The 12-year-old son of Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle Micah Johnson is coming off his finest game in the Regina Minor Football ranks.
And here’s the thing: J.C. Johnson’s eye-popping performance with the pee wee Bulldogs took place against the Riders.
“How ironic is that?” J.C.’s proud father says with a laugh.
The oldest of Micah and Saqouya Johnson’s four children had 11 defensive tackles (including one for a loss) and a sack on Saturday as the Bulldogs blanked the Riders 38-0 in a quarter-final game at Leibel Field.
“It’s cool just watching him do this,” Micah Johnson says. “Watching him go through the process has been cool, because football is one of those things where you build your confidence and work through things and it’s up and down.
“I think that’s the beauty of football. You go through some adversity and keep grinding. I keep telling him, ‘You’re playing better and better and better,’ and it has been awesome.”
So is family life in general — especially because the Johnsons are together during football season for the first time since Micah debuted in the CFL a decade ago.
During previous seasons, the family would remain in Tallahassee, Fla., but a half year’s separation got tougher to handle every year. Hence the family’s move to Regina.
“The boys like their school and everything and it’s a good little family environment up here,” Micah says, “and I would like to finish my career out here.
“For me, it was just about getting my family here so the boys can be up here and seeing me doing something, versus being at the house in the off-season when I’m just chilling and working out.
“They get to see me in my element more and I think it has been a great experience for the kids and the family.
“The hardest thing was doing all this great stuff away from your family and your kids aren’t seeing it and they can’t have me involved.”
Now he gets to spend every day, road trips excepted, with J.C. (full name: JaCorian), Micah Jr. (7) and Jaxson (3) and Kaleia (1), all of whom are preparing for their first Saskatchewan winter.
Next week’s forecast: Snow. Plenty of snow.
“The kids like snow and playing in it and stuff,” Micah says. “They’re cool with it. It was more so selling my wife on it.
“Last year was kind of the tipping point for me, living in Hamilton (while playing for the Tiger-Cats). I was paying for my rent in Hamilton and I was paying for the mortgage back at the crib (in Florida).
“I was constantly sending money … and then the Canadian dollar drops. It’ll turn into a crazy situation where $15,000 or $20,000 is vanishing.
“My wife understood that, and now I can do more for her.”
He can do more, period, as a father, as evidenced by the times when J.C.’s siblings have cheered on their older brother at Leibel Field.
Micah’s one missed game was unavoidable — and rather memorable.
On Sept. 20, J.C. scored his first RMF touchdown by recovering a fumble and taking it to the house.
Earlier that day, his dad had flown to Ottawa with the team, in advance of a CFL game against the REDBLACKS.
“It was crazy, because we left one day earlier than usual for that game,” Micah says. “We got there two days before and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! I’m going to miss the game!’
“But, luckily, they streamed it. I’m in the hotel and my wife sent me a link and said, ‘Hey, you can watch the game!’
“I was excited, so I literally clicked on the game and it was him picking up the fumble and running with the ball. You cannot make that up. It’s for real, I swear.
“It was the dopest thing ever. I thought it was awesome that they streamed the game. It was like a little CFL game.”
Micah is more accustomed to being a part of nationally televised CFL games — such as the 141 regular-season games for which he has suited up.
It is a demanding profession that puts people under the microscope, especially given the scrutiny that accompanies being a prominent member of the Roughriders.
But now, with J.C. playing, Micah is also a fan in the stands.
“I’m way more nervous and tense watching him play, even when he’s at such a young age,” he says. “You want him to be having fun and having success.
“There’s also the injury factor. I’m a guy who has had a lot of injuries, a lot of surgeries, so you’re always kind of holding your breath.”
It will be difficult to take a breather this weekend.
The Johnson family’s football schedule resumes on Saturday, when the Roughriders oppose the Toronto Argonauts (2 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
Then, on Sunday, J.C. and the Bulldogs will meet the Razorbacks in an RMF pee wee semi-final (noon, Leibel Field).
“A lot of the joy comes from the coaches in the program and the kids have a lot of fun,” Micah says. “That’s what I’ve really enjoyed — seeing J.C.’s interaction with his teammates and getting excited when guys make plays and when he makes plays.
“The biggest thing is learning how to compete. That’s what you learn from sports — how to compete and how to continue when things go badly. You learn how to keep grinding when something doesn’t go your way on the field. If you get knocked on your butt, you’ve got to keep going.
“That’s what I’ve enjoyed. He has been knocked on his butt a couple of times. There’s some big boys that he has to play with, but he’ll jump right back up and keep going. That’s what’s been fun for me.”
