Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week: Kutztown’s Ethan Lafferty
Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week
Defending against a Hamburg team that averages more than 25 passes and nearly 300 passing yards per game, a free safety can expect to make plays all over the field on a Friday night.
Ethan Lafferty did.
The Kutztown senior was in on 15 tackles and had a game-turning interception in the Cougars’ 35-34 comeback win.
“He was very, very busy,” said Kutztown coach Larry Chester said of Lafferty, who has earned Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.
The Cougars trailed 20-0 in the first half and were in danger of going down two scores again early in the final quarter before Lafferty picked off a pass at the 1-yard line.
“The interception was a turning point,” said Chester. “He read it, broke on the ball, elevated, and intercepted it. It was an awesome play. They went for a big hit and we were able to intercept it.
“Sometimes you have those surreal moments when everything seems to click, and that was one of those situations where (after he made that play) you started to perk your ears up. It was very exciting.”
Lafferty came up big at the end of the game, scoring on a two-point conversion run with 1:41 left to give the Cougars their first win over a Berks opponent since 2016.
As Kutztown was making its way 99 yards down the field for its final touchdown Chester had already decided that Lafferty was going to get the ball to win it.
Lafferty is a former tight end and gets more work as a blocker than a ballcarrier in the Cougars’ potent ground attack. Still, Chester wanted the ball in his hands to decide it.
“He’s probably one of the most experienced players on our team,” Chester said. “He comes from a football family. (Brothers Michael and Jacob played in the program; younger brother Ben is on the way.)
“He understands the game. He knows how to read the field. He used his football knowledge to make a great move to get into the end zone. There was no hesitation (giving him the ball).”
Lafferty is the first Kutztown player selected for this award this season.
Players considered for Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated this week:
- Palmer Reber, Berks Catholic
- Sevon Parham, Conrad Weiser
- Gavin Reiking, Exeter
- Kabine Toure, Gov. Mifflin
- Lucas Spotts, Schuylkill Valley
- Madyx Gruber, Wilson
- Chase Eisenhower, Wyomissing
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Lucas Myers, Twin Valley
- Week 2: Michael Odeyemi, Reading High
- Week 3: Stewie Janowski, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 4: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
Selected last season as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Jonathan Martin, Exeter
- Week 2: Nate Capitano, Wilson
- Week 3: Ethan Kryman, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Nate Pashley, Exeter
- Week 5: Nafis Blythe, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Nick Weitzel, Wilson
- Week 7: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
- Week 8: Drew Eisenhower, Wyomissing
- Week 9: Mason Marks, Twin Valley
- Week 10: Lucas Palange, Exeter
- Week 11: Mason Semmel, Hamburg
- Week 12: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
