HEAD COACH: Wiiliam Harrell ♦ RECORD: 22-58, ninth season ♦ 2022 SEASON: 0-10 ♦ REGION: 8-4A, playing non-region
If seasons were measured on pure improvement alone, Johnson would have been a playoff contender in 2022.
The Knights more than doubled their offensive output from 52 points in 2021 to 112 last season. They also shaved three touchdowns off their defensive numbers, dropping down to 320 (32.0 points/game) from 502 (50.2 ppg) in 2021.
Unfortunately for the Knights, however, none of those improved numbers translated into them being able to break the program’s longest losing streak, which now stands at 32 straight after their third consecutive winless season.
Head coach William Harrell does not need reminding just how close they were to snapping that streak last season. They were just four points from posting three wins, losing a pair of games by one point and another by two points.
“I’m not going to lie, we’re a lot closer than people think and we are making some positive strides as a program,” he said. “We would definitely like to get that losing streak off our backs, no doubt. We let those three games slip away, and that was frustrating. But at the same time, we were in every game except for maybe two -- the East Jackson game (45-0) and the Druid Hills game (56-15) -- so we saw improvement on the field.”
But after a season (2022) that saw their numbers begin to increase, they tapered off leading into the 2023 campaign as only 35 took part in summer practices.
On offense, they return senior quarterback Greyson Higgins (20-of-63, 228 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 INT) and senior running back Demetri Moore (790 yards, 8 TD). Seniors Justin Yanez and Guillermo Rosales, junior Armondo Garcia, and sophomores Alexander Esparza and Cristian Corona all return up front.
On defense, most of their linebacking group, including their leading tackler in Linus Griffith (76 tackles, 3 INT), who will anchor the secondary, are back.
But Harrell said the biggest issue is just staying positive as they continue to try and rebuild the program.
“We just need to find a way to get a win. If we can do that, I really think we’ll see this get moving forward very quickly,” he said.
GRADUATION STINGS
The Knights graduated their leading receiver in Joshua Mascrie, who had 6 catches for 112 yards and 1 TD. On defense, they lost half of their secondary in CBs Kahlil Jackson and Jud Farmer.
A NUMBERS GAME
The Knights are still trying to rebuild the program after participation levels dropped into the 20s during the COVID season of 2020. After a brief apex into the 50s last summer, the Knights have seen that drop into the 30s in 2023.
“Hopefully there are some more kids that will come out once school starts back and we get back into the building. Right now, the guys that we have are the guys that we have.”
OFFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
The Knights return their top two rushers from 2022 in their single-wing attack and should be solid on the ground with four also returning on the line. Higgins also had made strides in the offseason.
“We feel we can throw it a little more this year with Greyson’s progression, but we’re going to play to our strengths as much as we can,” Harrell said. “Demetri Moore is one of the more underrated players in the area. I really see him having a breakout kind of season.”
DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT
The Knights improved significantly in 2022. And they return their top three linebackers. But the biggest issue could be an inexperienced line that will be a work-in-progress.
“We still need a lot more guys (up front), and we’re working to try and develop some of the younger guys.”
SOME GROUNDED STRENGTHS
Running back, O-line, linebacker — Moore, and senior backup Julius Gomez (66 car., 262 yards) give them a solid 1-2 punch on the ground behind what could be a solid wall of blockers if they can stay healthy and develop some depth. The linebacking group – led by juniors Cristian Lemos and Gomez, who combined for 74 tackles, and juniors Logan Caughman and Bryan Romero – can go 5 or 6 deep and should anchor a unit that could improve even more from last year’s 18-point improvement overall.
STILL PLENTY OF QUESTION MARKS
The numbers are down from a year ago and developing depth along both lines is crucial. At receiver, only junior Nehemiah Anderson and senior Linus Griffith are back. They combined for just 3 catches for 59 yards in 2022.
A TOUGH NON-REGION SCHEDULE
The Knights are still locked into a non-region schedule for this season and have a schedule that could allow them to break their 32-game losing streak. But the usual rivalry Battle of Oakwood showdown with West Hall is still intact, and they play fellow Hall County foe East Hall as well. They finish with three of their last four on the road, however.
WHAT’S TRENDING
Despite the losing streak, the Knights were on an upward trajectory in 2022 with increased numbers and several close losses. However, with the numbers falling back to near-COVID year totals, finding and keeping interested players is probably a higher priority than winning games. But breaking the program’s longest losing streak would no doubt do wonders to generate renewed interest in the program.
