University of Charleston quarterback Jeremy Johnson has a short window of time to maximize the opportunity he has under center for the Golden Eagles.
After a college career that took him from West Virginia University to Lamar College to Blinn Junior College to the University of Houston, the sixth-year senior finally has his chance as a starting quarterback at UC. He made the most of it Saturday, using both his arm and legs to help Charleston past previously undefeated Glenville State, 31-30.
With eight games left in his college career - the next coming at 1 p.m. Saturday at West Virginia State - Johnson said he doesn't let a moment slip by without trying to improve himself.
"I work at it, every day, all day," Johnson said. "Once game time comes, I trust my preparation and just let it fly."
In UC's previous two games, Johnson split reps with redshirt freshman Mason Olszewski. Against Glenville, Olszewski got one series in the first quarter, completing 1 of 2 passes for no gain and losing five yards on a run. Otherwise, it was Johnson's ship to steer.
The Silsbee, Texas, native completed 11 of 20 passes for 214 yards and no interceptions. Six of those completions covered at least 20 yards, with a long of 48 yards. He also ran for 88 yards on 11 carries, including a 56-yard sprint in the second quarter that got the Golden Eagles to the Pioneers 9-yard line. UC (2-1, 2-1 Mountain East) scored two plays later on a 5-yard Tevion Cappe run.
"I felt like I had to use all my abilities and keep the defense on their toes," Johnson said. "Once they had to worry about my feet, they kind of forget about their assignments and worry about me, and that opens up the passing game."
Johnson spent last season on the sideline for Charleston, recovering from knee surgery, so he had a season to learn the offense. Golden Eagles coach Pat Kirkland said it's been his ability to take the field and experience it that has made the difference.
"He's getting better each week," Kirkland said. "He grasps the offense and knows the scheme. But I think the live reps are helping him out in making better decisions."
A four-star dual-threat quarterback coming out of Silsbee High School, Johnson has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 516 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also third on the team in rushing, with 155 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
"I'm excited about him," Kirkland said. "He's still got some work to do, but he's definitely got some big-play potential."
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Among the keys in West Virginia State's 52-31 win over West Virginia Wesleyan Saturday was the quartet of drive-killing interceptions the Yellow Jackets swiped from Bobcats quarterback Luke Casey. Casey finished with 329 yards and two touchdowns on 28-of-52 passing, but State's ability to force turnovers kept it ahead. WVSU also turned those interceptions into 10 points.
State coach Jon Anderson said those interceptions came as result of solid play in every area of the defense.
"The number one thing was the defense was being very aggressive," he said. "They did a great job, especially in the second half, of taking away the run game and forcing Wesleyan to throw the football. Then it came down to the study and preparation the defensive guys did, knowing where the ball's going to be put, having guys in coverage in the right spots and executing.
"They've got the mindset that, when the ball is in the air, they have as much a right to it as anyone else. They're going to go after it."
WVSU held the Bobcats to 124 yards rushing.
The Yellow Jackets (2-1, 2-1) enter Saturday's game versus Charleston with six interceptions through three games. State picked off just nine passes through the entire 2014 campaign. Anderson said this season's total is a return to form.
"It's kind of strange, we had [19] the year before that [in 2013]," he said. "I think it's having the right guys in the right place at the right time and having the proper mindset. It's something they work really, really hard on. For us to be the type of defense we want to be, we've got to take that ball away."