OAKWOOD — Johnson freshman quarterback Jack Luttrell scored on a 12-yard touchdown run and then connected with Vashon Johnson on a 2-point conversion pass in the fourth overtime to stun Walnut Grove 24-22 Friday night at Billy Ellis Memorial Stadium.
The victory marked the first in Region 8-5A for the Knights (4-3, 1-1 Region 8-5A) who had been 0-18 in Region 8-5A since the current region formed in 2016. It also represented a growing shift in perception about a Knights program that has not advanced to the playoffs since 2004.
“These kids never quit no matter how many things went wrong for us,” Johnson coach Stan Luttrell said. “They just kept fighting and fighting and finally had something good happen for them.”
The first 48 minutes was a defensive stalemate that ended in a 7-7 draw sending it to overtime. The Warriors’ (0-7, 0-2 Region 8-5A) only points in regulation came on a 1-yard touchdown run in the waning seconds of the first quarter by Walnut Chad Walden that was set up by a 47-yard flea-flicker to the Knights’ 1. Johnson’s lone score in regulation came on a 76-yard touchdown run from Nolan Bullock late in the second quarter.
It stayed that way through the entire second half.
In the first overtime, the teams traded 25-yard field goals. In the second overtime, Walnut Grove scored to take a 16-10 lead but was called for a 15-yard personal foul penalty and the Knights blocked the ensuing extra-point attempt. Johnson scored on its next play on a 15-yard reverse by Bullock but with a chance to win it a bad snap on the PAT resulted in a failed 2-point pass play to keep the game going.
Neither team scored in the third overtime and Walnut Grove took a 22-16 lead on a quick score but missed on the 2-point conversion. That set the stage for Jack Luttrell’s game-winning plays.
“I’ve never been a part of anything like that in my career,” Stan Luttrell said. “Just a great sense of accomplishment for these guys to get their first region win. Hopefully, this will be a big confidence builder for them.”
