Lembo: Lyndhurst’s version of ‘Johnny Football’

It’s a nickname that Johnny Lembo was familiar with for a long time.

When Lembo was nine years old, playing youth football in his native Lyndhurst, someone gave him the moniker of “Johnny Football.”

After all, Lembo was a quarterback much like the more famous signal caller who was known by the same name, namely Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, who as a freshman at Texas A&M in 2012 became the first freshman to ever win the award as the top college football player in the nation.

“When he played for Texas A&M, I watched him all the time,” Lembo said. “I definitely looked up to him, because we did a lot of the same things.”

So when Lembo arrived at Lyndhurst High School, the name remained.

“For sure, he’s ‘Johnny Football,’” Lyndhurst head football coach Rich Tuero said. “That’s what we call him. He runs around and slings it.”

But Lyndhurst’s version of Johnny Football had to wait his turn before he got his 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 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 33-26 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 the Observer AOW. Anthony Lembo earned the honor in the Nov. 27, 2019 editions of the Observer.

The younger Lembo knows he has not conquered the position just yet.

“I throw too many interceptions,” Lembo said. “I’m learning from my mistakes. I’m still learning a lot. Every play I’m out there, I’m still learning. I go back after every game and watch things on film.”

Tuero knows that Lembo has a long way to go.

“He’s not even close to where he has to be,” Tuero said. “I tell him every day that he has to get better. I tell him he can’t be a pouty quarterback when things go wrong, because all the other guys on the team depend upon him. I know he’s learning from it.”

And the rushing yardage is not the way Tuero wants Lembo to perform.

“We still want Johnny to throw the ball first, but he sees a green field and takes off,” Tuero said. “He did a great job with the run game.”

“I know I’m not really a running quarterback,” Johnny Lembo said. “When I heard that it was 153 yards, I said, ‘Wow, that’s crazy.’ But if they need me to run, I’ll run. If they need me to do anything, I’ll do it, as long as we get the W.”

Tuero likes what the younger Lembo brings to the table.

“He has a great set of tools,” Tuero said. “His passion for the game and loyalty makes him a cut above. His loyalty to me, his loyalty to the coaches and loyalty to his teammates is incredible. He’s a true student of the game. He’s so passionate about everything. His entire life, he watched Anthony be the man and I think he said, ‘I want that one day for me.’”

Lembo knows that his brother always has his back.

“We definitely have a good relationship,” Johnny Lembo said. “He texts me every day and watches every game. He lets me know that there’s way more to learn when there’s way more to put in.”

And the nickname will remain.

“Hey, if they give me a jacket with ‘Johnny Football’ on it, I’ll wear it,” Lembo said.

Somehow, someway, the order for such a jacket has already been placed.

 

CAPTION

 

Lyndhurst junior quarterback Johnny Lembo

 

CORRECTION

In last week’s Athlete of the Week feature, a wrong head shot of Nutley’s Nick Polewka appeared. So this is the real Nick Polewka. The Observer and sportswriter Jim Hague regret making such an error.