St. Rita’s Brandon Johnson Jr. kept his poise, even as everything around him turned to chaos.
The junior running back stayed alert and saw senior quarterback Steven Armbruster under duress. Instincts took over at that exact moment, building the bridge for a bigger performance.
“I knew I had to make a play,” Johnson said. “The pass broke down and turned into a scramble drill. I knew there wasn’t much room on the sideline, but I made the catch.
“After that, my confidence just skyrocketed.”
Johnson’s 18-yard catch set the stage for his dramatic 4-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds remaining Friday night for the host Mustangs in a thrilling 28-21 victory over Marist in Chicago.
Armbruster threw TD passes of 26 and 22 yards to junior wide receiver Donovan Evans and also added a rushing TD for St. Rita (1-0).
Senior running back Kevin Bartolotta scored three TDs and ran for 167 yards on 26 carries for Marist (0-1). His 67-yard TD in the third quarter gave the RedHawks their only lead at 21-14.
Armbruster completed 11 of 23 passes for 138 yards. He set a new program record for career TD passes with the two throws to Evans in the first half.
His signature moment was the improvised pass to Johnson on the right sideline. Johnson then carried the ball on the last four plays, breaking off carries of eight, nine and 10 yards.
“Our receivers know where they have to get when we run that drill,” Armbruster said. “Brandon’s a really physical back and he’s really fast and I think that surprises some people.
“He’s a really tough guy that we can run five or six times in a row.”
St. Rita coach Martin Hopkins said the two-year varsity regular made the most of his opportunities.
“Brandon’s so dynamic with the ball and he’s always moving forward,” Hopkins said. “I think that’s the key. He rarely gets tackled for a loss, and he uses his size and speed so well.
“You saw that on the broken play where he made the huge catch.”
For those wondering, Johnson is not related to the Chicago mayor of the same name. But his father is also named Brandon Johnson.
It’s not uncommon for students at St. Rita to call him “The Mayor.” That said, his father is the defining influence on his young life.
“My dad is the one I’ve always looked up to,” Johnson said. “I first started playing when I was about 4 or so. My first time I got hit so hard that I wanted to quit and go home
“My father said I was going to keep playing. Once I kept going, I saw I was going to be good.”
The comeback win that Johnson helped orchestrate was fairly minor compared to a five-month recovery from a torn meniscus to his right knee suffered last spring.
“It happened while I was squatting,” he said. “The recovery was really mental and physical. I had to work really hard and I just started practicing again recently.
“I’m so proud to be back and trying my hardest.”
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Johnson has the size to run between the tackles and the speed to get to the edge.
”My style is powerful, crafty and I think very creative,” he said. “I’ve also been running track since grammar school, and I know once I get in space, it’s off to the races.”
Like most running backs, Johnson wanted to have the ball in his hands with the game hanging in the balance.
“Until you get to know me, I’m a pretty quiet guy,” he said. “Once you know me, I’m an outspoken guy. I don’t play for myself. I play for my teammates.
“Being out there with them, I knew it was on me and I had to get it done.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.