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The Observer | www.theobserver.com
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Lembo: Lyndhurst’s version of ‘Johnny Football’ the award as the top college football player in the nation. “When he played for It’s a nickname that Johnny Texas A&M, I watched him Lembo was familiar with for all the time,” Lembo said. “I a long time. definitely looked up to him, When Lembo was nine because we did a lot of the years old, playing youth foot- same things.” ball in his native Lyndhurst, So when Lembo arrived at someone gave him the moni- Lyndhurst High School, the ker of “Johnny Football.” name remained. After all, Lembo was a “For sure, he’s ‘Johnny quarterback much like the Football,’” Lyndhurst head more famous signal caller football coach Rich Tuero who was known by the same said. “That’s what we call name, namely Heisman Tro- him. He runs around and phy winner Johnny Manziel, slings it.” who as a freshman at Texas But Lyndhurst’s version of A&M in 2012 became the Johnny Football had to wait first freshman to ever win his turn before he got his By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com
opportunity to run around and throw it for the Golden Bears. That’s because there was an older quarterback in front of him, namely his older brother, Anthony. Anthony Lembo was the starting signal caller for the Golden Bears during their dream season of 2019, leading Lyndhurst to 11 victories and its first NJSIAA state sectional championship in 36 years. The elder Lembo also started at safety for the Golden Bears last season. He intends to be a defensive back in college at Stevenson University in Maryland once
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Photo by Jim Hague
Lyndhurst junior quarterback Johnny Lembo.
NCAA Division III football returns after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. All along last season, Tuero planned on having the younger Lembo as the heir apparent at quarterback this season. “No doubt about it, we knew that he was our next kid,” Tuero said. “He got his work in last year to get ready for this year.” It helped that the younger Lembo watched every move his older brother made during his stint as the starting quarterback. “He was basically my role model,” Johnny Lembo said of Anthony. “I wanted to be like him. We worked out together and went out and threw together. He taught me where to throw and how to read defenses. I look up to him. I saw the work he put in every day to get where he was. He was grinding every day. He had a goal in mind and knew what he had to do. He became a leader. He wanted that ring and he got it. I look up to him.” So when the time came this season to take over the position, Johnny Football was prepared. “Last year was a learning experience for me,” Johnny Lembo said. “So I was ready this year.” Tuero was certain that the younger Lembo was ready.
“The one thing he has is confidence,” Tuero said. “During the summer, he showed me video of him working out. He knew this was his shot. He was groomed for it.” Now a junior, the kid known as Johnny Football just needed the opportunity to prove himself. “Johnny has the potential to be one of the best quarterbacks in the history of Lyndhurst football,” Tuero said. “He can run. He can move. He’s elusive. He gets out of the pocket and throws it well. His vision is awesome. He’s getting better in his decision making.” Last week, with the Golden Bears facing Manchester Regional, Johnny Football had his chance to prove his worth. He rushed for 153 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown. He threw for 70 yards and connected on two touchdown passes and one two-point PAT conversion. More importantly, Lembo led the Golden Bears to a 3326 victory. And for his efforts, Johnny Lembo has been selected as The Observer Athlete of the Week for the past week. Lembo earns the honor almost a year to the date that his older brother was also See ATHLETE, Page 14
