Justice Hardy-Wyomissing

Justice Hardy burst onto the scene at Wyomissing with twelve combined touchdowns and four interceptions as a freshman. The highlights kept coming in his first game as a sophomore. Hardy reached the end zone four times in a 35-21 victory over Southern Columbia at Bob Wolfrum Field. The Tigers went (15-1) a season ago and claimed their seventh straight PIAA championship. Head coach Jim Roth entered Saturday with 499 career wins. He’ll have to wait for #500 after some very uncharacteristic sloppy play in the opening half. Junior quarterback Anthony Martino fumbled the snap on the first play from scrimmage. Hardy raced eleven yards around the right edge for a quick 7-0 advantage. On the ensuing drive, Southern Columbia punter Preston Shadle dropped the snap and was buried at the 38-yard line. Hardy took a sweep to the right for another 11-yard score with 4:22 remaining in the period. Early in the second quarter, a snap went over Shadle’s head and he recovered all the way back at the 1-yard line. Tyler Niedrowski rumbled in for a touchdown with 9:23 to go before halftime. The Spartans added another score late in the second quarter. Danny Fleischood’s 45-yard run set up a 3-yard TD for Hardy. It was 28-0 with 27 seconds left in the half. The lead grew to 35-7 when Hardy broke off an electrifying 46-yard touchdown run down the right sideline with 3:26 to play in the third quarter. He gave credit to the offensive line. The front five includes 285-pound senior guard Max Tipton and 250-pound senior tackles Keaton Piacine and Caleb Beane. “They do not disappoint. A high bar has been set and they are right there. They’re huge, they move quick, they’re great. I love running behind all of them,” said Hardy. Francisco Fabian, Darion Quintana, and Ayden Jimenez (6’2, 255) round out the offensive line. A 14-yard TD run by Brayden Andrews pulled the Tigers within 35-14 with 2:13 left in the third period. Sophomore quarterback Ayden Hockenbroch found Travis Wegrzynowicz down the left sideline for a 34-yard score with 2:38 remaining. Wyomissing lost a fumble on the next play from scrimmage and Southern Columbia took over at the 25-yard line. A sack on fourth down by 215-pound linebacker Chase Eisenhower ended the Tigers’ hopes. Hardy finished with 121 yards on twelve carries. He’s joined in the backfield by Eisenhower, Fleischood, Niedrowski, and Marcus Armistead. They’re all juniors. “We’re super young, but when we reach our full potential it’s gonna be great,” stated Hardy. Halfback Derek Macrina is the only skill position player who’s a senior. Sophomore quarterback Teddy White was 2-of-3 for just twelve yards. Southern Columbia lost its entire offensive backfield and eight starters on defense from last year’s state championship squad. The Tigers outscored the Spartans 21-7 in the second half. Hockenbroch tossed a pair of TD passes. The early miscues and Hardy’s performance were too much to overcome. “My coaches all help me stay very humble. I always have something to improve,” noted Hardy.