FOOTBALL TAB: Johnson seeks to infuse new energy, internal drive into Goldsboro

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 22, 2014 1:48 PM

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Bennett Johnson is glad Goldsboro is the second year of its home-and-home contracts with some non-conference teams on its schedule.

But before the pacts expire, the first-year head varsity coach has to guide the Cougars through another rigorous campaign. Eight opponents advanced to the state playoffs last season and four -- Eastern Wayne, Jacksonville Northside, Scotland County and Ayden-Grifton -- reached the semifinals in their respective classifications.

In fact, Eastern Wayne emerged as the east runner-up to eventual three-time state 3-A champion Havelock. Scotland, meanwhile, tumbled to Greensboro Dudley in the 4-A title game.

"If you're talking to someone who knows high school football at all and you're naming those teams, nobody is going to say 'who is that' or 'what team is that?'" Johnson said. "(The schedule) is tough and we're going to have to bring it every night from week one to week 12. I bet even our bye week will be tough the way it's looking.

"Obviously, our non-conference is stacked, then you get into conference and we're going to have a very competitive conference this year it looks like."

Goldsboro logged a 4-7 worksheet last season and had its string of consecutive postseason appearances snapped at seven. The Cougars finished third in Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference play -- their worst performance since going winless against Eastern Plains 2-A opposition in 2006.

Last year's outcome wasn't acceptable to this year's group of seniors.

Johnson has seen a hunger in the players who have adopted the "all-in" philosophy.

"Intrinsic motivation," Johnson said. "You have to have that burning desire in the pit of your stomach, let that be the reason you go through conditioning, let that be the reason that you're focused at practice. At the end of the day, it's their decision if they want to be a great team.

"They're going to have to be the ones who look in the mirror and ask themselves if they put it all on the field every day."

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The Cougars lost 90 percent of their offense to graduation.

The good news is that quarterback Nashir Bowden is a year older and one of his main targets, senior Joe Baker, returns at receiver.

As a sophomore, Bowden completed 47 percent of his passes and threw for 1,296 yards in 2013. He tossed 10 touchdown strikes, including six to Baker, but also hurled 10 picks.

"He's definitely doing a better job taking leadership, holding guys accountable," Johnson said. "If anything gets him in trouble, it's lack of footwork because he has some laziness with his feet sometimes. He has to realize he's got playmakers around him and all he has to do is get the ball to them.

"As long as he's not holding the ball too long and gets it into the guys' hands, he'll have a big year."

Baker hauled in 33 receptions for 477 yards last season. He'll be joined by senior Taylin Davis, who caught 16 passes for 164 yards and a TD.

Rayvonne Barnes, who saw limited time behind all-area performer Rasheid Malette last season, should be the focal point of the Cougars' ground game. The dimunitive Barnes tips the scales at 140 pounds and has a huge challenge ahead.

"Rayvonne is going to have to put his 'big-boy pants' on, run inside the tackles some, run outside the tackles some," Johnson said. "We're not going to try to put a round peg in a square hole. We'll try to get him out into open space where he can be successful."

That task lies within the offensive line.

Goldsboro has some credible size up front, but has struggled to find chemistry in the offseason. The competition is between junior Jamal Wilson (5-foot-10, 175 pounds), senior Da-Vionta Staton (6-0, 227), junior Emmanuel Adolye (5-10, 220), senior Justin Naucedeer (6-1, 220), junior Sterling Dodson (5-10, 225) and senior DeCarlos Stanton (6-0, 215).

"We're waiting to see what five are the most committed, hard-nosed gritty guys," Johnson said.

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Dodson and Davis are the defensive cornerstones.

Johnson describes Davis, an outside linebacker who loves contact, as the catalyst. He anticipates Dodson, who posted a team-best 127 tackles last season, to dominate at middle linebacker.

Junior lineman Joshua Wootson (5-10, 180) collected 64 tackles and recovered four fumbles. Overall, Goldsboro's defense recorded just eight sacks and forced 17 turnovers in 44 quarters.

Those numbers didn't please defensive coordinator Mike Harper. During the preseason he's started each defensive practice with a strip drill and hopes to instill the importance of coercing the opposition into turnovers.

Not only does it give his unit a chance to rest, it gives the offense another opportunity to find the end zone.

"They were on the field a lot last year," Johnson said of the defense, which surrendered a league-low 22.1 points per game in 2013.

"When you're on the field (for a long time), you're tired, it's hard to make plays. It's our job on offense to stay on the field with long possessions. It's a team effort."

Stanton is expected to help anchor the Cougars' defensive front.

Baker and junior Eric Bufkin (5-10,159) return in the secondary. They're joined by junior Jeriq Bryant (5-10, 150) senior Jamal Gaddy (5-9, 165). The quartet showed their ability in 7-on-7 passing league games this summer.

"Eric and Joe are both athletic guys with good instincts and both will be great at the back end of the defense," Johnson said. "When each level is workng together, we've got a chance to be a pretty good defense."

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Goldsboro never lacks talent, athleticism and speed.

Johnson wants to see commitment, a family atmosphere and an unbreakable bond.

"Those things are not measured, but if you don't have them, you go very far as a team," Johnson said. "If you have them, you do special things. I'm seeing it with this team ... building more every day.

"Are we at that the unbreakable point? I don't know but I see them growing closer every day."