Washington Co. Football Player Battling Stage 4 Cancer

CHARLEROI (KDKA) -- There was a different sense in the stands at Beth-Center's football game against Charleroi. A sense of strength. Signs surrounded the field saying "Tackle Cancer for Johnny" and #LittleStrong.

"We're just hoping right now for a miracle," Little's Aunt Bridgett Trump said.

Senior football player at Beth-Center Johnny Little, 18, was diagnosed with cancer a week ago.

"He played in the game Friday night against Brownsville. Never complained. Never knew he was hurt and had back issues. We didn't know anything," Beth-Center Assistant Athletic Director Frank Pryor said.

Little was admitted to Allegheny General Hospital for a few days to find out he had cancer in a major organ. He was diagnosed last Saturday.

"As a teacher of 31 years, this is probably one of the most difficult items we have...to find an answer for," Pryor said.

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"Johnny is one of those high motor kids. One of those kids you can tell on the field he loves to play the game. Leaves his heart with every snap," Beth-Center Head football coach Joe Kuhns said.

When the news came out, David Slagle, who owns a screen printing shop, wanted to help out. He organized a t-shirt sale and started a GoFundMe account to raise money for the Little family.

"With t-shirts we did over 1300 t-shirts in five days and raised almost $21,000 total to this point not even counting the collections we've taken from Trinity High School and Bentworth High School and money donated tonight as well," fundraising coordinator David Slagle said.

Slagle said he sold an additional 100 t-shirts before this game.

"It's amazing how everyone pulled together in this community," Bridgett Trump said. "He's an 18 year old that just doesn't deserve this. If you could switch places with him that's what I'd like to do."

Right now, doctors haven't said what kind of cancer Little has. He will be getting his biopsy results back on Monday.

If you want contribute to Little's GoFundMe account, you can click here.