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Zach Harmening, right, hasn't let his small size stop him from suiting up as Worth County's starting cornerback.

GRANT CITY, Mo. — Zach Harmening occasionally creates doubt in Kyler Hiatt’s mind.

Hiatt, one of the best runners in Missouri 8-man history, has confronted that uncertainty in practice numerous times during the past two-plus years. Coming around the corner, the 6-foot-2, 200-plus pound Hiatt will often see Harmening as the Worth County scout-team cornerback.

At 5-foot-6, 114 pounds, Harmening is a quandary for the bruising runner.

“He’s usually the one who doesn’t hesitate to come at me,” Hiatt said. “I mean he’s small, but he’s got a lot of heart.

“He gives me no choice sometimes, and he’ll get me once in a while.”

Harmening is quiet but confident, speaks with a meek voice to match his modest frame.

He’s a football player, a state champion and, according to Worth County coach Chuck Borey, the smallest varsity player he’s coached in more than a decade with the Tigers.

Harmening showed up as a 5-2, 94-pound freshman.

“He’s got some athletic ability, and he’s talented and he’s smart,” Borey said of Harmening. “I mean that’s what overcomes 114 pounds, but it’s hard to overcome a 200-pound linebacker. He can’t change that.”

When he suited up his first season, Harmening looked like he was fighting against his own equipment as much as trying to play the sport. He had to tape his pants up that year because without the support, his knee pads hung down mid-shin.

Harmening never felt discouraged and occasionally even made it onto the field his first year.

“I’ve seen a bunch of little guys play football. I figure if they can do it, I can do it, too,” Harmening said.

In the past two years, Harmening has added about 4 inches and 20 pounds to his frame. He served as a junior varsity quarterback and defensive back, seeing extended duty in mop-up action as Worth County dominated much of its schedule.

Harmening now proudly calls himself one of the tallest in his family.

“I’ve came a long ways. The weight room’s helped so much,” he said.

Through big hits from Hiatt and encounters with other larger players across Northwest Missouri, Harmening keeps coming back.

Harmening led the Tigers in special teams tackles during a Week 1 win against West Nodaway. Last Friday, he made his first start at cornerback during a 52-6 loss to Mound City then found himself under center after Hiatt left the game, throwing two passes on the Tigers’ final drive.

“He’s out there against all odds, proving everybody wrong,” Hiatt said.

Harmening enjoys the game, and he’ll be back next year for his fourth and final year.

Hiatt graduates this year and will leave a void at the quarterback position. Harmening hopes to fill that void or at least take the spot.

Borey won’t rule out the possibility, but with a kid like Harmening, any scenario seems possible.

Well, almost.

“Heck, he might be on the line if he grows 8 inches and puts on 200 pounds,” Borey said.