Strong, smart, tough: Lucas Palange checked all the boxes for Exeter’s defense
Coming Friday: Offensive Player of the Year
The Exeter coaching staff didn’t plan on using Lucas Palange as a middle linebacker this season. He was more than fine playing on the outside as a junior, earning all-league honors.
When there was an injury in camp Palange moved to the ‘Mike’ or inside spot in the Eagles’ 4-3 alignment. He never left — he was too good to move.
“We gave him an opportunity (inside) and it just clicked right away,” said Exeter defensive coordinator Jim Bauer said of Palange.
He became the leader of the defense and more than adequately filled the shoes of graduated Ty Yocum, the Berks Linebacker of the Year in 2021.
“All those characteristics you look for in a great player — he’s got all the boxes checked off,” Bauer said.
Palange was named Linebacker of the Year in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, Linebacker of the Year by the Berks County Football Coaches Association, to the Lancaster-Lebanon League “Big 25” team and now adds Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Year honors to his long list of accolades.
Yocum was the inaugural pick last season.
“He’s instinctual,” Jim Bauer said. “He sees things (other players don’t). He has a really strong visual memory of watching something on film, then being able to translate that into gametime situations. Not many kids can do that.”
Palange has a high IQ both on the football field and off, where he’s a straight-A student.
He led Exeter with 85 tackles and 43 solo tackles, had 22 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
The Eagles’ had the No. 1 rush defense in the league and were ranked No. 2 in total defense and scoring defense. Palange is the guy who made it all work.
“With our core lineman (returning), and Lucas in the middle, it afforded us to take our outside linebackers and cheat ’em into space to help our secondary (in pass coverage),” Bauer said.
Palange made one of the biggest plays of the season for the Eagles in Week 10 when he stormed through the line on second down and sacked Zac Hahn for a 10-yard loss after Manheim Central had moved inside the 5 in the final minute, trailing 21-17.
One snap later Hahn was picked off in the end zone, allowing the Eagles to clinch a perfect regular season and claim the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 title.
After a big junior season that saw him earn All-Berks honors and a spot on the Pennsylvania Football News Class 5A All-State team he went to work in the offseason to get stronger. He tacked 30 pounds of muscle onto his 6-foot frame.
“He was nasty last year,” said Eagles head coach Matt Bauer, “but with the added strength (he’s even better) and he hasn’t lost any speed. He’s just taken his game up numerous notches.”
Palange was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball. He was just as good at guard where he was named both Offensive Lineman of the Year and Outstanding Lineman in Section 2.
“He’s tremendous,” Matt Bauer said. “Tough. Blue collar. Everything you want in a lineman.”
Jim Bauer believes Palange’s experience at guard helps him read plays on defense.
“Lucas has the ability to see a formation and anticpate what plays they’re going to run off those formations,” Jim Bauer said. “He would point out some things to me that I didn’t see. He has a really strong visual memory of watching something on film, then being able to translate that into gametime situations. Not many kids can do that. He’s a special kid.”
Palange showed off his strength at the annual Chris Nunn Memorial Berks Football Combine in May where he won the bench press competition by doing 30 reps at 185 pounds, four better than the closest competitor.
A few weeks later he helped the Eagles take second place at Penn State’s Big Man Challenge.
Selected this season for Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Jonathan Martin, LB, Exeter
- Week 2: Nate Capitano, S, Wilson
- Week 3: Ethan Kryman, LB, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Nate Pashley, S, Exeter
- Week 5: Nafis Blythe, E, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Nick Weitzel, E, Wilson
- Week 7: Ryker Jones, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 8: Drew Eisenhower, SS, Wyomissing
- Week 9: Mason Marks, DB, Twin Valley
- Week 10: Lucas Palange, LB, Exeter
- Week 11: Mason Semmel, LB, Hamburg
- Week 12: Ryker Jones, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 13: Ryker Jones, LB, Wyomissing
Lineman of the Year: Jven Williams
