Armstrong, Knights enjoy record-setting season

OAKWOOD - The Johnson Knights football team has a week to enjoy what at this point is a season like no other in the school's history.

They set a record for wins in a season (8) and completed the best two-year stretch in the program's 31-years with 14 wins. The best two-year span before that was in 1986-87 when they won 12 games after back-to-back 6-4 seasons. They went 7-3 in 1994, but that was sandwiched by two losing seasons.

Coach Blair Armstrong, in his second year at the helm of the Knights, said they have another new goal in mind as they prepare for next week's Class AAA opening round playoff game against No. 7 Cartersville.

"Johnson has never won a playoff game and that's the next goal in our sights," Armstrong said.

The Knights (8-2) finished third in Region 7-AAA, one spot higher than their fourth place finish last year. But last year they drew No. 1 LaGrange and were rudely greeted into the playoff club by the Grangers in a 54-6 loss.

"We were just glad to make it. Realistically we were no match for them. But you have to start small and we learned what we needed to do to get to a level where we can win in the playoffs. That game helped us prepare for this year," Armstrong said.

The tone for another possible playoff run and a record-setting season was set in the opening week when the Knights threw the West Hall gorilla off their backs. They scored late to beat the Spartans 7-6, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the series.

"That was a big win for the kids because most of them had never beaten a West Hall team - high school or middle school - and that gave them confidence to think they could beat the better teams in the region," Armstrong said. "It also gave them braggings rights around town for a change."

For now, Armstrong said they will enjoy their week off and then get down to business next Monday in their quest for more history.

"I think we're much better prepared for the playoffs this time around. I told them to enjoy things this week and then next week we'll work on making more history," he said.