2024 NEMFCA 8-Man Hall of Fame Inductee Salutes - Curt Johnson, Lawrence High School

COACH CURT JOHNSON – LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL

(Here is our 5th of twelve 2024 NEMFCA Hall of Fame inductees. Today we feature one of 8-Man football’s finest Coaches ever, the incomparable Coach Curt Johnson.)

From 1980 to 1985, Coach Johnson’s powerful Panthers teams played for 5 state titles over the span of 6 seasons. During that incredible run, Lawrence dominated their opposition with 68 wins to just 5 losses, while also compiling 3 State Titles and 2 Runner-Up finishes. Coach Johnson’s program will go down in history as the Nebraska 8-Man Football Dynasty of the early 1980’s.

1980: State Runner-Up (10-2)

1981: State Runner-Up (11-1)

1982: State Champions (12-0)

1983: State Champions (13-0)

1984: State Quarterfinals (9-2)

1985: State Champions (13-0)

*30 consecutive wins from 1982 to 1984*

During his short tenure in Lawrence, Coach Johnson sent 10 of his athletes to play in the Eight Man All-Star Game. He was also honored as an Assistant (1982) and Head Coach (1984) for the East All-Stars. He cites working in Lawrence with great athletes & young men, as well as his Assistant Coach Mark Reinhart- as his proudest moments in coaching. Along with his football accomplishments, Curt also led Lawrence to a state basketball title in 1983. The NEMFCA is honored to welcome him into the Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

1000 Yard Guy’s observations…..What Coach Curt Johnson accomplished in a short span of SIX years at Lawrence may be a spectacular mini version of Fall City Sacred Heart and their incredible 87 game win streak.

Coach Johnson’s stint at Lawrence can possibly be summed up by a mind-boggling 1982 Eight-Man Class D-1 State Championship game performance in Ansley.

I drove up to Ansley that night and later filed this report on that game. Keep in mind how powerful Ansley was back in that era.

“Two rare Ansley turnovers, both in the first quarter, both leading to Lawrence touchdowns, sparked a 30-0 opening stanza lead for the visiting Panthers, who never looked back. Lawrence executed their offense and defense to near perfection enroute to a 67-8 win over one of the most storied football programs in the state.

All-Stater Bill Kucera led the Lawrence onslaught with 108 yards rushing and 5 touchdowns. Kucera rambled 48 yards for a score on the Panthers first play from scrimmage, then scored on a 5 yard run, a 79 yard kick-return to open the second half, another 5 yard dash in the 3rd and an 11 yard run in the 4th quarter.

The stout Lawrence limited Dan Moore’s vaunted Ansley offense to 184 total yards for the afternoon. Meanwhile, the Lawrence offense rushed for 241 yards in the game, 51 more than Ansley’s total offensive yardage output.

To this day, the 67-8 win by Lawrence is the most lopsided score in NSAA 8-Man football playoff history.”

**Here is a list of All-State players that Curt Johnson produced in hius short tenure at Lawrence High School.

Joe E. Svoboda-1980

Arnie Svoboda-1981

Mark Herz-1981

Ed Karmazan-1982

Ed Menke-1982

Lee Herz-1982

Paul Kucera-1982

Russ Faimon-1982

Bill Kucera-1983

Dan Svoboda-1983

Jerry Hoelting-1983

Lonnie Mazour-1985

Roy Faimon-1985

Tom Menke-1985

…..and you may a s well include Tim Menke in 1986 because he was groomed to play the game by Coach Johnson anyway.