THE LAST SON: Holliday's Johnson prepares for final season coaching one of his own
He’s one of Holliday’s most successful football coaches, amassing 75 victories in nine years and producing three state quarterfinalists since 2018.
He’s a gregarious interview and a social media savant, informing his Twitter followers of Eagle sports scores and concession stand choices of the fans cheering them on.
But Frank Johnson is also a father of four football-playing sons. And the youngest is playing his last year of high school football this fall.
“To be honest, I haven’t really thought much about it,” Frank Johnson said. “I’ve had a kid to coach for a long time, whether it’s junior high or high school football. I’m going to enjoy this year the best I can. When I’m an empty nester, then I’ll consider myself old.”
Jaxx Johnson never wanted to play for anyone else, and the team’s starting fullback and inside linebacker has high expectations for the 2022 Eagles, which open the year ranked No. 6 in 3A Division II.
“I think our No. 1 goal and it’s been this way since freshman year is to get past the fourth round and get to state,” Jaxx said. “Personal goals don’t mean as much as long as our team succeeds. I’m tired of the district accolades – I really want just one thing.”
All four of Frank’s sons have had success playing for their father. Oldest son Justin won his first 11 games as a Colorado City senior in 2010, and two years later Jake advanced to the state quarterfinals in his final season.
Jett’s senior year at Holliday (2018) also ended with a state quarterfinal appearance. That’s the same round where Jaxx's junior season came to a halt as the Eagles set a new school record with 13 victories in 2021.
“We’ve talked about who played on the better team,” Jaxx said. “I still think Jett’s senior team smokes us (the 2021 team) because it’d be hard to block Tanner (Bayard) and Jake (Turner). That team was just really good.
“But I know we’re up there. I know I have bragging rights because I’ve won more games than any of them won in their whole career. I was there for eight of the 10 wins we had as a freshman so I’m 33-4.”
Perhaps the livelier debate when all four Johnson sons get together is who is taller. At 6-foot-2, Jett owns a distinct height advantage, but the other three sons and their father are all right around 5-11.
“It’s a hell of an argument every time,” Frank said. “They grow hair out and put on different shoes. Everything becomes a competition. The lack of hair hurts me, now that I’m bald, it doesn’t really help.”
The most interesting fact about the Johnson brothers is that all four played different offensive positions − Justin at receiver, Jake at center, Jett at quarterback – but the same position on the defensive side. That’s not a coincidence, either.
Frank Johnson coaches linebackers and wanted his boys playing the position he was in charge of. Those defensive sessions proved to be valuable bonding times away from the house.
“Football doesn’t really get brought up at home,” said Jaxx, who rushed for 686 yards and 12 touchdowns last year to go along with 128 tackles. “It’s awesome to have him as my No. 1 supporter and biggest critic. He wants me to be the best I can be.”
Not only is Frank Johnson one of the area’s best high school football coaches, but his Twitter game may be unmatched. Follow @Coachfjohnson and you’ll be inundated by inning-by-inning playoff results and a “Faces in the Crowd” bit that includes pictures of unsuspecting Eagles fans.
Does Frank’s youngest son think get tired of his father’s attempts at humor? Far from the case.
“I think he’s hilarious on Facebook and Twitter. He’s one of the funniest people in the world,” Jaxx said. “You don’t get to hear his speeches. Those are probably funnier than his social media tirades.”
Jaxx’s favorite line from one of Frank’s speeches is, “You’ve got to fight next week like you’re the third monkey trying to get on Noah’s Ark and it’s starting to rain.” It’s not quite in Knute Rockne’s “Win One for the Gipper” territory, but it’s not far from that, either.
Frank always took his sons to the field house growing up. When the oldest two played together on Colorado City’s varsity, Jett served as ball boy and 5-year-old Jaxx was in charge of picking up the tee after kickoffs.
Jaxx took as much pride in that responsibility as he does now in shutting down opposing offenses. It helps that Jaxx has Jett to lean on for words of wisdom, calling his older brother his best friend.
When looking back at Jett’s defensive film, he sees some similarities (besides sharing the No. 5 jersey) but also some differences in the way they play inside linebacker.
“Jett was bigger and stronger, but not as fast. He was a lot better at making reads,” Jaxx said. “Usually it’s athleticism getting me to the play. He was such a great leader, too. He got everyone to practice with the same intensity. I try to mimic that.”
The 2022 season will mark Johnson’s 34th in the profession, and while much has been rumored about his impending retirement, Johnson hasn’t made any decisions on his future and said he won’t until the end of the 2022-23 school year.
Frank Johnson still loves what he does, coaching football and working with kids. The fact that this year will be the last one with his last kid makes it even more special.
OFFENSE
Running Holliday’s offense for a third straight year is quarterback Peyton Marchand, who threw for 1,357 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior.
“He ought to be great this year and he’s such a competitor,” Frank Johnson said. “We graduated a couple good running backs, but we have a ton left. We’re three-deep at both fullback and tailback.”
Colin Hays will spell Jaxx Johnson at fullback, while Kaison Yow and Tyrese Polite are expected to shoulder the load at tailback. Sophomore Parker Jones, who starred on defense a year ago, will take on an expanded offensive role at wingback.
Josh Tibbets, Caleb Foster, Cooper Turner and tight end Tate Mahan are expected to lead the offensive line, while Dallas Pecot and Parker Smith are expected to be two of Marchand’s top targets in the passing game.
DEFENSE
The defensive front will be the Eagles’ biggest strength with Johnson and Hays manning the inside linebacker spots. Jones is coming off a 149-tackle freshman season at outside linebacker as defenses were running away from him by the playoffs.
Mahan is coming off a first-team 6-3A selection at defensive end and will be joined by Tibbets and Turner on the defensive line. Marchand may have to play more at safety as guys like Pecot and Yow will be counted to step up in a young secondary.
Johnson said the early-season gauntlet of Iowa Park, Jim Ned, Idalou, Childress and Snyder might be the hardest non-district slate he’s ever scheduled. But if the Eagles can emerge healthy, they’ll be better off for it.
“We feel like the number of kids we have coming back, we feel like we have a chance to be a really good team,” Frank Johnson said. “Our record may not be as good because of scheduling, but the team itself may be just as good or maybe a little better.”
EXTRA POINT
Holliday has won at least 10 games for five consecutive seasons. No area team has ever gotten to six as the Eagles (2017-present) are tied with Vernon (1989-93) for the most all-time.
Holliday Eagles
Head Coach: Frank Johnson (10th year)
Last year’s record: 13-1
Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense
Base offense/defense: Wing-T/3-4
Last playoff appearance: 2021 (Lost to Gunter in state quarterfinals)
Last district title: 2021
SCHEDULE
Aug. 26 vs. Iowa Park 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at Jim Ned 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 vs. Idalou 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 at Childress 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Snyder 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Valley View* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 vs. Henrietta* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at S&S Consolidated* 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 vs. City View* 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 at Callisburg* 7:30 p.m.
PLAYER TO WATCH: TE/DL Tate Mahan (Sr.) – A two-way first-team 6-3A selection last year, Mahan leads a skilled offensive line that will be tested on a weekly basis.
GAME TO WATCH: Sept. 16 at Childress – Nobody’s non-district schedule around here is tougher than the Eagles’ slate. This will be Holliday’s second Top 10 matchup in as many weeks.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Holliday Eagles 2022 high school football preview and schedule
