San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Johnson 62, Roosevelt 34
Quick take: Undefeated Johnson held off a stiff challenge from Roosevelt on Friday at Heroes Stadium, outscoring the Rough Riders 28-7 in the fourth quarter to run away with a 62-34 win.
With the win, Johnson improves to 7-0, 4-0 in District 28-6A. The game provided plenty of offensive fireworks as both teams combined for more than 800 yards of total offense, with Johnson amassing 586 yards and Roosevelt 288. With the loss, Roosevelt fell to 3-4, 2-3 in district.
Highlights: Roosevelt took the early advantage. Benefiting from a short Johnson punt, the Rough Riders went 47 yards in nine plays, capped off by Brennan Carroll’s 2-yard touchdown run to go up 7-0 at 7:14 in the first quarter.
Johnson tied the game on the legs of senior running back Ben McCreary, who exploded for a 43-yard touchdown run — the first of five he scored — by finding a hole in the middle of the Roosevelt defense and bursting up the middle with 1:36 left in the first quarter.
Roosevelt regained the lead at 9:22 in the second quarter when defensive end Olalekan Bello intercepted a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown.
Johnson struck quickly, though, as McCreary ripped a 72-yard touchdown run on the Jaguars’ first play of their ensuing possession to tie the game at 14-14, at 9:10 in the second quarter.
Harrison Stone gave Johnson its first lead of the game, 17-14, when he booted a 28-yard field goal at the 2:20 mark of the second quarter.
On its ensuing possession, Roosevelt utilized a trick play, pulling a double pass as quarterback Bryan Rhoder threw backward to Andrew Price, who then threw it downfield to Dillon Coleman for a 42-yard touchdown, as the Rough Riders regained the lead at 21-17 with less than two minutes before halftime.
Johnson bounced back as quarterback Cruz Kirwan led the Jaguars on a quick drive, leading
to a 31-yard field goal by Stone as time ran out before halftime to get Johnson within 21-20 at the break.
Roosevelt started the second half by going on a six play, 89yard drive, capped off a 22-yard scoring run by Carroll to extend the Rough Riders’ lead to 27-20 at 8:28 in the third quarter.
As they did throughout the game, Johnson found a way to come back, going on a long drive of its own, a 10-play, 85-yard drive that was capped off by a McCreary 29-yard touchdown run made possible by a key block by lineman Drew Holder. McCreary’s third touchdown of the game tied the score at 27-27 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Jaguars got the ball back and took advantage as Kirwan connected with Alejandro Tavarez for a 65-yard scoring pass to put Johnson back in front, 34-27, with 2:12 left in the third quarter.
But Roosevelt tied the game early in the fourth quarter on a 52-yard touchdown pass from Rhoder to Coleman.
Johnson then took the control of the game. A 42-yard run by McCreary set up the Jaguars’ next score, a 6-yard scoring strike from Kirwan to Canaan Fairley, putting Johnson up 41-34 at the 8:28 mark of the fourth quarter.
McCreary sealed the game for Johnson by scoring on runs of 65 and 34 yards in the final quarter. What it means: Even though the final score might not indicate it, Johnson survived one of its toughest tests of the season against the upset-minded Rough Riders. Johnson is still in control of District 28-6A, two games ahead of second-place Reagan.
Meanwhile, Roosevelt will be fighting to earn a playoff spot as it plays out its last three remaining regular season games.
Game balls: For Johnson, McCreary rushed for 336 yards and 22 carries and five scores. Despite throwing three interceptions, Kirwan passed for 257 yards while throwing for two scores. Tavarez caught five passes for 151 yards and one score.
Carroll led Roosevelt by rushing for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Rhoder threw for 183 yards and one score. Price caught eight passes for 90 yards, while throwing for one score. Coleman caught two passes for 89 yards, both of them scores.
Up next: Johnson plays Madison at 2 p.m. Saturday at Comalander Stadium, while Roosevelt meets Clark in the nightcap Saturday at Comalander Stadium at 7 p.m.