Rebound season for Camden Catholic's Johnson

The broken tibia in the eighth grade was difficult to come back from. So was the torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his first preseason game as a sophomore.

But when Camden Catholic senior running back-safety Malik Johnson suffered an ankle injury on the third play of the second game of his senior year, it didn't dull his spirit or desire.

"It was tough - I have to admit," Johnson said.

Tough is a good way to describe the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Johnson, who bounced back in a senior season in which he missed one game with the ankle injury and was hindered in others.

Johnson kept plugging away and saved his best performance for last. During Wednesday night's 38-15 win at rival Paul VI, he gained 129 yards on 18 carries and scored three touchdowns, including a 78-yard reception from Tyree Rodgers. Johnson added a two-point conversion reception and also was a force at free safety with six tackles and a pass deflection.

"It was such a great feeling," Johnson said. "I loved being out there, and we went out with a bang."

It didn't matter that the weather, rainy and cold, was miserable Wednesday. Johnson chose to play in short sleeves.

"You want the other team to know that the cold doesn't bother you," he said.

A little bit of cold wasn't going to deter Johnson, who during the week was wearing a boot on his right ankle.

So he was playing at less than 100 percent, but it was difficult to tell when he ran away from defenders on the long touchdown reception from Rodgers, or when he dashed for touchdown runs of 11 and 30 yards.

"He's just a high-character kid," Camden Catholic coach Nick Strom said. "I am so happy he and the rest of the seniors went out this way."

The Irish rebounded from a 4-6 campaign to go 8-2 in Strom's first season.

Johnson was a big part of it. Even in limited action, he finished with 579 yards rushing (6.6 per-carry average) and eight touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 246 yards and two more scores.

There was a simple reason that Johnson endured arduous rehab from his two injuries before this year and did everything to be ready while dealing with his ankle injury this season: He has a passion for the game that dates to the third grade, when he began playing organized football.

"I just love football, and this game means so much to me," said Johnson, a Pennsauken resident who hopes to play college football.

Johnson, also a high jumper and long jumper in track, is an excellent athlete, but sometimes it takes more than that to excel. He has a fire that spurred him to do anything it took to return to the field.

Now, it's the offseason, and Johnson can take some time to heal. He'll also have plenty of time to relive his final game, a true affirmation to all the hard work and dedication that enabled him to leave the most impressive of last impressions.