Triple threat Christian Cacchione sparks Berks Catholic to third straight win

Christian Cacchione found the end zone as a runner, receiver and returner as Berks Catholic won its third straight, beating Reading High 42-12 Friday in a Berks Football League Section 1 game at Shirk Stadium.

The meeting was the first ever between the two schools, and the first game for the Red Knights (0-1, 1-4) in three weeks; they had to cancel games the past two weeks due to COVID issues.

Cacchione, a senior running back, scored on a 25-yard run, a 23-yard pass from Mitchell Gatz and a 52-yard punt return. His third score, early in the third quarter, gave the Saints (2-0, 5-2) a 41-0 lead.

Berks Catholic entered the week ranked No. 1 in the District 3 Class 4A power ratings.

Cacchione rushed for 138 yards on nine carries, with a long of 47 yards. He had two receptions for 33 yards.

Josiah Jordan and Luke Hughes also had touchdown runs for the Saints, and Gatz threw a touchdown pass to Trace Brown, for 21 yards.

Cacchione has a team-high 15 touchdowns and leads the team in rushing with 761 yards. He is averaging 7.3 yards per rushing attempt and 25.9 yards on his nine receptions.

DeShawn Wilson scored Reading’s first touchdown, on a 21-yard pass from Daryonel Fontanez in the third quarter. Fontanez ran 14 yards for a score in the final quarter.

Senior Trace Brown, who played for the Red Knights as a sophomore, had a team-high eight tackles for Berks Catholic. Jaxon Geddio and Jordan had interceptions for the Saints.

Berks Catholic has scored 39 or more points in each of its five wins, and 22 or more points in each game with the exception of a 37-7 loss to Malvern Prep.

Tyler Givens was good on all six PATs for the Saints.

Berks Catholic needs a win next week over Exeter to keep its Berks 1 title hopes alive; the Saints close the season with Gov. Mifflin, the only other unbeaten in Berks 1.