SVHS Football: Trojans rematch Mojave, Johnson

YERMO • There are two distinct memories the Silver Valley high school football team has of Darren Johnson.

One of the Mojave running back being airlifted from the football field to end a regular season game at halftime.

The other of Johnson running all over them in the playoffs.

Neither was a sight they wanted to see.

Silver Valley will travel to meet Johnson and Mojave at 7 p.m. tonight.

The two teams have a unique history from their two games last season.

Their regular season matchup ended at halftime on Oct. 10, 2008. Johnson was tackled by a gang of Trojans to end the first half. While both teams made their way to the locker rooms, Johnson was unconscious and motionless on the field. A helicopter was brought in and Johnson was flown to Bakersfield. Mojave homecoming activities were canceled and Silver Valley was awarded a 21-0 forfeit win.

“When coach (Andy) Campbell came in there and told us the game was over, we were all kind of scared and wondering what happened,” Silver Valley senior lineman Devin Hughes said.

It was discovered that Johnson’s unconscious state was due to low blood sugar, although he was never diagnosed as a diabetic. Doctors continued to test Johnson four weeks before he was finally cleared to play in the opening round of the playoffs.

Against Silver Valley in the second round, he shined with 160 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns.

“I thought the other kids filled in well when he was gone, but when (Johnson) came back we had another dimension,” Mojave coach Larry Satterfield said.

Satterfield said revenge was never a factor as Mojave prepared to face the Trojans.

“We didn’t talk about it,” Satterfield said. “We just focused on trying to beat a good football team. It wasn’t like Darren has to go prove himself against the team he collapsed against. We were just trying to stay alive in the playoffs.”

Although Satterfield was cautious when Johnson complained about getting tried in the Mustangs’ last game, there have been no other health problems for the running back since, Satterfield said.

The memory of the playoff loss was one Silver Valley senior linebacker Travis Trouberman has tried to forget.

“I don’t want to remember it anymore,” Trouberman said. “It’s just so depressing because we beat them once and we went back to play them again and we lost to them in the playoffs.”

“Everybody keeps asking why we beat them the first time and lost to them the second time. Still can’t find an explanation.”

Now, Mojave stands in the way of a playoff berth for Silver Valley. The Trojans haven’t won an official game yet, but still have playoff hope. If they can win their final three regular season games, they will likely qualify for the postseason.

“We haven’t thought of it too much as getting revenge,” senior receiver Matt Weber said. “It’s more of like a must-win for the playoffs than getting revenge.”

The Trojans are coming off an off week. They were scheduled to play Mammoth, but the Huskies canceled their varsity team for the season, leaving Silver Valley with a forfeit win and a week off.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4124 or mpeters@desertdispatch.com