By TODD KRISE

t_krise@ncnewsonline.com

What word best describes Mohawk High’s Johnny Beatty?

Aggressive? Talented? Hardworking?

What about priceless?

Warriors’ head coach Jason Long would go with the latter.

“We would be in big trouble if we didn’t have Johnny Beatty,” Long said.

That’s because the 5-foot-9, 165-pound junior is just about everything to the Mohawk football team.

Beatty is the Warriors’ starting quarterback, safety and punter. He also is the team’s primary kick and punt returner.

Beatty’s responsibilities have led to a strong start to the 2009 season and helped contribute to a 14-for-20, 188-yard, two-touchdown performance against Freedom last week, earning him Lawrence County’s Athlete of the Week award.

The award is selected by the New Castle News sports staff and is sponsored by Washington Centre Physical Therapy.

“He’s seeing things first-year starters and kids who have played the quarterback position for three or four years (don’t see),” Long said. “And he’s doing it within his second or third week. It’s really exciting.”

Beatty is a son of John and Janet Beatty of North Beaver Township. He started on the varsity as a freshman defensive back, took his first snaps as starting quarterback four weeks ago in a tough 35-7 loss to Center.

Since then, the junior has been scorching stat sheets every time he touches the ball.

In Week 2 against New Brighton, Beatty orchestrated a 12-play, 94-yard drive to tie the game with less than two minutes left. He then scored from 2 yards out for the game-winning touchdown in overtime.

Beatty probably had his best game of the year in a gut-wrenching 32-28 loss against Riverside, where he compiled 171 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He also threw for an additional 188 yards and two scores.

“He’s a good leader,” senior wide receiver Tim Audia said. “He tells us what to do and calms us down. He comes through with big plays.”

Overall, Beatty has accounted for more than 85 percent of the Warriors’ total offense heading into their game against Aliquippa on Friday night.

“You just never know what’s going to happen,” Beatty said. “It’s just crazy right now. It’s been real fun, though. That New Brighton game was a great experience and I just hope the rest of the season turns out like that.”

Added Long, “I don’t think I’ve ever given a quarterback this much responsibility in my six or seven years here. You could see in the summertime that it kind of clicked and the next thing you know he was telling kids where to line up and he’s making his own checks at the line.”

Beatty is the second-shortest quarterback among Lawrence County’s eight high school teams. Only Ellwood City Lincoln’s Tyler Lucarelli (5-8) is listed at a smaller height.

Compare statistics, though, and Beatty is head and shoulders above the competition.

His 820 yards of total offense is second only to New Castle’s sophomore gunslinger Johnny Matarazzo, who has 877.

The difference between the two, however, is the fact Beatty has accrued his yardage through both running and throwing (298 rushing/522 passing). Matarazzo has only 13 rushing yards to go along with 864 passing yards.

The next closest quarterback is Wilmington’s Jake DeMedal with 457 total yards.

“What he’s done in the last three weeks alone between his returns, throwing and rushing, he’s over 1,000 yards,” Long said. “That’s pretty stinking impressive. So in that manner, he’s surpassed our expectations as far as productivity.”

Beatty, who didn’t start playing football until eighth grade, said he worked harder this past offseason more than any other because he knew what was going to be expected of him.

But did everyone else in the county expect the same?

“I don’t know if he’s been overlooked,” Long said. “Right now there are a lot of good quarterbacks, it seems. Whatever they are saying about Johnny, he deserves. He’s certainly putting up the numbers.”

And when asked if he is Lawrence County’s best-kept secret at quarterback, Beatty just smiled and said, “I hope so.”

“I hope that’s what people are saying,” he said. “I hope I can be that.”

So far, so good.

*****

THE BEATTY FILE

POSITION: Quarterback, safety, punter and kick returner

TEAM: Mohawk

GRADE: 11

KNOWN FOR: Completing 14 of 20 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns against Freedom last week. The junior has accounted for more than 85 percent of the Warriors’ total offense this season. He has rushed for 298 yards and has passed for 522.

PARENTS: John and Janet Beatty

FAVORITE PRO TEAM AND WHY: Kansas City Chiefs, because ever since I was young I liked them. They’re not very good but I’ve always like them.

FAVORITE COLLEGE TEAM AND WHY: Penn State, because when I was little we would go up to the games.

FAVORITE PRO PLAYER AND WHY: Larry Johnson because of Penn State and Kansas City Chiefs.