Exeter’s Colin Payne is Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week
Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week
Quarterbacks on championship teams rarely get overlooked; Exeter coach Matt Bauer says his sometimes does.
There was no over-looking what Colin Payne did Friday when he stood tall in the pocket and delivered in the Eagles’ exhilarating 31-28 victory over Gov. Mifflin in the District 3 Class 5A championship game.
“He was just relentless,” said Bauer after watching Payne complete 13-of-21 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
That performance helped send the Eagles on to the PIAA semifinals and earned Payne Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Payne looked fearless as he braved difficult weather elements — freezing cold and a howling wind — as well as a tough defensive unit that stormed the pocket. Payne stood up to the rush, delivering the ball before taking some big hits.
On Exeter’s first series, which resulted in a score, he drew in the rush and delivered a screen pass that went for 29 yards to J.R. Strauss to set the early tone.
“He knew he was going to take some shots but he just stood in there,” Bauer said. “That’s why that play (to Strauss) was so wide open. He executed the game plan to perfection.”
Payne is Berks’ top-rated passer, with a 181.9 efficiency rating. He has 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. His 2,184 passing yards are a program record; he topped Gavin McCusker’s record of 2,035 against Mifflin.
He’s two touchdown passes away from McCusker’s program record of 24 in a season and four completions away from McCusker’s record of 122. His 59.3 completion percentage ranks second to Kolby Haag’s mark of .638; he’s also second behind Haag in career pass completion percentage.
Payne, a 6-foot, 160-pound senior, threw for a career-high 293 yards in the season-opener against Central York; that ranks No. 2 in program history, behind Haag’s 390.
This is Payne’s first year as a starting quarterback.
Payne becomes the seventh Exeter player to receive MikeDragoSports.com Player of the Week honors this season. Eric Nangle was Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week last week. Sam Orzolek has been selected as Defensive Player of the Week and Lucas Palange, Anthony Caccese and Kyle Lash have been Lineman of the Week. (Palange was selected twice.)
Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also considered for the Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week:
- Eric Nangle, RB, Exeter
- Joey Schlaffer, WR, Exeter
- J.R. Strauss, TE, Exeter
- Eden Johnson, QB, Gov. Mifflin
- Drew Eisenhower, RB, Wyomissing
- Amory Thompson, RB, Wyomissing
Selected earlier this season for the Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Nick Singleton, RB, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 2: DeShawn Wilson, WR, Reading High
- Week 3: Nick Singleton, RB, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 4: Logan Klitsch, QB, Conrad Weiser
- Week 5: Nick Singleton, RB, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 6: Diohnny Ruiz, RB, Hamburg
- Week 7: Nick Singleton, RB, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 8: Cameron Jones, KR, Wilson
- Week 9: Trey Freeman, WR, Twin Valley
- Week 10: Jadyn Jones, RB, Wilson
- Week 11: Logan Klitsch, QB, Conrad Weiser
- Week 12: Nick Singleton, RB, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 13: Eric Nangle, RB, Exeter
