"I just had a good feeling," Johnson said. "Even those games we lost, a lot of good things came out of them. I knew we would get it going."

Credit the power of positive thinking. Credit the power of productive running, too.

Johnson has been a leader in both areas as the Garnets have put together a typical midseason surge. Haddon Heights (4-2) has won three in a row entering tonight's pivotal Colonial Conference inter-division game against Haddon Township (4-3).

"Josh has really got it going the last few weeks," Haddon Heights coach Tim George said. "He's made a lot of improvement."

The 5-9, 175-pound Johnson is a talkative guy who chatters away in the huddle. He said he makes a point of praising his offensive linemen as well as the team's lead-blocking fullbacks.

"I can't do anything without those guys," Johnson said. "I tell them all the time how much I appreciate all they do for me. They'll dive through a wall for you."

George said Johnson's vocal leadership helped the Garnets weather early losses to Colonial Conference powers Paulsboro and West Deptford.

"Josh is always talking to his offensive linemen," George said. "He takes a lot of pride in his two fullbacks [Jamir Taylor and Cartel Matthews] and the way they block.

"He's always going back to the huddle and talking to those guys. He's done a great job with that."

Johnson is more than talk. He has run for 817 yards on 120 carries (6.8-yard average) and has scored eight touchdowns.

Over the last three weeks, Johnson has raised his game. Not coincidentally, the Garnets have won three in a row to move into position to qualify for the Group 1 playoffs for the third year in a row.

Johnson ran 26 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-7 win over Collingswood. He ran 25 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-0 win over Overbrook. He ran 25 times for 243 yards and a touchdown in a 24-0 win over Lindenwold.

"I'm running more aggressively this season," Johnson said. "That's my secret as a senior. I'm more fearless. I know I'm a senior and guys I'm running against are seniors or juniors or sophomores.

"There's no reason I can't run through them. I'm lowering my shoulder into linemen. It's fun."

This October rally is typical of Haddon Heights. Two years ago, the Garnets started 0-3, surged into the playoffs, and gave eventual champion Glassboro all it could handle in the first round. Last year, Haddon Heights got hot in midseason and carried the torch all the way through a 33-9 victory over top-seeded Palmyra in the first round.

The Garnets are doing it again this season, creating a playofflike atmosphere for this evening's rare night game at Haddon Heights' old stadium between First and Second Avenues. The school will import portable lights for the clash with a Haddon Township team that also has designs on a Group 1 playoff berth.

"It's going to be a big game," Johnson said. "That's what you play for, to get into games that mean a lot at this time of the year and in the playoffs."

George said Johnson had drawn recruiting interest from Division I programs such as Syracuse, Temple and Cincinnati, as well as numerous Division 1-AA programs. In addition to his ability as a running back, Johnson also is a top return man (97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against West Deptford) and defensive back (three interceptions).

He's also a good talker.

"Some guys are vocal leaders, but in a negative way," Johnson said. "I believe in being a vocal leader in a positive way. It works better that way. Why bring a guy down? I prefer to pat them on the back."