Johnson's Titans wrapped up the season last Friday with a 35-28 loss in the second round of the 4A (smaller 4A) playoffs. The Titans trailed 27-7 early, but had the ball twice in the final quarter with a chance to take the lead.

"We came battling back and just came up short," says Johnson.

Hopewell finished the year 5-7, and Johnson says his team continued to persevere through the ups and downs it experienced.

"I think overall, I'm extremely proud of what we accomplished," he says. "When you look back on it, four or five plays and this record looks completely different."

Johnson says his team hit its stride as the season wore on, and later than many teams because of his late start. He was hired just a month before the season.

"They're starting to get it," he says. "They see what they have to put in to get the outcome they want."

Against Sun Valley, Chandler Chase had a hand in four touchdowns from the quarterback position. He threw touchdown passes of 78 and 80 yards to Denzel Heath and a 68-yarder to Dominique Heath. And he ran for a 1-yard score.

The end of the season marked the end of a career for Denzel Heath, one of the top players in program history.

"There's not many better than him," says Johnson.

— Staff