Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week: Lucas Palange
Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week
Exeter linebacker Lucas Palange admits he was a little nervous, given the situation. The Eagles’ 21-17 lead at Manheim Central was in grave danger when the Barons earned a first down at the 2 with 90 seconds left.
“They’re knocking on the goal-line,” said Palange. “Somebody’s gotta make a play.”
Palange did. He stormed through the line on second down and sacked quarterback Zac Hahn for a 10-yard loss. 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.
That was one of eight tackles for Palange, but it was clearly his biggest and enough to earn Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Momentum shifted throughout the game, with the Eagles scoring first, the Barons scoring the next 17, then Exeter the next 14 to take the lead. It was a true championship game and required steely nerve to hold on.
“I said to my other captains before the game: ‘We’re gonna go through some adversity but we’ve gotta keep everybody together,’ ” Palange said, “and that’s what we did.
“We were down 17-7; at that point we knew we had to keep fighting, battle back, not let up any points for the rest of the game.”
They didn’t.
“It was a great game,” Palange said. “That’s a great team over there (on the Manheim sideline): Hard-working, physical. It was just a dogfight to the end and we came out on top.”
Palange leads Exeter with 64 tackles; he’s fourth with eight tackles for loss.
“He’s tremendous,” Eagles coach Matt Bauer said of Palange. “Tough. Blue collar. Everything you want. He just gets better week to week.”
Palange was selected Lineman of the Week following a season-opening win over Daniel Boone. He was selected for that honor twice last season.
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 opened the season playing at 236.
“(With) the added strength (he’s even better) and he hasn’t lost any speed whatsoever,” Bauer said. “He’s just taken his game up numerous notches.”
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 for Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week:
- Luke Impellizzeri, LB, Berks Catholic
- Jared Hewit, FS, Daniel Boone
- Derek Ruiz, CB, Hamburg
- Drew Engle, S, Twin Valley
- Michael Goad, S, Schuylkill Valley
- Ryan McMillan, LB, Wilson
- Charlie McIntyre, CB, Wyomissing
Selected earlier this season:
- 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
Selected last season as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Brett Organtini, LB, Conrad Weiser
- Week 2: Eden Johnson, S, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 3: Josiah Jordan, CB, Berks Catholic
- Week 4: Matt Kramer, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 5: Ryan Souder, LB, Daniel Boone
- Week 6: Nevin Carter, CB, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Nate Goodman, E, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 8: Sam Orzolek, T, Exeter
- Week 9: Cam Jones, CB, Wilson
- Week 10: Aaron Shuker, LB, Muhlenberg
- Week 11: Mitchell Watt, E, Hamburg
- Week 12: Tyler Givens, E, Berks Catholic
- Week 13: Jack Miller, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 14: Ty Yocum, LB, Exeter
