Hawks Ride Johnson to Victory Over Barnegat

It is one thing to step up in big games and raise your game. It’s another thing to put your team on your back and literally carry them to victory.

That is what senior running back Joe Johnson did Friday night for the Hawks.

In carrying the ball 40 times, for 204 yards and three scores, he and the rest of his Manchester teammates traveled to meet an angry Barnegat team, and came home with a 35-21 win, maintaining the zero in the loss column (2-0). Potentially the most important stat for Johnson was having zero fumbles as the Hawks saw firsthand just how badly turnovers can hurt a team, as they had five takeaways from the Bengals.

“Oh, he definitely is the vocal point of the team,” said Manchester head coach Gerard O’Donnell, “We want to give him the ball as much as possible.”

Johnson got the game started with a bang on the opening kickoff. The 5’9” running back brought the ball down to the Barnegat 36, giving his quarterback, Tim Rogers, a short field to work with. On fourth and five from the 15-yard line, Rogers ran a sprint right to turn and throw over the middle to Barrington Rose in the end zone for the opening score.

Rogers lost two crucial fumbles in the game, but the Hawk defense picked up their quarterback the best they could. Recovering a fumble on the corresponding kickoff, Rogers coughed up the ball a few plays later. Barnegat would drive down and score their first touchdown of the game. Later, in the second half, the Hawks leaned on Johnson to bring them to the one-yard line. The next play, Johnson ran a quarterback sneak but lost control of the ball and it was recovered by Barnegat. Damage was minimized after the defense forced a punt.

However, Rogers was very efficient through the air, completing 7 of 15 tosses for 104 yars and two touchdowns. Running plenty of bootleg and sprint out, the senior opened lanes and bought time for his wideouts to get open. To make the score 21-13, Rogers again ran a sprint out to the right, before hitting tight end Tom Sokol in between coverage.

Although Rogers was on target, Friday clearly was Joe Johnson’s big day as his teammates followed his lead. The Hawks were able to run long, methodical drives all game long, mainly because Johnson would seemingly find a way to get five yards every play. There is no doubting his two biggest runs of the game.

On first and 10 from the Barnegat 14, Johnson took a handoff left, made it through the first level untouched before dragging three Benagals on his back into the end zone to answer Barnegat and give the Hawks back the lead at 14-7.

Holding a 28-21 lead, taking over in Barnegat territory in the fourth quarter, it was obvious a Hawk score would go a long way to deciding a winner. Johnson took a handoff through the middle, made a cut, and burst to his left before finding himself all alone in the end zone.

As for his team’s ability to grind out wins coach O’Donnell said, “It’s an experienced O-line, it’s fun to run the ball. We have four returning starters on the line alone, and that is making a big difference.”

If his offensive contributions were not enough, Johnson picked off a pass with Barnegat driving following the Hawks' final TD.

After nearly winding the clock all the way down and faced with a 4^th and 8^th, O’Donnell opted to run a counter to Dan Tuma, who threw a nasty stiff arm in getting past the first down marker. All that would be needed was three kneel downs.

The Hawks next game will take place next Friday night as they travel to Brick Township to take on the Dragons.