When Denzel Heath overheard some teammates talking about the Shrine Bowl two years ago, the Hopewell High football standout didn’t know what they were talking about.
“I just thought it was another game,” says Heath.
Even until recently, he’s known very little about the storied all-star game for seniors in the Carolinas. But though the Cincinnati native, who moved to Huntersville as a middle schooler, didn’t grow up dreaming of playing for Carolina bragging rights in front of a Saturday afternoon television audience, Heath has liked all he’s heard about the Shrine Bowl the past few days, especially the part about him being selected to play for North Carolina in the 75th annual game.
This year’s Shrine Bowl is set for Saturday, Dec. 17, at Wofford College’s Gibbs Stadium, and Heath, who stars as a running back and linebacker, is the first-ever Hopewell Titan to be picked.
“I’m just excited to be the first person,” says Heath, whose graduating class is the 11th at Hopewell. “Hopefully, some more people can make it.”
Heath was chosen by the N.C. coaching staff as a linebacker and is looking forward to the opportunity to step on the field with top-tier players from across the region. He says he’ll “just have fun and see what everybody can do.”
Heath is one of just three players picked from the I-Meck Conference. The other two, running back Jela Duncan and defensive end Jamel Harbinson, play for Mallard Creek.
Players from both states will spend a week practicing in Spartanburg, and Heath is looking forward not only to the football aspect of the opportunity, but also the chance to visit the Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville.
“It seems like it’s a very class act, well-run game that has a great message behind it, too,” says Hopewell coach David Johnson, who is relatively new to the Shrine Bowl experience as well. “It ends up being a meaningful experience to them far beyond football.”
Heath has compiled 864 rushing yards and scored 12 overall touchdowns this year, including one on a 72-yard run against powerhouse Mallard Creek last week.c
“Not too many people do what he did,” says Johnson.
Defensively, Heath has 69 tackles this year, including 10 for loss. Heath is the player teams know they must account for first, and opposing coaches have praised his pursuit of the football.
Heath actually missed the Charlotte-area Shrine Bowl Combine last year, but coaches liked the way he looked on film and reached out to former Titan coach Chris Rust, now the defensive backs coach at Rock Hill High in South Carolina, who contacted the new Hopewell staff and got Heath a look. Once the N.C. Shrine Bowl coaching staff, led by Crest High’s Mark Barnes, saw Heath in person, that was enough to add him to the 44-man roster.
Rust’s new team will have a representative on the S.C. team in nose guard Mitchel Jeter. But Rust wishes Heath all the best.
“He’ll be playing with and against the best in the Carolinas,” says Rust. “That’s impressive. I’m really happy for him.”
Johnson says the coaching of Rust and his assistants helped Heath develop in the three years before Johnson began coaching Heath this fall.
“They worked hard with him and helped him progress,” says Johnson. “Where Denzel is today, I’d be foolish to take credit for it.”
But in the short time he’s known and coached Heath, Johnson has already developed a deep appreciation for Heath’s game. He’s the guy the Titans count on the most.
“He works hard, and this is probably the ultimate reward for a senior going through a year that isn’t terrible, but isn’t great, either,” says Johnson, whose Titans are 3-5. “I think it’s a great reward for him.”
