Wyo’s Justice Hardy is Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week

By Mike Drago Last updated Sep 29, 2024

Wyomissing's Justice Hardy. (PhilMarPhoto)

Even when he doesn’t get his number called Justice Hardy finds a way to make touchdowns.

The Wyomissing sophomore had all of three carries Friday against Elco but still managed to play a part in three touchdowns in the 49-14 victory at Elco.

He had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, blocked a field goal, and forced a fumble that led to another score to earn Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week.

He also ran for a touchdown.

“He plays at a different speed than anybody else,” Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum said earlier this season.

Hardy cracked the Spartans’ starting lineup at cornerback as a freshman not only because of his blinding speed but because of his ability to quickly learn the defense and study his opponents’ tendencies.

“It’s hard for a freshman,” Wolfrum said, “(but) every once in a while you get one physically gifted enough, mature enough, who gets it right away. Justice was that guy. That doesn’t usually happen.”

Hardy’s defensive instincts and preparation came into play Friday when he jumped a route in the first quarter and took an interception back 78 yards for a TD.

“They had a good 12-yard gain on the same hitch rout earlier in the game,” Hardy said. “I knew they were going to come back to it. The quarterback flipped his shoulder right away, and I just broke on the ball.”

Hardy helped the Spartans to a 21-0 first-quarter lead when he blitzed and hit quarterback Steven Rosado, forcing a fumble that Francisco Fabian scooped up and returned 13 yards for a TD.

Hardy had three carries out of the backfield, rushing for 50 yards, 38 coming on a touchdown run in the second quarter that put Wyomissing up 35-7.

Hardy has three of Wyomissing’s six interceptions and shares the Berks lead with Gov. Mifflin’s Reese Hohl.

He is second on the team in rushing with 263 yards, is averaging 7.1 yards per carry, and has run for five TDs. He leads the team with five receptions and with eight TDs.

He opened the season with a bang, scoring four touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Southern Columbia. He rushed for 119 yards and scored on runs of 11, 11, 3 and 46 yards.

In his varsity debut last year Hardy found the end zone three times against Kennard-Dale. He went on to earn all-league, All-Berks, and All-State recognition.

Hardy ended up with a team-high four interceptions last year for a defense that ranked No. 2 overall in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League in pass defense and No. 3 in total defense.

He was the lone freshman named to the Pennsylvania Football News Coaches Class 3A All-State first team.

Hardy is the first from Wyomissing to earn Player of the Week honors this season. He was selected Defensive Player of the Week last year, as were teammates Ryker Jones and Collin Niedrowski.

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.