Week three into the 1989 season, Wheeling Park’s football team started an era. That is when a sophomore running back by the name of Daryl “Boogie” Johnson would get his first start. It was the start of a 3 year playoff run for the Patriots, and the beginning of a career for a running back who would demolish all of Wheeling Park’s rushing records.
As a three year starter for Wheeling Park, Boogie led the Patriots to 3 straight playoff berths, which included a trip to the State Championship game in 1991, when Boogie was a senior. In that remarkable season, Boogie Johnson rushed for an amazing 2,111 yards and 35 touchdowns. What is most phenomenal about those statistics is in 6 out of ten games during the regular season, Boogie only played in the first half.
When his high school career was finished, Boogie had rushed for more than 4,100 career yards and had clenched the coveted Kennedy Award as West Virginia’s top football player during his senior year. Boogie was also awarded the Gatorade West Virginia Player of the Year, and finished as a 4th Team USA Today High School All American.
Boogie was also a 3 year starter on the Patriot’s baseball team, and many will argue that baseball was his better sport.
Football did not stop at the High School level for Boogie. Standing only 5’7″ and 180lbs, Boogie had scholarship offers from nearly half a dozen schools including Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, West Virginia University, and Washington State. Boogie’s first choice was WVU, but they were recruiting him as a defensive back. Boogie chose to continue his academic and athletic career at Oklahoma State, where he accepted a full athletic scholarship.
As a redshirt freshman, Boogie started for Oklahoma State. He entered the National spot light on a Thursday night, televised game, against a highly ranked Nebraska team that was led by Tommy Frasier and Lawrence Philips. In that game Boogie accounted for more than 160 total yards, 130 of them rushing. He helped lead Oklahoma State into a 13-3 halftime advantage, though Nebraska came back to win 23-13 in the final. During that season, Boogie rushed for just over 600 yards in 7 games before his season was cut short by a twisted knee injury.
The rest of Boogie’s career would be hampered by injuries. He broke his collar bone his sophomore year, just three days before the season opener, and in his junior year Boogie tore his knee again against Nebraska in the fourth week of the season.
While his football career was cut short, the lessons he learned on the field prepared him for life.
Boogie now resides in Wheeling with his partner Natalie Spence, and their two children Savion (12), and Amarie (3). He is an assistant coach of the Wheeling Park football team and Para Professional at Wheeling Park High School in the special education department.
I was able to sit down with Boogie for a short Q/A session:
Q: How did you get the nickname “Boogie”?
A: “From my Mom. When I was a baby, I was told that I was always jumping around. One particular time I was at the hospital and I guess I was jumping all over the place dancing and the Doctor said “he’s boogying”, and from then on, my Mom always called me Boogie.”
Q: What do you remember most about being at Wheeling Park as a student athlete?
A: “The comradery that was built. My best friends then are the same people who are my best friends now. The friendships that were built have lasted my whole life.”
Q: Is there a particular play that you remember most?
A: “My favorite play was called “Sprint Draw”, it was a simple play where you just step to the side and the QB hands you the ball on a draw. I loved that. I loved just being in space and finding my own way out.”
Q: Is there a particular game that you remember more than most?
A: “Man, that’s tough… there were so many great games. We had a lot of good games. Capitol played us very tough in the Championship game, and we had to play John Marshall twice in 3 weeks, and they gave us all we could take for 4 quarters… but I would have to say Mt. View in the State Semifinals. They were one of the biggest, most physical teams I’ve ever seen in AAA football, to this day.”
Q: In Wheeling Park’s locker room, there is a picture of you hanging on the wall. How does that make you feel?
A: “It’s great; it is really a great feeling. The kids I coach now were not even born then. They look at the wall, and look at me, and they are like “Coach, that’s you!”. My youngest son and his teammates see the picture and his friends run up to me and say “You’re on the wall”, and it means a lot to me that I was appreciated.”
Q: What advice do you have for all the young student athletes in the Ohio Valley?
A: “I played at 5’7″ about 180lbs. In the Ohio Valley, I always hear people say that you cannot get recruited in this area, that our kids are not big enough, or good enough, or whatever it may be. You have to believe in yourself and your ability. Believe that you can do whatever you put your mind to. Work hard, and push yourself, especially when nobody is watching… when nobody is around to see it, that is when you need to push yourself the hardest. You can do anything you put your mind to, and never let somebody tell you that it can’t be done… you can do anything in life.”
