Jeremiah Johnson’s football journey took a different turn in Chippewa Valley’s second game of the season.

The senior returned a blocked punt for his first varsity touchdown during a 21-point second quarter that carried the Big Reds to a 28-2 victory over visiting Lakeview in a MAC crossover game on an autumn-like Friday night.

Johnson, who plays safety and on special teams, had to sit out last season after transferring from Lake Shore.

“It felt good,” he said of the 30-yard return that gave the Big Reds their second touchdown and a 14-0 lead. “I cherish every moment. I’m glad to be here.“After we got the block, I just picked (the ball) up and started going. It came right to me.”

Johnson scored with 8:44 left before halftime, and less than two minutes later he had an up-close view of the Big Reds’ third touchdown — DeShaun Lanier’s 57-yard punt return for which Johnson threw a couple of blocks.

“Yeah, I was throwing blocks,” Johnson said. “I had to help Shaun. I saw him right by me, to my right, he was coming. He scored. It was a big play.”

Lanier’s touchdown — “Shaun made people miss,” Chippewa Valley coach Terry Wilson said — with 6:50 left gave the Big Reds 21 points in about three minutes.

They opened the scoring on Jailen Thomas’ nine-yard run with 9:52 left.

“It was a flurry,” Lakeview coach Pat Threet said.

Chippewa Valley improved to 1-1, rebounding after losing to West Bloomfield in the season opener and long-time assistant Wilson’s debut as head coach.

“We put last week in the past,” Johnson said. “We had to keep our heads. We wanted to win.”

“It was shocking from last week,” he said. “A lot of us had never been through that.

“We came together as a team, looked at the tape and tried to get better.”

Lakeview (0-2) scored when Gavin Ramsey tackled the Chippewa Valley quarterback in the end zone after a low snap.

The Huskies got their points off Chippewa Valley’s first possession of the third quarter, which came after Lakeview used 7:39 of the third quarter on a march that started near midfield and ended with an interception by Eric Thomas Jr. at the Big Reds’ one-yard line.

“It’s unfortunate,” Threet said. “Disappointed that we lost. Proud that our guys are playing with good effort and trying hard. We’re a little short right now. We’ll get better each week.”

Chippewa Valley closed the scoring in the fourth quarter on a 33-yard pass from Jordan Alston to Thomas and Juliano Haddad’s fourth extra-point kick of the night.

Alston completed 11 of 13 passes for 95 yards. Caleb Fowlkes rushed seven times for 84 yards, and Thomas caught four passes for 40 yards.

“We had a really good week of practice with school starting,” Wilson said. “I was proud of them for that and for the way they played tonight.”

MAC division play starts in Week 3. Chippewa Valley hosts Stevenson in a Red game, and Lakeview travels to Roseville for a White contest.