Ambassador Christian’s Cam Johnson is The Observer’s football player of the week
James Johnson IV — call him Cam — is never afraid of a little change.
He said he was happy playing football for a few seasons at Northwest Cabarrus High, but when Ambassador Christian opened its doors, he was willing to take a look.
“I really liked what I saw,” he said.
And when Lions’ head football coach Jay Poag asked Johnson to switch from cornerback to safety, he was fine with the idea.
“I’m a versatile kind of guy,” he said.
Johnson, a junior defensive back with the unbeaten (2-0-1) Lions, has been voted this week’s Charlotte Observer Player of the Week. He’s the second player from Ambassador Christian, which is playing varsity football for the first time, to win the award in three weeks.
“I was always a cornerback, so it meant learning a few things,” said Johnson, a 5-8, 160-pound junior. “But it really wasn’t a lot different. I’m still learning, but I feel comfortable at the position.”
Johnson had eight tackles, a fumble recovery, and several successfully defended passes in Ambassador Christian’s 33-33 tie with Asheville Christian.
Lions’ head coach said Asheville Christian was willing to settle for a tie, to avoid a loss that might hurt the team’s ranking in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association. Typically, tie games are settled in overtime.
Johnson followed a typical route to football. He began playing at age 5 in a youth program and stayed with it, eventually making the varsity for Northwest Cabarrus, a perennial powerhouse program.
He said Ambassador Christian is a melting pot of students from a number of schools across the region.
“The coaches did a great job of team-building when we started practice,” Johnson said. “I knew a couple of players from Cabarrus County schools, but I also had a lot of new teammates.”
When Ambassador Christian quarterback Weston Michalak was named Player of the Week two weeks ago, he said he really wasn’t surprised at the first-year program’s success. Johnson echoed that sentiment.
“Honestly, when practice started and I saw everyone’s abilities, I had a feeling that we could do pretty well,” he said.
The Lions face their toughest task to date on Friday, when they travel to northeast Georgia for a meeting with Rabun Gap School. A week ago, Rabun Gap traveled to northeast Ohio and knocked off a legendary national prep power, Massillon, by a 50-35 score.
“We know what we’re up against,” Johnson said. “Our whole schedule is like that. But we only focus on our next game. Each week, we want to go 1-0.”
Johnson, whose sister Justice is a standout softball and volleyball player with the Lions, wasn’t the only standout for Ambassador Christian last week.
Michalak set a school record with 381 passing yards and four touchdown passes — to four different receivers. It included a 94-yard scoring toss to Mason Emery.
Emery finished with 192 total yards’ offense (88 rushing, 104 receiving).
Previous winners
Week 1: Jad Aljakhbeer, Ardrey Kell