Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week: Hawks’ Leland Moore
Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week
Hamburg went into its game Friday against Northern Lebanon without its top two running backs. Head coach Matt Hoffert wasn’t overly concerned.
He knew that in sophomore Leland Moore he had a dependable back who could get the job done.
“He works so hard, and he runs the ball hard, I expected him to do good things,” Hoffert said of Moore. “I wasn’t worried about him because I know how he runs in practice and how he’s been running in JV games.”
Hoffert expected a good game, but 232 rushing yards? And a program-record 37 carries?
“He’s a tough kid,” Hoffert said. “I call him ‘Little Pierce.’ He reminds you of (Hamburg lead back) Pierce (Mason) as a younger guy. “
Moore scored a pair of early touchdowns in the Hawks’ 48-27 win and has been named Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week. He’s the second Hamburg player to earn the award this season; Mason was named following a Week 3 win over Eastern York.
Mason, the Hawks’ rushing leader, couldn’t go Friday because of a lingering ankle injury that has slowed him for the past month. Ruiz missed his second straight game with a foot injury. That meant Moore was the next guy up.
“For a guy to step up the way he did, when we have a bunch of guys down, this is the way a team’s supposed to work,” Hoffert said. “Next guy up. He had no fear going into it. He knew he was going to carry the load.
“It’s big for us. It could’ve gone the other way. Leland didn’t back down. That’s the way we need to be. There are 11 players out there; we need all 11 of them. They’re all important. Your time’s gonna come; you’ve gotta be ready.”
Moore scored on runs of 20 and 10 yards early in the game and the Hawks never trailed.
His 232 yards are seventh-most in program history. The record is 292, set by Bryan Wagner in 1996 and matched this season by Mason. Moore’s 37 carries matched the program-record set by Wagner in 1997.
The 37 carries are also the most by a Berks back this season.
“His strength is patience,” Hoffert said. “He does run hard, but he waits for that hole to open up and he hits it, and he hits it quick, and that’s what he did on Friday.”
When the third-string guy goes for 200-plus somebody up front must be doing the job. Hamburg’s offensive line of tackles Charles Sheppard and Chris Brown, guards Charlie Zettlemoyer and Evan Snyder and center Bryce Kamp played a big part in the Hawks raising the Jolly Roger for the seventh time this season.
“Our line has been getting better every week,” Hoffert said. “They’re doing a great job of working together, doing a better job of working on their combos, opening these little creases for guys like Leland to get through.”
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 Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week:
- Adam Noll, PK, Conrad Weiser
- Joey Schlaffer, TE, Exeter
- Dakota Thomas, RB, Kutztown
- Gio Cavanna, RB, Muhlenberg
- Evan Johnson, RB, Twion Valley
- Ruben Rodriguez, WR, Reading High
Players selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Gio Cavanna, RB, Muhlenberg
- Week 2: Cam Jones, RB, Wilson
- Week 3: Pierce Mason, RB, Hamburg
- Week 4: Gio Cavanna, RB, Muhlenberg
- Week 5: Josiah Jordan, RB, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Ruben Rodriguez, WR, Reading High.
- Week 7: Cam Jones, RB/KR, Wilson
- Week 8: Dominic Giuffre, RB, Schuylkill Valley
Players selected last season:
- 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
- Week 14: Colin Payne, Exeter
