quarterback – Berks Sports Report

Madyx Gruber-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 06:12:44 +0000

It was fitting that Manheim Township’s final possession ended with an interception by Madyx Gruber. The 5’11, 160-pound senior threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score in a 34-16 victory at Neffsville. The (9-1, 6-0) Bulldogs claimed their record 29th Section 1 championship in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. “It feels so awesome. This is what we work for all season. I can’t even put words to describe it,” said Gruber. The (9-1, 5-1) Blue Streaks had won 21 of their previous 22 games. They were ranked #5 in the state in Class 6A by PennLive. Wilson marched 77 yards on 13 plays to begin this heavyweight battle. A tremendous leaping 20-yard reception by Christo Hunsicker on fourth-and-3 set up Correll Akings’ 1-yard score. Manheim Township responded by going 62 yards in just four plays. Declan Clancy broke free for a 42-yard run. The physical 195-pound senior capped the drive from five yards out. Clancy finished with 137 yards on 27 carries. He surpassed 1,600 rushing yards for the season. Early in the second quarter, Gruber scrambled to his left and launched a pass to Akings down the sideline for a 65-yard touchdown. Akings had 16 carries for 52 yards. The 5’10, 170-pound junior added three catches for 79 yards. “He’s a special athlete,” noted Gruber. They’re basketball teammates in the winter. The Bulldogs put together an 85-yard drive before halftime. Gruber found sophomore Michael Glover in the left corner of the end zone for a 10-yard TD. A two-point conversion run by Akings made it 22-7 with 2:35 remaining in the second period. The Blue Streaks got the ball first in the second half and went 57 yards on eleven plays. Taylor Veilleux, a 260-pound fullback, crashed in from the 1-yard line, however, the extra point was not good. Manheim Township trailed 22-13. Johnny Morales kicked a 21-yard field goal with 16 seconds left in the third quarter to cut Wilson’s lead to 22-16. The play of the night came with seven minutes to go. Gruber heaved the ball over the middle and Brady Kline made the reception between two defenders. The 235-pound tight end raced 15 yards for a 41-yard touchdown. “I was in disbelief…I underthrew him. It was a pretty bad ball and he made a play. I gotta give all the props to Brady,” replied Gruber. The two-point conversion failed, but the Bulldogs’ edge had grown to 28-16. With six minutes remaining, Wilson stuffed the Blue Streaks on fourth-and-1 at the 29-yard line. The Bulldogs took advantage of the short field. Gruber’s 4-yard touchdown run created a 34-16 cushion with 1:37 on the clock. He provided 55 rushing yards on 16 carries. Gruber’s mobility is a huge asset. “It’s really important. If I don’t have any receivers open, I’m gonna try to get the yards with my legs,” he explained. The converted wide receiver was 11-of-18 for 207 yards and one interception. Gruber, who also plays cornerback, picked off Carson Weisser’s deep ball at the 1-yard line with 19 seconds left. Weisser was 10-of-27 for 123 yards. Wilson outgained Manheim Township 376-312. The Blue Streaks entered the night averaging 39 points per game. They struggled in short yardage situations, and were hurt by ten penalties for 128 yards. Wilson’s defense adjusted quickly after Manheim Township’s opening drive. The Bulldogs will get a bye in the District 3-6A tournament. Their first playoff game will be on Friday, November 8th. “We’re not done yet,” stated Gruber.

Madyx Gruber-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 13:05:05 +0000

Over the course of a 48-minute game, mistakes will happen. The question becomes how do athletes handle adversity. Madyx Gruber passed that test with flying colors. Wilson’s senior quarterback overcame an interception in the red zone on the opening drive and led the Bulldogs to a 43-20 victory at Gov. Mifflin. Gruber tied the school record with five touchdown passes. He finished 15-of-20 for 232 yards. The basketball standout also ran for a career-high 204 yards on 19 carries. “I’m super proud of the team. We came into this game so prepared, probably more prepared than ever. I’m just so excited,” said Gruber. The (5-1) Bulldogs outgained the (3-3) Mustangs 532-to-243 in their 67th meeting. Wilson holds a (40-27) advantage in the heated rivalry. The Bulldogs racked up 300 rushing yards while averaging 7.9 yards per carry. They had 26 first downs, 15 more than Gov. Mifflin. Two of Gruber’s TD passes went to junior Jaiden Carpenter on wide receiver screens. “We seen that on film. We know that their cornerbacks like to play off a little bit. We just took what they gave us,” explained Gruber. The Mustangs’ defensive tackles, Ismael Ayala Vargas and Noah Viruet, are 335 and 345 pounds respectively. Jeremy Palm, in his 24th year as Wilson’s offensive coordinator, opted to attack the edge. “We knew that they had bigger guys up front and that we could probably get to the outside. Our game plan was outside zone a lot,” revealed Gruber. On a rainy night, Bulldogs’ punter Christo Hunsicker lost a fumble at the 12-yard line early in the second quarter. Javien Pletz’s 10-yard run up the middle gave Gov. Mifflin a 14-7 lead. Wilson responded with a 86-yard drive that included an incredible 37-yard catch by sophomore Michael Glover. The 6’3, 220-pound tight end had three receptions for 85 yards. His grab over a defender set up Gruber’s 4-yard TD pass to sophomore running back Monty Greer. After a penalty on the Mustangs during the extra point, the Bulldogs went for a 2-point conversion. Gruber found Hunsicker wide open for a 15-14 lead with four minutes left in the first half. Wilson got the ball back and drove 70 yards in only 66 seconds. Gruber connected with junior running back Correll Akings in the right corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score. The Bulldogs were in front 22-14 at the break. Akings added 58 yards on 10 carries. Gov. Mifflin pulled within 29-20 when Pletz broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter. The 2-point conversion was stuffed. Wilson replied with a 79-yard drive that was capped by Gruber’s 17-yard strike over the middle to senior tight end Brady Kline. Just 47 seconds later, Akings returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown. Pletz ended up 1-of-7 for 24 yards. The senior quarterback ran for 82 yards on six carries. Grady Garner, a 200-pound senior fullback, rumbled for 127 yards and a score on 23 touches. The Mustangs accumulated 219 yards on the ground, but the Bulldogs held the ball for nearly 29 minutes. There were twenty total penalties, including eleven for 120 yards against Wilson. Sophomore linebacker E.J. Brownback led the Bulldogs with ten tackles and a sack. Wilson has won eleven of the past fourteen contests with Gov. Mifflin. The series began in 1954. Gruber was the main character in this chapter of the rivalry.

Javien Pletz-Gov. Mifflin

Paul Roberts — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 14:28:08 +0000

If Javien Pletz was grading his football team, the Mustangs would receive a B- at the midway point of the season. “There’s some room for improvement. The line has been doing their job. It’s just little mistakes like fumbles,” explained Pletz. Gov. Mifflin is (3-2) and coming off a 41-6 rout of Muhlenberg. Pletz had two touchdown passes and a pair of touchdown runs on Sunday afternoon. The 5’10, 155-pound senior doesn’t get to put the ball up in the air much. That’s just part of playing quarterback in Shillington. The Mustangs prefer to grind it out on the ground. Pletz has only attempted 47 passes this year. He’s completed 25 of them for 424 yards and three scores. Grady Garner has been a workhorse at fullback. The 5’10, 200-pound senior has racked up 712 yards and 13 TD on 119 carries. “He runs hard, runs fast. It’s hard to tackle him,” said Pletz. Garner is a sprinter on the track and field team. Pletz can also use his legs. He can be tough to find behind an offensive line that averages nearly 250 pounds and includes Presley Rinker. The senior guard is 6’1 and 305 pounds. Pletz has 128 rushing yards on 28 carries. Reese Hohl, Travis Jenkins, and Lebron Leaf are slotbacks that can be effective on the edge. Gov. Mifflin also has a solid tight end in 190-pound junior Derek Dinatale. Nick Morrissey is in his first season as head coach, but a familiar face is calling the plays. Mick Vecchio is back on the sidelines. He won 181 games over 26 years with the Mustangs. Vecchio was inducted into the PSFCA Hall of Fame in 2022. Gov. Mifflin’s losses have come against quality opponents in Exeter and Perkiomen Valley. The Eagles remain undefeated. The Mustangs have another tough matchup this Friday when Wilson visits Shillington. The (4-1) Bulldogs have taken ten of the last thirteen contests in this heated rivalry. Gov. Mifflin and Wilson are squaring off for the 67th time. The Bulldogs hold a (39-27) edge in the series. “We just gotta run the offense, make sure they don’t get the ball as much. We just chew that clock and don’t make any mistakes,” said Pletz.

Evan Myers-Twin Valley

Paul Roberts — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 12:18:20 +0000

On the first play from scrimmage, Evan Myers rolled to his right and found Matthew Knight over the middle for a 49-yard gain. All of Twin Valley’s offensive weapons were on display in a 42-16 victory at Berks Catholic. The Raiders, who are coming off a 10-win season, piled up 512 total yards. Twin Valley came out with an uptempo attack. “It’s great to see some teams panting and gasping for air,” said Myers. The four-year starter was 9-of-14 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. He added 112 yards and another score on the ground on just five carries. “We’re only as good as our linemen will be and they had a good day. They’ve proven that their hard work has been paying off,” replied Myers. The front five for the Raiders average 278 pounds. Left tackle Aris Drake (6’5, 295) is committed to Navy. Carter Faubel, a 270-pound transfer from Delaware Valley, is a physical presence at left guard and defensive tackle. Center Noah DiGiacomo (5’11, 235) and right guard Greyson Miller (6’1, 255) both started as sophomores a season ago. Junior Zach Troutman (6’2, 335) has stepped in at right tackle. Myers raced untouched down the right sideline for a 45-yard TD midway through the opening quarter. He then rolled left and went deep to Knight for a 44-yard TD pass with 33 seconds remaining in the first period. Berks Catholic punter Devyn Sutton fumbled a snap early in the second quarter which was returned seven yards for a score by Ryan Rementer. After a 29-yard field goal by Tyler Osorio got the Saints on the board, sophomore Lucas Myers capped a 72-yard drive with a 2-yard run that came 28 seconds before halftime. Drew Engle bounced a handoff down the right sideline for a 42-yard TD three minutes into the second half. Engle, who had 77 yards on seven carries, made it 35-3. After Lucas Myers recovered a Berks Catholic fumble, Evan Myers lofted a 47-yard TD pass to Ben Grundy with 7:32 to go in the third quarter. That score put the mercy rule into effect. Grundy, a 6’1 junior, had four receptions for 91 yards. Evan Johnson chipped in with ten carries for 82 yards. The Saints scored twice in the final six minutes. Zach Suski tossed a 3-yard TD pass to junior fullback Nate Rose. Three minutes later, Faith Zudie blocked a Twin Valley punt and recovered it in the end zone. Berks Catholic ended up with 195 total yards in Dave Stahler’s debut as head coach. Rose finished with 55 yards on a dozen carries. Suski went 12-of-16 for 138 yards. The Saints lost Bryce Gumby and Gavin Welker to injuries in the first half. Meanwhile, Evan Myers got his senior campaign off to a terrific start. “High school football is a great atmosphere…While I’m enjoying my senior year already, it’s sad that we only have nine guaranteed games left,” he said.

Madyx Gruber-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 23:20:42 +0000

When a wide receiver catches nine touchdown passes in a season, he usually isn’t asked to switch positions. However, Wilson was searching for a new quarterback after All-State pick Tommy Hunsicker graduated. The Bulldogs have settled on Madyx Gruber. “It’s a process, but I’m ready for it,” responded Gruber. The 5’11, 160-pound rising senior had 28 catches for 461 yards in 2023. Fortunately, Gruber has some good teachers to help him learn his new role. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Palm has been on Wilson’s staff for 24 seasons. Assistant coach Chad Henne spent 15 years in the NFL and won two Super Bowls. “He knows exactly what the defense is gonna do and he tells me who’s gonna be open. It’s just amazing what he knows,” Gruber said of Henne. The Bulldogs begin their 80th season on Saturday at 1pm against Cheltenham. The game was moved to Upper Merion High School because Cheltenham’s field isn’t ready. Wilson returns just four starters on offense and two on defense from a (7-4, 5-1) squad. The Bulldogs finished second in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League behind Manheim Township. They fell to fourth-seeded Cumberland Valley 20-14 in the District 3-6A quarterfinals. Gruber’s basketball teammate Correll Akings is back at running back. The rising junior ran for 468 yards and seven touchdowns on 80 carries last fall. Gruber and Akings will hold down the cornerback position as well. Gruber, an All-County selection in hoops, came up with three of Wilson’s seven interceptions a season ago. Senior guard Derek Reiniger is the only returning starter on the offensive line. The good news is that the Bulldogs have a very talented and deep tight end room. Brady Kline, Michael Glover, Cam Zullinger, and Christo Hunsicker are all in the mix. Expect Wilson to use a lot of sets with multiple tight ends. Hunsicker led the Bulldogs with 64 tackles, 9.5 TFL, and three sacks in 2023. The 6’2, 195-pound outside linebacker is also a standout baseball player. Zullinger and Glover, a 220-pound sophomore, combined for 12 TFL and four sacks at defensive end. Safety Monty Greer and linebacker EJ Brownback are two other promising sophomores. Wilson allowed 25.5 points and 297 yards per game last year. The Bulldogs sit on 600 all-time victories. They’ve won a record 28 Section 1 championships and seven District 3 titles. Wilson holds the state record with 48 consecutive winning seasons. “Our expectations don’t change. We want to win. We want to get that L-L championship. We want to get the district [championship] and then see how far we get in State’s,” stated Gruber.

Tommy Hunsicker-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 16:46:00 +0000

There’s no substitute for experience. Tommy Hunsicker has made big strides in his second season as Wilson’s starting quarterback. His completion percentage has increased from 55% to 66% and his passing yardage has nearly doubled. The 6’1, 185-pound senior has gone from 10TD-9INT to 23TD-4INT. Hunsicker has thrown for 2,074 yards while leading the team with 517 rushing yards and eight more touchdowns. He’s spreading the ball around this year. Madyk Gruber, Correll Akings, and Eddie Case each have between 23 and 27 receptions. Gruber has a team-high 8TD catches and Case is averaging 22 yards per catch. They’re putting up 32 points a night. The (7-3) Bulldogs hold the current state record with 48 consecutive winning seasons. The program is sitting on 600 all-time victories. “I try not to take it for granted. You get to meet a lot of people in this position, make the most of it,” said Hunsicker. Wilson had won seven games in a row before falling to undefeated Manheim Township 49-34 in the regular season finale. The Bulldogs other losses were to Central Dauphin in overtime and Roman Catholic. “We feel like we’re prepared for anybody that we play,” mentioned Hunsicker. #5 seed Wilson travels to #4 Cumberland Valley on Friday for a District 3-6A quarterfinal. The (6-4) Eagles are also battle-tested. Their losses came against Manheim Township, Harrisburg, Central York, and Spring-Ford. Cumberland Valley is riding a five-game winning streak. The Eagles are (9-6) all-time versus the Bulldogs. These programs have combined for twenty District 3 championships with Cumberland Valley claiming thirteen titles. Former Wilson star quarterback Chad Henne has been on the sideline this fall as a volunteer coach. The 15-year NFL veteran retired after winning two Super Bowls with the Chiefs. Henne was a four-year starter for the Bulldogs and Michigan Wolverines. “It’s definitely been helpful, the little tips that he can give me basically every play,” replied Hunsicker. The more experience, the better.

Ty Shuey-Hamburg

Paul Roberts — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 13:58:00 +0000

The bar has been raised up on Hawk Hill. Hamburg has won a District 3 playoff game in each of the past two seasons. The Hawks won nine games last year before falling at Wyomissing in the District 3-3A semifinals. Ty Shuey is hoping they can take the next step and reach the championship game in 2023. Hamburg got off to a good start by soaring past Halifax 49-19 in its opener. Shuey had a monster night in his debut at quarterback with 356 passing yards and four touchdowns. The 5’10, 175-pound junior ran for 76 yards and two more scores. Ty Werley also posted huge numbers. The 6’2, 185-pound junior made five catches for a whopping 253 yards and 3 TD. “We’ve been friends for awhile now. Back in elementary [school], we always played football together…really good friends,” said Shuey. Mason Semmel added 93 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. The athletic 6’3, 220-pound linebacker finished with a team-high eight tackles. Shuey is an all-division baseball player who also plays basketball. “It helps me keep my grades up all year,” he noted. His older brother, Hunter, was an all-county pitcher for the Hawks. The 6’3 righty is at UNC Greensboro. Hamburg ended up tied for second place in Section 5 of the new Lancaster-Lebanon League a season ago. The Hawks were (5-2) in league contests. Shuey replied, “It’s fun changing it up, playing new schools.” Lancaster Catholic ran the table in Section 5 last fall. Shuey admitted that he’s a Seahawks’ fan, but he likes watching Jalen Hurts and Trevor Lawrence. Hamburg hits the road this Friday to battle Warrior Run.

Tommy Hunsicker-Wilson

Paul Roberts — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 01:41:00 +0000

Tommy Hunsicker’s stats were modest through the first four games of the season. The 6’1, 185-pound junior had a breakout performance against Cedar Crest on Friday in West Lawn. Hunsicker tossed three touchdown passes in a 36-13 victory over the Falcons. He finished 8-of-12 for 127 yards. Hunsicker added 81 rushing yards on ten carries. He even caught a pass that was deflected back to him and picked up eleven yards. He understands what it means to play the same position as former Wilson stars Kerry Collins and Chad Henne. “It’s special. It’s an honor, but I know it comes with hard work. There’s a lot more work to be done, especially if I want to get somewhere like they are,” he said. The (4-1) Bulldogs were on top 15-7 at halftime thanks to a pair of touchdown runs from Cam Jones. The Holy Cross commit went untouched off right tackle from 27 yards away for a 15-0 edge early in the second quarter. Jones piled up 113 yards on only eight carries. The all-state selection spun out of a tackle and raced down the left sideline for a 48-yard touchdown reception with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. Wilson led 29-7 at that point. Hunsicker opened the second half with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Case. The 6’3 junior wide receiver made a spectacular diving catch over the middle. Hunsicker told me it was the first time they ran that play this year. Hunsicker later hit tight end Brady Kline on a 5-yard shovel pass midway through the final period. That score concluded a 75-yard drive. Hunsicker believes that Kline, a 210-pound sophomore, has a bright future. “He got on the field as a freshman at Wilson which is impressive by itself. He played great last year. He’s been really reliable for us this year. He’s always gonna make a play,” said Hunsicker. Cedar Crest allowed 395 total yards including 267 on the ground. The Bulldogs averaged 8.9 yards per carry. Falcons’ senior quarterback Jay Huber injured his right knee on the opening possession. He returned at the beginning of the third quarter, but that didn’t last long. Huber’s knee buckled as he dropped back to pass and the 6’2, 195-pound signal caller crumbled to the turf. Cedar Crest has lost 19 straight to the Bulldogs. The (2-3) Falcons went for it on fourth-and-eight at midfield on their first two series. Both possessions came to a halt on incomplete passes. Wilson took advantage of the short fields with scoring drives that totaled 98 yards. Hunsicker emphasized that the team has improved dramatically since a 46-15 loss to Roman Catholic in Week 1. “On the offensive side, we’ve come together a lot more. We’ve stopped looking around and started looking at ourselves. It’s been a lot more intense in practice,” he replied. Cedar Crest managed 177 total yards. Jackson Custer took over for Huber at quarterback. The 5’11. 165-pound sophomore ended up 7-of-18 for 70 yards. Fernando Marquez ran for 23 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Ethan Heisey was in action for the first time this season. The 6’3, 195-pound wide receiver missed four contests with a wrist injury. He had a game-high four catches for 27 yards. Nolan Groff, a 6’1 senior, was limited to three grabs for 38 yards. Nick Weitzel and Nick Crocona each had seven tackles for the Bulldogs. Hunsicker loves playing at Gurski Stadium. “It’s amazing. [I] waited for this my whole life. It’s a great atmosphere [with] a ton of fans,” he stated. We talked about his favorite NFL quarterbacks and his favorite baseball players. Hunsicker started at third base as a sophomore at Wilson. He enjoys watching Bryce Harper and Francisco Lindor. We also discussed his favorite teachers. The Bulldogs have won 16 consecutive league games. They visit rival Gov. Mifflin next Saturday afternoon.

Evan Myers-Twin Valley

Paul Roberts — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 01:15:00 +0000

Twin Valley hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown since the first quarter. When it mattered most, however, the Raiders put together a scoring drive to seal the deal. They took over at their 24-yard line with 5:46 remaining and marched 76 yards in three minutes and fifteen seconds. Jaydon Goebel rumbled 50 yards to set up Evan Myers’ 13-yard TD run with 2:31 to go. Twin Valley held off Conrad Weiser 28-16 in Elverson. I asked Myers about that critical possession late in the game. He replied, “It felt great. We stalled out a little in the second half, just missed a read here or there. But our offensive line fought the whole way and made it easy in the fourth quarter.” The Raiders’ OL averages 265 pounds. They’re blocking for a 6’2, 210-pound running back in Goebel. The senior finished with 117 yards on 15 carries. “He runs with his knees high and runs behind his pads. He’s a big kid. I wouldn’t want to tackle him myself. It’s gotta be awful for defenses,” said Myers. Twin Valley piled up 207 of its 342 total yards on the ground. Goebel and Josh Zolty, both baseball players, have given the Raiders a boost by joining the football team this year. Zolty caught five passes for 53 yards including a 36-yard touchdown that gave Twin Valley a 14-0 advantage late in the first quarter. Myers bought time on that play by scrambling to his left. The 5’10, 170-pound sophomore also used his legs for the first score of the night. He sprinted to his left and dove inside the pylon for a 15-yard touchdown that completed a 67-yard drive after the (1-2) Scouts went three and out. Myers found Everett Olsen for a 39-yard gain on that series. They’re two of the fifteen sophomores on the Raiders’ roster. Conrad Weiser got on the scoreboard thanks to a 72-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Donovan Gingrich to Josh Miller just 17 seconds into the second period. Twin Valley responded immediately. Freshman Drew Engle ripped off an 87-yard kickoff return that made it 21-7. Gingrich and Miller, a speedy 5’4 junior, hooked up again on the ensuing drive. The 49-yard completion led to a 37-yard field goal by Adam Noll. His 43-yard field goal attempt on the following series was partially blocked. The Scouts trailed 21-10 at halftime. They ran the ball eight consecutive times on their initial possession of the third quarter. Sevon Parham got four of those touches including a 7-yard touchdown. Gingrich, who also plays basketball, got tripped up on the 2-point conversion. Conrad Weiser was in the red zone in the fourth quarter when a pivotal personal foul penalty pushed them back to the 33-yard line. On third and 18, Gingrich was intercepted by sophomore Evan Johnson to keep it 21-16. Gingrich ended up 9-of-19 for 206 yards. He’s thrown for 552 yards in three contests. Miller has a dozen receptions, one fewer than teammate Trey Dianna. Parham, a 200-pound junior, contributed 97 yards on 21 carries. He had 18 carries in their first two games. The Scouts were limited to 317 yards. Myers was 9-of-14 for 135 yards. He ran for two scores and passed for another. He told me that he enjoys playing for his father, Brett. “It’s fun. I go home [and] I have a question, I don’t have to text anyone anymore. I can ask him to his face. Problems get solved very easily,” Evan emphasized. His dad guided Middletown to 72 wins and three District 3 championships over eight seasons. The former Pottstown head coach and Exeter assistant watched his son run for 42 yards against Conrad Weiser. The (2-1) Raiders are hoping to return to the District 3 playoffs. They made their first appearance last year under Kris Olsen. Meanwhile, the Scouts will host (3-0) ELCO next week.

Amier Burdine-Reading

Paul Roberts — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 10:00:00 +0000

Amier Burdine celebrated his 17th birthday on Thursday, the eve of the high school football season. One of the greatest gifts that anyone can receive is health. After missing all of last year with a broken collarbone, the Reading dual-threat quarterback is healthy once again. “I missed it a lot because that senior class, I grew up with a lot of the kids so I wanted to be there with them,” he said. The Red Knights struggled without Burdine. They averaged just twelve points and 174 total yards per game (86 rushing ypg). Reading finished (1-7, 0-4) in the final season of Andre Doyle’s tenure. Former Red Knights’ standout linebacker Troy Godinet has taken over as head coach. “He brings energy all the time. He’s going to hold us accountable all the time,” said Burdine. Godinet was Reading’s defensive coordinator for the past four years. He piled up 105 tackles and eleven sacks while playing alongside James Bryant in 2003. The Red Knights were the District 3-4A runner-up to Cumberland Valley that season under Al Wolski. Godinet is thrilled to have Burdine back because of what he provides both on and off the field. The 6’1, 180-pound senior strives to be a role model to younger kids. Burdine replied, “I feel like I’m a good person in the classroom, and I take pride in being in my community.” Speaking of younger kids, Reading will have seven sophomores in the starting lineup for its opener at Central Dauphin East. “This is a big sophomore class. I can’t wait to come back and see how they progress through their junior and senior years,” he said. 21 of the 62 players on the Red Knights’ roster are sophomores. That class includes RB Alexis Alvarado, 350-pound NG Efrain Bonilla, 325-pound LT Keyshawn Efese, 240-pound RG Romello Fuentes, WR/S Kahlil Samuel, and the versatile Gabe Laws. The coaching staff has high hopes for Samuel (6’1, 175). Laws is a physical presence at linebacker who can squat 475 pounds. He’ll be utilized at fullback, H-back, and tight end. Burdine is very happy that Ruben Rodriguez decided to play football again this season. The two-time, first team all-state guard will be one of Burdine’s primary targets at receiver. They grew up together and have a very strong bond. Rodriguez and Burdine helped Reading win Berks County and District 3 titles on the basketball court last season. Burdine emphasized that playing for head coach Rick Perez has been very beneficial for him. “The culture Coach P has in basketball, I try to bring that to football all the time. That culture can build stuff on the football field. Hopefully we can keep progressing to have a culture like basketball,” he said. Burdine is one of a handful of two-way starters for the Red Knights in 2022. Seniors Karim Martinez (C/DE) and David Philistin (WR/CB), as well as 275-pound junior Brandon Picazo (LG/DT), will see a lot of action. Burdine, who can play safety or cornerback, told me that he now loves being on the defensive side. We also talked about the upcoming NFL season. Burdine’s favorite quarterback is Lamar Jackson, but he’s not a Ravens’ fan. He roots for the Saints. Many of his teammates cheer for the Eagles. Burdine acknowledged that he does like to watch Jalen Hurts. Burdine saw significant playing time at quarterback as a freshman. During his sophomore season, Reading played a 5-game schedule in the spring due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After being sidelined all of last year with an injury, Burdine can’t wait to be back under the Friday night lights.