Playing Neuqua on Homecoming extra emotional for Johnson

When applying to colleges earlier this year, St. Charles East senior Matt Johnson was asked to write an essay describing something that had changed his life.

Johnson immediately knew what to write about.

The essay began with the words, intense, searing and pain, and it's easy to see why.

Two years ago as a running back on the Saints' sophomore team, Johnson suffered a possible career-ending injury against Neuqua Valley on Homecoming when he was tackled hard and broke his leg and ankle. He worked hard through months of rehab to get back to full strength.

Two years later, as a defensive leader on the Saints' varsity team, he couldn't have enjoyed the moment more, as St. Charles East beat the same Neuqua Valley 17-14 Friday in St. Charles.

This was the game Johnson had been waiting for. The coincidences were a bit eerie, however, as it was Homecoming again and the Saints were playing the Wildcats.

Some of the same Wildcat players who were involved in Johnson's accident may have been on the field. He never found out who caused the injuries.

"It was weird, but I just wanted payback," Johnson said. "I wanted to win."

Friday's win was huge for the Saints. Not only did they improve to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the Upstate Eight Conference, but they likely denied the three-time defending conference champion Wildcats a fourth title. The Saints haven't topped them since 2000.

Johnson appeared extra fierce on defense. After the game, he knew he played his heart out.

"He did a great job," St. Charles East coach Ted Monken said. "We are very happy he is out there."

Two years ago, it didn't appear so clear Johnson would come back to full form. The date was Oct. 14, 2005. It was the Saints' second to last game of the season. It was the game that changed his life forever.

Johnson was the go-to guy on the sophomore team, and Neuqua Valley knew it. He was running on a play when a Wildcat hit his leg pretty good. The player refused to let go, then all of the sudden, a flurry of other Wildcats piled on him. Johnson's leg twisted, and right away, he knew it was broken.

Johnson was left on the field some time between 20-30 minutes, but to his mother Colleen, it seemed to take "forever."

"As a mother of a running back, there are two things you are thinking," she said. "As they are running, they are being chased, so you yell, 'run, run' in your heart, and when they get tackled, think, 'get up, get up.' He did not get up. I saw every other number get up, but he didn't."

Once he was up, he motioned to the crowd his leg was broken by pretending to break something in half. To make things worse, the Saints lost momentum and the game.

Johnson spent the next 9 months in rehab 3-4 times a week for an hour a day after school. He was out of school for 2 ½ weeks, spent three months on crutches and walking with a boot. His surgery gave him 6 screws and a plate in his ankle.

He was back with the Saints by junior year, but senior year was the year he anticipated the most.

Now his final high school memory against the Wildcats is a positive one, not only for himself, but for his team as well.

cbolin@dailyherald.com