Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week: Weiser’s Ashton Kiebach

By Mike Drago Last updated Oct 22, 2024

After working out five to six days a week throughout the offseason and adding 10-15 pounds to his 5-11 frame Ashton Kiebach found he outgrew some of his clothes.

His Conrad Weiser jersey still looks good on him. He still wears No. 21, just as he did a year ago when he played linebacker. He just plays a little bigger in it.

Kiebach, who was moved to defensive end, is enjoying his new position and his newfound strength and speed.

“I’m able push through the lineman, get past them quicker,” he said.

He did that Friday in what may be the biggest play of Weiser’s season when he crashed off the edge and stuffed Cocalico’s Dane Horning for no gain on a fourth-and-3 at the Scouts’ 20 with 3:12 left to play.

The Scouts ran out the clock to preserve the 24-21 victory and clinch the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3 championship.

“I’m just looking for the ball (on that play),” explained Kiebach. “If I can get past their lineman and make the tackle, that’s what I want to do. And that’s what I did. I’m just rushing the ‘C’ gap off the end and looking for someone to tackle.”

That play, to go along with plenty others he made earlier in the game, makes Kiebach the Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week for the first time.

“It was a heckuva play,” said Weiser coach Alan Moyer, “because (Cocalico quarterback Josh) Myer could’ve pulled it and gotten the first down and Kiebach made the right choice.

“The big difference with Ashton from this year to last year is his brute strength. That kid did nothing but live in the weight room (in the offseason). And it’s given him so much more confidence. He’s probably the strongest kid on our team. (Horning) is a tough, strong kid. And Kiebach ripped him down.”

Kiebach leads the Scouts with nine sacks and 10 tackles for loss; he’s second on the team with 42 solo tackles. His switch to defensive end has been one of the keys in the Scouts’ drastic turnaround from a 2-8 season.

“He’s had a heck of a year for us,” Moyer said of Kiebach. “(Cocalico) has such a great offense, and it’s so hard to defend. We bent but we didn’t break. In the end we came up with the big play.”

Kiebach took the Scouts’ poor record last season to heart. He, along with many of his teammates, dedicated themselves to turning things around.

“I took that really seriously,” he said of Weiser’s second straight losing season. “I mean, (winning just) five games the last two years . . . Seeing all the seniors graduate and how emotional they were. I didn’t want to go out losing every game.”

Instead the Scouts have won every game they’ve played this season.

“Just amazing. Unimaginable,” Kiebach said of the championship. “If you would have told me we’d do this last year, I would have told you that you’re crazy.”

Kiebach is the first Conrad Weiser player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, and the first Scout to earn the award since Brett Organtini in 2021.

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.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Body Zone Physical Therapy is sponsoring the Defensive Player of the Week. At the end of the season a Defensive Player of the Year will be named.

Also considered this week: