Homegrown Lopers lead UNK defense with loyalty and heart
KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney football team has built a reputation for strong defense.
Last season, the Lopers ranked No. 3 in the MIAA in scoring defense, allowing just 21.5 points per game while forcing 23 turnovers in 11 contests.
Their identity is no different this fall. Through two games, UNK leads the conference with eight sacks and six takeaways while allowing an MIAA-best 21 points per contest.
That success, according to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Tim Schaffner, starts with the players.
“The dudes who are out there playing – their attitudes and their commitment to each other – that’s what makes this defense so good,” he said. “We talk constantly about who you are as a person. Your character, your moral fiber, who you are when things aren’t going well – all of that matters to us. When you can find guys who check all those boxes and have the athletic ability, that’s when you get special players.”
Redshirt junior linebacker Parker Wise and fifth-year senior defensive end Jack Johnson embody the toughness, discipline and accountability that define UNK football.
“They epitomize what we’re trying to do,” Schaffner said. “They’re bright individuals. They’re good students. They’re hard workers. They make us better just by being in the room.”
They also share another bond. Wise grew up in Kearney and Johnson was raised in nearby Riverdale. They both attended Kearney High School, earning all-conference and all-state honors along with invitations to the annual Nebraska Shrine Bowl.
Although UNK has a national recruiting footprint – players from 21 different states are on this year’s roster – it’s always been important to lean on local talent. The program draws heavily from Kearney High and Kearney Catholic, with a total of 11 former Bearcats and Stars currently on the team.
Kearney High coach Brandon Cool and Kearney Catholic coach Rashawn Harvey run their programs “the right way,” according to Schaffner, whose son Brady is a sophomore safety for the Bearcats.
“Coach Cool and coach Harvey do a great job, from the nuts and bolts to the big pieces,” Schaffner said. “When their players get here, accountability, hard work and doing the little things right aren’t new messages. Those guys already understand what it takes to win, so we can just focus on helping them become the best football players they can be.”
Anchoring the Defense
Teammates in both football and basketball during high school, Wise and Johnson were recruited by former UNK head coach Josh Lynn.
Johnson was initially torn between the two sports before committing to UNK football, which has been led by head coach Ryan Held since 2023. Wise followed a year later, with Johnson serving as his host during his official visit.
“I just liked where the program was going,” Wise said. “It was an easy decision to stay after coach Lynn left. This is my hometown. I have great teammates. And I had confidence that (Athletic Director) Marc Bauer would hire the right guy, which I think he did.”
Johnson echoes that sentiment.
“I wasn’t going to leave,” he said. “Loyalty is important to me, so I wanted to stay.”
A former linebacker, Johnson switched to defensive end in 2023 and has started 23 games since then, recording 37 tackles and two sacks. Wise has played in 23 games for the Lopers, including nine starts. He’s recorded 86 tackles and seven sacks during that time.
As teammates, they respect each other’s work ethic.
“Parker is someone you can count on,” Johnson said. “Ever since he got here, he’s been someone who is going to put his head down and work hard. Now that he’s gotten a little bit older, he’s become more of a vocal leader, too. He’s the kind of guy I want lined up next to me.”
Wise feels the same way.
“Something we talk about is that you deserve to be playing with a guy who’s like you,” he said. “That’s how Jack is for me. You can always count on him to do his job. He bleeds blue, and I enjoy playing alongside him.”
Representing Kearney
Now captains, Wise and Johnson lead a veteran unit built around what Schaffner calls “chaos tempo.”
“It’s our identity – play fast and make things chaotic,” Wise explained. “Coach Schaffner does a great job of setting the standard, and we just have to uphold it.”
Johnson agrees: “Coach does a good job of just letting us play. I’ve never questioned him since he’s been here.”
That approach has already paid dividends this season. UNK opened with wins over in-state rivals Wayne State and Chadron State, with Wise sealing the latter game with a late interception.
The Lopers begin MIAA play Saturday, when they’ll travel to Fort Hays State to face another longtime rival.
For two of their defensive standouts, there’s no better feeling than wearing the blue and gold and representing their hometown on the football field.
“Kearney has always supported all the sports and activities I’ve done, so it feels good to give back to a community that’s done so much for me,” Wise said. “I just hope we continue to represent them the right way and finish the season strong.”
Johnson added: “Kearney is a great community. There aren’t many Division II programs with support like this. Representing Kearney means a lot.”
A four-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll selection, Johnson will graduate in December with a degree in industrial distribution. Wise is a business administration major and an MIAA Academic Honor Roll and CSC Academic All-District honoree. He has another season of eligibility before leaving UNK to join his family’s business, Buzz’s Marine, a boat dealership that’s been in the community for nearly 70 years.
“I always tell him he’ll be the mayor someday,” Johnson said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I’ll be in Kearney for a long time,” Wise replied.