RallyNorth.net

Brooks runs away from Roxbury

Saturday, September, 26 By Jeff Hamrick

LAWRENCE — Although he was held in check much of the game, Jordan Johnson proved he is capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.

The senior quarterback scored three times and added a touchdown pass to power Brooks to a season-opening 27-10 victory over Roxbury last night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Johnson, who has committed to play at Brighan Young University next year, broke open a tight contest with a 48-yard scoring pass to Jason Bucco that provided Brooks a 20-10 advantage midway through the final quarter before ensuring victory with a 71-yard dash with less than a minute remaining. Bucco's reception was made on a nice catch of a ball Johnson threw up in the air and a leaping Bucco took away from a defender at the 15.

"What shined tonight was Jordan Johnson and Jason Bucco," Brooks coach Alex Konovalchik said. "The cool thing about (Bucco's touchdown reception) was they were playing us so tight and we needed to go downfield and over the top there. He made a huge catch."

After rushing for 60 yards in the opening half, Johnson finished with 180 yards on 22 attempts and completed two of his three passes for 57 more.

"Offensively we could have done a little better," said Johnson, who had only six carries longer than five yards. "That comes with time. We have to fix a couple things in practice this week and we'll be ready for the next game."

The most exciting moment of Johnson's night came on a 90-yard kickoff return as time expired in the first half. The return, which came on the heels of a Roxbury touchdown that tied the score 7-7, was set up on a reverse handoff from Bucco to Johnson.

"Coach called the right return," Johnson said. "When I took it to the left side, I knew there'd be a hole. I had to cutback a couple times and we got six on the board."

The Brooks defense bent early in the fourth allowing Roxbury to march 60 yards in 6 minutes on a drive that had it set up first-and-goal at the 7. But Brooks surrendered one yard on two rushing plays before Ryan Gibeley sacked Roxbury quarterback Jack Colton for a seven-yard loss. The stand forced Roxbury to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Luke Faust.

"It was intensity from the captains," said Andover native Brian Charlebois, a junior who had three tackles for losses on the Roxbury drive. "We were going all out and throwing every thing we had at them. "We have a lot of seniors on this team and they carry us."