VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : JOHNSON’S WEB : Notre Dame Lineman Isn’t Choosy, He Catches Quarterbacks or Running Backs.

Opposing coaches take note: There is something that stops Travis Johnson.

Johnson, the one-man sack attack for Notre Dame High, the top defensive lineman in the nation according to SuperPrep magazine, has a glaring weakness.

Spiders.

Hates ‘em. During an interview, he smacks one with a size-15 flip-flop in hand, grumbling all the while. A few minutes later, he scoops his helmet off the ground and shakes it vigorously, lest an arachnid has taken umbrage behind one of the ear pads.

The 6-foot-4, 259-pound senior causes problems for the best teams in Southern California--he had three sacks against Mater Dei and keyed an upset over Loyola last season--but he won’t be pushing people out of the way to get a better look at that tarantula in biology class.

“They scare the hell out of me,” Johnson said. “I don’t mess with them. They can crawl up under your house and bite you.”

Trap-door spiders are more effective than trapping guards on Johnson, the howling, scowling fulcrum of the Notre Dame defense.

His sack numbers--17 as a junior, nine as a sophomore--are impressive, as is the number of coaches who try to figure out how to control Johnson every week.

“Unfortunately, I know about him all too well,” Coach Jeff Engilman of Sylmar said. The Spartans host Notre Dame in an opener Sept. 10.

“He ate us up last year,” Engilman said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Said Coach Jim Bonds of Alemany, whose team plays Notre Dame on Oct 1: “We’ll know where he is on every snap.”

Johnson, who always hopes Notre Dame loses the coin toss so he can set the tempo right away, isn’t overly concerned. He’s not just a sack master; he dominates in almost every facet.

Teams try to run away from him and “he’s good enough to run them down,” Coach Kevin Rooney of Notre Dame said.

Teams try to kick the ball and he’s there, too. He blocked three punts and two extra points last year.

“I go on a football field and I’m not scared of anybody,” he said. “One thing my dad always said was, ‘You don’t have to be afraid of anybody in this world . . . except for me.’ ”

His mother, Eleanor, who needed three days of labor to give birth to Travis, and his father, Edmund, raised their son in a strict manner.

He must ask permission for virtually anything he does outside the house. And he must call if he’s going to come home late.

His upbringing has left Johnson with strong self-confidence.

As he reels off the schools that are recruiting him--a list of who’s who in college football--he says in earnest that he can contribute immediately.

“I can’t go wrong with any of those schools,” Johnson said. “UCLA, I know I could go in there and start as a freshman. USC, I know I could go in there and start right away and help them become one of the best defensive lines in college history.”

Underneath the bold exterior is a sensitive side that few see.

Johnson is moved to tears talking about his aunt, Janice Hall, who has terminal ovarian cancer.

He has spent an increasing amount of time with her, knowing any day could be her last.

During a recent visit, they talked about the eye-catching yellow kitchen walls in her former home. And of the biscuits she used to make for Johnson. Ordinary things, yet important things.

“She didn’t have that much energy, but I could tell she just wanted to talk,” Johnson said. “She was always so upbeat, so happy.”

Johnson has dedicated the football season to her. Knowing him, it will be a memorable one.

SNEAK PEEK

Fourth in a nine-part series. Today: Defensive linemen. Travis Johnson of Notre Dame

Aug. 25: Quarterbacks. Fabulous Foursome

Aug. 26: Running backs. Manuel White of Valencia

Aug. 27: Offensive linemen. Steve Nevarez of San Fernando

Aug. 28: Wide receivers. Keary Colbert of Hueneme

Aug. 29: Will Svitek of Newbury Park

Defensive linemen. Travis Johnson of Notre Dame

Thursday: Linebackers. Patrick Norton of Hart

Friday:: Defensive backs. Michael Washington of Paraclete

Saturday: Kickers. Drew Thomas of Westlake