Wyomissing freshman is Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week (updated)
Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week
(Corrected to show that Twin Valley’s Lucas Myers was first freshman named Defensive Player of the Week.)
Bob Wolfrum wouldn’t talk about Justice Hardy before the season began. The freshman hadn’t played a game or proven himself on the field and – despite a glowing reputation that preceded him and his obvious talent – hadn’t done anything for the veteran Wyomissing coach to talk about.
That changed quickly.
Hardy scored the first touchdown of the season for the Spartans and reached the end zone twice in his varsity debut. He quickly worked his way into the starting lineup at cornerback and has continued to make plays in all three phases of the game throughout the season.
He made a big one Friday, taking an interception back for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to break open a tight game at Lampeter-Strasburg, which the Spartans ended up winning 18-13.
His Pick-Six made it 18-0 with 8:50 remaining.
Hardy did more than that. He had a team-high eight tackles in the hard-hitting defensive battle, including a sack. He intercepted a pass earlier in the game. He also led the team with 72 rushing yards.
It all added up to his first Body Zone Physical Therapy Player of the Week award.
“He’s got loads of natural talent,” Wolfrum said after Hardy’s play helped the Spartans finish 9-1 in the regular season.
“For any freshman, it takes a while to learn our system,” Wolfrum said. “We do a lot of different stuff and what we do can be complicated. It’s hard for a freshman but I’m looking forward to having him around for the next three years.”
Down 12-0 and with the clock running down, Lampeter-Strasburg was forced to go to the air to play catch-up. On a second-and-3 from their own 42, quarterback Trent Wagner threw a pass toward the sideline. Hardy read it, jumped the route, picked off the pass at the 45 and was gone, displaying his track speed on the way to the end zone.
“We saw that play earlier in the game,” Hardy said, “and when the wide receiver broke, I just jumped it.”
Hardy is second on the team in rushing, with 410 yards, and is averaging 8.9 yards per carry. He shares the team lead with 10 touchdowns and leads with eight receptions.
He returned an interception for a touchdown against Berks Catholic in Week 4. He is the only Berks player with a pair of Pick-Sixes this season. He has a team-high four interceptions, tied for third-most in Berks.
“He’s got it,” senior teammate Ryker Jones said earlier this season. “He’s definitely legit.”
“I wasn’t expecting (to) get this much (playing time),” Hardy said after the three-touchdown game against the Saints, “but the coaches have really helped me out. They’re very patient with me and they help a lot.”
Friday’s game matched a pair of 8-1 teams, each batting for district playoff positioning.
The Pioneers entered with the league’s No. 1 scoring defense and coming off back-to-back shutouts. They had allowed more than two touchdowns in a game just twice; Wyomissing became the second team, along with Cocalico, to scored three TDs against them.
The win helped Wyomissing lock down the No. 1 seed in the District 3 Class 3A Tournament and earn a first-round bye.
Hardy is the third Wyomissing player to earn a Player of the Week award this season and the second on defense, along with Ryker Jones. Drew Forrey was named Offensive Player of the week. Only Schuylkill Valley, with four selections this season, has more.
Only one other freshman, Twin Valley’s Lucas Myers, has been named a Player of the Week in the three-year history of the award. Myers was named Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1.
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.
Also nominated this week:
- Jonathan McQuillen, Conrad Weiser
- Zack Zandier, Exeter
- Tanner Zornek, Fleetwood
- Ean Winchester, Twin Valley
- Christo Hunsicker, Wilson
Selected earlier this season:
- 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
Selected last season 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
