NATCHEZ — For four seasons, Natchez High School senior Javon Washington was a fixture under center for the Bulldog offense. But, with his graduation looming, the Natchez High football team has to move on and find a new quarterback.

The good news is, the Bulldogs already know who that new quarterback will be, and he is the cousin of his predecessor.

Current sophomore Derrian Johnson has been tapped as the new signal caller for the Bulldogs, and he is ready to step up into his new leadership role, he said.

“It feels good (to be the starter),” Johnson said. “I have a bigger role on the team and a harder job, (to try to) become a leader.”

I hope I can be as good of a leader as my cousin Javon.”

Johnson had a solid first appearance as the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback in their spring game Saturday night.

He threw for 122 yards on 8 of 10 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries.

“(Johnson) had a very good spring,” Natchez coach Lance Reed said. “We still have a lot to work on, but we look forward to big things out of him.”

Reed said Johnson brings assets like physicality, speed and strength to the quarterback position for the Bulldogs, but it will be nearly impossible to replace a player like Washington.

“It’s tough to replace Javon,” Reed said. “He did something rare, starting four years. He had a special career.”

Reed said instead of trying to replace Washington, he looks for Johnson to utilize his own skill set to help the Bulldog offense.

Johnson was a two-year starter at wide receiver before moving to quarterback this spring. He also is a safety on defense. He said both positions helped ease the transition to starting quarterback.

“(Playing receiver) helps with knowing all of the plays and routes that the receivers have to run,” Johnson said.

He also said his experience on the defensive side of the ball helps him anticipate what the defense will do when he is playing quarterback.

Reed said that Johnson will probably continue to play both ways next fall, and he does not think that workload will have an affect on his quarterback play.

“If anyone can do it, (Johnson) can,” Reed said.

Johnson said he learned a lot about the quarterback position from backing up his cousin for two seasons.

“(Washington) was good at passing and running,” Johnson said. “He made a lot of good reads and knew who to go to.”

Reed said he sees similarities in the attitudes of the two players.

“They both have the fire to compete and hate to lose,” Reed said. “They both work their butts off to win.”

Johnson plans to work really hard in the weight room, do a lot of running and work on being a leader this summer. His goal is to get his teammates on the field, in the offseason, and, “make them work,” he said.

Reed has set simple expectations for Johnson he said. He wants Johnson to lead the offense, lead the team and do his job.

Johnson has bigger goals, he said.

“I really want to win state,” Johnson said. “I know that I have to work harder, get better and get smarter.”