Cedar Crest backup throws three TDs in win over Reading High
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Will Welliver — LNP/Lancasteronline
SOUTH LEBANON — Cedar Crest sophomore quarterback Jackson Custer threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another as the Falcons snapped a three-game losing streak Friday night, defeating Reading High 39-0 to pick up their first Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 victory.
Custer was starting in place of Jay Huber, who injured last week in a 36-13 loss to Wilson.
The Falcons (1-2, 3-3) extended a 7-0 lead in the first quarter with a pair of touchdowns separated by just 90 seconds.
Custer hit tight end Aiden Schomp for a 39-yard touchdown to cap a short, three-play, 50-yard drive.
Three plays later, Owen Chernich intercepted Reading’s Amier Burdine and ran the ball back 34 yards to the Reading 15. On the next play, Custer scrambled 15 yards for the touchdown and a 21-0 lead with 2:19 left in the opening quarter.
Custer added his third touchdown pass as time expired in the first half. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 2, Custer scrambled to keep the play alive. Chernich shook a defender and pulled in the pass — giving the Falcons a 28-0 lead.
Cedar Crest junior Alex Abreu had a game-high 116 yards on 11 carries — including a 28-yard run in the third quarter that gave Cedar Crest a 35-0 lead.
Burdine entered the week with a section-leading 447 rushing yards. The Falcons’ defense contained Burdine — limiting him to 12 yards on six carries — and held the Red Knights (0-3, 2-4) to 93 yards of total offense.
Both teams continue Section 1 play Friday as Reading faces McCaskey at Shirk Stadium and Manheim Township visits Cedar Crest.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Reading High | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cedar Crest | 21 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 39 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Cedar Crest | Schomp, 38 pass from Custer (Glover kick) |
| 1 | Cedar Crest | Schomp, 39 pass from Custer (Glover kick) |
| 1 | Cedar Crest | Custer, 15 run (Glover kick) |
| 2 | Cedar Crest | Chernich, 2 pass from Custer (Glover kick) |
| 3 | Cedar Crest | Safety |
| 3 | Cedar Crest | Abreu, 28 run (Glover kick) |
| 4 | Cedar Crest | Safety |
Team statistics
| Reading High | Cedar Crest | |
| First downs | 6 | 12 |
| Rushes-yards | 32-85 | 34-178 |
| Passing yards | 8 | 137 |
| Total yards | 93 | 315 |
| Passes | 3-10-1 | 8-10-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 3-0 | 2-1 |
| Punts-average | 19.0 | 41.0 |
| Penalties-yards | 7-40 | 5-35 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Reading High: Rodriguez 3-30, Alvarado 9-30, Small 7-28, Burdine 6-12, Drayton 1-(-3), Hernandez 6-(-12).
Cedar Crest:
PASSING
Reading High: Burdine 2-7-0–12, Hernandez 1-3–1–(-4).
Cedar Crest: Custer 8-10-0–137.
RECEIVING
Reading High: Small 1-9, Rodriguez 1-3, Santos 1-(-4).
Cedar Crest: Schomp 4-101, Heisey 2-25, Chernich 2-11.
