Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week: Berks Catholic’s Owen Reber
Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
For a guy essentially playing with one arm Owen Reber did pretty well in Berks Catholic’s final game of the season. Of course by Week 11 he was used to having his left forearm and wrist heavily wrapped.
The junior guard was injured during the summer while wrestling, required surgery just before the season and had a plate and six screws inserted.
Playing with a cast on his left forearm didn’t slow him down. He scored the highest blocking grade among offensive linemen in the Saints season-ending 49-14 victory over Pine Grove and led the team in pancake blocks to earn Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week honors for the first time.
The 6-1, 270-pounder also had four tackles from his spot at defensive tackle, where he helped the Saints limit the Cardinals to two first downs and 47 total yards in the second half as they pulled away in the Eastern Conference Class 3A championship game.
His biggest impact came on offense where he set some blocks to spring Josiah Jordan for 180 yards and four touchdowns and helped the Saints rush for 386 yards.
“Owen is probably our best all-around lineman on the offensive side of the ball,” said Berks Catholic line coach Jasen Esposito. “He can play any position on the offensive line.
“He really likes to get guys on the ground and finish plays in a violent manner. He does an excellent job defensively executing the techniques we coach every day.”
Reber was a second-team all-league guard as a sophomore. Esposito said he made a lot of progress from the end of his sophomore season to the beginning of his junior year.
“He came in the weight room once wrestling ended in March and went from weighing 230 pounds to 270 pounds in about three to four months,” said Esposito. “His bench went up around 50 pounds, to around 300. He made tremendous progress in all of his core lifts.”
Reber is the second Berks Catholic player selected for Lineman of the Week this season. Jackson Haas was selected in Week 6.
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:
- Jackson Haas, Berks Catholic
- Owen Hause, Hamburg
- Charles Sheppard, Hamburg
- Jayden Gulley, Schuylkill Valley
- Sabier Mateo, Schuylkill Valley
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 2: Jack Gartner, G, Wyomissing
- Week 3: Jven Williams, G/DT, Wyomissing
- Week 4: Anthony Caccese, T/T, Exeter
- Week 5: Charles Sheppard, T/T Hamburg
- Week 6: Jackson Haas, G, Berks Catholic
- Week 7: Tyler Hallock, T/T, Kutztown
- Week 8: Anthony Caccese, T/T, Exeter
- Week 9: Kyle Lash, G/T, Exeter
- Week 10: Kyle Lash, G/T, Exeter
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
