Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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September 9, 2010

‘The train’

Richlands’ Johnson captures weekly award

By JONATHAN GREENE Bluefield Daily Telegraph

RICHLANDS, Va. — Richlands’ Devon Johnson has many nicknames.

Some call him “SpongeBob”, he prefers “The train”, and now you can add another, “Player of the Week.”

In Richlands’ 61-22 victory last Friday over Honaker, Johnson rushed for 147 yards on 13 carries, including three for touchdowns to earn the  Pocahontas Coal Association/ Bluefield Daily Telegraph Player of the Week award.

“He’s a big part of it,” said Richlands head coach Greg Mance, of Johnson’s contribution to Blue Tornado success. “We’d like to get him to the point where he can carry the ball 25 times a game because he’s such an explosive player.”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior is a big back, but quick.

“Very rarely do you see a guy his size who can run a 4.5 (second) 40 (yard dash),” Mance said. “When Devon runs the ball, you’ve got to hit him to knock him off his feet. He can outrun you, he can run over top of you.”

Originally at Big Creek, Johnson, his brothers, Austin and A.J., and cousin, Cody, transferred to Richlands. He couldn’t be happier to be a part of the tradition with the Blue Tornado.

“I love it,” Johnson said. “Its a dream come true to play for a school like Richlands and to be able to play well.”

“Well” might be an understatement on his play.

“(He’s) a tremendous football player,” Mance said, with a smile. “He’s a player, he’ll flat out separate your helmet from your shoulder pads if you don’t watch him. When he comes, he’s going to hit you.”

Johnson’s physical play on offense translates well to defense where he is a linebacker for Richlands.

“Defense,” Johnson said, of which side of the ball he prefers to play. “I love contact. I love to hit whether or not I have the ball.”

That aggressive style, along with his size and speed, has led a few colleges to Richlands, including the University of Virginia and Marshall.

It wasn’t always easy for Johnson. When he first transferred to Richlands in August of last season, he struggled.

“It was a little rough at first,” Johnson said of the change. “The coaches helped me get through the year and to learn the system.”

“He’s getting better,” Mance said. “Last year it took us forever to teach him our system. He was used to something different. By the end of year, he had rushed for 1,000 yards for us.”

This year, things still haven’t been easy but for different reasons.

“He’s been hurt all year long,” Mance said. “He dislocated his thumb, strained his hamstring and tweaked his ankle a little bit. He’s still only at 80 percent and we keep waiting for him to get completely healthy.”

Despite the injuries, Johnson finds a way to be on the field for his teammates.

“I practice with them Monday through Thursday and play Friday,” Johnson said. “I have to be out there with them until the last minute.”

Johnson knows he cannot do it all alone and attributes his success on offense to a talented and big offensive line.

“My line does the best they can to get me yards,” Johnson said. “I love them for that.”

Mance loves Johnson for not only what he does on the field, but for who he is off the field.

“You’ll never meet a nicer young man,” Mance said. “He’s always got a smile on his face. He’s ‘yes sir’, ‘no sir’. He’s a coach’s dream. He’s just a great young man who is loaded with talent.”

He is also young man who is playing with a heavy heart. Johnson lost his father over the summer.

“He wanted me to get on the field and play well,” Johnson recalled. “He always wanted me to work hard in school and play good on the field for him.”

Johnson has done just that this season.

Richlands will host Powell Valley on Friday.

—Contact Jonathan Greene

at jgreene@bdtonline.com



Honorable Mention

Bluefield: Levi Beckett 6-16-124-1td pass, 10-56-1td rush; Brad Fox 19-95 rush; Byron Steptoe 6-35 Rush, 3-28-1td rec.

Graham: Aaron Davidson 1 td rush, 1 td pass

Grundy (def. East Ridge 34-7): Brandon Rife 4-75-1td rec; Tyler Berglowe 10-109-1td rush.

James Monroe: Matthew Romanello 19-136 2 td rush. Narrows: Brock Lusk 4-13-81-1td pass

PikeView (def. River View 21-8): Ben Nester 4-5-118-1td pass, 7-30 rush; Shaq Peavy 1-66-1td rec

Princeton: Tevin Allen 11-43 rush.

Richlands: Bradley Strong 4-72-1td rec, 78 yards kick return td; Cody Lockhart 5-6-88-2 td pass, 1 td rush; Reece Strong 4-7-79-1 td pass; Sean Overton 3-45-1 td rec, 1 int on defense; Will Lowe 72 yard kick return td

River View: Cody Underwood 11-16-155 pass, 12-27 rush; Trey Bailey 11-47 1td rush

Tazewell: Mikal Moore 64 yards rush; Joe Grubb interception

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