandyoung,he’sgoing to go far.”
The Warriors will be halfway through their six-game slate when they leave Kinston on Friday night.
Soriano expects Herden, who completed just two passes for six yards last season in his first appearance against the Patriots, to “settle down” with an improved confidence and knowledge of the position in this season’s matchup.
“He has a lot to prove to himself fromlastyear,”Sorianosaid.“.... I’m pretty sure they’re looking at him to be a big factor in the game this weekend.”
For Herden, it helps to have a reliable offensive line and a solid target on the outside in senior Shahron James.
“When we’re on the field, I know they have my back,” the sophomore said. “We might goof off, but when the time comes, I know they have my back.”
So far, so good for Herden and the Warriors. That match has made for brighter days around campus and on the practice field.
“I love the smiles,” Soriano said. “I love the pride coming back to the school. I love the confidence that everybody’s showing.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
