Johnson’s record-breaking year propels Jefferson into 2015

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, W.Va. — The Jefferson High School football program has been rejuvenated over the last couple of years as head coach Craig Hunter now heads into his third season at the helm.

When Hunter took over the program in the spring of 2013, Jefferson had won a combined three games in its previous three seasons. Last year, finishing at 7-3 in the regular season, the Cougars advanced into the Class AAA playoffs for the first time since 2005.

“That was a great run for us,” Hunter said. “We did some things that we haven’t done in the past. We went 5-5 the year before and built on that, (getting into the playoffs).”

And while the 12-seed Cougars lost in that playoff matchup at No. 5 Point Pleasant 38-20, it was clear that the eastern panhandle school had re-emerged.

“We just tried to get the kids to be dedicated and to actually doing things in the offseason,” Hunter said of rebuilding the progam. “Football essentially doesn’t stop. We have to be in the weight room in the offseason, we have to do our running in the offseason and know what we’re doing with our playbook. That’s been the main thing, along with holding kids accountable.”

Jefferson will look to take another step in 2015, returning several key playmakers on both sides of the ball. 6-foot-2, 205 pound senior defensive back/tight end DeLonte Berry returns, along with 6-foot-2 all-state senior receiver Christian Johnson who made statewide noise last year with 65 catches for 1,418 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Senior Jefferson receiver Christian Johnson finished with 1,418 yards receiving in 2014, collecting 21.8 yards per catch.
Senior Jefferson receiver Christian Johnson finished with 1,418 yards receiving in 2014, collecting 21.8 yards per catch.

Johnson also set a couple of state records in 2014, finishing with seven touchdown catches in a win over Hampshire. His 24 regular season touchdown receptions also set a record. Both Berry and Johnson hold college offers and have been getting high D-I recruiting interest throughout the summer.

A couple of other impact players back for the Cougars include linebacker Phillip Keller and two-way starter Isaac Myers who broke his leg last season in a win over Millbrooke (Va.) on October 10.

Jefferson will have a new quarterback this season as graduated senior Andrew King is gone. The all-state athlete threw for 2,750 yards last season for the Cougars.

“We were expecting (to make a run) last year, we just didn’t know how it was going to happen,” Hunter said. “We were expecting to be better and maybe make the playoffs. Now, our goal is to advance. We want to have a better record so that we can get a home playoff game and not have to travel six or seven hours for a playoff game (like last year).”

Jefferson will have three new teams on its 2015 slate as Mt. Ridge (Md.), Hampshire and Keyser are no longer on the schedule. Filling those slots will be Handley (Va.), Fairmont Senior and South Hagerstown (Md.). The Cougars’ final four regular season games are all on the road.

“We lost some teams, some schools dropped us after last year,” Hunter said. “Our schedule will be a little tougher, but it will prep us for the playoffs a little better.”

2015 JEFFERSON FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
WEEK TEAM DATE
1 millbrook-va vs. MILLBROOK (Va.)
August 28
2 jefferson-wv BYE WEEK
September 4
3 musselman-wv at MUSSELMAN
September 11
4 hedgesville-wv vs. HEDGESVILLE
September 18
5 sherando-va vs. SHERANDO (Va.)
September 25
6 handley-va vs. HANDLEY (Va.)
October 2
7 vs. SPRING MILLS
October 9
8 fairmont senior-wv at FAIRMONT SENIOR
October 16
9 martinsburg-wv at MARTINSBURG October 23
10 at SOUTH HAGERSTOWN (Md.)
October 30
11 at WASHINGTON
November 6

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