5 months ago
Johnson County's ranked third in the state in class single A.
They're getting the respect because they've opened up the 2009 campaign with a 4-0 record.
We talked to head coach Don Norton who says the kids can't live on their past performances.
On a Tuesday afternoon, its practice as usual for the unbeaten trojans in JoCo.
But with an undefeated record, coach Don Norton says it's hard to ignore his young teams confidence.
Coach Don Norton says, "We're excited about that. Our kids have had a lot of excitement and everything. Our team chemistry and team leadership is improving."
Norton says it's early but his team will have to get better to make a run at another title.
"I think things that are contributing to our success," says Norton. "It's the tradition we have and our administration. Plus our parents and kids' attitude about how we're allowed to teach them."
But the school has the blueprint for championship caliber. In 1993 they lost the championship game to Lincoln County but in the late 1970s led by a running back legend named Herschel Walker, everything changed for the blue and white.
In fact, 30 years ago this season in 1979, Johnson County put Wrightsville on the map with a Class A state title. Now the buzz around town is they would love the team to win another on the anniversary, but Coach Norton says he is taking it one game at a time.
"I didn't know there was a buzz about us. We just stay to ourselves and work hard and go week to week that's all we do."
This season, led by junior standouts Zack Walker and DJ Rozier, the team is producing highlights on the field, but Norton says its the things you may not see that makes him most proud of his team.
"We have a lot of kids doing positive on the field, classroom and in the community. This summer we had 16 kids rededicate themselves to Christ and we're real proud of that. So to just call one or two names wouldn't be right," beams the proud coach.
On Fridays every player on the roster is going to be expected to help win under the lights.
Johnson County travels to Mount Vernon this Friday night to play Montgomery County.
