Muhls’ Fred Lacey is Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week

By Mike Drago Last updated Sep 8, 2024

Muhlenberg's Fred Lacey with a long return. (Emily Grube photo)

Muhlenberg assistant coach Pete Gilmore likes to say special teams go better when you have special players.

The Muhls have one in Fred Lacey, who ignited his team in its season-opener with touchdown on a kickoff return and sealed the 29-20 victory over Schuylkill Valley with a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions.

Those critical picks were more than enough for the junior cornerback to earn Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Muhls led just 16-14 early in the fourth quarter before the 6-2, 180-pound Lacey jumped a pass route and returned an interception 10 yards for a touchdown and 22-14 lead.

“There’s nothing like a Pick-Six,” said Muhlenberg coach Rob Flowers, who played defensive back in addition to quarterback for the Muhls.

Lacey, in his first season at Muhlenberg after playing at Daniel Boone, pretty much sealed the deal with a second interception with just under four minutes left. With the Panthers facing fourth-and-27 in Muhlenberg territory quarterback Logan Nawrocki heaved the ball down the right sideline but was again picked off by Lacey.

“He’s a play-maker,” Flowers said of Lacey.

Lacey was involved in a lot of different roles in Friday’s opener. He played running back and took a few snaps at quarterback. He’ll be utilized as a wide receiver going forward, Flowers said.

Lacey was a freshman at Daniel Boone in Flowers’ final season as head coach there, so the first-year Muhls coach was well aware of his ability when he showed up in Laureldale last spring.

“He is explosive,” Flowers said, “very, very fast. We said: ‘We’ve gotta give him the football. We have to put him in spaces to make plays.’ ”

Lacey saw time as a running back last season at Boone; he ran for 226 yards and scored three TDs in 52 carries.

He said the transition to a new school was easy.

“When I first got here I (bonded) with (my new teammates),” he said. “Growing up my pops told me to keep working and your time will come. So when I got here I kept grinding and grinding and I finally got it.”

Lacey is the first Muhlenberg player to earn Defensive a Player of the Week since 2021, and the second overall. Aaron Shuker was the first.

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 nominated this week:

Ashton Kiebach Conrad Weiser
Anthony High, Daniel Boone
Genuine Stutzman, Exeter
Tristin McFarland, Fleetwood
Ismael Vargas, Gov. Mifflin
Logan Cammauf, Schuylkill Valley
Ryan Rementer, Twin Valley
Christo Hunsicker, Wilson
Chase Eisenhower, Wyomissing

Selected last season 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

Fred Lacey gets congratulations from Muhls coach Mike Mish after interception. (Emily Grube photo)

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