Building Belief: Coach Johnson’s First Win Signals Good Things Ahead For Andrews

*Andrews, N.C.*

Friday evening’s game felt different from the start — there was a spark, a sense of urgency, a quiet confidence in the Wildcats that hadn’t always been apparent. That spirit translated on the scoreboard, as J.J. Johnson claimed his first win as head coach of Andrews, guiding the Wildcats to a 20–6 triumph over Rosman.

This wasn’t just another victory — it was a statement, a turning point, and a reminder that under Johnson’s leadership, the Wildcats are capable of more than the sum of their parts.

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Dominance on the Ground & Dual-Threat QB Magic

Andrews leaned into its strengths and let its running game carry much of the load. The Wildcats amassed 251 rushing yards — the highest single-game total they’ve produced this season. That ground game grounded the offense, kept Rosman’s defense honest, and controlled the clock during critical stretches.

At the same time, Johnson’s signal-caller, Brady McLelland, showed that he can be more than a game manager. He accounted for both a rushing and a passing touchdown, running for 50 yards and one score while also throwing for 53 yards and one TD. That performance also earned him a career-high passer rating of 149.3.

Kelby Waldroup was a workhorse on the ground, amassing over 150 yards and a TD on the ground, while also hauling in a TD pass through the air.

The balance was effective — Rosman couldn’t key in on one dimension of the offense without opening the other.

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Defense: Turnovers & Toughness

Johnson’s defense held firm all night, limiting big plays and forcing Rosman into mistakes. The Wildcats intercepted two passes, with the takeaways credited to Phisher Baxter and Christian DeJesus. Those turnovers proved pivotal, killing momentum for Rosman and giving Andrews better field position in key moments.

Rosman managed just 45 passing yards, and while their ground game showed some flashes, it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome Andrews’ stingy defense. Their quarterback, Zeke Gainey, completed 4 of 7 passes for 45 yards, while running back Brayan Reynaldo led the ground efforts with 72 rushing yards.

In short: Andrews’ defense bent (at times) but never broke.

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The Bigger Picture: A Win That Resonates

This win was Andrews’ first of the 2025 season, bumping their record to 1–6. As for Rosman, the loss drops them to 2–6 and extends their losing streak to four games.

For Johnson, the significance of this win goes far beyond a number in the win column. He now has tangible proof to show his players, to show the community: his system can win, his methods work—and there’s reason to believe in what’s ahead.

For Andrews, with the new playoff classifications, the season really starts in November. The new 1A classification allows small programs like Andrews and Rosman to make a deeper run in the playoffs year in adn year out than the older model did.

The Wildcats have been banged up from the start this year, and when you lose guys on a team that consists of only 20-something players, those holes are hard to fill. Friday’s win proves, as the season goes on and they get some of these guys back from injury, these Wildcats can make a move in the 1A playoffs.

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What This Says About Coach Johnson

This game captured what many knew would happen when Johnson was hired. He has preached balance, accountability, toughness, and a buy-in from the entire team. On this night, those principles showed up in the box score:

* A punishing rushing attack that carried the game

* A quarterback capable of making plays with his arm *and* his legs

* A defense that forced turnovers and bent but didn’t break

* A complete team effort under pressure

In the weeks ahead, Johnson will test his team’s consistency and resolve. But now, when the players step in that huddle, they know: they’ve been coached to win — and they’ve done just that.