Westfield's Willie Johnson Excels on Defense to Help Lead North to Victory

Willie Johnson had every reason to smile.

After a hard night's work on the gridiron for the final time in a stellar high school career, the Westfield standout was part of a unit that excelled big-time.

The starting tackle helped spark a North defense that did not allow a touchdown. When the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, Johnson and his defensive teammates came up with the big plays that were necessary for victory.

Johnson's final high school game will be one that will always bring a smile to his face as his solid performance on defense helped lead the North to a convincing 17-3 triumph over the South in Monday night's 32nd annual New Jersey North-South

All-Star Football Classic at Kean University Alumni Stadium in Union.
The North now trails the series 15-14-2 and has won two of the last three games. There was no game in 2002 because of extended inclement weather right before kickoff.

This was the second straight year the game was held at Kean, with a crowd of 3,000 in attendance Monday night. With so many officials in favor of the game now being played at Kean – especially with the close to full house appearance you get there – it appears that the game will remain at Kean and will not return to being played at Rutgers like it was in the past.

Johnson (6-1, 250) represented Westfield football well, with the North's defensive performance similar to many posted by the Blue Devils during last season's successful 8-3 campaign.

"This was awesome and just a great feeling that we won," Johnson said.

Johnson was one of five First Team All-County players from Union County that started on defense for the North, with the North defensive coordinator being Union head coach Brian Sheridan. In the 1993 game at Giants Stadium, Sheridan started at linebacker for the North after earning First Team All-State honors at Union.
The other four all-county players on the North defense from Union County were Akmad Abdul-Raazaq of Roselle, Olsen Pierre of Rahway, Mike Watts of Summit and Terence Gavin of Union.

Thanks to the swarming-of-the-ball effort by Johnson and his teammates on defense, the North prevented the South from reaching the end zone.

It was the first time since the South won 3-0 in 2003 that the South was held to zero touchdowns.

The only points the South scored came on a field goal with 8:38 left in the second quarter as the South went up 3-0.

Ray Cetrulo of Nutley tied the game for the North at 3-3 with a field goal just 42 seconds away from halftime.

The North scored the game's only touchdowns in the second half, with quarterback Gavin McCarney of Jefferson completing a TD pass to wide open wide receiver Eddie DeMarchi of Butler in the third quarter and running back Kyle Gayle of Montclair scoring on a one-yard run in the fourth.

Cetrulo's extra point kick was blocked after the North's first touchdown, but he made up for that by catching a deflected pass in the end zone that was intended for another receiver for two points following the North's final TD.

The South was limited to very few yards rushing and could not break contain to either side of the field or up the middle all night long against a physical North defense.

"We practiced hard for this game and we were ready to play," Johnson said.

With the North ahead 9-3, Johnson made a couple of tackles that prevented the South from moving the ball forward.

Then North defensive back Marcus Hackett of Montclair Immaculate came up with an interception that he returned to the South one-yard line with 2:52 to go. That standout play set up the North's final score and iced the victory.

Johnson will now join his older brother Ricardo at Lackawanna College in Scanton, Pa. Ricardo graduated from Westfield last year and then played in the MyCentral Jersey.com Snapple Bowl at Kean.

"Now it's time to get ready for college," Johnson said.

"Willie is a dominant inside defender," Westfield head coach Jim DeSarno said.

"Teams ran away from Willie all year.

"He can get off blockers and is quick to the ball. His quickness makes him a great pass rusher. He is a playmaker."

Johnson played end his sophomore and junior seasons before moving to tackle last fall.

"I think I improved and that my senior year was best year at Westfield," Johnson said. "Before I never used my strength, so I worked on using my strength more."
Johnson realizes that he will have to get the job done in the classroom as well at Lackawanna and relishes the opportunity.

"I was just looking forward to playing anywhere I could play," Johnson said.