Those familiar red jerseys caught Chris Johnson’s eye Monday at Hutchins Street Square in Lodi.
That is where the Sac-Joaquin Section hosted a special breakfast for representatives of its 12 finalists of the football playoffs.
“When they walked in I said, ‘Hey, there’s my second favorite football team,” Johnson said.
The third-year Sierra coach has led the Timberwolves to the SJS Division IV championship, and he is rooting for his longtime friends over at Ripon as it competes for the Division V title.
Johnson is a 1988 Ripon alumnus who previously coached and served as athletic director there. In his 12 years as Ripon head coach, they went 77-54 and claimed two Trans Valley League titles. He was at the school for 19 years total.
Most members of his coaching staff at Ripon remain, including current head coach Chris Musseman. Ripon makes its first final-round appearance since 1996 and takes on undefeated Center at Sacramento City College on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sierra gets a rematch with Valley Oak League foe Oakdale at Lincoln High of Stockton while in search of its second SJS banner.
“It was great to see those guys at the section breakfast, and I couldn’t be any happier for Chris, (assistant coach) Jorge Velasco, (principal) Keith Rangel and everybody else I’ve known for many years,” Johnson said. “I’m even familiar with a lot of those kids.
“It has been a long time for Ripon and we had some good football teams when I was there, but we ran into Central Catholic a couple of times and that was it.”
He hadn’t seen most of them in the same spot since a four-team preseason jamboree held at Ripon’s Stouffer Field. Musseman is ecstatic for his predecessor, with whom he keeps in contact weekly.
Johnson has never participated in a section final as player or coach. Musseman, on the other hand, has. In the 1987 North Coast Section Division I championship, he caught the go-ahead touchdown in Monte Vista’s 14-13 stunner over De La Salle, which had a 44-game winning streak.
“It couldn’t have been a better situation for us,” Musseman said. “We’ve coached together for years and for us making it to the section championship in the same year is pretty awesome. I’m really happy for him.”
It’s also a benchmark moment for Johnson’s family.
Along for the ride are his brother Loren Johnson, Sierra’s offensive line coach, and nephew Shane Johnson. Shane grew up in Escalon and played for the town’s small-school powerhouse as a freshman before moving to Manteca.
“On the field it’s really like he’s just another player, but I was there the day he was born,” the head coach said. “I watched him running around in those onesie pajamas and then getting into football at Escalon. He’s developed into a young man and a leader on our football team, and I couldn’t be more proud of a kid.”
Escalon, of course, is the traditional rival for Ripon, so there may be some playful exchanges between the Johnsons. For the record, the Indians are responsible for Escalon’s only loss so far this season.
“It has brought us a lot closer, to be honest,” said Shane, the Timberwolves’ starting quarterback and free safety. “It has been a blessing having him and my dad there by my side on Friday nights.”
Shane said he exchanges text messages with his buddies from Escalon after every game and may even get to watch them Saturday as the Cougars battle Hilmar for the Division VI title. Escalon plays at 1 p.m. while Sierra kicks off at 6 at the same site.
Chris Johnson will have to root for Ripon from a distance, as he always has since leaving his alma mater in 2016.
“I’ll always have a little bit of Indian deep down in my soul,” he said. “I left a lot of blood, sweat and tears there and developed lots of great relationships.”