One-of-a-kind freshman Justice Hardy named to coaches’ All-State team
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Wyomissing’s Justice Hardy is the lone freshman on the Pennsylvania Football News Class 3A Coaches All-State first team, announced today.
He is joined on the first team by teammates Ryker Jones and Caleb Brewer and Hamburg’s Mason Semmel, all seniors.
Two Wyomissing players earned second-team honors: Fullback Chase Eisenhower and halfback Drew Forrey.
Players are nominated and selected by coaches across the state. Jones, Brewer and Semmel were earlier named to the Class 3A Football Writers’ All-State team.
The 5-9, 160-pound Hardy, listed at Defensive Athlete, was a starting cornerback for the District 3 champion Spartans. He led them with four interceptions, returning two for scores. He also returned kicks and saw time in the backfield, finishing with 488 rushing yards, second on the team. He averaged 8.6 yards per carry.
Jones, a 6-foot, 190-pounder committed to play at Princeton, was Linebacker of the Year in Berks County and in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League and MikeDragoSports.com Berks County Defensive Player of the Year.
He returned from a torn ACL suffered in the 2022 state semifinals a bigger and better player, leading the Spartans to a fifth straight District 3 championship, back to the state semifinals and to a 12-2 record.
Jones missed the first three games of the season recovering from his injury but returned to record 44 solo tackles and six sacks in 11 games. He averaged 10.6 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns on just 40 carries.
Brewer, a 6-5, 275-pounder committed to Penn State, was named Offensive Lineman, Defensive Lineman, and Outstanding Lineman in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. He is listed as an offensive tackle on the coach’s team. He was a defensive lineman on the writers’ team.
Brewer hadn’t played as much defense as offense before this season but emerged as a true run-stuffer and pocket-crusher and was Berks County Lineman of the Year by MikeDragoSports.com. He served as a major disruptor in the middle of league’s No. 1 defense.
Semmel, a 6-3, 220-pound senior, was an offensive lineman until his junior year season when new head coach Matt Hoffert recognized his ability to catch the ball.
He was moved to tight end and became one of the focal points of a high-scoring Hawks offense that helped Tyler Shuey set all kinds of passing records this season and lead the league in passing yards during the regular season.
Semmel, an all-league pick in Section 5, led Hamburg with 43 receptions, 884 receiving yards and 12 TD receptions. He was also the team’s No. 1 player on defense from spot his spot at middle linebacker. He led the team with 55 solos and 84 tackles overall in 11 games, with six tackles for loss, four sacks and three blocked kicks.
Forrey, a 6-3, 210-pound senior, was a defensive standout at outside linebacker and starting halfback before suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 8 against Conrad Weiser. He averaged 9.6 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns.
Eisenhower, a 5-11, 215-pound sophomore, led the Spartans in rushing with 1,092 yards. He scored a team-leading 17 TDs and averaged 7.2 yards per carry. He also started at inside linebacker and led the team with 70 solo tackles.
