SACCO: Polar opposites

FISHERSVILLE

They’re as different as apples and oranges, yet go together like peas and carrots. (Yes, 1994 called and wants its cliche back. So save your breath. I know.)

They’re Michael Johnson and Pickle Nuckols. And for the Bison, they’re the key.

The key to returning to the promised land with a team that looks like it hasn’t missed a beat since last season’s historic run to the Group A, Division 1 championship.

Their differences are pretty evident.

Johnson’s built like a Peregrine falcon, ready to fold into a stoop and swoosh through the defensive backfields on fade routes and post patterns.

Nuckols is built like a brick hush-your-mouth house. Legs always pumping like they’re powering the lights along the field. It takes three guys to bring him down — two only means he’s got another guy to run over.

Against Wilson, the tandem worked exactly like it was supposed to. Nuckols’ in-your-facemask running softening up the defense. Johnson taking flight, and you don’t have to look any further than his 79-yard pass-and-catch for a score with Ryan Sheridan.

Coming into this season, the one thing you had to think the Bison would be missing was Josh Wenger. And, at some point in a big game, the Bison might still miss those hearty hands. Heck, with Wenger out there, third-and-8s weren’t that imposing.

But hang on, Nuckols said. Right after he lamented the loss of Wenger (darn you, graduation), he readily admitted that Johnson, though not as tall and not as beefy as Wenger, has filled in just as nicely.

“Mike’s stepping up,” Nuckols said after his Bison slapped Wilson in the two schools’ last meeting as district foes. “He’s been playing great this year. I’m glad he is, he’s picking up the slack.”

Friday against the Hornets, Johnson glowed. He ran in a score, caught that long TD pass and returned an interception into the end zone. Picking up the slack may be the understatement of the year from Nuckols — Augusta County’s most understated athlete.

Heck, if Johnson could have gotten his hands on a punt and found a hole, he could have had the football quinella.

“I could have took four,” he said. “I would have appreciated that a lot. Actually, I would have loved it.”

Yep, that’s Johnson — the flashy high-top sneaker to Nuckols’ plain old work boot.

Yet somehow they not only manage to survive together, but thrive. It’s worked so far this year, the Bison are now 7-0 and have won 22 straight and with little sign of slowing down.

All we need now is the humble Nuckols to admit that, yeah, he is good. And pry all you want, he just won’t do it. Even as a few little ankle-biter cousins run to the field and stop just short of his fireplug frame, standing wide-eyed with toothy grins as they watch the soft-spoken running back shake hands. They stared at him like Nuckols was made of gold, not just wearing a helmet of that color.

Adored by all in western Augusta County, everybody knew Nuckols would need a little help on offense if the Bison even hoped to sniff the regional playoffs again.

Looks like we know who it is now.

Nuckols and Johnson — two great athletes that are going great together.

And they couldn’t be any more different if they tried.