Gridiron, links duty for Johnson of Columbia Falls

Here's how Columbia Falls' Parker Johnson's Friday went recently.

He got on the Wildcat activity bus at 7 a.m. for a golf trip to Libby, hit the course at 10 a.m. and golfed until about 3 p.m. He placed seventh with an 88.

He walked off the course and was picked up by his mom Mary for the two-hour drive back to Columbia Falls.

Dad Kyle drove the family to Browning where Parker, a receiver and defensive back, scored a 23-yard touchdown in the Wildcat 38-0 football victory. Parker rode back on the team bus and was home at about 1 a.m.

It was a good day.

Johnson, a senior, is playing both golf (he placed third at last week's divisional) and football - while maintaining a 4.0 GPA.

"It keeps me on my toes," Johnson says of his fall schedule.

Johnson played football his freshman year, then switched to golf as a sophomore.

"I really like golf. I missed football - I had a lot of friends on the team - but not enough to give up golf," he said.

But an opportunity presented itself last spring - the idea that with his senior course schedule, he could do both.

He checked out the summer football camps, talked with his parents and friends.

"It took me almost to the weekend before football started to finally decide. I felt like I would regret not trying to play both," he said.

He said his parents have allowed the busy lineup as long as he keeps his grades up.

"They've definitely both supported me," he said.

And both coaches have made adjustments as well.

"That's a big reason I can do this. I can miss a football practice here and there," he said.

He hasn't missed many, according to Columbia Falls football coach Bill Coleman.

"Over the course of the year, he's missed a couple of practices on tournament days. But if he was playing relatively close he would make practice. It's very impressive. It might grind on some kids, but I haven't seen any of that in him, in his performance or his attitude."

Johnson also said he doesn't make a lot of the team golf practices, but instead hits the course alone at about 1:30 p.m. when his classes are done for the day.

"Being a senior, it's a little easier with the academics," Johnson said.

"I had forgotten how much I like football. I remembered how much fun it was. I was a little rusty at first, but I think it's starting to come back. I'm definitely glad I decided to do both," he said.

"During the summer I had some time to think about it," said Columbia Falls golf coach Gene Marcille.

Marcille said he and Coleman discussed the possibility - on a golf course.

"I was worried about it. But if there's any kid who could do this and do justice to both (sports), it's Parker. His priority has been to do justice to both. How do you deny a kid who's worked so hard?

"He put some time in on golf in the summer. That helped a lot, along with his ability to manage his time. He's such a gamer. It's been kind of a fun thing to watch," Marcille said.

Marcille has gotten to know Johnson pretty well over the years. He was Johnson's junior high basketball coach and also taught him in honors English.

"He works hard at (golf, football and school). He has a lot of motivation.

"It helps his parents are so supportive.

"He's in the top of his class and always has been. But my guess is he's one tired young man right now," Marcille said.

"It's definitely a benefit for us," Coleman said.

"He's real quiet, but has a great sense of humour. Smart as a whip. I feel lucky that I've gotten to know him. He's a rare exception - works hard, does the right thing. In the long run, it's going to pay off for him," the coach said.

"He has a good foundation at home that he's working from. We just feel lucky to have him. I've never had anybody put themselves out in terms of competition like that," Coleman said.

"What he's doing is different than other kids who crossover," Coleman said.

"He's playing offense, defense and special teams. He's doing it all at a high level and he's playing golf. I can't imagine ... .

"He a great athlete, a really smart kid. He understands what we are trying to do," Coleman said.

"His athletic ability shines for us. Football is one of those sports that is hard to correlate to anything else because of the speed of the game and the way you have to play physical in space. You have to be a good athlete," he said.

As for tournaments and games, it's been amazingly easy.

"Now that we're nearing the end of the golf side of it, it's worked pretty well," Marcille said.

"Our season is short. Most of our tournaments are during the weekday," Marcille said.

"The ones that were Friday were close. It's been actually pretty easy. We didn't have times that we had to say ‘make a choice,'" he said.

Until this week anyway. State golf is today in Hamilton. The Wildcat football team has a non-conference game in Livingston.

Johnson might have made both again but Coleman nixed that.

"We're comfortable this week with him focusing on business in Hamilton. We're fortunate from a timing standpoint. It will give our younger kids a chance to step up and play," he said.

The one worry Marcille had - probably one that entered the minds of basketball coach Cary Finberg and tennis coach Gary Yee - injury on the football field.

"I haven't worried too much about that, but it's in the back of my mind a little bit," Marcille said.

"That's definitely a side of football. It can beat you up," Johnson allows.

It did come up one time in conversation with Finberg after the coach saw the football gear in his locker, Johnson said.

"Basketball is my favorite sport of all of them. That was part of my decision," he said.

"(Finberg) gave a head nod, kind of like ‘if you want to do that, that's your thing,'" he said.

"You just have to go out and play and hope for the best.

"I'm fortunate to have stayed pretty healthy so far. And the football conditioning has helped with my golfing conditioning," he added.

"Getting to play both has been the best. I really enjoy them both and I'm really glad I get to play both," he said.