Sports irrorWednesday, October 28, 2009

WACO — Last week, EddieJohnson repeatedly told thesideline late in the game tothrow the ball his way.Midlothian was down big witha comeback out of reach, butthat didn’t mean the seniorwide receiver didn’t want to atleast trim the score a little.

Against Waco University,Johnson got his wish.

After being held in checkfor four straight games, theBaylor-commitment brokeloose against the Universitydefense for 159 yards with ascore on nine grabs in a 55-21loss on Friday night.

“Everybody had highexpectations for the game. Wecame out here with energy andwe weren’t fixing to give upon this game,” Johnson said.“We knew this game wasalready out of hand but we’regoing to keep fighting, we’regoing to keep the energy levelhigh and not fixing to give up.I’m proud of them.”

Down 14-0 in the first half,quarterback Dillon Fairbankslaunched a ball in the directionof Johnson down the rightsideline. The defensive back incoverage mistimed his jump asa much bigger and more phys-ical Johnson ripped the ballaway and left the defensebehind for a 67-yard score.

That would be as close asMidlothian would get the rest

of the game, but it led to a bigday for the Panther playmaker.

By halftime, Johnson hadalready cleared the 100-yardplateau. He came back in thesecond half with a grab of 34yards on the team’s first pos-session after a Trojan turnover.That drive looked to be a scor-ing one until an interceptionon a screen pass brought it to ahalt.

The 159-yard game is thesecond highest total forJohnson this season, bestedonly by a 178-yard day againstMineral Wells. However, thenine catches are an individualseason high and tie fellow sen-ior Mason York for the most ina game this year.

After opening the seasonwith three straight 100-yardgames, Johnson was quietlylimited to games of 50, 39, 25and 63 yards over the last threeweeks with just 16 combinedcatches. Including the totalsfrom the University game,

Back onhis gameJohnson has first 100-yard receivingperformance for in more than a month

By ALEX RILEY

Mirror sports writer

Photo by Mike Sackett/Special to the Mirror

Midlothian wide receiver Eddie Johnson leads histeammates out onto the field Friday night againstWaco University. Johnson finished the night with 159yards receiving and a touchdown in a 55-21 loss.

See JOHNSON, Page 2C

HOUSTON — No one wanted to be on the field lastSaturday night worse than Jordan Shoemaker.

It was homecoming night at Robertson Stadium andthe Houston Cougars were hosting Southern Methodistin a Conference-USA battle. Every time his offensiveteammates made the trek off the field and to the bench,Shoemaker was there, coaching, talking, analyzing,doing whatever hecould to help histeam win.

It’s what the for-mer Midlothianstandout has alwaysdone.

After a standoutcareer for thePanthers, Shoemakerheaded to Houston asa two-star recruitready to help theCougars’ pass orient-ed offense.Following a red-shirtseason and the depar-ture of former coachArt Briles,Shoemaker got hischance in the 2007season under newcoach Kevin Sumlinwith appearances innine games and onestart.

A year later, heplayed in all 13 games and started the last six, includingthe Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force.

So it came as no surprise when Shoemaker, who had abroken foot in the off season, rose above again andearned a starting spot on this season’s offensive front atthe left guard. Until a high ankle sprain againstMississippi State two weeks ago, Shoemaker was astarter. Once the ankle heals, he’ll be back.

“I hope to be back next week,” Shoemaker said with asmile.

His teammates would like that very much as the offen-sive front has been a shining point for Houston in a sea-son where its captured the nation’s attention.

After a stunning 45-35 upset of No. 5 Oklahoma Stateand a win over Big 12 contender Texas Tech, theCougars made their way into the national spotlight as ateam poised to contend for a spot as a BCS buster.

“It’s good. We never had any doubts within,”Shoemaker said.

A loss to UTEP subsequentially put those dreams onhold for now. But the season has been a sort of dream for

the C-USA squad. Shoemaker and his team are still inposition to win the conference title for their first trip backto the league’s highest bowl, the Liberty Bowl, since2006.

But it’s much more than that for Shoemaker and hisoffensive line coherts.

While the conference isn’t a BCS league, the manthey’re blocking for has captivated some of the nationalattention as quarterback Case Keenum joined theHeisman Trophy conversation after a sterling start to theyear.

The junior signal caller has already thrown for themost yards in the FBS system at 2,734. His 20 touch-downs are second only to Boise State’s Kellen More(21).

Keenum has already earned national and conference

Photo courtesy University of Houston media relations

Former Midlothian offensive lineman Jordan Shoemaker (73) has earned his way into a startingslot on the Houston offensive front, blocking for All-American candidate Case Keenum (7). The lefttackle is a key player in one of the nation’s most prolific scoring offenses.

Paving the wayFormer Midlothian standout helping Houston post strong offensivenumbers while building toward potential championship season

Photo by Gary Puckett/Special to the Daily Light

A high ankle sprain against Mississippi Statehas sidelined Jordan Shoemaker for the lasttwo games. The junior does expect to return tothe lineup this week against Southern Miss.

By ALEX RILEY

Mirror sports writer

See SHOEMAKER, Page 3C

Preview ofFriday’s gamebetweenMidlothian andEnnis on A1.

Top of the heapFormer Midlothianplayer JordanShoemaker is a keycog on one off themost potent offenses in America.

Passing yards: 2734(1st in FBS)

Passing scores: 20 (2nd in FBS)

Total yardage: 3,362(2nd in FBS)

Points per game: 40.8(T-3rd in FBS)

Fourth annual Guns vs.Hoses football game

The Midlothian firefighters and policeofficers will square offin the annnual matchfor gridiron braggingrights at Don FloydStadium on Saturday,Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.Admission to the contest is one non-wrapped toy, which will be given to ToysFor Tots. For more information, contactDonnie Schley at 972-775-7690.

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