Johnson directs attention
Pirates senior scores 2 TDs out of the wildcat formation to help beat Class 4A No. 1 Brickies
Merrillville senior JoJo Johnson can make plays in a variety of ways.
The wide receiver/defensive back and Cincinnati commit primarily shined as a wildcat quarterback at Hobart on Friday night.
Johnson had touchdown runs of 34 and 42 yards on direct snaps as the Pirates topped the Brickies 23-7 in a matchup of teams that reached a semistate last season.
Merrillville coach Brad Seiss said Hobart linebacker Bobby Babcock, an Illinois State commit, was causing “problems” throughout the game. On the TDs, the Pirates put wide receiver Armani Glass in motion to push Babcock somewhat off-balance.
“We gave ourselves some angles, and he was able to take it,” Seiss said of Johnson. “Just seeing what they were doing up top and understanding that if we put a dynamic guy with the ball in his hands and add another blocker, we had a chance to break one.
“When you’re a player of his caliber who has the potential to play at Cincinnati, you expect those guys to do a lot on the field. We ask that of him, and he does it.”
Merrillville players remain unavailable for comment because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Johnson scored the 34-yard TD with 3 minutes, 56 seconds left in the first quarter and added the 42-yarder with 10:13 left in the third to give the Pirates (2-0) a 16-0 lead. In between, Merrillville registered a safety as its defense held Hobart (1-1) in check.
The Pirates made it 23-0 when Lavarion Logan, who gained 114 yards on 25 carries, scored a 4-yard TD with 5:53 left in the third quarter.
The Brickies scored their TD with 1:41 left in the third, capitalizing on a muffed punt by the Pirates. Riley Johnston hit Anthony Williams for a 37-yard score.
Hobart’s Alex Pickett then recovered an errant wildcat snap, putting the ball at Merrillville’s 41-yard line. The Brickies appeared to convert that turnover when Johnston got into the end zone on a 1-yard run, but they were called for an illegal formation.
On fourth-and-goal from the 6, Johnson deflected a fade intended for Western Michigan commit Z a c h Vo d e. Me r r i l l v i l l e ’s A’Veyawn Madry got his hands on the ball and kept his feet on the ground for an interception in the end zone to halt Hobart’s comeback attempt.
“We put our best player on their best player and (let them) have at it,” Seiss said. “Our guy got the tip.”
Marcus Hardy, a Morton transfer, made his Merrillville debut with two catches for 56 yards, including a 47-yarder on the Pirates’ first offensive play. Quarterback Paris Hewlett, another Morton transfer, was in uniform but did not play.
Hobart coach Craig Osika, whose team is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 4A in both the coaches’ and the Associated Press polls, was pleased overall. Merrillville entered the game ranked No. 4 in Class 6A in the coaches poll and No. 6 in the AP poll.
“We told the guys this would be one of the best teams we played all year,” Osika said. “They’re a damn good team. I imagine they’ll be representing the north in the semistate.
“We schedule these games, Chesterton and them, to see where we’re at.
“Our defense played fantastic again, and our offense is behind. We were in the same boat last year. … The offense is going to catch up. We knew it was going to take some time.”