School: Longmont Trojans, Class 4A Northern League
Record: 5-2 overall, 5-1 league; 50-30 career
Coaching résumé: Assistant at Lyons in 1990-91, Skyline 1992 and Longmont 1993-99; head coach at Longmont since 2000.
Life lines: Age 38. Born in Longmont. Graduated from Lyons High School in 1988 and Northern Colorado in 1992, when he earned a degree in mathematics, with a master’s in 1994. Teaches mathematics at Longmont.
Back in his day: Running back-safety at Lyons from 1985-87; all-Boulder County and all-state honorable mention safety as a senior; safety at UNC from 1988-89.
Last week: In the midst of attempting to stay within range of league-leading Broomfield, the Trojans visited a longtime foe Friday.
And in their usual, close-shave style, the Trojans were able to hold off Loveland 30-25.
Four of Longmont’s seven games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less; in seven games under Johnson vs. Loveland, a prime rival for decades, including the 2004 state playoffs, the difference has been by an average of 5.5 points.
It was almost too much for Johnson, who nearly didn’t make it through the game while battling the flu.
“I felt like I played in the game and got the snot beat out of me,” he said.
Actually, his Trojans did the beating by running to a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter, then weathering assorted moves by the Indians, who closed the gap to a touchdown.
Led by sound line play, two touchdowns by Beau Brittenham, another by Tyson Martinez and three field goals by David Cowan, the Trojans are able to enter Week 8 tied for second in the Northern with Greeley West (which they defeated in Week 4) and set to host Mountain View on Thursday. They will travel to undefeated Broomfield in Week 9.
Johnson, whose brother, Joe, developed ThunderRidge into a three-time state champion and whose father, John, won two titles at Lyons, understands the importance of preparation.
“We don’t talk about must-win games,” Johnson said of meeting the Indians. “We talked to the kids about it and told them this is what we have to do. And the players knew.”
The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week award, in its 12th year, honors 10 coaches during the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. Doug Johnson joins Tim Owens of Thomas Jefferson, Bret McGatlin of Chatfield, George Purnell of Holyoke, Mike Griebel of Heritage, Mike Woolford of Regis and Jason Catron of Falcon as 2007 winners. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ Dec. 30 game against the Vikings at Invesco Field at Mile High and will receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel consisting of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; and Andy Lindahl, KOA 850 AM.
