Johnny be good: Eierman is Democrat's Athlete of the Month

Warsaw head coach Randy Morrow likes to tell his team, “Talk is cheap; you’ve got to back up what you say.”

Well, for 6-foot, 165-pound starting quarterback Johnny Eierman, he lets his numbers do all the talking.

Highlighted by a 460-yard, six-touchdown performance in Warsaw’s 62-41 win over Blair Oaks, Eierman has quickly transformed into a complete quarterback, quietly producing a season for the ages in his first year under center.

The junior has averaged 273 total yards a game, passing for 131 yards and running for 142. He’s also had a nose for the end zone,  averaging just over three touchdowns a game for 21 scores on the season.

His play-making abilities have also translated into smart, efficient football as he has understood his role of minimizing mistakes. Never one to throw into double coverage or force an errant pass blindly into the secondary, Eierman’s intellect has extended from the classroom to the gridiron.

A member of the National Honor Society, the wise- beyond-his-years, first-year starter has a 4 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio, connecting with Gage Boise, Drew Bradley and Nolan Flores for a combined eight touchdowns compared to just two interceptions.

“He’s got a knack for protecting the ball and making the right decisions,” Morrow said. “He’s a smart kid. A lot of people don’t know this, but I went to the National Honor Society induction ceremony recently to support eight or 10 of our guys. These are the things that are overlooked, and it proves our kids are smart and have great character, and that extends to the field.”

A key piece of the offense last year in a running back/wide receiver dual role, it’s safe to say the junior has found his niche as the play caller, taking over for Logan Smith and leading the Wildcats to a 6-0 record.

The junior multi-sport standout, who shined in the heart of the order for the 38-8 Sedalia Post 642 Senior Legion baseball team over the summer, took over a team that closed out the 2008 season with a heart-breaking 26-25 state quarterfinal loss to Fair Grove.

The agonizing loss coupled with the exit of Smith could have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Warsaw coaches, players and fans, but the Wildcats knew the setbacks wouldn’t define the program.
Bred for the starting quarterback job, Eierman took the reins this fall and the Wildcats haven’t skipped a beat since.

“Logan was a real good quarterback, but I knew coming into the season we could be just as good, if not better than last year’s team,” Eierman said.

Admittedly nervous before the first snap of every game, the junior has settled in to lead an offense that averages 47 points a contest and puts up nearly 400 yards a game.

The prolific offense is backed by a sure-tackle, explosive defense, and Eierman believes his team is primed to finish the regular season the way they started, setting up a playoff run that will avenge last year’s tough-to-stomach exit.

“I think we can go undefeated. We have a tough game against Osage coming up and some tough opponents on the schedule, but there’s no doubt we can go undefeated. That would be great, but we also won’t be satisfied by just that, because this team is better than just that.”

Coach Morrow believes the same, crediting an improved kicking game, defense, offensive line and Eierman for the improved record and numbers on last year’s memorable season. He also recognizes that without Eierman, the offense wouldn’t be putting up the prolific numbers week in and week out.

“He’s such a competitor and adds so much to this team. It comes from a family that breeds competitors and from the word go, competes hard in everything.”

Humble and soft-spoken, Eierman is a class act who gives credit where it’s due. He recognizes the roots of his success. He credits his teammates for making his job easier, and claims to “just go with the offense.”

While certainly not an individual effort, if he continues to routinely post offensive player of the year numbers into the playoffs, the school may have to make room not just in the trophy case, but also in the record books.