- Tracy Johnson throws TD pass vs Blake
How does Lakewood better a 6-5 2010 Spartan team, packed with talent, loaded with youth and filled with disappointment? WIN, simply win! This year’s 2011 Spartans entered the season more prepared, more poised and with more expectations.
No surprise here as the 2011 Spartans prepared for the 2011 season over the summer entering several passing tournaments (including to BCP 9 Route 7 on 7 tournament), conditioning in the hot summer sun, grinding in a weight room that could easily be considered one of the most deprived in Pinellas county and ending each workout with 1500 abdominal crunches. So 3-0 is not unexpected to the Spartans as they busted their tails all spring and summer to reap the rewards of the labor.
Head football coach, Cory Moore, can be considered the driving force behind Lakewood’s early success, but 2013 QB, Tracy Johnson is the glue. The young leader has embraced his role and has driven the Spartans to a 3-0 start and put them in the conversation for front runners in the highly competitive 5A-8 district. “He is mature in the pocket and makes good reads. He stays after practice every day to get better. Some days he looks like Tom Brady and other days he looks like Mike Vick”, says team leading receiver and 2013 division 1 ATH prospect, Rodney Adams. How does Johnson replace Alphonso Evans (graduation) who was highly productive in 2010 as the Spartans signal caller (57% comp, 1223 yards)? If you like numbers, check these out; currently Johnson has completed 50% of his passes for 700 yards and 10 passing touchdowns. That’s through 3 games. Lakewood has scored 96 points this season, 32 points per game and Johnson has helped score 60 of those points with 10 touchdowns through the air.
Why has Tracy Johnson been so good? We asked him, here is how he put it:
BCP: Why has Tracy Johnson been so productive?
JOHNSON: Put in the hard work, putting trust in my receivers. They want to be successful and we hate losing. Knowing the offense and what the defense is going to do.
BCP: What was your motivation throughout the summer?
JOHNSON: To be successful and win a state championship. In my definition we can have any losses.
BCP: How has Head Coach Cory Moore challenged you?
JOHNSON: Challenged me to be the starting QB. Gotta be the man on and off the field and set an example for the team.
BCP: Is Lakewood now the hunter or the hunted?
JOHNSON: The hunter! We haven’t done anything yet. We want that hardware to prove what we have done