For years on a football field, he did not have a name. Throughout grade school and the early portion of high school, players and coaches usually called Owen Johnson “Lucas’ brother,” or “Lucas’ little brother,” in reference to Owen’s older brother. It changed a lot his freshman year, when Owen played a huge role in La Salle’s first undefeated freshmen season in years.
No longer “Lucas’ brother,” or “Lucas’ little brother,” Owen Johnson climbed out from under his brother’s shadow and became Owen Johnson this year, when the 5-foot-11, 180-pound sophomore receiver and return man began making impact plays.
On Saturday at 1 p.m. at Villanova Stadium, Owen Johnson and his La Salle teammates will try and do something no other La Salle team has done in a decade, climb out from under the shadow of archrival St. Joseph’s Prep and qualify for the PIAA Class 6A state playoffs.
That means dethroning the defending three-time PIAA Class 6A state champion Hawks (5-4) on Saturday.
Owen has certainly helped La Salle (8-1) get here.
This season, as a sophomore starter on one of the state’s best teams, Owen has 36 catches for 560 yards and 9 touchdowns, including a third-quarter 98-yard touchdown kickoff return in the Explorers’ 42-35 victory over Malvern Prep back in August, in Ocean City, New Jersey. That was a game in which Explorers’ coach Brett Gordon jumped on Johnson early in the game to sternly remind him about getting up field and “no tip-toeing” out of bounds.
In La Salle’s 31-20 regular-season victory over Prep on Oct. 4, Johnson came up with one of the biggest plays of the game, making an adjustment on an underthrown pass for a 46-yard reception on third-and-13 from the La Salle 7 with six minutes to play, chewing valuable minutes off the clock.
“Owen is in the same class as my son, Luke, so I got to see all of his games his freshman year, and it was very apparent he was physically superior to the guys his age, but we decided to keep the freshmen together,” Gordon said. “Owen was able to get separation, and he was hard to take down. Owen has proven he could play at the high school varsity level. For me, the game that sealed my trust Owen could play at this level was our season-opener against Pittsburgh Central Catholic.”
It was a big environment on a big stage, Owen led La Salle in receiving, including 30-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Sidwar that sealed the 23-6 victory with around five minutes to play.
“I felt like that game helped me create the mindset that I belonged, and they are the opponent, and I have to beat them on every single play,” Owen said. “I was there last year as a freshman at Wissahickon when La Salle lost (21-14 to St. Joe’s Prep in the Catholic League Class 6A championship). I remember seeing my brother Lucas (the Explorers’ starting senior defensive back) walking off that field with tears in his eyes. I’m taking this game personally on Saturday. I think everyone on this team is.
“This is everything, and we know it. I’ve been thinking about this game since we finished the (regular) season against Father Judge. When we talk to each other, we talk about doing this for the seniors. Everyone is focused, more focused than we have been all year. That’s all (Prep) does is talk, and talk. We have to shut them up. We don’t like each other. I don’t think that’s a secret.”
Growing up, Owen and Lucas were always battling one another. For years, Lucas, being older, bigger and stronger, would get the better of his younger brother. They still go at it at practice today for La Salle, with Owen being a receiver and Lucas being a defensive back. They played for the same Pop Warner youth team, with Lucas playing a starring role and Owen two years younger always referred to “Lucas’ younger brother,” or “Lucas’ brother.”
“Yeah, I didn’t have a name,” Owen recalled, laughing. “I remember my seventh-grade year, I didn’t have a good year. I don’t think I even scored a touchdown. I was playing up against older kids, but my eighth-grade year my confidence grew and I played better. By the time I got to La Salle, when Lucas was a junior and I was a freshman, some of the kids knew me a little, but I you can say, technically, I was still ‘Lucas’ little brother.’ Even the coaches referred to me as ‘Lucas’ little brother.’”
In August, Owen began making big plays in practice. La Salle’s coaches already had ideas about Owen. The Pittsburgh Central Catholic performance settled it.
Every great once in a while, Owen may be referred to as “Lucas’ little brother.”
Not so much anymore.
St. Joe’s Prep knows No. 1. The Hawks will no doubt pay attention to La Salle’s Notre Dame-bound two-way star Joey O’Brien. But glossing over Owen could be a major mistake.
“Owen plays at a very high confidence level, though at the same time is very humble,” Gordon said. “Owen knows he belongs. He is an incredibly grounded kid who will be a big part of our future.”
This is the game La Salle wanted. This is the game Gordon and Johnson, and O’Brien have been waiting for.
It’s here.
Villanova Stadium sits 12,500. Most of those seats will be taken.
“I try to put myself in different shoes, and Prep can look at two long third-down conversions inside our 10, and if we don’t convert, Prep would get the ball inside the 50, with a chance to comeback,” Gordon said. “We had one touchdown called back for a penalty, and had to settle for a field goal on our opening drive when we were flagged again. Our defense, our offense and special teams had a lot to improve. We have been shooting for Nov. 1. all season.
“I’m never comfortable.”
Especially when playing St. Joe’s Prep.
Joseph Santoliquito is a hall of fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito [twitter.com]. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball [twitter.com].