HAUGHTON — Wednesday afternoon, Ethan Johnson was still on Dak Prescott Field, an hour after his practiced ended. The Haughton wide receiver, still padded up, was pitching into help the Buccaneers’ freshman squad.
On its own, the gesture isn’t earth-shattering. However, it offers one clue to how Johnson has taken a massive leap during the 2025 season.
“It’s no coincidence,” Haughton head coach Matthew Sewell told the SBC Advocate. “He works hard, you never have to worry about him being here or doing the right thing – on campus or outside of here.”
After he hauled in 28 passes as a sophomore, Johnson is off to a blazing, historic start for the Buccaneers.
Haughton does not post statistics to MaxPreps, but Johnson leads all the players listed in the state in both receptions (71) and receiving yards (1,046). He would rank in the top-five in the nation on MaxPreps in receiving yards per game (174.33).
“Maybe we didn’t see numbers coming to this extent, but from the day Ethan walked on this campus, we knew he was going to have a great career for us,” Sewell said.
Unheard of in a tradition-laden program like Haughton, Johnson is on a run of tying or breaking the school’s single-game catches record for three straight weeks.
After back-to-back games with 13 grabs, Johnson’s 18 catches last week vs. Benton set the all-time Shreveport-Bossier City area single-game record for catches (Kenny Darby, 17 vs. Barbe, 2024).
“I’m so in the game, I don’t know what’s going on (with stats). I don’t think about the catches, I’m just trying to win the game,” Johnson said. “At the end of the game I find out how many catches and I’m like, ‘That’s crazy.’”
Friday, when the Buccaneers (1-5) travel to Airline (3-3), Johnson will need just four catches to set the school’s single-season record (Devondric Tezeno, 74, in 2002). Against Byrd in Week 2, Johnson caught 13 passes for 290 yards, another all-time school best.
“The records don’t mean much to me. It’s about more than football,” Johnson said. “It’s about life and my connections with teammates and coaches.”
As loud as those numbers are this season, Johnson’s torrid start has nothing on his mother, who is also his biggest supporter.
“She does all the screaming and yelling,” Johnson said. “You’ll hear her this week. She’s going to wear something with me on it – a shirt or a jersey for sure.”
Johnson is looking forward to Friday’s manufactured matchup against Darby, the Vikings’ superstar LSU commit.
“Ahh, Kenny. It’s going to be fun knowing I’m out there with the best receiver doing it in Bossier,” Johnson said.
Darby’s single-season Bossier Parish receptions record (100 in 2024) is within reach for Johnson, although Darby (63 catches in 2025) may have an extra postseason game or two to chase that number again.
Haughton’s Ethan Johnson
By JILL PICKETT | Staff photographer
Abram Booty holds the all-time record in the area with 109 catches in 1996.
“We walked off the field Natchitoches and (former head) coach (Jason) Brotherton pulled him aside and said, ‘Man I just love watching you play,’” Sewell said. “We all love watching him play. He embodies and epitomizes what we want a Buccaneer to be. He’s a Buccaneer.”
Johnson has earned the designation as a team captain, something rare for a junior.
He praised his quarterback, Taylor Weathersby, and the chemistry they’ve developed both at practice and their weekly Sunday meetups designed to sharpen their connection.
“We come in here and work on things we need to improve on, things we need to connect on,” Johnson said.
The gaudy numbers are impossible to hide, so Johnson has no chance to sneak up on opponents. Sewell says offensive coordinator Cody Taylor has a plan in an attempt to curb the effects of any extra attention defenses may devote to No. 16.
“Teams know where he is, but Cody does a great job of moving him around every single week,” Sewell said. “I think one week he lined up on the outside 41 times and in the slot 33.”
Johnson likes to model his approach after his favorite NFL receiver, 11-year veteran Stefan Diggs, now with the New England Patriots.
“He’s had a lot of adversity, but blocks it out and performs,” Johnson said.
As the youthful Buccaneers continue to build a foundation in Sewell’s second year at the helm, Johnson is prepared to carry the load in 2025 and beyond.
“The work that was put in day and night — me and my coaches talked about big this year was going to be,” Johnson said. “Even though our record doesn’t show it, we improve every day. And every day it’s hard work.”