Before the season began, the Northridge football coaching staff set up its own betting line.
Not for the outcome of upcoming games or the ensuing college football season. Rather, the over/under was set to predict how many times running back and safety Brock Johnson would lose his lunch on the sideline this season.
So far, Johnson has been over the spread.
"He doesn't know his second speed," coach Erik Thompson said. "He plays 100 mph all the time."
"Some of it is nerves, but the other part is just pushing myself hard," Johnson said. "I get drained and my stomach gets weak."
That's what happens when you work double-duty.
As a junior, Johnson led the state in tackles as a safety, averaging more than 11 tackles a game, and was a tertiary complement to running back Jordan Lee, one of Class 5A's top returning running backs. In most cases, however, Johnson was more accustomed to posting the blocks that allowed Lee to run wild.
"I'm definitely more of a defensive than offensive player," Johnson said, who's already nabbed 35 tackles in three games.
Try telling that to Northridge's recent opponents who have witnessed Johnson rush for 277 yards and four touchdowns since Lee has been out with a high-ankle sprain suffered during the Knights' 34-17 season opening win over Sky View.
"He's doing so much for us," Lee said. "He's just really stepped it up and proved himself to me and the team."
Johnson had been waiting for the opportunity.
Over the summer, he conveniently shed 25 pounds from his 5-foot-9 frame, hoping the extra litheness would come in handy and help to prevent injury. Sure enough, when Lee came up injured, Johnson was the obvious replacement.
"He's one of those unique individuals that can play both ways in demanding positions," Thompson said. "He catches well out of backfield, gets tough yards when you need them and is explosive in space."
"It's felt good to be that guy, to step up to the challenge," Johnson said. "It's something I would have never been able to do otherwise."
But that's not to say Johnson isn't hoping for Lee's speedy recovery.
After all, Johnson knows it's only a matter of time before the extra workload takes its toll.
"I still cramp up during every game," Johnson said, who tries to combat the fatigue with his trademark pre-game pickle-juice elixir. "But by the time I get home at night, I still can't move."
Last season, that intensity resulted in a series of injuries, including a broken rib, a hairline fracture in his tibia and a concussion. Still, Johnson padded up and played through the injuries, though his field time was inevitably limited down the stretch. And while the Knights would like nothing more than to see Johnson continue to tear up the field, the risk of repeat injury isn't lost on Thompson.
"He'd have the ball on every play if I let him. He's not afraid of any situation," Thompson said. "But when Lee comes back, we'll try to limit Brock a bit."
As it turns out, it won't be such a bad thing for the Knights, either.
While it hasn't been easy for Lee to come to terms with the inevitable dent to his senior year stat line, he's made the most of the unexpected layoff by helping direct the Knights interim trio of leading rushers including Johnson, Austin Tate and Trent Buckley. Upon his return, he hopes the added depth will give even more freedom to do what he does best.
"It's been hard, but I know that now we have more than one or two guys who can do some damage," Lee said. "If our opponents want to beat us, they'll have to stop me and Brock." —
Northridge rushing
Brock Johnson has emerged as the Northridge football team's leading rusher while Jordan Lee, the No. 10 running back in the state last season, recovers from a high-ankle sprain suffered in the Knights season-opening 34-17 win over Sky View.
With Lee on the sideline, Johnson has rushed for 277 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, he's nabbed 35 tackles in three games. Last season, Johnson rushed for a total of 394 yards and seven touchdowns.
Lee is expected to start in Northridge's Sept. 17 home game against Viewmont.
