Braylon Reinert hits daily double, earns Wyomissing Physical Therapy Player of the Week

By Mike Drago Last updated Nov 9, 2025

Exeter's Braylon Reinert makes tackle against Lower Dauphin. (Tim Macrina photo)

Even after he did it, scoring twice on defense in a district playoff game, Braylon Reinert couldn’t quite believe it.

“I could imagine a fumble recovery, or an interception for a touchdown,” the Exeter junior said, “but not in the same game. It’s amazing.”

Reinert returned a fumble 26 yards for a first-quarter score and returned an interception 37 yards in the fourth quarter to clinch the Eagles’ 35-0 win over Lower Dauphin in a District 3 Class 5A opening-round game Friday.

The rare defensive double earned Reinert Wyomissing Physical Therapy Player of the Week honors.

The 6-4, 225-pound linebacker also had six tackles and a sack in helping the Eagles score their third shutout of the season. For the season he’s third on the team with 53 tackles.

He also had an interception and a fumble recovery in one of Exeter’s biggest games of the season, a 42-12 win at Muhlenberg.

His first score Friday was pivotal, coming just 10 seconds after Leo Brown’s 44-yard touchdown run gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead. Reinert was in the right place at the right time, scooping up the ball when kickoff returner Chase Goddard bobbled.

“It hit his knee, then was on the ground,” Reinert said. “We do a scoop-and-score drill every day, and that’s what happened there.”

“It was a huge momentum-booster,” said Eagles coach Matt Bauer. “To have that type of a 14-point swing definitely helped our cause.”

Reinert was in the right place again in the fourth quarter when he stormed the pocket. Linebacker Jackson Kozik hit quarterback Tyler Newman and forced a quick throw. Reinert was just a couple yards away, threw his arms in the air, and was surprised a moment later to find he had the football.

“Jackson hit the dude (so) I knew it wouldn’t be a perfect pass,” Reinert said. “I was standing still for a second, then (I realized I had the ball and) I just ran.”

Reinert’s third touchdown of the season put Exeter on top 35-0 and sealed its rematch with Conestoga Valley, Friday in a District 3 Class 5A quarterfinal.

Reinert has become a pivotal piece for the Eagles. He’s a first-year starter at both tight end and linebacker and sees time on nearly all of the special teams units.

The Eagles are loaded at tight end, with Aidan Dauble and Jackson Kozik, but Reinert has forced his way into the lineup because of his ability to catch the ball and to block for the run game. He had a touchdown catch in the regular season finale at Elizabethtown and has been the Eagles’ No. 1 option on two-point conversion attempts: He’s caught four two-point conversions.

“He’s smart, he’s sure-handed and he understands spacing,” Bauer said. “He knows exactly where to sit down in a zone and create voids so that we can get him the ball.”

Bauer said he wasn’t sure before the season that Reinert would see this much time at tight end, but he’s proven himself as a blocker. The Eagles usually employ two tight ends and sometimes three at the same time.

“He’s really come into his own as a great in-line tight end blocker,” said Bauer said of Reinert. “He’s just a worker and continues to do what he needs to do.”

Braylon Reinert, right, positions himself for an interception as Jackson Kozik forces Tyler Newman to throw. (Tim Macrina photo)

Reinert is the third Exeter player to earn Player of the Week honors this season. Leo Brown was selected after his Week 4 performance against Governor Mifflin; lineman Joel Ummarino was selected after the win over Muhlenberg.

Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.

This is the fifth consecutive season that Wyomissing Physical Therapy has sponsored a Player of the Week award.

Also considered for Wyomissing Physical Therapy Player of the Week: