It’s good to have a quarterback who can run as well as pass. It’s even better to have a quarterback who can tackle.
And that’s exactly who the Bangor Rams have leading their team in senior Kyle Johnson.
The 6-foot-2, 225 pound senior QB not only paces the Bangor offense, he also helps anchor the defense as a linebacker.
And Johnson wasted no time packing a punch on both sides of the ball in the season opener against Deering in Bangor on Friday night.
The Portland school is making the jump to Class A this year, and Bangor welcomed them with a punishing style of play throughout the game. Bangor won comfortably 21-0.
“Coming into this game, we knew Deering was going to be a big threat,” Johnson said after the win. “And it just felt good to go out there and dominate and get the first one under the belt. And now we move on to week two.”
Early on, Johnson ran over the Deering Rams on offense and ran them down on defense. He made a key tackle on third down to make sure Deering wasted good starting field position on its first possession. Then he followed it up on offense by breaking a 20-year run that included a nifty spin move in the visitors’ secondary.
The senior quarterback provided Bangor’s first points of the game, and of the season, with a powerful one-yard touchdown run toward the end of the first quarter.
Bangor senior defensive backs Trey Tennett and Jordan Pettway then combined for a pivotal tackle to stop Deering in its tracks and get the ball back to the home team.
Bangor added to its lead in the second quarter with a 19-yard toss from Johnson to fellow senior and co-captain Zac Cota.
The running back and linebacker Cota joined with Johnson to set a bruising tone on both sides of the ball, helping Bangor control the game throughout.
Even when Deering’s Joey Foley nearly broke a kick return for a touchdown, Bangor held firm at their own 20 yard line. Another tackle for a loss by Johnson forced a turnover on downs.
Johnson quickly provided a sack early in the second half, and then added another short rushing touchdown at the end of the third quarter. A two-point conversion made it a 21-0 ball game.
Johnson enjoyed making those plays on both offense and defense Friday night.
“I was telling my coach, I think this is the first time I’ve ever been playing football and I’ve had more fun on defense,” Johnson said. “Equally, it’s all as fun — just being out there with the team.”
The fourth quarter started with one of the plays of the game, as Bangor safety Hayden Summerlin wrestled the ball away from a Deering wide receiver for a dazzling interception on the sideline.
Bangor failed to capitalize on the turnover, but its swarming defense quickly stalled the Deering attack once again. That Rams defense earned Friday night’s shutout victory to start the season.
Deering will host Edward Little of Auburn next week. Bangor’s second game will be at Thornton Academy, last year’s Class A state runner up, next Friday.
Johnson thinks the key for Bangor this season will be staying together as a team.
“I think we’ve just got to keep building week after week,” Johnson said.