Lucas Palange of Exeter is Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
Lucas Palange earned All-State honors and played a pivotal role in helping Exeter win a District 3 Class 6A football championship last year, but that hasn’t changed the way he approaches the game one bit.
“You’ve just gotta go out there with a mindset that you’re gonna beat them every play,” said the senior guard. “(It’s) you against the guy in front of you. You’ve gotta be very aggressive and go right at ’em every play.”
That’s what Palange did in the Eagles’ season-opener as he pancaked, or knocked over, his opponent five times in just 32 snaps; he didn’t allow a sack.
“He was knocking guys over left and right,” said Eagles coach Matt Bauer. “He’s just phenomenal.”
Palange, a three-year starter on the offensive line, earned a 97-percent blocking grade in Exeter’s win over Daniel Boone and is the season’s first Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week.
He was selected for the award twice last season — the only Berks lineman to earn multiple selections.
“He’s tremendous,” said Bauer. “Tough. Blue collar. Everything you want in a lineman. He just gets better week to week.”
Palange earned all-league and All-Berks honors last season and was named to the Pennsylvania Football News Class 5A All-State team.
In the offseason he hit the weight room and tacked an additional 30 pounds of muscle onto his 6-foot frame; he’s now playing at 236 pounds.
“He was just as nasty last year,” said Bauer, “but with the added strength (he’s even better) and he hasn’t lost any speed whatsoever. He’s just taken his game up numerous notches.”
As a linebacker, he recorded a sack and had seven tackles, matching Jon Martin for the team lead.
Palange would again like to earn all-league and All-State honors and earn an athletic scholarship but he’s thinking more about the team than himself.
“I don’t have too many personal goals,” he said. “I just want to go out and play my best every week, get the ‘W’ every week and go right back to the ‘chip again.
“We can’t let down. Everybody thinks last year was a fluke. We just want to prove that Exeter is really a solid, top team, and we want to build a legacy for the future.”
Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated for Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week:
- Ty Barreto, C, Berks Catholic
- Jesse Smith, DT, Daniel Boone
- Devin Johnson, DT, Gov. Mifflin
- Branden Picazo, G, Reading High
- Mason Ketner, C, Twin Valley
- Pacen Ziegler, T, Wyomissing
Selected for Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week last season:
- Week 1: Tyler Hallock, T, Kutztown
- Week 2: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 3: Colin Leahy, T, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Josh Pazdrick, TE, Conrad Weiser
- Week 5: Nate Goodman, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 6: Jven Williams, G, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Kyle Pry, T, Boyertown
- Week 8: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 9: Jon Ramsey, G, Wilson
- Week 10: Jack Durning, C, Wilson
- Week 11: Dominic Memmo, DT, Wilson
- Week 12: Kyle Lash, T, Exeter
- Week 13: Anthony Caccese, T, Exeter
- Week 14: Jven Williams, Exeter
