It’s a moment Southside senior DeQuan Johnson won’t forget any time soon. Nor will when anyone else that currently attends Southside High School.

When Johnson dove into the end zone for the game winning touchdown against rival Selma this year, it was the start of something special. Not only did it mark Southside’s first win over Selma since 2004, but it also gave the Panthers something to build on.

And boy did they ever.

Southside started 5-1 and finished the year 7-4.

The Panthers made their first playoff appearance in a decade and went 3-0 in games against county members.

“I knew it was big then because that touchdown got that rivalry we had against Selma High off of everybody,” Johnson said.

Johnson, after a 27-touchdown season, is The Times-Journal’s Player of the Year.

“It means a lot and lets me know I worked hard,” Johnson said of the award.

He scored in every way imaginable. Most of his damage came on receiving touchdowns, but he threw a touchdown against Ellwood Christian. He scored a career high six touchdowns against B.B. Comer.

Flowers describes Johnson as a quiet, humble player, who acts the right way in the classroom and outside of it.

“That’s probably one of the best players I’m ever going to coach,” Flowers said. “If I had the opportunity to say I want my kid to be like somebody, I’d probably want them to be like Quan. He’s a good kid. He does good in the classroom, never is in ISS, never speaks out of turn. He just has great character. Any university that gets him is going to get a great player.”

Not surprisingly, several colleges are recruiting Johnson. He’s got offers from Alabama State, Virginia State University, Waldorf University, Walsh University, Point University, Cumberland University and Central State.

Right now, Johnson is focused on basketball season, so he hasn’t made a decision on where he wants to go yet.

“I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do,” Johnson said.