Linn-Mar RB Carter Henderson regains form after preseason injury

CEDAR RAPIDS — Linn-Mar’s Carter Henderson entered his senior season with high expectations.

He returned with the second-most rushing yards from last season in Class 5A, amassing 1,180 and 16 touchdowns. Coaches also had schemed for the physical and powerful back to be an offensive centerpiece.

Plans hit a roadblock on the first play of a preseason scrimmage against Solon. Henderson suffered a severe ankle sprain, sidelining him — something that didn’t happen once in 167 touches a year ago.

“Getting injured was not the start I was looking for, but I was able to fight through it,” Henderson said. “I feel the best I have in four years. It’s good to be back 100 percent for playoff time. Ready to go with the team.”

Henderson missed the first two games of the season and slowly increased his workload the next two weeks. He has regained his form, surpassing the 100-yard mark and scoring at least once in each of No. 9 Linn-Mar’s last four games.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Minnesota State commit will be a focal point of the Linn-Mar offense when it takes on sixth-ranked Cedar Rapids Prairie (6-2) Friday at John Wall Field.

“Having a guy that can get downhill and get first downs will be key for us,” Lions (5-3) Coach Tim Lovell said. “I’m excited to see him run. He’s going to be a big part of what we’re trying to do. If we can control the clock a little bit, that will do nothing but help our chances.”

The injury was a shock to Henderson and to the team. They had to replace a key contributor and Henderson had to overcome the physical, mental and emotional stress.

“It was tough,” Henderson said. “I had to embrace the challenge and just stick with it every day. I had to trust it was going to be alright and I could get through it. I had coaches and teammates supporting me and will be there for me.”

Rehab was hard but manageable. He spent time doing band work to strengthen his ankle. The days included the stinging cold of ice buckets, testing his tolerance which grew with each one. Then, he had to shed the shackles of his own mind, worrying about whether he could go full speed without hurting it again.

“Probably the biggest thing was trusting it,” said Henderson, who finally became comfortable when he rushed 11 times for 78 yards and a TD against Cedar Rapids Washington in Week 4. “Trusting that it’s not going to get reinjured and I’m not going to reinjure it; I had to trust it and trust myself. Just push through it until there’s no more pain.”

Lovell said Henderson displayed maturity and fortitude, handling the early struggles of pain that lingered. Once he was cleared and did that, everything began to clock again.

“It will help him in the long run,” Lovell said. “It will help him develop that resilience he will need both physically and mentally to be the best version of himself at the next level.”

Linn-Mar is 4-1 in its last five games with the lone loss to No. 4 Southeast Polk, which also handed Prairie its last setback. The stretch coincides with Henderson’s rise in production. The Lions’ scoring average doubled in the last five contests compared to the first three of the season.

“Having him back in our lineup has really given our offense the spark that it needed,” Lovell said. “It’s given our offensive line confidence. It’s given our fullback confidence. It’s opened up lanes for our receivers.

“The power run game in high school football is really important. If you can’t run the ball, it makes things difficult. He makes things run a lot smoother for us offensively.”

The Lions scored in each quarter against the Rams, tallying 27 points. Only top-ranked Ankeny managed more points against the Rams, winning 31-14. Henderson totaled 130 yards, including 115 and two TDs on the ground.

“That was the first big game back for me,” Henderson said. “It was a game at my best, feeling the best. The whole offense had one of its best offensive games.”

Size and strength is a key reason to Henderson’s effectiveness. He fits perfectly into the Lions’ rush power-run game. He has a low center of gravity with strong hips, squatting 405 pounds with a hang clean near 245. Henderson doesn’t shy away from contact. Not many want to line up against him in 1-on-1 hitting drills during practice.

“He has great vision,” Lovell said. “He’s very explosive with the ball. He does a great job getting vertical and finding the seams in our run game.

“He does not sit back and take hits. His yards after contact and his explosion on contact is really what makes him different.”

This season has come with an added bonus. He has been able to share his final varsity campaign with his younger brother, Camden, who is a sophomore starting at guard. Even though the season was slightly cut short, the experience has been special with his sibling clearing a path.

“It’s been awesome,” Henderson said. “I love practice and going to all the workouts with him. Every time I score he lifts me up in the end zone. It’s been very memorable playing this season with him.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com