Highlands’ veteran defensive backfield looks to create ‘No Fly Zone’ over Natrona Heights

By: Bill Hartlep
Thursday, August 15, 2024 | 5:05 PM

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Highlands’ move into the Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference brought about some exciting rivalry matchups with nearby A-K Valley foes such as Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport and Valley.

It also likely will lead to some sleepless nights for those teams’ coaches, quarterbacks and wide receivers.

The Golden Rams will field an all-star team’s worth of veteran cornerbacks and safeties this season, creating a “No Fly Zone” over Natrona Heights on Friday nights.

Spearheaded by two-time all-conference cornerback Montrell Johnson, the decorated group is seven strong with more young players waiting in the wings.

“Speed, athleticism, knowledge of the schemes,” coach Matt Bonislawski said with a smile while speaking of his defensive backfield. “They’ve certainly been here awhile.”

Johnson is a third-year starter who had 43 tackles and two interceptions last season while earning first-team all-conference recognition. Boasting 4.42 speed in the 40-yard dash, the senior has 24 career pass breakups, 72 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

“I could have had at least 12 takeaways last year. I dropped a handful,” said Johnson, who is drawing college interest from MAC and Division I FCS teams.

Johnson credited familiarity with one another as a primary reason for the unit’s success the past two seasons, and throughout this summer it’s become even stronger.

“Communication,” he said. “We’re very vocal back there.”

His fellow cornerbacks include seniors Darius Cherry (28 tackles, a sack, two INTs) and Aiden Burford (60 tackles, two INTs).

“I need more tackles than last year. I need to be more on the ball, attacking the ball,” Burford said. “Everybody just needs to do their job, be in their position and do what they’re supposed to do. And everything should be good.”

Junior Jaymar Wright (17 tackles, fumble recovery) is back at safety and will be joined by senior Menage Lucas, who had 37 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery as a linebacker last season. Lucas also is playing quarterback for the Golden Rams.

“It’s a little different because I’m mostly watching the pass (at safety),” Lucas said. “I have to get back further. You still have to break down and make the tackle.”

In addition to Johnson, Wright, Lucas and Cherry also earned all-conference honors last fall, and Burford was an all-conference receiver.

The team also added Georgia transfer DaRai Carter, a 5-foot-7, 160-pound junior who will log plenty of snaps in the defensive backfield and at wide receiver.

Highlands’ defensive backfield limited opponents to 1,248 passing yards in 2023, an average of just over 113 yards, helping the Golden Rams to a 6-5 record, including a 3-3 mark in the Class 4A Greater Allegheny Conference.

It’s still to be seen how they will fare in the new-look Allegheny 7 Conference, but it’s safe to say they will make their presence known to their new opponents.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

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