Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week: Berks Catholic’s Jackson Haas
Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
Jackson Haas’ initial blocking grade was so high Friday that Berks Catholic offensive line coach Jasen Esposito had to go back and regrade it.
Haas, a senior guard, scored a 100 the second time, too.
Perfect games don’t happen often on the pitching mound or in the trenches but Haas and the Saints scored one in a 45-0 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4 win over Conrad Weiser.
“I’ve had guys (grade out) close to that,” said Esposito, in his 16th year as a line coach, “but not 100.”
Haas helped clear the way for 417 yards on 43 rushing attempts to earn Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week honors for the first time.
“He was excited to get back on the field,” said Esposito. “He had a high ankle sprain and missed the last two games. He only practiced Wednesday and Thursday. We didn’t want him to play much on defense, but he was good to go.”
The 6-foot, 220-pound two-year starter was both technically sound on his assignments and overpowering at times.
Esposito’s grading system awards bonus points for knockdown blocks; Haas had four of those.
“He had quite a few double-plus plays,” Esposito said, “and only a couple negative plays (missed assignments). The whole line played really well.
“It’s the first time everyone was healthy and playing together in a while.”
Haas transferred to Berks Catholic from Pine Grove before his junior season.
“He’s been a good player for us for two years,” Esposito said. “He has a really high motor on both sides of the ball and finishes plays. He’s extremely smart and he’s physical. He’s a protypical Wing-T guard.”
Berks Catholic lost its first four games this season — a first for the program. A tough schedule that included state-ranked opponents such as Loyalsock, Pope John Paul II and Wyomissing was part of the reason; injuries up and down the O-line were part of the problem, too.
The Saints have bounced back with consecutive wins, over Donegal and Conrad Weiser.
Berks Catholic’s offensive line includes four return starters — tackle Jacob Collazo, center Ty Barreto and guards Haas and Owen Reber — and first-time starters Luke Bennethum at tackle and Joe Polinsky at tight end.
“Most of the season the line has played pretty well,” Esposito said. “This week they really put it all together. They were physical across the board. We put a lot of bodies on the ground. I hadn’t seen that in a while from the whole group.
“Friday was the team I envisioned us to be this season. Hopefully we can continue to do that the rest of the way.”
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:
- Kyle Lash, G, Exeter
- Charles Sheppard, OT/DE, Hamburg
- Christian Davilla, OT/DT, Schuylkill Valley
- Jackson Dendall, OT, Wilson
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Lucas Palange, Exeter
- Week 2: Jack Gartner, Wyomissing
- Week 3: Jven Williams, Wyomissing
- Week 4: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
- Week 5: Charles Sheppard, Hamburg
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, G, Wyomissing
