OCILLA, Ga. (WALB) — Beau Johnson is this week’s WALB Coach of the Week after guiding Irwin County to a season-opening win in his first game as head coach.

Irwin County beat Wilcox County 35-11. Dreek Wynn rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. EJ Nelson rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Irwin County rushed for 317 yards and passed for 19 yards. Irwin County was 1-9 last season.

Johnson reflects on season opener

Johnson said he liked the brotherhood and love the team showed for each other during the game.

“Well, I love the brotherhood and love for each other that showed,” Johnson said. “We fell behind early, we fumbled opening kickoff. We tried to hold them there, and they do come away with three. We easily could have had our head down, especially after what they went through last year. But they fought back, you know, and then, you know, maintaining the lead. And I felt like our conditioning, I felt like the second half, we were able to still play. I think we could have played a whole other quarter, and I really was happy with that.”

Johnson said penalties and mistakes, including dropped touchdown passes, need improvement.

“What you’re not happy with is penalties and, you know, mistakes, drop touchdown passes and things like that,” Johnson said. “You know, when you get in a tighter game, you got to make those plays. So we’re going to continue to work and try to get better at tightening up those things.”

Community support cited in Coach of the Week honor

The Coach of the Week honor is voted on by the community. Johnson said community support has been important to him as head coach.

“You know, we were talking earlier, it’s very important,” Johnson said. “I mean, facilities, we have top-notch facilities, weight room, you know, and they really stepped up with the nutrition, and we’re able to feed these kids and put nutrition in them and protein and peanut butter and jelly.”

Johnson said the community provided a hot meal for players at every summer workout.

“So the community stepping up and feeding them a real meal every summer workout, a hot meal, was very important,” Johnson said. “These kids appreciated it. Some of them, you know, that’s a big deal to them. And so we very much appreciate the community coming out and support. And that’s what it’s about is the kids in the community, it’s their football team.”

Irwin County faces Bacon County next

Irwin County plays Bacon County, 1-0, on Friday. Johnson said Bacon County has bigger, faster players and more numbers than his team.

“We’re going to have to execute,” Johnson said. “Bacon County is very well coached. Coach has done a great job over there. They got big, strong kids. You can tell they’ve been in the weight room. They got good numbers because he’s been over there and really built that program up. And so it’s a tough matchup for us. I mean, I’m sure we’re the underdog, but we’re playing at home. And we’re coming off with a little momentum. And we just got to execute.”

Johnson said close losses often come down to a handful of plays.

“But a lot of times, if you really look at it, if you lose a football game, it comes down to about six plays,” Johnson said. “And it normally involves something you messed up or turnovers or a blown assignment. So if we’ll just clean up, play clean, good football, don’t turn the ball over, play good, sound defense, put yourself in a position to win and try to win it in the fourth quarter.”

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