NEW PLYMOUTH - Watching football last season for Jonathan
Peden was like watching the old girlfriend who ditched you dance the night away
with a new beau. It was unbearable.
When the New Plymouth senior hyper-extended his knee, his
doctor shut him down just two games into the season. Being on the sidelines was
too close to the action for Peden, who struggled to watch from the stands.
"I was devastated when I found out I couldn't play," Peden
said. "It was probably a mistake not to stand on the sidelines and show my
teammates I was still there for them, but it was too painful. But I've tried to
recover from that and show this team that I'm still a part of it."
Peden's recovery has certainly endeared him to his
teammates, leading the Pilgrims in rushing this season and helping the school
to an early No. 1 ranking in the 2A polls.
"Coach Lacey says that we're part of something great this
year, and every player at New Plymouth High School is playing Pilgrim
football," Peden said. "We know we're all part of something special.
"We want to be the first team in school history to make it
to the state title game."
New Plymouth certainly has the offensive weapons to get them
there with Peden on the ground and a talented quarterback and receiving corps.
But it's the overall team strength that Peden pinpoints as
part of New Plymouth's early-season success.
"Coach Lacey has preached to us about the importance of
weight training-and this team believes him," Peden said. "Everybody was in the
weight room this summer and it's showing.
Peden, who has gained nearly 30 pounds since his freshman
year, checks in at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds and enjoys laying some lumber on
opposing defenders.
"I like to get physical and hit linebackers," Peden said. "I
try to be elusive when I can, but that's not my preferred style."
To prove his point, Peden has experienced some success at
the state track meet, but decided not to try and drop weight for track season.
"I worked hard to maintain my weight, so I didn't want to drop it just to shave
a half second off of my time."
However, Peden is trying to maintain his weight the healthy
way, so much so that he is eyeing a career in nutrition after high school.
"I think I would enjoy a job in the nutrition field," Peden
said. "I've learned so much about proper nutrition since playing football. I
don't want to put junk food in my body any more."
But until then, Peden will be satisfied chasing that elusive
state title for New Plymouth-and he won't have to do it alone.
"We have some great playmakers on this team-and
that's what make it so great," Peden said. "We don't have to rely on that one
guy. If we all do great, all of us do great. We really get what it means to be
a team."