Midland Legacy’s Damien Johnson named Built Ford Tough 6A Player of the Week

Midland Legacy running back/defensive back Damien Johnson was named 6A Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week and is also the CBS7 Player of the Week, according to CBS7 reporter Jakob Brandenberg.

The honors followed Johnson’s explosive performance in Legacy’s 39-31 win over Converse Judson, during which he racked up 201 yards rushing, three rushing towchdowns, and a 79-yard kick-off return for a touchdown that pushed Legacy ahead 29-25 in the third quarter. Johnson had two kickoff returns for 116 yards, and his fourth TD of the game, a 5-yard run, was the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.

Johnson also played corner on second half passing downs and red-zone situations.

Midland Legacy Head Coach Clint Hartman described Johnson as explosive in his limited carries over four games for the Rebels. In his junior year, he was a first-team all-district cornerback. In his senior season, Coach Hartmen opted to “give Johnson a full workload,” and Johnson has delivered.

“I knew he was explosive. I didn’t know how good he would be,” the coach said. “Judson hadn’t given up a lot of rushing yards all year to anybody. We thought it would be hard to move them and look what happened, 19 carries for 201 yards. Simple math that’s above 10 yards a carry.”

Coach Hartman further described Johnson as “the ultimate team player,” as he moved from running back to defensive back as a sophomore to accommodate what was best for the team.

“I’m most proud of a guy that works as hard as he does, he always has been a team player,” the coach said. “He gets an accolade and an award like that, it’s well deserved. It made my day when (I learned that he won).”