Johnson strikes quickly, but 'Cats can't keep pace

Lenier Johnson began the 2007 football season with a bang, but the Bay View football team found itself worn down by a bigger Green Bay Preble team Aug. 24, and the season opener went to the host Hornets, 34-12.

Johnson, a returning all-state running back, broke a 70-yard touchdown run on the second play of the game, and Darril Wynn later added a score from 75 yards away.

"Last year, we had that big run the first play of the game, and this year, it was the second play of the game, so we always start the year on a big run," Bay View coach Gary Griffin said. "But after that, they just pretty much ran us over.

"We're pretty small defensively, but offensively, we're top-notch. We put our athletes on defense, but our athletes aren't big, that's the problem."

Both Johnson (137 yards) and Wynn (112) had productive evenings on the ground. Montrell Davidson threw for 87 yards, rushed for 40 and had a 60-yard touchdown run called back due to a holding penalty.

The Redcats went into halftime trailing, 14-6, and it was not until two late scores that Preble pulled away.

"We scared the heck out of them," Griffin said. "He's never seen a team that fast, ever. On Darril's run, we were running to the left, and he got hit in the backfield, turned around and ran up the sideline and nobody was anywhere near him. Darril is Lenier plus four inches and 25 pounds. He's a different breed."

The Redcats will host Milwaukee Pius XI at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at South Stadium.