Portsmouth West @ Liberty Union

[Westfan]

LU has its fair share of athletes. Not the individual athleticism that Portsmouth has but overall team talent and size. They will probably be one of the two best teams West will play all season (Wheelersburg being the other and not counting Johnson Central in the scrimmage).

But win or loose these are the types of games that prepare you for league play and the playoffs if you make it.

[The Oaf]

Any significant injuries to speak of after 2 weeks for West?

[ty10111]

Any significant injuries to speak of after 2 weeks for West?

West lost two starters during scrimmages, not sure when or if they'll be coming back. The paper said one of the defensive lineman was injured against Newark Catholic. I did see a defender leave against Portsmouth with an apparent shoulder injury.

[dreamweaver]

West coaches are confident they will win this game after talking to those who talk to them.

[ty10111]

West coaches are confident they will win this game after talking to those who talk to them.

I would say that if anything they are confident that they can win, not that they will win, saying they will win seems a little strong.

[The Oaf]

West coaches are confident they will win this game after talking to those who talk to them.

I would say that if anything they are confident that they can win, not that they will win, saying they will win seems a little strong.

Yep, nothing wrong with confidence if it's grounded in reality.

[seasick80]

Would someone remind me of the Johnsons that are relevant in this game? Kind of confused. One coached for LU and is now at WEST? Was he a son of the father for LU that transferred to West? If LU is running the spread now im thinking that the father left? Update pls

[Westfan]

Would someone remind me of the Johnsons that are relevant in this game? Kind of confused. One coached for LU and is now at WEST? Was he a son of the father for LU that transferred to West? If LU is running the spread now im thinking that the father left? Update pls

Ben Johnson is West's head coach (LU old offensive coordinator and Dan's son)

Dan Johnson is assistant at West (LU old head coach)

Thad Johnson is assistant at West (LU old defensive coordinator and Dan's son)

New LU coach last name is Johnson. But he is no relation to our Johnson's.

[local superstar]

They left LU with the minimal time allowed a coach to quit, the dad and other brother. The three amigos are now at West. LU has a brand new coach, much like West does, except LU got no summer program and their new coach doesn't have a family of coaches to rely on and trust. The West Johnson family have been at LU for 29 years. I don't have much tolerance for that with players and kids counting on you. The new Coach Johnson at LU is a first year coach. They(the staff at West) are unimpressed with him. He is running the spread.

[ty10111]

And they all left LU with the minimal time allowed a coach to quit. The three amigos are now at West. LU has a brand new coach, much like West does, except LU got no summer program. The West Johnson family have been at LU for 29 years and left at the last minute. I don't have any tolerance for that kind of games with players and kids counting on you. The new Coach Johnson at LU is a first year coach. They(the staff at West) must be unimpressed. He is running the spread and I have been told the same..West coaches are confident they will win.

LU kept several other assistants, including those who ran weight lifting, and I believe i read in the newspaper article that he told his team he was retiring at summer lifting, which he was still helping with up to that point. I believe it took less than two weeks for LU to hire the new coach, so they went without a head coach for less than two weeks and had their normal summer lifting program throughout. Just like West was still having lifting without the head coach there.

[Westfan]

They left LU with the minimal time allowed a coach to quit, the dad and other brother. The three amigos are now at West. LU has a brand new coach, much like West does, except LU got no summer programand their new coach doesn't have a family of coaches to rely on and trust. The West Johnson family have been at LU for 29 years and left at the last minute. I don't have any tolerance for those kind of games with players and kids counting on you. The new Coach Johnson at LU is a first year coach. They(the staff at West) are unimpressed with him. He is running the spread and I have been told the same..West coaches are confident they will win.

I'm sure they're up late at night because you have no tolerance for their actions.

[seasick80]

Would someone remind me of the Johnsons that are relevant in this game? Kind of confused. One coached for LU and is now at WEST? Was he a son of the father for LU that transferred to West? If LU is running the spread now im thinking that the father left? Update pls

Ben Johnson is West's head coach (LU old offensive coordinator and Dan's son)

Dan Johnson is assistant at West (LU old head coach)

Thad Johnson is assistant at West (LU old defensive coordinator and Dan's son)

New LU coach last name is Johnson. But he is no relation to our Johnson's.

That's amazing. Thanks Westfan!

[local superstar]

Westfan I bet they are. I had a nephew that happened to his senior year.He said it was fantastic! It is hard to be on the players end of that for sure. Playing against your former staff is unusual. Havent seen that one before.

[dreamweaver]

A lot of West kids lifted on their own. They have a great work ethic.

[Westfan]

Westfan I bet they are. I had a nephew that happened to his senior year.He said it was fantastic! It is hard to be on the players end of that for sure. Playing against your former staff is unusual. Havent seen that one before.

You sound like a broken record.

The Johnson's put in their time and made LU a power in Region 17. They moved on.

LU kids are fine. Sounds like the new coach is really good. Their seniors received excellent coaching 3 plus years. Our seniors have had a few months. Advantage LU.

[doubleplay643]

They left LU with the minimal time allowed a coach to quit, the dad and other brother. The three amigos are now at West. LU has a brand new coach, much like West does, except LU got no summer program and their new coach doesn't have a family of coaches to rely on and trust. The West Johnson family have been at LU for 29 years. I don't have much tolerance for that with players and kids counting on you. The new Coach Johnson at LU is a first year coach. They(the staff at West) are unimpressed with him. He is running the spread.

His son was selected out of a number of applicants to coach at Portsmouth West a program with a long history and tradition of quality football, and I am sure he was excited for him when he was awarded that spot, since he served under him at LU and helped him be successful.

The dad probably thought he could stay motivated (even after almost 30 years) and grind out a couple more seasons at LU before retiring, but I am sure at some point he realized he would rather help his kid (that is what fathers do) start his own career as a head coach and help make him successful as well.

As an older gentlemen myself, I am sure if my son was starting a career in something that I had been involved with my whole life I would do same thing. It is what families do and my guess is that any West-side dad would do the same thing for his son as well.

LU didn't get short-changed, they got decades of excellence and the guard changed plain and simple and there probably is never a good time.

Blood is thicker than water, and we all know that.

Good luck to West this game and the rest of the season, I think they are going to be in the hunt for a league title this year.

[Badboy]

The Siders are 1-1 coming into this contest after winning and losing very close games.

Meanwhile.....

Liberty Union beat Berne Union by 60 week one and Lakewood by 35 pts week 2. This would be a remarkable upset for the Siders if they can pull it off.......especially playing this game at LU.

I hope the Siders can find a way to pull out a win. I think if they can keep this game close through the 3rd quarter they have a shot. LU may not know how to handle composure in a close game and the Siders have been there two weeks in a row.

[local superstar]

They left LU with the minimal time allowed a coach to quit, the dad and other brother. The three amigos are now at West. LU has a brand new coach, much like West does, except LU got no summer program and their new coach doesn't have a family of coaches to rely on and trust. The West Johnson family have been at LU for 29 years. I don't have much tolerance for that with players and kids counting on you. The new Coach Johnson at LU is a first year coach. They(the staff at West) are unimpressed with him. He is running the spread.

His son was selected out of a number of applicants to coach at Portsmouth West a program with a long history and tradition of quality football, and I am sure he was excited for him when he was awarded that spot, since he served under him at LU and helped him be successful.

The dad probably thought he could stay motivated (even after almost 30 years) and grind out a couple more seasons at LU before retiring, but I am sure at some point he realized he would rather help his kid (that is what fathers do) start his own career as a head coach and help make him successful as well.

As an older gentlemen myself, I am sure if my son was starting a career in something that I had been involved with my whole life I would do same thing. It is what families do and my guess is that any West-side dad would do the same thing for his son as well.

LU didn't get short-changed, they got decades of excellence and the guard changed plain and simple and there probably is never a good time.

Blood is thicker than water, and we all know that.

Good luck to West this game and the rest of the season, I think they are going to be in the hunt for a league title this year.

I agree with some of what you say. But it depends on what side of the fence you are on. Ethically, If the older Coach Johnson and his other son had quit at the start of the summer or April I can see your points. Not at the final hour. LU got short changed. Spin it either way.just my opinion.

[Game day]

I don't want to get into this too deep again but can you say no class.
I would also say that about the administration that hired him. It was no secret when his son got the job at West that his dad was coming to West. Just look back when Ben was hired and there were allot of people at West that mentioned it on this site. So don’t tell me this was not planned. END OF THE STORY!

[chiefs]

LU hasn't saw any close-game pressure? They made it to the playoffs last year and have been in tough game situations before, ask their senior-laden starters about that.