Final Body Zone Physical Therapy defensive POW goes to Wyo’s Max Tipton

By Mike Drago Last updated Nov 30, 2024

Wyomissing's Max Tipton goes low to make tackle against Southern Columbia. (PhilMarPhoto)

No one’s been able to stop Lampeter-Strasburg quarterback Caileb Howse this season. Few have been able to contain the do-it-all senior as well as Wyomissing did Friday in the District 3 Class 4A championship game.

Howse was held to just 21 rushing yards on 11 carries, a season-low, in part because the Spartans made it a point not to rush upfield too much to give him escape lanes, in part because defensive lineman Max Tipton was so dominant at the line of scrimmage.

“Max was outstanding,” said Wyomissing line coach Steve O’Neil. “We kept him on the nose (of the center) 95 percent of the time because I didn’t think they could handle him inside, and that’s why he made so many plays. He definitely made a difference.”

Tipton made 14 tackles, including a sack and four tackles for loss to earn the Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week award, the last of the season.

“He was constantly a yard deep in the backfield, wrapping guys up,” said Wyomissing defensive assistant coach Dave Outland. “That’s discipline. Linemen get excited and want to get upfield. He was able to get a yard deep and settle, go tackle to tackle.”

Howse has been a game-breaker all season with his legs and with his arm. He’s run for over 100 yards in five games and has 1,259 yards and 19 TDs.

It took a miraculous play to beat the Spartans and Howse pulled one out of his bag of tricks, scrambling back more than 20 yards to keep a fourth-and-13 play alive, then completing a pass that set up a last-minute touchdown and sent the game to overtime. Once there the Pioneers won 30-27.

Before that the Wyomissing defense kept him and the explosive Lampeter-Strasburg offense in check much of the way.

Tipton was one of the keys in that defensive effort, as he has been all season. He’s been the best defensive lineman on a unit that ranked No. 5 in total defense in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League during the regular season and No. 4 against the rush.

He’s so versatile he can line up at end, tackle or noseguard in the Spartans’ three-man front and often is moved around during a game to make it harder for opponents to scheme against him.

“He was dominant all year long, and then you saw it again Friday night,” said Outland. “He has a great first step. There’s so many tackles he made down the line of scrimmage where he’s winning that play off the snap of the ball.”

“Max was the guy for us up front this season,” said O’Neil. “He just understands the game, the mental part of it. He understands the schemes and what (the offense) is trying to do.”

The 6-2, 275-pound Tipton is a two-year starter on defense and also starts on offense. He’s a guard effective at pulling and setting the edge for sweeps.

He is drawing interest from college programs and has an offer to play at Ithaca College.

Tipton earned a silver medal in the shot put at the District 3 Class 2A Championships as a junior, throwing 50-2; his PR is 51-1. He also throws the discus and plays center on the basketball team.

Tipton is the fourth Wyomissing player to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors this season, following Justice Hardy, Tyler Niedrowski and Andrew Bresnahan.

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.

Max Tipton has L-S quarterback Caileb Howse in his sights during game at Wyomissing. (Purdon Photography/Brad Drey)

Selected Defensive Player of the Week this season:

Week 1: Fred Lacey, Muhlenberg
Week 2: EJ Brownback, Wilson
Week 3: Landen Hare, Fleetwood
Week 4: Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley
Week 5: Justice Hardy, Wyomissing
Week 6: Kowen Gerner, Schuylkill Valley
Week 7: Tyler Niedrowski, Wyomissing
Week 8: Andrew Bresnahan, Wyomissing
Week 9: Ashton Kiebach, Conrad Weiser
Week 10: Chase Herb, Wilson
Week 11: Jayden Ware, Exeter
Week 12: Jaiden Carpenter, Wilson
Week 13: Brady Kline, Wilson
Week 14: Max Tipton, Wyomissing

Selected in 2023 as Defensive Player of the Week:

Week 1: Lucas Myers, Twin Valley
Week 2: Michael Odeyemi, Reading High
Week 3: Stewie Janowski, Gov. Mifflin
Week 4: Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
Week 5: Ethan Lafferty, Kutztown
Week 6: Luke Spotts, Schuylkill Valley
Week 7: Colby Crills, Schuylkill Valley
Week 8: Luke Impellizzeri, Berks Catholic
Week 9: Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley
Week 10: Justice Hardy, Wyomissing
Week 11: Dominic Giuffre, Schuylkill Valley
Week 12: Collin Niedrowski, Wyomissing

Max Tipton brings down Southern Columbia QB Anthony Martino. (PhilMarPhoto)

Selected in 2022 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

Selected in 2021 as Defensive Player of the Week:

Week 1: Brett Organtini, Conrad Weiser
Week 2: Eden Johnson, Gov. Mifflin
Week 3: Josiah Jordan, Berks Catholic
Week 4: Matt Kramer, Wyomissing
Week 5: Ryan Souder, Daniel Boone
Week 6: Nevin Carter, Wyomissing
Week 7: Nate Goodman, Gov. Mifflin
Week 8: Sam Orzolek, Exeter
Week 9: Cam Jones, Wilson
Week 10: Aaron Shuker, Muhlenberg
Week 11: Mitchell Watt, Hamburg
Week 12: Tyler Givens, Berks Catholic
Week 13: Jack Miller, Wyomissing
Week 14: Ty Yocum, Exeter