HANOVER LINEBACKER PATRICK LIPTRAP
By the numbers: Hanover football stayed undefeated on the year with a 9-7 win over Mills Godwin on Friday in the low-scoring affair. At linebacker, Patrick Liptrap played a big part of the defensive showing, picking up 7.5 tackles and three sacks, and will try and repeat that performance against Atlee on Friday in the Battle of the 301.
On what it means to win player of the week: “It feels great, especially with all the other great players that I saw that got nominated. I really wasn’t expecting it. So it’s amazing.”
On what was working against Mills Godwin: “They were a good football team. They’re physical going in. We have a game plan every week. We have a new game plan and we were confident, and we just executed as a team. Defense is playing lights out, we made adjustments on the fly. Offense got it done when we need to. So it’s worked out.”
On the momentum that the team got from the win: “We feel great. Like I said, they’re a good football team, so it just makes us more confident, and ourselves, and we learn and want to get better from there.”
On the Hanover team chemistry: “It’s great. There’s a lot of camaraderie for the team. Everyone gets along great. We’re all just one group, and I’m having a lot of fun.”
On how he got into football: “I started playing when I was around six years old. Started flag football at Mechanicsville Rebels, and I’ve been playing since every season since.”
On what he likes about linebacker: “I like that I get to hit people. Directing the defense. I call what the offense is doing out. I just get to make calls and plays.”
On the strongest part of the Hanover defense: “I would say a really underrated part of our defense is the (defensive) line. Our outside linebackers are really good. I feel like we’re really well rounded defense, but definitely, we control the trenches for sure.”
On why the Hanover games have been so defensive this year: “Just feels great, it makes me more confident. So far, it’s been a defensive led games but offense is going to start kicking it up in tough games. It was good.”
On the culture at Hanover football: “It’s great. We pride ourselves on better husbands and better fathers. (Coach Sam Rogers) preaches that, it’s more than just like a game to us, we’re playing for something more. We have goals outside of this. Not everybody’s going to get to play college football We have lives outside of this.”
On what it’s like playing for Sam Rogers: “He’s really great because he knows the balance between when we can joke around, like he gives us freedom, but he also reels us back in really well, and he prepares the team very well too.”
On the mentality entering the game against Atlee: “Feeling great. I know it’s a rivalry game, but to us, it’s another game. We have a game plan, we’re gonna go in there and just do our thing.”
On the Hanover-Atlee rivalry: “It’s great. Last year there were a ton of people at the game. The game is always crowded, and it’s a great environment. So I’m excited.”
On the potential of this Hanover team: “I think we have a ton of potential. Sky’s the limit. The defense is looking great so far. I think our offense is going to start kicking it back up, a couple of guys (are) injured right now. I think when everyone’s healthy and when we can just hone in on what we need to do, we can do anything.”
On the goals of Hanover this year: “Obviously, state championship, it would be the ultimate goal. But just getting better as men is what we focus on every single day.”
Must-have artist on his pregame playlist: “I listen to Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers.”
Favorite NFL/college team: I like the (Dallas) Cowboys.”
On his favorite player on the Cowboys: “Probably CeeDee Lamb. He’s a great leader, great energy. He’s just fun to watch.”
On how excited he is for the rest of the season: “Extremely excited. I’ve watched a lot of great players come before me … So I’m just hoping that younger guys can see me how I view them, and I’m excited to leave it all out there.”
PLAYER OF THE WEEK VOTING
Player, team, votes
Patrick Liptrap, Hanover, 53
Davion Brown, Trinity Episcopal, 34
Jordan Clarke, James River, 12
Jaiden Hite, Thomas Dale, 4
Blake Morris, Caroline, 3
Kevin Brown, Meadowbrook, 2
Shadarus Pickett, Armstrong, 2
Lawrence Hewlett, Prince George, 1
Note: The 804 Varsity player-of-the-week poll starts Monday mornings with voting open until noon Wednesday. Coaches should send nominations and stats to Matthew Kiewiet at mkiewiet@timesdispatch.com or Zach Joachim at ZJoachim@timesdispatch.com by 2 p.m. Saturdays.