Blake Christenson To Be Honored at Henderson St. Saturday

 

blake christensonThe 13th Annual Sporty Bowl, Henderson State’s spring football game, will take place Saturday, April 5 at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium with game time set for 11 a.m.

The 2014 Sporty Bowl will consist of four 12-minute running quarters, with both teams playing under modified rules and limited offensive and defensive schemes.

At halftime, Aledo (Texas) High School assistant football coach Blake Christenson will be presented with the prestigious Sporty Award. The Sporty Award is presented to a Henderson Alum who has pursued a career in coaching football and has exemplified excellence on and off the field.

The Sporty Award is named for long time legendary Henderson State Coach Sporty Carpenter who was head coach from 1971 to 1989, compiling 119 victories and leading the Reddies to five Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles.

Christenson has been quarterbacks coach for the past five years at Aledo High School. Since 2009, Aledo has won four 4A Division II Texas State Championships while compiling a record of 71-5.

In 2013, the Bearcats finished 16-0 and became the first high school team in the nation to score over 1,000 points in a season. Averaging 62.5 points per game, Aledo surpassed Albemarle (N.C.) High School which totaled 903 points in 2001.

Christenson coached three different quarterbacks who earned all-state honors including Matthew Bishop, Pate Davis (Air Force) and Luke Bishop.

In 2012, Christenson became the head boys track coach at Aledo, leading the team to 2013 district and area championships.

Christenson was Henderson’s starting quarterback from 2001 to 2004.

During his career at HSU, Christenson compiled 6,240 yards of total offense which ranks second in school history.

Christenson ranks first all-time at HSU for career points scored (274), career rushing touchdowns (45), is second in career-rushing yards (3,181), and holds the record for most rushing yards in a single-game with 234 against Southern Arkansas in 2002.

In 2002, Christenson set a single-season record for points scored rushing for a school-record 17 touchdowns and totaling 104 points.

A 2003 All-Gulf South Conference selection, Christenson rushed for 100 yards or more 15 times during his Reddie career.

Christenson earned a bachelor of science in education in 2005 and a master’s in sports administration in 2006 from Henderson State.

Past winners of the Sporty Award include: Don Campbell of Wynne (2002), Gus Malzahn of Springdale (2003), David Carpenter of Junction City (2004), Paul Calley of Bryant (2005), Ellis “Scooter” Register of Little Rock Catholic (2006), Jeff Williams of Fort Smith Southside (2007), Greg Smith of Prescott (2008), Kevin Kelley of Pulaski Academy (2009), Eric Parmely of DeRidder High School in Louisiana (2010), Jack Alvarez of Ennis High School in Texas (2011), Sam Goodwin of DeQueen High School (2012), and Ronnie Efird of Magnet Cove High School (2013).

To read more about Sporty Carpenter and his coaching legacy, click here for Rex Nelson’s column.

Tags: , ,