Athlete Spotlight
Harlem football coach Jimmie Lewis calls Jeremy Larson a jack of all trades.
Harlem High School senior Jeremy Larson is in the Athlete Spotlight.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"He can do a little of everything," Lewis said.
Larson showed off that ability recently against Richmond Hill.
The senior wide receiver/ tight end/safety/punt returner/ kick returner/quarterback had a game to remember against the Wildcats.
Larson scored three touchdowns on returns in the 35-7 win.
He started the night off with an interception on the game's third play and returned it for a 35-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 first quarter lead.
Larson then returned the second-half kickoff 81 yards for a touchdown.
"At that point, I'm thinking, 'What a game by this kid,'" Lewis said. "He'd already accomplished a lot by that time."
But Larson wasn't finished.
He returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown with 5:35 left to play in the third quarter.
"I can only say that he was simply amazing," Lewis said. "What he did was incredible. I can't say I've ever seen anything like that in my 30 years at Harlem. I can't believe they kicked to him that second time."
It was a pretty good effort for a guy who started fall practices as the starting quarterback. Lewis moved Larson to receiver because he didn't have anyone who could make a difference at the position.
"Quarterback is the position that gets all the glory," Lewis said. "When we moved him, he didn't complain because he was a team player. He said, 'Whatever helps the team.'"
However, even Larson didn't expect to help the team like he did that Friday night.
"All my teammates were just like, 'Good job,'" Larson told The Augusta Chronicle after being named Huddle Player of the Week. "I couldn't get too excited. I kick off for us.
"It wasn't until I got home that night when it all hit me. Two kickoffs and an interception all returned back for touchdowns. I guess it was a pretty good night that doesn't come along that often."
Other coaches in the county have taken notice of Larson's playmaking ability.
"I could see it when he played us," said Evans coach Marty Jackson, whose Knights beat Harlem 35-7 to start the season. "He has great field vision and a good burst. I did not want to kick it to him."
Photo by Jim Blaylock