Ironmen’s Johnson named player of year

The Northern Division champion Vermilion Ironmen were recognized for their efforts with a string of postseason awards.The community college football team has the region’s offensive player of the year in quarterback Willie Johnson.Keith Turner was named Northern Division Coach of the Year and 11 Ironmen received all-division honors as selected by Minnesota Community College Conference coaches.Johnson, the Florida native who stepped in as VCC’s starting quarterback early in the season, was named Region 13 Offensive Player of the Year for his stellar campaign.In seven starts and two relief appearances, Johnson passed for over 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, He led the division with about 2,300 yards of total offense.Johnson was one of three Ironmen to receive all-region recognition.The others were Fabian Heath, a 295-pound sophomore offensive lineman from Orange Lake, Fla., and defensive end Abraham Morales, a 235-pounder from Casselberry, Fla.Johnson, Heath and Morales were three of six first-team All-Northern Division honorees, along with Ely sophomore Cory Lassi, VCC’s 250-pound starting center, defensive tackle Robert Lewis (305 pounds, Twinsburg, Ohio) and free safety Javorris Jackson (215 pounds, Southfield, Mich.). Jackson led the division with six interceptions.On the All-Northern second team were Vermilion wide receivers Patrick O’Malley (Gibbon, Minn.) and Isaiah Osborne (Detroit, Mich.), linebacker Alvin McClerkin (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Darnell Stanback (Rockingham, N.C.) and 320-pound offensive lineman Shermon Patrick (Flint, Mich.).Turner, who guided VCC to its first division title since 2001, was named the division’s top coach.