Cooler heads have prevailed over in the football program at the University of Dayton.

Last week, the Dayton coaching staff decided to name Milford's own "Cool Hand Luke" Johnson the Flyers' starting quarterback.

It was for the best.

Cool Hand Luke is a first-class field general.

In his first start under center against Drake, Johnson threw for 215 yards (18-of-36) and a touchdown in a loss. His scoring hook-up – a 64-yarder in the opening minutes of action – was with another Metro Detroiter, Gary Hunter from Orchard Lake St. Mary's.

Dayton is 6-4.

Back as a prepster in the OC with the Mavs, Johnson was a stat-monger in the pocket, racking up 2,200 yards and 22 touchdowns during his senior season in the fall of 2010.

He was also an all-league baseball player behind the plate as an ace catcher. A natural born leader, Cool Hand Luke was the captain of both squads.

The Flyers have made significant recruiting inroads locally in recent years. Besides Johnson and Hunter, other former OC prep studs like Lake Orion's Danny Ney , Farmington's Mitch Sanders and Birmingham Seaholm's Rob Washington dot the Dayton roster.

Johnson's future is bright in the Buckeye State: He's only a redshirt sophomore.