Welcome to the Jungle Harrison!

The Tigers enter week 5 with a 3-1 record and going into the week without star wide receiver J-Shun Harris who will be out due to concussion late in the Avon game last friday night.  Harrison comes into Tiger Stadium with an 0-4 record thus far.  The season so far for Harrison:

@ Westfield       loss  13-42

vs Jeff                loss    0-26

vs Avon              loss    0-34

@ McCutcheon  loss  19-24

Harrison is coming in with 30 straight losses stretching over the last 4 seasons.  That is never a reason to take any team lightly and Harrison has the motivation to win any week and the bigger the opponent they have, the bigger that motivation will be.  While the points against doesn't show it, the Harrison defense is improving.

For a pre-season preview on the Harrison Raiders from the Lafayette Journal and Courier, please read on.

HARRISON RAIDERS

Head coach: Tony Martin (3-27 in three seasons at Harrison; 15-45 in six seasons overall) 
2012 results: 0-10 (0-9 Hoosier Crossroads Conference); lost to McCutcheon 34-0 in sectional quarterfinal 
Class: 5A, Sectional 11 (Kokomo, McCutcheon, Westfield) 
Sectional championships: 6 (1981, ’87, ’89, ’90, ’92, ’94) 
Regional championships: 4 (1987, ’89, ’90, ’92) 
Semistate championships: 1 (1992) 
State championships: 1992 (4A) 
Stadium: A.J. Rickard Field, 5701 N. 50 W 
Returning starters (offense/defense): 8/7 
Offense: Wing-T 
Defense: 4-2 
Returning leaders

Rushing: Nick Torres (5-8, 180, Sr., RB/S) 77-294 yards, 1 TD 
Passing: Jake Lasky (5-8, 145, Sr., QB) 76-169, 677 yards, 4 TDs, 4 INTs 
Receiving: Nathan Brown (6-0, 145, sr., WR) 15-142 yards, 1 TD 
Tackles: Drezden Johnson (6-1, 185, sr., WB/S) 75 
Interceptions: Johnson, Jeep Morehouse (5-11, 175, jr., WB/S) 1 
Others to watch: Daniel Wright (5-6, 170, Jr., FB); Arrione Cook (5-7, 160, Sr., WB); Cameron Greene (6-0, 190, Jr., WB); Evan Sturgeon (5-11, 240, Jr., OL); Alex Harris (5-10, 210, Jr., OL); Parker Senesac (5-10, 190, Sr., OL); Brett Spitznagle (5-11, 215, Jr., DL); Jamie Dunbar (5-10, 200, Sr., DL); Seth Meyer (6-1, 215, Jr., LB); Ben Fields (6-2, 205, Jr., LB); Tanner Watkins (5-6, 150, Jr., DB). 

Outlook: The Raiders hope their young players take another step forward and help the program achieve its first victory since 2010.  Harrison plans to utilize a talent glut at wingback, where Torres, Cook and Morehouse all have starting experience. Greene moves up from JV to join the rotation, while Wright will try to pick up where he left off last season at fullback. Lasky is a third-year starter at quarterback, and center Sturgeon, right guard Harris and right tackle Senesac will bring along some newcomers on the offensive line.  Martin likes his secondary, headlined by All-HCC free safety Drezden Johnson, strong safety Morehouse and cornerback Watkins. With the shift to a 4-2 alignment, Meyer and converted defensive end Fields occupy the linebacker spots. Spitznagle and Dunbar return to man the starting spots at tackle, though the Raiders have less experience at end.

A quick piece from Lafayette Journal and Courier also highlighted Drezden Johnson.

Pat Johnson passed along great football genetics to his son, Drezden.

But at first, the former Purdue and Miami Dolphins player didn’t grant Drezden permission to use them.

“My dad didn’t really want me to play football when I was younger. He was afraid I was going to get hurt,” Drezden Johnson said. “He finally let me play halfway through my seventh-grade season, and since then he’s taught me a lot.”

Drezden Johnson begins his third season as Harrison’s starting free safety — the same position his father played. The Raiders also expect to use the speedy 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior more on offense.

After solid sophomore and junior performances, the Raiders are anxious to see what Johnson can do in his final year.

“He shows signs of brilliance, and it just has to be more consistent every day,” coach Tony Martin said. “When he flips the switch — oh yeah, he’s as good as there is in our league. But he has to make that an every-play thing.”

Johnson collected 75 tackles (59 solos), four pass breakups, one forced fumble and an interception as a junior.

With his combination of size and speed, Johnson’s physical play contrasts with his usually soft-spoken demeanor.

“He’s quick, he’s fast, he’s smart, he knows how to play the game,” junior Jeep Morehouse said. “... We can match him with anyone and he’ll compete with them.”

Johnson averaged 32 yards per kickoff return last season with a touchdown. His athletic tools are too enticing to keep on the sideline, so he’s expected to rotate at wingback with Morehouse, Nick Torres, Arrione Cook and Cameron Greene.

Yet the veteran’s intangible contributions may be just as important as his physical ones.

“Drezden’s a good leader,” junior cornerback Tanner Watkins said. “I’d say that was probably his biggest contribution. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, and he can really lead the defense. We can always look up to him as a role model.”