Reading-Penn Manor go to OT

Some losses sting more than others. As tears rolled down the face of Reading head coach Troy Godinet, you knew how much this one hurt. Penn Manor rallied from a 15-0 deficit to defeat the Red Knights 28-27 in overtime at Shirk Stadium. “You just got to continue to love the kids up,” said Godinet. Reading marched 78 yards on its opening drive which was capped by Alexis Alvarado’s 2-yard run. The (1-4) Comets fumbled on their second play. The Red Knights went 41 yards for a quick two touchdown advantage. A 3-yard TD run by sophomore Cameron Small and a two-point conversion from Alvarado made it 15-0 with 3:22 left in the first quarter. Penn Manor got on the board with a 2-yard run by junior Willard Smith on the opening play of the second period. Xavier Beatty made a leaping reception for 46 yards late in the quarter. Sophomore Jason Plylaharn then hit Beatty for a 23-yard touchdown and a 21-7 lead. Beatty, a 6’2 junior, is also on the basketball and track & field teams. “There is no ceiling with that kid. He’s continuing to grow. He’s continuing to take the coaching,” replied Godinet. Plylaharn made his second start after junior quarterback Kayson Fritz was ejected at Red Lion. Momentum shifted with 21 seconds to go before halftime. Smith scooped up a backwards pass and returned it 71 yards for a score. The Comets trailed 21-14 at the break. Their first possession of the second half was stopped at the 1-yard line. Smith came up short on fourth down from the 4-yard line. Early in the final quarter, Penn Manor fumbled on third-and-goal at the 5-yard line. The Comets tied it up with 5:19 remaining on a 30-yard heave from sophomore Collin Robinson to tight end Dhamir Wesley. The 6’5, 290-pound senior is committed to Villanova. The (1-4) Red Knights drove inside the 30-yard line with one minute left, but penalties pushed them back. Reading finished with three turnovers and 13 penalties. “We killed ourselves with penalties and that’s the little things. You gotta have mental toughness, and build and grow from that,” stated Godinet. After a snap went over the head of Reading’s punter, Penn Manor took over at the Red Knights’ 27-yard line with 33 seconds to play. A 30-yard field goal attempt by Zach Jeffers hit the crossbar which led to overtime. Backup quarterback Kyle Furnier scored on a sneak to put the Comets in front 28-21. Alvarado took a toss and raced around the right end for a 7-yard touchdown. The 5’8, 165-pound junior had 203 yards on 31 carries. Reading went for the two-point conversion, but Plylaharn was stuffed at the 2-yard line. “We trust our short yardage game. We had success all game. We want to be aggressive,” said Godinet. The Red Knights outgained the Comets 299-to-198. Smith ran for 102 yards on 28 touches. Plylaharn was 7-13 for 109 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Reading’s undefeated team from 1977 was recognized at halftime as part of Hall of Fame night.