MOUNT VERNON — Johnstown High School football coach Mike Carter knows how to build a winner. His three straight playoff appearances can attest to that.

The 2008 season continued the strong Johnnie tradition he has established and for his team’s efforts, Carter has been selected as the Mount Vernon News Area Football Coach of the Year.

“This is a great honor,” said Carter. “I give all of the credit to the kids. They bought into our system; they work hard for us; they are tough kids and do what we ask them to do. Not only do they go out there and perform, but they also go out and have fun while they are doing it. It has been a real incredible experience for me. It has been a great opportunity to be around these young men.”

Carter’s Johnnies posted an 8-2 mark in the regular season, winning their last eight games in a row. That run included a perfect 7-0 Mid-Buckeye Conference mark. Johnstown has won 23 out of the last 28 MBC games its contested, including 17 in a row. For his team’s league season, Carter was named the MBC Coach of the Year.

“This team was all so tight,” said Carter. “They were all such good kids; they really cared about one another. They definitely bonded and had great chemistry. They just enjoyed being at practice and having fun every day.

“It was a lot of fun. I already miss them because it was such a great time. The kids were enjoyable and we were having fun. We worked hard, but we laughed hard, too. That’s a combination that you are never going to forget.”