RhodeIslandBuck
This guy's a real jerk
It already is, but RoJo leaving would make them contemplate suicide.
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It already is, but RoJo leaving would make them contemplate suicide.
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Muskegon football preview
Wednesday, August 23, 2006By Tom Kendra
CHRONICLE ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Ashton Leggett would be the featured offensive weapon on any other team in the area.
After all, Leggett is rated as the 26th-best senior football player in the state, according to Rivals.com, which raves about the fullback's "cutback ability and great vision."
But, of course, fellow Big Red Ronald Johnson is No. 1 on that list, combining with mammoth Detroit Cass Tech defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale as a being a notch above other players in the state.
<script src="http://ads.mlive.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.mlive.com/xml/story/S/SHSFB/@StoryAd" language="JavaScript1.1"></script> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) { document.write('<IFRAME WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 FRAMEBORDER=0 SCROLLING=no BORDERCOLOR="#000000" SRC="http://ads.mlive.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.mlive.com/xml/story/S/SHSFB/@StoryAd"></IFRAME>'); } --></script> <noscript>
</noscript> "Oh no, there's no jealousy around here," said Leggett, who certainly did more on the field last year for Muskegon, rushing for 1,010 yards on 117 carries, an average of 8.6 yards per carry.
"I consider it a blessing to be on the same team as Ronald. He's a great player and teammate. We'll help each other out."
It's that last comment which will keep opposing defensive coordinators up all night as they prepare to play the Big Reds.
Johnson, a 6-0, 185-pound senior who is being recruited by the nation's top programs such as USC, Ohio State and Michigan, commands respect at wide receiver, with his 4.4 speed and athletic ability.
If the opposition puts two players out on "RoJo," that leaves one less defender in the box to try and contain Leggett -- who combines strength, size (5-11, 225), great vision and deceptive speed. Leggett ran a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash this summer at Central Michigan.
"The No. 1 concern of the defense against us has to be Ashton Leggett, or else they're going to see him over and over again," said seventh-year Muskegon coach Tony Annese. "He is a power back with great vision and he showed last year that he's pretty good at running on the perimeter."
Leggett's best performance came in the regular-season finale against Mona Shores, when he ran 31 times for 288 yards.
Muskegon football preview
Wednesday, August 23, 2006By Tom Kendra
CHRONICLE ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Ashton Leggett would be the featured offensive weapon on any other team in the area.
After all, Leggett is rated as the 26th-best senior football player in the state, according to Rivals.com, which raves about the fullback's "cutback ability and great vision."
But, of course, fellow Big Red Ronald Johnson is No. 1 on that list, combining with mammoth Detroit Cass Tech defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale as a being a notch above other players in the state.
<script src="http://ads.mlive.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.mlive.com/xml/story/S/SHSFB/@StoryAd" language="JavaScript1.1"></script> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) { document.write('<IFRAME WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 FRAMEBORDER=0 SCROLLING=no BORDERCOLOR="#000000" SRC="http://ads.mlive.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.mlive.com/xml/story/S/SHSFB/@StoryAd"></IFRAME>'); } --></script> <noscript>
"I consider it a blessing to be on the same team as Ronald. He's a great player and teammate. We'll help each other out."
It's that last comment which will keep opposing defensive coordinators up all night as they prepare to play the Big Reds.
Johnson, a 6-0, 185-pound senior who is being recruited by the nation's top programs such as USC, Ohio State and Michigan, commands respect at wide receiver, with his 4.4 speed and athletic ability.
If the opposition puts two players out on "RoJo," that leaves one less defender in the box to try and contain Leggett -- who combines strength, size (5-11, 225), great vision and deceptive speed. Leggett ran a 4.57 in the 40-yard dash this summer at Central Michigan.
"The No. 1 concern of the defense against us has to be Ashton Leggett, or else they're going to see him over and over again," said seventh-year Muskegon coach Tony Annese. "He is a power back with great vision and he showed last year that he's pretty good at running on the perimeter."
Leggett's best performance came in the regular-season finale against Mona Shores, when he ran 31 times for 288 yards.
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Johnson leades cast of area game-breakers
Wednesday, August 23, 2006By Tom Kendra
<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(110, 14, 14);" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="130"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(110, 14, 14); padding: 2px 6px; color: rgb(75, 3, 3);" align="center" bgcolor="#fdf5f5" width="130">QUICK TAKE</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="box" width="130"> The Muskegon area has four of the state's Top 40 senior football players, according to the Rivals.com pre-summer rankings. No. 1: Ronald Johnson, Muskegon. Johnson, a 6-0, 185-pound receiver and cornerback, is called "possibly the nation's best cornerback in press man coverage." Runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, bench-presses 280 pounds. No. 14: Ryan VanBergen, Whitehall. VanBergen, a 6-5, 250-pound tight end and defensive end, earned this comment: "looks like a wide receiver running routes, but is so much bigger than everyone else." A 3.6 GPA student, VanBergen has been clocked at 4.8 in the 40. No. 26: Ashton Leggett, Muskegon. Leggett, a 5-11, 225-pound fullback and linebacker, has "legit speed and cutback ability with great vision." Ran a 4.57 in the 40 at Central Michigan this summer. No. 37: Lawrence Kimble, Mona Shores. Kimble, a 5-8, 174-pound running back, scored one of the top five ratings at his position earlier this year at the Nike camp at Ohio State. </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Austin Powers has his mojo, which makes him irresistible to women.
Muskegon High School's football team has its "RoJo," which makes the Big Reds one of the state's top-rated teams heading into this season, with many predicting a run toward the school's second state championship in three years.
Ronald Johnson, a.k.a. RoJo, is Muskegon's 6-0, 185-pound "slash man," who will start most games at wide receiver, but will sometimes be moved into the slot, other times line up at tailback and run the ball out of the backfield and even play quarterback and direct the veer offense in certain situations.
Oh yes, and return punts and kickoffs.
And punt.
And cover the opponent's best receiver at cornerback -- the position where he is considered the second-best in the entire country and where he is being recruited by schools like USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee, along with Michigan and Michigan State.
"It can get boring just standing out there at receiver," said Johnson, who wears No. 23 and is the top-rated senior football player in the state by Rivals.com. "So that's why I'm going to be moving around all over on offense. I can't wait to get started. I feel like I still have a lot to prove."
In some ways, he's right.
Muskegon coach Tony Annese estimates that Johnson only played about 40 total minutes of football last year, playing sparingly in the Big Reds' first three games, before tearing the ACL in his right knee during practice, two days before Muskegon's Week 4 loss to Zeeland West. He did not play again the rest of the season and the Big Reds finished 7-3, losing to Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills in the first round of the playoffs.
But what a 40 minutes it was.
Johnson put together a better highlight reel in less than one game of football than most players could do in their whole career.
In the first 15 minutes of last year's opening game against Grand Rapids Creston, Johnson returned a punt for touchdown, threw a pass to Elton Williams down to the 8-yard line, caught a TD pass and then returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He sat out most of the next two games against East Kentwood and Holland Christian with a nagging shoulder injury.
The biggest knock against Johnson is that he has been injury prone, but he said right now he's "100 percent healthy" and ready to play.
"There are incredible things he can do for us at every position, including quarterback," said Annese. "We'll take the same approach we did with him last year. We'll move him around and find different ways to get the ball in his hands."
Plenty of game-breakers
Johnson is certainly not the only game-breaker in town this fall. Far from it.
In fact, Muskegon has several other backs who are getting looks from Division I schools, including bruising fullback Ashton Leggett and Johnson's little brother, Corey, one of the area's top juniors.
"Corey's playing really, really well right now," said Annese. "If you put No. 23 on Corey, you wouldn't know the difference."
In addition to the Muskegon High trio, the other two area schools in the O-K Green also have legitimate college prospects running the ball, with Lawrence Kimble at Mona Shores and Kevin Battle at Reeths-Puffer.
The other receivers causing a buzz are Muskegon Heights' David Fox, who is also a college basketball recruit, and Grand Haven's Marc Treat, who could have a breakout season in the Buccaneers' new shotgun spread offense.
Quarterbacks to watch include all-around athletes like Montague's Dan Pineda and North Muskegon's Troy Forton. Power backs who can also make plays include Fruitport's Mike Hilliard, Oakridge's T.J. Patton and Muskegon Catholic's Tim Baker.
What these game-breakers have in common is the ability -- due to their speed, athletic ability, determination or smarts -- to make big plays even against a good and well-prepared defensive unit.
While all of those players will likely have big moments and big games over the next couple of months, RoJo is certainly in a class by himself.
No other player received personal visits at school from so many big-name coaches last year, names like Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, Michigan's Lloyd Carr, Michigan State's John L. Smith, Purdue's Joe Tiller and USC's Brennan Carroll, assistant coach and son of head coach Pete Carroll. Johnson said Pete Carroll told him he would make a personal visit to Muskegon this school year.
So where will he go?
Johnson is as undecided as ever and won't even give any hints.
The early favorite was Michigan, where Johnson could join Terrance Taylor, his teammate off the 2004 state championship team, and also be close to home. Johnson is expected to attend Michigan's home opener on Sept. 2 against Vanderbilt.
Recently, Michigan State has made a strong push for Johnson, who has been busy in summer school the past two summers, improving grades in his core classes to ensure his eligibility on the ACT sliding scale. MSU quarterback recruit Keith Nichol from Lowell said one of his main goals is to convince Johnson to join him as a Spartan.
"I might make a decision during this season or right when it's done," said Johnson, who runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. "Right now, I'm excited to finally be able to go out and play football. It's not an individual sport. I don't like all of this focus on me."
Game-breaker or decoy?
Muskegon fans expecting "The Ronald Johnson Show" are likely to go home disappointed on many nights this fall.
Like a great distance runner that holds back when he's already lapping the field, Johnson will not be running much out of the backfield, or playing quarterback or returning punts and kickoffs if the Big Reds have the game well in hand.
But if the Big Reds are in a battle against the likes of East Kentwood, defending O-K Green champions Zeeland West, or cross-town rivals Reeths-Puffer or Mona Shores, brace yourself for the type of all-around athlete that might come to a town like Muskegon only once in a generation.
"All I can say is that we played against Ronald Johnson this summer in a 7-on-7 camp and we have some good kids, but they just didn't match up," said Oakridge coach Jack Schugars, the dean of area football coaches. "He might not get the ball all the time, but you know they're going to shoot that cannon at some point. When they do, watch out."
Johnson will certainly improve on his meager stats from last season. He caught four passes for 117 yards, carried the ball twice for 37 yards, completed his only pass for 47 yards and returned one punt for a touchdown and one kickoff for a touchdown.
His most impressive statistic came from his sophomore year, when he set a Muskegon school record with 10 interceptions -- which helped get his name on the map. He also caught a touchdown pass in the Division 2 state championship game win over Orchard Lake-St. Mary's.
Annese said Johnson's role will be determined on a game-by-game basis, depending on how the opposition plays him.
"Basically, if he's split out and single covered, we're going to go to him somehow," said Annese. "But if they give him his due respect and put a couple of guys on him, then that takes a guy out of the box and I like our chances with our other guys there.
"Yeah, it's nice to have someone like Ronald. He changes things."
Johnson leades cast of area game-breakers
Wednesday, August 23, 2006By Tom Kendra
<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(110, 14, 14);" align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="130"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(110, 14, 14); padding: 2px 6px; color: rgb(75, 3, 3);" align="center" bgcolor="#fdf5f5" width="130">QUICK TAKE</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="box" width="130"> The Muskegon area has four of the state's Top 40 senior football players, according to the Rivals.com pre-summer rankings. No. 1: Ronald Johnson, Muskegon. Johnson, a 6-0, 185-pound receiver and cornerback, is called "possibly the nation's best cornerback in press man coverage." Runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, bench-presses 280 pounds. No. 14: Ryan VanBergen, Whitehall. VanBergen, a 6-5, 250-pound tight end and defensive end, earned this comment: "looks like a wide receiver running routes, but is so much bigger than everyone else." A 3.6 GPA student, VanBergen has been clocked at 4.8 in the 40. No. 26: Ashton Leggett, Muskegon. Leggett, a 5-11, 225-pound fullback and linebacker, has "legit speed and cutback ability with great vision." Ran a 4.57 in the 40 at Central Michigan this summer. No. 37: Lawrence Kimble, Mona Shores. Kimble, a 5-8, 174-pound running back, scored one of the top five ratings at his position earlier this year at the Nike camp at Ohio State. </td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Austin Powers has his mojo, which makes him irresistible to women.
Muskegon High School's football team has its "RoJo," which makes the Big Reds one of the state's top-rated teams heading into this season, with many predicting a run toward the school's second state championship in three years.
Ronald Johnson, a.k.a. RoJo, is Muskegon's 6-0, 185-pound "slash man," who will start most games at wide receiver, but will sometimes be moved into the slot, other times line up at tailback and run the ball out of the backfield and even play quarterback and direct the veer offense in certain situations.
Oh yes, and return punts and kickoffs.
And punt.
And cover the opponent's best receiver at cornerback -- the position where he is considered the second-best in the entire country and where he is being recruited by schools like USC, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee, along with Michigan and Michigan State.
"It can get boring just standing out there at receiver," said Johnson, who wears No. 23 and is the top-rated senior football player in the state by Rivals.com. "So that's why I'm going to be moving around all over on offense. I can't wait to get started. I feel like I still have a lot to prove."
In some ways, he's right.
Muskegon coach Tony Annese estimates that Johnson only played about 40 total minutes of football last year, playing sparingly in the Big Reds' first three games, before tearing the ACL in his right knee during practice, two days before Muskegon's Week 4 loss to Zeeland West. He did not play again the rest of the season and the Big Reds finished 7-3, losing to Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills in the first round of the playoffs.
But what a 40 minutes it was.
Johnson put together a better highlight reel in less than one game of football than most players could do in their whole career.
In the first 15 minutes of last year's opening game against Grand Rapids Creston, Johnson returned a punt for touchdown, threw a pass to Elton Williams down to the 8-yard line, caught a TD pass and then returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He sat out most of the next two games against East Kentwood and Holland Christian with a nagging shoulder injury.
The biggest knock against Johnson is that he has been injury prone, but he said right now he's "100 percent healthy" and ready to play.
"There are incredible things he can do for us at every position, including quarterback," said Annese. "We'll take the same approach we did with him last year. We'll move him around and find different ways to get the ball in his hands."
Plenty of game-breakers
Johnson is certainly not the only game-breaker in town this fall. Far from it.
In fact, Muskegon has several other backs who are getting looks from Division I schools, including bruising fullback Ashton Leggett and Johnson's little brother, Corey, one of the area's top juniors.
"Corey's playing really, really well right now," said Annese. "If you put No. 23 on Corey, you wouldn't know the difference."
In addition to the Muskegon High trio, the other two area schools in the O-K Green also have legitimate college prospects running the ball, with Lawrence Kimble at Mona Shores and Kevin Battle at Reeths-Puffer.
The other receivers causing a buzz are Muskegon Heights' David Fox, who is also a college basketball recruit, and Grand Haven's Marc Treat, who could have a breakout season in the Buccaneers' new shotgun spread offense.
Quarterbacks to watch include all-around athletes like Montague's Dan Pineda and North Muskegon's Troy Forton. Power backs who can also make plays include Fruitport's Mike Hilliard, Oakridge's T.J. Patton and Muskegon Catholic's Tim Baker.
What these game-breakers have in common is the ability -- due to their speed, athletic ability, determination or smarts -- to make big plays even against a good and well-prepared defensive unit.
While all of those players will likely have big moments and big games over the next couple of months, RoJo is certainly in a class by himself.
No other player received personal visits at school from so many big-name coaches last year, names like Notre Dame's Charlie Weis, Michigan's Lloyd Carr, Michigan State's John L. Smith, Purdue's Joe Tiller and USC's Brennan Carroll, assistant coach and son of head coach Pete Carroll. Johnson said Pete Carroll told him he would make a personal visit to Muskegon this school year.
So where will he go?
Johnson is as undecided as ever and won't even give any hints.
The early favorite was Michigan, where Johnson could join Terrance Taylor, his teammate off the 2004 state championship team, and also be close to home. Johnson is expected to attend Michigan's home opener on Sept. 2 against Vanderbilt.
Recently, Michigan State has made a strong push for Johnson, who has been busy in summer school the past two summers, improving grades in his core classes to ensure his eligibility on the ACT sliding scale. MSU quarterback recruit Keith Nichol from Lowell said one of his main goals is to convince Johnson to join him as a Spartan.
"I might make a decision during this season or right when it's done," said Johnson, who runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. "Right now, I'm excited to finally be able to go out and play football. It's not an individual sport. I don't like all of this focus on me."
Game-breaker or decoy?
Muskegon fans expecting "The Ronald Johnson Show" are likely to go home disappointed on many nights this fall.
Like a great distance runner that holds back when he's already lapping the field, Johnson will not be running much out of the backfield, or playing quarterback or returning punts and kickoffs if the Big Reds have the game well in hand.
But if the Big Reds are in a battle against the likes of East Kentwood, defending O-K Green champions Zeeland West, or cross-town rivals Reeths-Puffer or Mona Shores, brace yourself for the type of all-around athlete that might come to a town like Muskegon only once in a generation.
"All I can say is that we played against Ronald Johnson this summer in a 7-on-7 camp and we have some good kids, but they just didn't match up," said Oakridge coach Jack Schugars, the dean of area football coaches. "He might not get the ball all the time, but you know they're going to shoot that cannon at some point. When they do, watch out."
Johnson will certainly improve on his meager stats from last season. He caught four passes for 117 yards, carried the ball twice for 37 yards, completed his only pass for 47 yards and returned one punt for a touchdown and one kickoff for a touchdown.
His most impressive statistic came from his sophomore year, when he set a Muskegon school record with 10 interceptions -- which helped get his name on the map. He also caught a touchdown pass in the Division 2 state championship game win over Orchard Lake-St. Mary's.
Annese said Johnson's role will be determined on a game-by-game basis, depending on how the opposition plays him.
"Basically, if he's split out and single covered, we're going to go to him somehow," said Annese. "But if they give him his due respect and put a couple of guys on him, then that takes a guy out of the box and I like our chances with our other guys there.
"Yeah, it's nice to have someone like Ronald. He changes things."
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Yes, Big Reds, Johnson are the real deal
Friday, September 01, 2006
KENTWOOD -- It wasn't long into the game before an East Kentwood official manning the press box took a big swig of water, shook his head and exclaimed:
"We looked a lot better than this last week."
Funny, how Muskegon's football squad can do that to you. It can take a good team and make it look inept.
That's what happened Thursday in front of a big crowd at the palacious East Kentwood facilities, where Muskegon and Ronald Johnson made it known that they are the real deal, indeed.
The talented Big Reds quickly turned the game into a rout and a running clock to the tune of 49-14. And, yes, Johnson was a big part of the demolition.
Highlight reels will not do this player justice. You have to see it in person. You have to get a feel for the electricity this player creates. He certainly showed against the second largest school in the state why everyone from Notre Dame's Charlie Weis to Southern Cal's Pete Carroll wants him in their corner -- as in cornerback, which wasn't even the position where he did the most damage Thursday.
Teams are not going to throw in Johnson's direction. Let's make that clear from the get-go. But, Chris Crawford doesn't mind throwing in his teammate's direction. And he'll do it over and over.
The rout was on late in the first quarter when Johnson took a pass over his left shoulder and bolted down the sideline for an 80-yard TD and a 14-0 lead. A few minutes later, he lined up at tailback out of the I-formation and stutter-stepped past five defenders before shifting into high gear for an 86-yard run.
Later, he would add another 68-yard TD pass reception and, just to make things interesting, a 36-yard punt return for a score.
"It was fun," said Johnson. "I was just trying to do anything I could to help the team and I had good blocking up front."
OK, but it looked more like freeze tag in the backyard and no matter who was it, he wasn't going to catch this rare athlete, who combines speed and strength and seems to be coated in an oil that just makes defenders' hands slip away.
Do you know what the best thing about Ronald Johnson is? It's that he knows it could all end tomorrow.
One of the most hyped players in Muskegon area history has not let all of the attention go to his head. He is shy, quiet and a little embarrassed that everyone wants to thrust a microphone in his face whenever he comes off the field.
"He's a glorious child," said Muskegon coach Tony Annese. "He couldn't be egotistical if he tried."
So glorious, that do you know why he hasn't chosen a college yet? Well, he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. He likes Lloyd Carr and yes, even Jim Tressel, if you dare mention Michigan and Ohio State in the same breath. He likes them all, respects all of their programs and is just trying to have fun with his teammates in search of the ultimate for a high school player -- a state championship.
Perhaps, what has kept RoJo so grounded is that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last year in the week leading up to Game 4 and missed the remainder of the season. He had to work like heck to get himself back in game shape and he has made a vow to make every moment count.
When he starts to feel a little overwhelmed, he merely has to rub the clustered scar that rides six inches down his knee and reminds him daily where he has been and how much further he needs to go.
It has been a blessing for Annese and Muskegon's players to have an athlete like RoJo on the squad. But, it can be a slippery slope, too.
It takes 11 players on both sides of the ball to make a team and Annese must remind his squad daily that RoJo can't do it alone.
"Ronald is a special player," said Annese. "But, he is a great teammate and very supportive of his team."
And, perhaps most surprising, when you consider that teenage athletes often are driven by jealousy, his teammates are supportive of him. They line up and hand out high fives whenever he comes off the field.
RoJo has teamed with Crawford, whose development at quarterback has been stunning, to make one of the most dangerous tandems in the state.
"Ronald is like the easy button," said Crawford, who completed 7-of-12 passes for 193 yards against East Kentwood. "I just tell Ronald to run deep and he goes up and gets it. He always puts the team first."
Muskegon will get its first real test next week when it travels to unbeaten Zeeland West, which defeated perennial power Hudsonville on Thursday.
The wing-T has presented problems for the Big Reds in the past and they will put in extra practice this weekend to prepare.
"It's more than the wing-T," said Annese. "It is the best wing-T in the state by one of the best coaching staffs in the state (led by former Orchard View coach John Shillito) and we have to find ways to slow them down."
As for Johnson, he is excited about the opportunity.
"We'll be ready for them," he said.
The question is, will they be ready for him.
Cindy Fairfield is sports editor of The Muskegon Chronicle. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]
Yes, Big Reds, Johnson are the real deal
Friday, September 01, 2006
KENTWOOD -- It wasn't long into the game before an East Kentwood official manning the press box took a big swig of water, shook his head and exclaimed:
"We looked a lot better than this last week."
Funny, how Muskegon's football squad can do that to you. It can take a good team and make it look inept.
That's what happened Thursday in front of a big crowd at the palacious East Kentwood facilities, where Muskegon and Ronald Johnson made it known that they are the real deal, indeed.
The talented Big Reds quickly turned the game into a rout and a running clock to the tune of 49-14. And, yes, Johnson was a big part of the demolition.
Highlight reels will not do this player justice. You have to see it in person. You have to get a feel for the electricity this player creates. He certainly showed against the second largest school in the state why everyone from Notre Dame's Charlie Weis to Southern Cal's Pete Carroll wants him in their corner -- as in cornerback, which wasn't even the position where he did the most damage Thursday.
Teams are not going to throw in Johnson's direction. Let's make that clear from the get-go. But, Chris Crawford doesn't mind throwing in his teammate's direction. And he'll do it over and over.
The rout was on late in the first quarter when Johnson took a pass over his left shoulder and bolted down the sideline for an 80-yard TD and a 14-0 lead. A few minutes later, he lined up at tailback out of the I-formation and stutter-stepped past five defenders before shifting into high gear for an 86-yard run.
Later, he would add another 68-yard TD pass reception and, just to make things interesting, a 36-yard punt return for a score.
"It was fun," said Johnson. "I was just trying to do anything I could to help the team and I had good blocking up front."
OK, but it looked more like freeze tag in the backyard and no matter who was it, he wasn't going to catch this rare athlete, who combines speed and strength and seems to be coated in an oil that just makes defenders' hands slip away.
Do you know what the best thing about Ronald Johnson is? It's that he knows it could all end tomorrow.
One of the most hyped players in Muskegon area history has not let all of the attention go to his head. He is shy, quiet and a little embarrassed that everyone wants to thrust a microphone in his face whenever he comes off the field.
"He's a glorious child," said Muskegon coach Tony Annese. "He couldn't be egotistical if he tried."
So glorious, that do you know why he hasn't chosen a college yet? Well, he doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. He likes Lloyd Carr and yes, even Jim Tressel, if you dare mention Michigan and Ohio State in the same breath. He likes them all, respects all of their programs and is just trying to have fun with his teammates in search of the ultimate for a high school player -- a state championship.
Perhaps, what has kept RoJo so grounded is that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last year in the week leading up to Game 4 and missed the remainder of the season. He had to work like heck to get himself back in game shape and he has made a vow to make every moment count.
When he starts to feel a little overwhelmed, he merely has to rub the clustered scar that rides six inches down his knee and reminds him daily where he has been and how much further he needs to go.
It has been a blessing for Annese and Muskegon's players to have an athlete like RoJo on the squad. But, it can be a slippery slope, too.
It takes 11 players on both sides of the ball to make a team and Annese must remind his squad daily that RoJo can't do it alone.
"Ronald is a special player," said Annese. "But, he is a great teammate and very supportive of his team."
And, perhaps most surprising, when you consider that teenage athletes often are driven by jealousy, his teammates are supportive of him. They line up and hand out high fives whenever he comes off the field.
RoJo has teamed with Crawford, whose development at quarterback has been stunning, to make one of the most dangerous tandems in the state.
"Ronald is like the easy button," said Crawford, who completed 7-of-12 passes for 193 yards against East Kentwood. "I just tell Ronald to run deep and he goes up and gets it. He always puts the team first."
Muskegon will get its first real test next week when it travels to unbeaten Zeeland West, which defeated perennial power Hudsonville on Thursday.
The wing-T has presented problems for the Big Reds in the past and they will put in extra practice this weekend to prepare.
"It's more than the wing-T," said Annese. "It is the best wing-T in the state by one of the best coaching staffs in the state (led by former Orchard View coach John Shillito) and we have to find ways to slow them down."
As for Johnson, he is excited about the opportunity.
"We'll be ready for them," he said.
The question is, will they be ready for him.
Cindy Fairfield is sports editor of The Muskegon Chronicle. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]
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Tom Markowski: High schools: Football
Muskegon's Johnson knows score
Muskegon star Ronald Johnson is perplexed about where he'll attend college. But on high school game nights, he has no trouble finding his destination -- the end zone.
Johnson, a 6-foot, 185-pound all-purpose player, scored touchdowns on half of his eight touches as Muskegon (2-0), ranked No. 5, pasted East Kentwood 49-14 on Thursday.
Johnson didn't touch the ball on offense in his team's opener, but then made the most of his chances in Week 2. He scored on an 86-yard run, a 36-yard punt return, and had five receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
His touchdown on the punt return was spectacular as he avoided eight tacklers to reach the end zone.
"It was a Reggie Bush-type run," Muskegon coach Tony Annese said. "As a coach on the sideline, all I could do was turn my head and laugh. Even the Kentwood fans were oohing and ahhing."
As for his college plans, Johnson was in Ann Arbor last Saturday watching Michigan defeat Vanderbilt. This Saturday he said he'll likely head to South Bend, Ind., for the Penn State-Notre Dame game.
"That makes sense," Annese said. "Both teams are on his list."
Johnson's list is extensive and includes U-M, Michigan State and Southern California, among others.
Annese said Johnson will likely take official visits once the season is over. Until then, see you in the end zone, RoJo.
Tom Markowski: High schools: Football
Muskegon's Johnson knows score
Muskegon star Ronald Johnson is perplexed about where he'll attend college. But on high school game nights, he has no trouble finding his destination -- the end zone.
Johnson, a 6-foot, 185-pound all-purpose player, scored touchdowns on half of his eight touches as Muskegon (2-0), ranked No. 5, pasted East Kentwood 49-14 on Thursday.
Johnson didn't touch the ball on offense in his team's opener, but then made the most of his chances in Week 2. He scored on an 86-yard run, a 36-yard punt return, and had five receptions for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
His touchdown on the punt return was spectacular as he avoided eight tacklers to reach the end zone.
"It was a Reggie Bush-type run," Muskegon coach Tony Annese said. "As a coach on the sideline, all I could do was turn my head and laugh. Even the Kentwood fans were oohing and ahhing."
As for his college plans, Johnson was in Ann Arbor last Saturday watching Michigan defeat Vanderbilt. This Saturday he said he'll likely head to South Bend, Ind., for the Penn State-Notre Dame game.
"That makes sense," Annese said. "Both teams are on his list."
Johnson's list is extensive and includes U-M, Michigan State and Southern California, among others.
Annese said Johnson will likely take official visits once the season is over. Until then, see you in the end zone, RoJo.
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Rivals $
9/12/06
From the USC site...recap of Ronald's game against Zeeland last weekend. He will be at the USC/ND game and JT called recently.
Still a Michigan lean, but I would start getting concerned if I were Lloyd and English...I still think he ends up in Ann Arbor but this does not seem to be the lock it once was. USC is always dangerous...
9/12/06
From the USC site...recap of Ronald's game against Zeeland last weekend. He will be at the USC/ND game and JT called recently.
Still a Michigan lean, but I would start getting concerned if I were Lloyd and English...I still think he ends up in Ann Arbor but this does not seem to be the lock it once was. USC is always dangerous...
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OSUBucks22
No touching!
Scout $ (GBW)
9/19
RoJo talks about his trip to ND last weekend and how he was impressed by Michigan's defense. He said he is going to a game somewhere this weekend, but he hasn't decided where.
9/19
RoJo talks about his trip to ND last weekend and how he was impressed by Michigan's defense. He said he is going to a game somewhere this weekend, but he hasn't decided where.
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His bro is a jr. That article only strengthens my stance that he's all blue, but is enjoying the recruiting process.
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BG - Bill Kurelic - 09/27/06
Ronald will make an official visit to Southern Cal on November 24th (Notre Dame game); he also wants to make an official visit to Ohio State (no date set).
Ronald will make an official visit to Southern Cal on November 24th (Notre Dame game); he also wants to make an official visit to Ohio State (no date set).
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