Going into the second half, his team was behind, but Jimmy Johns was unfazed. He’s already come from much further behind and landed ahead.

     Saturday, Johns returned to King Field at Brookhaven High School for the first time since he led the Panthers to a state championship in 2004, earning the title of Mississippi’s Mr. Football along the way.

     A newly formed semi-pro football team, the Tri-County Heroes took to the BHS field against the Mississippi Iron Horse. Johns leads the Heroes as quarterback and also plays linebacker.

     “I’m expecting to have fun; I expect a good game,” Johns said last week.

     Saturday’s game not only marks Johns’ return to the BHS field but his first time on a football field since spring 2008 when he was dismissed from the Alabama Crimson Tide after his arrest on drug-related charges.

     Johns is eager to put the past behind him, though, and Heroes’ head coach Phil Campbell still believes Johns has a solid shot at the NFL.

     A moderate crowd turned out Saturday to see the Heroes’ season opener, including fans of the Iron Horse, now in their third year.

     Tellis Allen of Pike County has been an Iron Horse fan since the team’s beginning and has been to most of their home games. Saturday night, though, he planned to keep a close eye on both sides.

     “I wanted to see Jimmy Johns play again,” Allen said. “I remember when he used to come play against South Pike.”

     Allen believes having a semi-pro league in the area is a strong asset. It gives football fans a summer fix of their favorite sport and former local football stars a chance to get back on the field.

     Allen said the Iron Horse home games always have very strong attendance, and he deemed the crowd at King Field pretty solid for an opening night.

     He expects to see local crowds return to cheer on their hometown guys.

     “I guarantee that no matter the outcome, the people here will be back because they enjoyed themselves so much,” Allen said.

     Fans witnessed an exciting first game as the hometown Heroes came from behind to secure a 21-20 victory over the Iron Horse when Johns tossed a touchdown pass with 13 seconds left in the game.

     The Heroes travel to Hazlehurst Saturday. The Heroes’ next home game is scheduled for June 23, with additional home games on July 7, 14 and 21.

     The Heroes have 35 players from Lincoln, Copiah and Franklin counties.

     “We have an outstanding team of athletes,” said Campbell last week.