Roaring engine
Henderson doesn't need the thought of stolen money to bring out the savage-like behavior found in defensive players.
He's just got it.
Everything needed to wreak havoc is already found mentally and physically in Henderson, a 6-5, 255-pound end.
"His No. 1 asset is definitely his motor. He never quits on a play and he goes as hard as he can. He's still got a ways to go fundamentally like all of these kids do, but you can work with somebody who's got a good attitude," Koch said.
The Knights feed off Henderson's dogged determination and gut-wrenching collisions.
"He's the battery of the team," Beckum said. "He keeps us energized, gets us hype. He's a big hitter and he's a leader.
"I don't think we would be as energetic as we are day to day without him on the team."
Henderson, a transfer from Milwaukee Vincent, also carries a 3.4 GPA.
"Everybody preached about grades to me, and that was real important," Henderson said. "Right now, I'm doing excellent. The last two marking periods, I got a 4.0. I know that's important to get it done in the classroom and bring it out to the field."
An electrifying speaker, Henderson gave the commencement address for eighth graders at St. Aemilian, a Milwaukee school where Koch's wife, Linda, works.
"I told them how I came from nothing to now, where I can go anywhere in the nation because of my scholarship," Henderson said.
Another source of Henderson's inspiration has been his mother, Lenore Henderson, who had a heart transplant when Raymond was 10.
"That's the main thing that inspired me to push myself a little harder," Raymond Henderson said. "I always wanted to do something to make her proud."
Henderson has scholarship offers from numerous major Division I programs, including Louisiana State, Miami, Ohio State and Penn State.
If all goes as planned, Raymond will be the third of his siblings to attend college. His brother, Raishaun Henderson, is a former track state champion (2000, 110-meter hurdles) now playing football at Northern Iowa. His sister, Shannon Sibley, is a student at Southern University.
Ready to move on
For now, Beckum's and Henderson's attention is on Oak Creek football.
Both were on hand as the unbeaten Knights surrendered a double-digit lead to Arrowhead in the fourth quarter of the state semifinal and lost, 26-25, last November.
This version of the Knights does not have the experienced personnel of the 2003 season, but Beckum and Henderson are ready to do their part in order to make this season a special one for Oak Creek.
"If we can get that far, we might as well take it all of the way," Beckum said. "It's got to happen before I graduate. It just brings you back for the next year to play even harder."
