Muncy’s Austin Johnson is an extraordinary young lad. He is a three-time state wrestling finalist. Johnson will go down as one of the area’s all-time bests. He will be heading to Oklahoma State University on a full scholarship next fall.
But it is what Johnson does on the gridiron that impresses me the most. I have watched him run for the past few years. Johnson is unstoppable. Literally. He has all of the tools. Flashy speed. Incredible power. Fantastic balance. Unmatched athleticism. I am running out of adjectives. He runs with a passion. So strong. Austin Johnson is legit. The senior has tallied some impressive numbers. Last week, Johnson had over 300 yards and five touchdowns against North-Penn Mansfield in the first half. Yes. It was off the charts. I have never seen anything like it.
“Austin brings more than just his outstanding work ethic,” Muncy Coach Sean Tetreault said. “He brings a relentless desire to win. Austin wants to be the best in anything that he does. He motivates others to do the same.”
Johnson has 1,206 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2024. He is averaging a scary 14.8 yards per carry. Say what? Austin moved to 4th spot on the all-time local list. He now has 4,879 career yards. Johnson is currently second with 70 total rushing TDS. Impressive. Again. I have seen many defenses stuff the box. It doesn’t matter. When Johnson gets the ball- you can expect some fireworks. There was one play in particular last week. My man started right and broke a few tackles. He then spun and decided to cut across the grain. Johnson was weaving in and out of traffic. He should’ve been tackled five times, but he kept going. A stiff arm here. A stutter there. Next thing you know — Austin Johnson is in the end zone alone. An 82-yard scamper. It was incredible. The crowd went ballistic.
“Austin is inhuman,” senior quarterback Stiles Eyer stated. “He is so strong, and he breaks tackles with ease. I know something good will happen whenever he gets the ball. All the seniors got together this summer and pledged to bring home district gold. Austin is the anchor to the promise. When we don’t feel like putting in the work, Austin makes sure to remind us of what our team goals are. If we aren’t lifting the way we should, Austin is right there pushing us. He is a tremendous leader.”
“I try to make the most out of every play,” Austin Johnson explained. “I try to be patient and follow my blocks. We have been working on my stiff arms and spins to get out as many tackles as I can. My line has been great this year. They are all blocking well. They open those gaps, and I can get to the next level. Having talented guys like Stiles and Landyn [Womer] helps, too. We aren’t one-dimensional.”
Johnson is well-known in the wrestling circuit. He was recruited by many of the elite programs throughout the country. He is looking forward to becoming a Cowboy, but he wants to leave his mark at Muncy. Austin is very detailed and driven. He brings a lot to the table. It’s scary to think that football is his second sport.
“My discipline and work ethic required in wrestling has transferred to football,” Johnson continued. “I need to keep improving in both sports. I try to practice with a purpose. Get a little better each day. We have a great group here at Muncy. We have a lot of fun as a team. Our coaches should get a lot of credit. We are playing some great football. Hopefully, we can make some noise.”
Getting the opportunity to watch Austin over the years has been grand. He has grown into a talented young lad. I wish him the very best in everything that he does. Cheers.
