It’s been said that every locker room needs a person who binds everything together. Raygon Harger fills that role for the Booneville Bearcat football team.
He hopes to keep filling it for several weeks. But, as a senior, he knows all too well that everything from this point forward is critical.
“We’re the talk of fumble this and fumble that because that’s all we’ve done all year. We’ve just got to get it fixed and figure it out (and) hopefully make a deep run and get our goal accomplished,” said Harger. “Obviously the goal is to win the state championship every year.”
Given that Friday is senior night, Harger wants to keep putting on the uniform as long as possible. He is also keenly aware that the prospects for playing more than once more at home are bleak at best.
“We’ll have another home game in the playoffs. Obviously, the year hasn’t mounted to what we expected it to, but we’ll have that one playoff game,” said Harger. “Definitely a nostalgic kind of feeling.”
Humor is one of Harger’s most utilized tools. Even if it means poking fun at himself.
“I played linebacker for a couple years, but recently I got a little bit slower,” he said. “So they moved me to D-line these last two years,” said Harger.
Head coach Doc Crowley appreciates everything Harger brings to the program.
“Raygon is a very cool kid, very intelligent and very witty,” said Crowley. “I would hate to get in an argument with him, I don’t think it would be possible to win that. He has been a blast to be around and has gotten to play a lot this year.
“He’s definitely a kid I will miss.”
Although his playing time is limited Harger does all he can to stay involved.
“I guess when the spirit’s a little down I feel like I have one of those personalities where I can pick others up quickly and not even just with words of encouragement, but just kind of cut up, make somebody laugh once in a while,” said Harger.
There is little preparation for the material as most of the one-liners or goofiness just comes, “off the dome,” Harger says.
He is also a reserve running back. He got carries last year on a soggy night in Lavaca – Friday’s opponent – and had a couple at Cedarville (24 shown above) this year. He wouldn’t mind getting to carry the ball at home.
Why wouldn’t he want to? Harger has been playing football at Booneville since he was in third grade.
Harger is also the offspring of former Bearcat Blake Harger and Chandra Harger, but since a younger brother decided football was not for him, is the only one of the Hargers suiting up.
Harger considers than an opportunity missed.
“I would have had Jackson this year. I would have been able to pick on him because he’s two grades behind me,” said Harger. “He’s a sophomore.”
As a senior Harger is done with school, football excepted, by lunch.
“I have a serious class and that’s pre-cal. And I’ve got Ms. Knight for English,” said Harger.
Otherwise he can be found hanging around the agri building.
“We live out there (in the country) and I like to wear boots and stuff like that,” said Harger. “I mean I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty whenever I need to.”
Harger said he was drawn to agri initially by welding and figured that was the life path. But rather than cause a change in attitude, he may have received one.
“I wanted to do another agri class (this year) so I could be a completer,” Harger said of the college welding class he takes.
However that may have led to the conclusion that college may be the route to take rather than being a welder. He really likes UCA in Conway.
“I like that school it’s big. It’s purple,” said Harger.
"WITTY" HARGER PREPPING FOR LAST REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME, PLAYOFFS
