Johnson also topped a list of six Bentley players who earned All-Conference accolades. He was joined on the first team by senior tight end Mike Slattery (Natick/Natick HS) and junior safety Don Hopkins (Waltham/Waltham HS). The second team included offensive linemen Jared Kawadler (Sharon/Xaverian Bros. HS) and A.J. Riker (Haskell, N.J./Lakeland Regional HS), and senior linebacker Greg O’Brien (Canton/Xaverian Bros. HS).
In addition, freshman running back Lorenzo Warren (Boston/Catholic Memorial HS) was named to the All-Rookie team.
“Bryant was a unanimous choice as the MVP of or conference for a reason,” said coach Thom Boerman. “This young man has all the traits that every coach wants in a quarterback. Intelligent, physical, football smart and a very accurate arm. He is a leader and a quality person as well. When he was voted as the first team QB, some coaches made the comment that ‘thankfully we won’t have to face him again’ and I was more than happy to break the news to them that Bryant had decided to return for a fifth year of eligibility. He is the glue that holds our offense together and I look forward to another season with him.”
Johnson directed the Falcons to a season-ending four-game winning streak, a 5-4 overall record and a share of first-place in the conference. He shattered the school-record for completion percentage, finishing at an NE-10 best .659, while throwing for 2,161 yards and 18 touchdowns. Johnson also ran for five touchdowns and was second in the NE-10 in total offense, averaging 264 yards a game.
Johnson, whose career totals include 5,055 passing yards and 40 TD passes, completed at least half of his throws in every game and was over 70 percent four times. He had at least one scoring pass in all nine games and has had at least one in 19 of his 20 career starts.
The six-foot-three, 245-pound Slattery, a second-year starter, was frequently on the receiving end of Johnson’s passes. He caught 29 balls, good for 349 yards and two touchdowns, and was also a valuable blocker for the Falcons.
Hopkins, who returned to action this fall after not playing football in 2009, was second in the Northeast-10 in interceptions with six. He was third on the team in tackles with 61, 34 of those solo stops, and also had two tackles for losses.
Bentley ran about 34 passing yards a game and the offensive line yielded just nine sacks, a conference-low, all season. Helping to provide that protection were a pair of three-year starters, Kawadler at center and Riker at left guard. Kawadler, an academic standout who was the NE-10’s 2009 recipient of the Sport Excellence in football award, is a candidate for the ESPN Academic All-America team. Riker, a member of the 2008 NE-10 All-Rookie team, has started every game since his arrival on campus.
O’Brien, one of the team’s four captains (as are Johnson and Kawadler), was Bentley’s leading tackler, making a total of 80. His average of 8.9 tied for fourth in the conference, and he also accumulated a sack, an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble in his second year as a starter.
Warren was second on the team in rushing, gaining 310 yards while averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He erupted for 131 yards and two TDs in only seven carries against Saint Anselm, and also reached the end zone in Saturday’s finale against Stonehill.
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