Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Johnson Finds A Home At Prairie Grove
MILITARY KID ENJOYED CHANCE TO PLAY FOOTBALL
PRAIRIE GROVE — An injury ended his high school football career but if Luke Johnson has his way, he may very well position himself on the front line serving his country.
Johnson plans to join the Army Reserve Officers Training once out of high school. He is interested in becoming either an Army Ranger or Green Beret and when he is done with that intends to pursue a degree in Nuclear Technologies.
Military family
Mom may soon outrank dad and brother and sister get along like typical teenagers yet Johnson feels right at home.
Johnson is the son of Army Major Dave Johnson, a pharmacist in the Army Reserve; and Air Force Major Jenny Johnson, a judge advocate officer in the Air Guard of the Air Force, who is soon to be promoted to Lt. Colonel.
That’s the latest according to Johnson’s football coach at Prairie Grove, Danny Abshier.
“He’s a class A kid,” Abshier said, of Johnson, who missed the state 4A football playoffs with an injury.
Optimistic despite injury
Johnson began the season as an integral part of Prairie Grove’s starting defense and underwent reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn ACL on Oct. 24.
“It went well,” Johnson said. “Mom had just finished working with the Air Guard so she took off and was home with me. Dad was home with me, as well.
Johnson said it meant a lot to have both parents with him during the procedure. Jessi, 16, his younger sister, whom he describes as a smart, little genius, is a junior at Prairie Grove and while Johnson admits they don’t always get along the best, they are still family.
Small-town atmosphere
“I love the small town, it’s a lot slower-paced,” Johnson said of Prairie Grove, while noting the family has lived on military bases in Germany and the U.S. Air Force Academy, at Colorado Springs.
“You know pretty much everyone,” Johnson said. “It’s nice to be around people you know and know what’s going on.”
Dave Johnson went into the Army as an infantryman out of high school, then went to college and rejoined the Army about 12 years ago.
Johnson said his dad is not a person, who gets worked up about just anything while his mother is a caring person, who sometimes gets overburdened because she wants to be involved.
The Johnsons were at Colorado Springs when the terrorists attacks occurred against the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. He was young and didn’t understand what was going on although he was informed of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
“I didn’t realize what that meant,” Johnson said. “I just knew the base was locked down for awhile. There was a lot more security and you had to have your ID. Everywhere you’d go they’d check it.”
And what of his family’s response to terrorist attack on the American embassy at Benghazi, Libya?
“It’s an awful thing,” Johnson said. “We didn’t think it was handled very well.”
Johnson said there was a lot of ways it could have gone down and different ways preparations happened.
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Making friends
Johnson, who turned 18, on Nov. 28, has best friends in Noah Hunter, Jacob Kahl and Jacob Lacey.
“For the most part, it’s just the entire football team,” Johnson said. “This is the first school I was able to get involved in and was able to do stuff with everyone.”
Dave Johnson said his son didn’t get to play football before the family moved to Prairie Grove and is glad Luke had the opportunity.
Johnson was happy for his replacement in the defensive lineup, praising the play of Creyton Ledbetter, who had to go both ways after Johnson’s injury.
“It’s all about the team, I’m glad he was able to come in there and take it in stride,” Johnson said. “Our defense was able to play like they hadn’t lost anyone. I love to see them playing well.”
Johnson is appreciative of the coaching staff headed up by Danny Abshier.
“They are real experienced, they know what they’re doing,” Johnson said. “We trust them and they trust us. If they gripe at you, we don’t take it personally. We know it’s for the betterment of the team.”
Team chemistry
Johnson is glad to be part of the tight-knit group that made up this year’s Prairie Grove football team, which went undefeated in the regular season and won the conference championship en route to a 12-1 season and appearance in the state 4A semifinal.
“In previous years there’s been a big separation between the seniors and everyone else,” Johnson said. “This year, we really pulled together. There’s a lot of camaraderie.”
Fellow senior, Weston Bartholomew agrees and paid tribute to his offensive line for making a way for his 43yard touchdown dash against Crossett in a 52-0 first-round playoff win.
“The linemen just gave me a good hole to run through and I saw a crease so I took it and scored,” Bartholomew said. “And this season has been very special, I wouldn't trade any of our players for anybody, everyone works hard and there is no selfishness.”
When asked if he could fast-forward 60 years and look back on his life, Johnson has a specific way he wants to be remembered.
“I’d like to say that I wasn’t one to back down,” Johnson said. “I set goals and achieved them and served my country to the best of my ability.”