MU8KEGON TWP. - There are a lot of talented players stepping into new and important roles for the Reeths-Puffer football team this season.
Lukas Johnson is a perfect example.
Johnson is not new to varsity football. He joined the Rockets as a junior last season, after two years of junior varsity, and fit right in, winning a starting spot on defense as a safety.
He excelled in his defense-only role and displayed a lot of speed, athleticism and intelligence.
Lukas Johnson
He performed so well, in fact, that the R-P coaches thought he might fit in well on offense this fall.
So they made the move, and suddenly Johnson is a two-way starter, as a safety on defense and one of the two new wide receivers on offense.
He won’t be alone in his new offensive duties. The Rockets have a bunch of new faces in the crucial ball-handling positions, like junior quarterback Mason Darke, sophomore running back Bryce Muskovin and sophomore wide receiver Connor McManus.
Just how inexperienced is this group? Nobody on the R-P offense has scored a single touchdown at the varsity level, but they all hope that’s a temporary issue that will be solved quickly on Thursday night when the Rockets open the season on the road against Forest Hills Central.
Johnson, left, gains a step on a teammate during drills.
“We have good confidence,” Johnson said. “We don’t really focus on the ‘no touchdowns’ thing. We’re just going to focus on going out, doing our best every game and seeing how it goes.”
Looking back, it’s kind of amazing that Johnson will be playing such a key role for the R-P football program,
He started playing football in the third grade and quickly decided he didn’t like the sport. He doesn’t remember for sure if he finished that season or not, but he definitely did not sign up the next year.
He was back on the field, however, by the time the seventh grade rolled around. He said it was his parents’ idea, but the experience clicked the second time around.
Johnson, right, knocks away a pass during defensive drills.
“My parents thought I should give it another shot, and I ended up really liking it and giving it my all,” he said.
After two years of middle school football, Johnson joined the JV as a freshman, playing safety on defense and slot receiver on offense.
Johnson said it was exciting to join the Reeths-Puffer varsity last year and become a starting safety.
He excelled in the assignment, recording 54 tackles and two interceptions while helping the Rockets post a great 7-2 regular season record and qualify for the Division 2 state playoffs.
Johnson, right, goes through agility drills.
He was bitterly disappointed when R-P squandered an early lead and lost to Mona Shores 29-20 in the district playoffs.
“We wanted that one so bad,” he said. “We thought we had all the momentum. People said we had nothing to lose, but I thought we had everything to lose and everything to gain. It was so hard.”
Johnson had no idea as a junior that he was also auditioning for a future assignment at wide receiver.
But head coach Cody Kater was watching and thought he had the tools to get the job done.
Johnson gets a few tips from a coach during practice.
“He runs great routes, understands what we’re trying to do with the ball, has a great football IQ and great ball skills,” Kater said. “Now we have an opportunity to put the ball in his hands a little bit."
Johnson said he’s been catching his share of passes in practice, but only had one thrown his way in last Thursday’s scrimmage at West Ottawa High School.
“I was too worked up about the defensive back and I missed the ball,” he said. “Little bit of nerves. I got that one out of the way.”
Once the season gets rolling, Johnson thinks he and McManus, the other new wideout. will catch more than their share of passes from Darke, the new quarterback.
He said McManus “is really talented. He’s a tall kid with good hands and he’s really fast, too.”
Johnson picks off a pass during drills.
Johnson said Darke “throws us good balls at practice every day, and he’s very fast. I think he’s going to be a huge factor for us this year.”
So what does Johnson think he does well as a receiver?
“Tracking the ball,” he said. “The coaches like to say my speed, and I would say that sometimes. I think I’m pretty strong at getting the defenders off me. I just need to focus on the little details, still.
“I am nervous. I will say that. But I am focusing on getting rid of the nerves and making the catches. Confidence is a really big part of it. I just have to go into it saying I have to catch this ball.”
For Johnson, the task for himself and all the other new guys in the R-P offense is to go out and show everyone what they can do, starting on Thursday against Forest Hills Central, the defending Division 3 state champion.
“We look at it as a great opportunity to show who we are by going out and winning that game,” he said. “I think this team has the potential to go far. Keeping our confidence up will be important.”