There’s not a lot that I can say about this one other than this:
Johnny Langan just turned in what is quite possibly the toughest performance I have ever seen on a football field.
Yes, he threw for over 300 yards. Yes, the Crusaders got their biggest win of the season to date. But it was how we got here– with Langan operating on one foot after spraining his ankle two weeks ago– that is so impressive. The quarterback, also known as “Johnny Football”, willed the Crusaders to the 17-14 win and a 4-0 record on the season. He took several massive hits over the course of the game and was even carried off the field at one point late in the game. And yet, he was still effective, even as he could barely move in the pocket, let alone outside of it.
This game was about him, and, from my view in the broadcast booth, it looked like he could barely walk as the game drew closer to its end. Honestly, I thought that we’d see something like the Byron Leftwich drive before the game ended. I really did, but it didn’t happen. Oh well.
But here’s to you, Johnny, for giving us an afternoon of toughness and inspiration. If you can’t be inspired by what he did today, I can’t help you.
OTHER PIECES OF NOTE:
Josh McKenzie sat out today’s game with an elbow dislocation suffered last week against DePaul. Sophomore Rahmir Johnson rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown in his stead.
Bergen’s receivers also had a solid game, as Andrew Vito and Ankaury Camilo both cleared the 100-yard mark. Dylan Classi added 42 yards and a touchdown.
Bergen Catholic’s defense played outstanding football in the victory, with Jahmel Johnson intercepting Paladin quarterback Andrew Brito early in the game. Erik Massey’s strip-sack of Brito combined with Aeneas DiCosmo’s recovery sealed the game for the Crusaders with under a minute to play.