Brother of former Mustang star forging his own path for undefeated Broncos

Jaden Johnson instrumental in Mustang's win at Edmond Deer Creek

EDMOND, Oklahoma - For the past three years, the Mustang football team looked to Jacobe Johnson to be their go-to guy. 

The two-way star was the Broncos' big play receiver and seemed to be able to come up with game-changing plays on a weekly basis. 

Johnson went on to sign with the University of Oklahoma. And with his departure, along with Keegan Bass, it appeared there was a gaping hole in the receiving room that needed to be filled.

With only LB Hayes returning as the only veteran wideout, questions remained about who would step up

However, those close to the program had a good idea of who was going to step up and help fill that role. Through the first two weeks of the Broncos' season, Jacobe Johnson’s younger brother Jaden has been the one who has come up big in the passing game when Mustang needed him the most.

That was the case Friday night with Mustang on the road at Deer Creek. With his team trailing 23-19 late in the fourth quarter, Jaden Johson made the biggest play of his short prep career.

After quarterback Trajan Williamson and Tymeere Hollingsworth just missed connecting for a touchdown on third-and-long, the Broncos were down to one last play to keep their drive alive.

However, on fourth down, Williamson spotted the 5-foot-11, 160-pound Jaden Johnson coming across the middle and drilled a dart into the sophomore’s chest for the first down play.

“You saw another Johnson on the field, No. 15, and that's the little brother of Jacobe,” Mustang coach Lee Blankenship said. “He's grown up watching older brother and buddy, on that fourth-and-7 when he made that just clutch catch to keep the chains moving that set the score up, it reminded me a whole lot of older brother.”

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A few plays later, Williamson scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:56 on the clock.

“It feels great,” Jaden Johnson said. “It's my first year and I’m trying to still kind of get into it and I feel like I played pretty great (Friday) and when we needed it, I caught it.”

Even more than his physical ability, Jaden Johnson showed that his mind was also working at another level.

“He ran the wrong route, but he did it for a reason,” Williamson said. “He found space and playmakers make plays, so that was great by him.

"Everything he did was perfect. That was all on him.”

The Broncos (2-0) completed only seven passes for 92 yards on the night. However, Jaden Johnson had three of the team’s receptions for 60 yards. That includes a 33-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter.

Jaden Johnson, and his twin brother Jaytee, came into the year looking to raise their game from where they were as freshmen. Unfortunately for Jaytee, he had to have shoulder surgery after the opener and will miss the rest of the season.

Yet, Jaden Johnson has shown he has improved. In two games, he has 12 catches for 211 yards and three trips to the end zone.

“It takes a lot of hard work,” Jaden Johnson said. “Shoot, this off-season I've watched so much film. I'm proud of myself for the work I've put in this off-season.”

When asked what his team and fans can expect for the rest of the season, Jaden Johnson said he isn’t done yet.

“You can expect same old, same old,” Jaden Johnson said. “You'll see it.”