It hasn’t been a long journey for Emmanuel Johnson.
He really just moved a few yards, from the playing field to the home stands at Edgar Johnson Stadium … and now back on to the field.
The Portland High junior football standout has gone through an educational endeavor though.
“I had attitude problems,” Johnson said. “I was being young and stupid. I had to mature. I had to put aside (some things).”
Portland High junior Emmanuel Johnson hopes to continue his success as the Panthers open play in the Class 4A playoffs with a game at Kenwood on Friday evening.
Johnson quit the team last season, watching the team conclude a one-win season from the stands.
He repeatedly made home crowd erupt during last Friday evening’s 32-19 victory over visiting Macon County, scoring touchdowns of 79 and 61 yards in addition to a game-clinching interception that he returned 52 yards in the game’s final seconds.
The win propelled the Panthers into the playoffs for the first time since 2012, ending the Tigers’ season in the process.
“It was a one-game season,” Johnson said. “At the beginning of the season, that was our motto.
“We play for each other. We do our assignments. There’s not a lot of arguing on the field. We play as a team.”
Johnson missed back-to-back games against Springfield and Maplewood due to a concussion before returning two weeks ago, in a 21-20 loss to visiting Friendship Christian.
“He was out for three weeks,” Portland second-year head coach Greg Cavanah said. “I’m okay with the guy (freshman Kobe’ Dutcher) who backs him up, but I think we felt lost when we didn’t have him.”
Panther senior fullback/linebacker Kemper Dixon added, “He has brought stability back to the running game and to our pass defense since he has returned. He is also one of the main contributors on special teams.”
Johnson may have felt a little lost when he was away from the team last fall.
Emmanuel Johnson
“Coach Cavanah gave me a second chance,” Johnson said. “I’m trying to make it up to him.”
Cavanah added, “Everybody deserves a second chance. I’ve always allowed a kid a second chance. Although he wasn’t there at the end last year, he still did every workout I asked him do. I think he understood how much he missed this team and the game. It showed (against Macon County).”
Johnson is averaging 7.6 yards per carry, having compiled 536 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. Johnson also has 10 receptions that have resulted in 130 yards and two touchdowns.
“I feel now that it was good that he quit, because it showed him how much he wanted to be on the field with his teammates,” Dixon said. “His absence from the game made him want it more, and I think it shows in the way he has played this year.”
The Panthers snapped a three-game losing skid with last Friday’s season-extending victory.
“It’s hard work in practice,” Johnson said. “We went back to the basics. After the White House game (a 28-17 victory on Sept. 4), it went downhill for a bit. We went back to work. The seniors led us, and it was great coaching.”
Cavanah added, “We’ve had outstanding leadership. Our seniors haven’t jumped on people. They have led by example, and they’ve led by their voice. The kids got more fluid (last week) with what we were trying to do. They were working. We treated (last) week as a playoff week.”
It’s another do-or-die affair for Portland this Friday as the team travels to Clarksville for its Class 4A playoff opener against Region 5-4A champion Kenwood.
“First, we need to defend their running game,” Dixon said. “They have a great running back (junior Antwuan Branch). We also need to continue to playing together as a team, as we did last week against Macon County. We also must control our mistakes and play penalty-free.”
Cavanah added, “We have to get (the Macon County) win behind us and get focused on Kenwood. It’s (a matter of) rallying together and getting it done. We saw it (against Friendship Christian). We saw it (against Macon County), and we are expecting it going forward.”
Reach Craig Harris at charris@mtcngroup.com or at 615-575-7138. Follow him on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.