Unsung hero Jack Johnson packs punch for Bethel Park defense

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, October 25, 2025 | 11:01 AM

An often-overlooked contributor on the Bethel Park football squad in 2025 was Jack Johnson, a junior linebacker.

All Johnson did through nine games was lead the Black Hawks in tackles with 40 total stops, including 29 solo hits.

“I think our team has done very well thus far,” Johnson said, “but we have more work to do to continue getting better and progressing. Right now, the focus has to be on Peters in our final regular-season game.”

Johnson also ranked No. 1 in tackles for loss with 7.5 and had a team-high two sacks and two interceptions, which he returned 43 yards.

A tough, strapping 5-foot-10, 193-pound athlete, Johnson plays the fullback position on the other side of the ball.

What makes him such a gritty football player?

It helps that he is a boxer.

Johnson has been boxing at the amateur level for seven years and also plans to join Bethel Park’s wrestling team following football season.

“I train at the South Park Boxing gym and a I really enjoy it,” he said. “I’ve won three Golden Gloves out of that gym.”

Johnson was looking forward to his team securing a spot in the WPIAL playoffs in Week 9. Bethel Park needed to defeat Peters Township to clinch a postseason berth. If the Black Hawks finished fourth in their conference, they would still be alive for a possible wild card spot in Class 5A.

“A lot of teams and people are underestimating us,” Johnson said, “but we’re going to prove a lot of people wrong. I consider everyone on the football team as my brother. We are a big family, and we are in all of this together.”

With one week remaining in the regular season, Bethel Park was tied for third place in the Allegheny Six Conference with Upper St. Clair, both with 2-2 records.

“Our toughest opponent this season was probably USC,” Johnson said. “We played well, and I know we’re prepared to beat them if we meet them in the playoffs.”

The dynamic linebacker is complemented defensively by senior linebackers Charlies Simmons, Tim Ondo and David Dennison, along with senior DB Kahanuola Kuewa (39 tackles), senior DL Jovian Smith (36 tackles), junior DB Brady Bruckner and senior DL Bryan McGuire.

Smith was the team leader in sacks while Bruckner led in interceptions.

Turning to the offense, senior QB Evan Devine threw for 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns in nine games to rank among the WPIAL passing leaders. He connected on 98 of 170 tosses with seven interceptions and averaged 192.3 yards in the air per game.

Santino Nowowzeniuk, a junior wideout, led in receiving with 27 catches for 498 yards and six touchdowns, an average of 18.4 yards per reception.

Dennison and junior RB Will Sabatos were next in line with 25 and 23 catches for 346 and 439 yards. Dennison had four TD receptions while Sabatos had two. Smith, Bruckner and Simmons were three other leading targets for Devine.

Dennison ranked among the WPIAL’s leading rushers with 1,363 yards and 18 scores on 207 carries, an average of 151.4 yards per game. He was supported in the backfield by Sabatos and junior Tyler Miller.

The Black Hawks defeated South Fayette, 33-16, in Week 8 to improve to 2-2 in their conference.

Bethel Park also defeated Seneca Valley, 43-26, Armstrong, 56-28, West Mifflin, 41-7, Trinity, 51-35, and Baldwin, 75-14, this season.

Tags: Bethel Park