HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—If you had taken a poll of fans around Joan C. Edwards Stadium prior to Friday’s game against East Carolina asking who they thought would have the biggest impact on The Herd’s offense, none of them would have answered Devon Johnson.
Heck, Devon Johnson would not have answered Devon Johnson.
But that is exactly what happened in the 59-28 win over the Pirates that propelled Marshall into next week’s C-USA Championship game. The sparingly used tight end/fullback rushed for two touchdowns and caught a third.
“I just work hard in practice and try to come out here and work hard on the field and get a win,” said the humble Johnson after the game.
Johnson was the feature back a new “jumbo” formation The Herd debuted for the first time Friday afternoon. On a first-and-goal from the two-yard line, Doc ran an extra lineman into the game, lined up reserve guard and South Charleston High graduate Blake Brooks in as a fullback and put Johnson as the deep set back. Cato simply handed the ball to Johnson and the 240 pound sophomore followed the beef to the goal line.
“We’ve been working on that for two weeks. Doc felt like it was the right game to use it. I was very excited to get the ball in my hands,” said Johnson.
The Herd used the Doc Holliday designed formation twice more. On first-and-goal in the third quarter, Marshall ran out the jumbo set and again Johnson punched it in from two-yards out.
But Johnson wasn’t done yet.
Later in the third quarter, Cato, under pressure with the pocket breaking down, scrambled and flipped the ball to an open Johnson in the middle of the field.
“I back up but I didn’t think he was going to throw it, so when he did it kind of shocked me.”
The 240-pound Johnson cut back toward the ECU sideline and got a block from 155-pound wide out Devon Smith to spring him for the touchdown.
“Devon might be small but he’s hard,” grinned Johnson. “When I saw him I just followed him.”
Johnson was the darling of preseason practice this fall, impressing the coaching staff and his teammates. However, in an offense that features, Cato, Tommy Shuler, Gator Hoskins and others it has taken a while to find a place for him.
Until now.