Error-plagued Red Knights can’t hold late lead, fall to Comets
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Justin Staggers — LNP/Lancasteronline
MILLERSVILLE –This certainly wasn’t how Penn Manor drew it up — marked by a missed field goal, a pair of turnovers and a safety — but the Comets’ defense stepped up when it mattered most Friday in a 19-16 win over visiting Reading High.
The Comets forced six turnovers, including the game-sealing interception, in the come-from-behind thriller at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.
It was Penn Manor’s first win.
The Red Knights (0-2, 1-4) lost quarterback Kayson Fritz and running back Alexis Alvarado to injuries in the first half yet still led 16-13 lead late in the game; they looked to be firmly in the drivers seat.
It all quickly unraveled for the Red Knights. They committed their fifth turnover with a costly fumble on their side of the 50, handing both the ball and the momentum back to the Comets (1-1, 1-4).
Sophomore quarterback Conner Smeigh led the Comets down the field, doing most of the damage through the air. Completions of 9, 12, and 4 yards put the Comets inside the Reading 1-yard line with 30 seconds remaining.
Smeigh capped the drive one play later with a sneak. The Red Knights blocked the extra point and trailed by just a field goal.
Backup quarterback Jason Pylaharn tried to salvage Reading’s chances, firing a deep ball in the direction of Kahlil Samuel. Jack Warfel made a great read on the ball, intercepting it and racing up the left sideline as time expired.
“It was a dog fight the whole time,” Smeigh said.
The loss was the third straight for Reading after its Week 2 win over Muhlenberg.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Reading High | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 16 |
| Penn Manor | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Penn Manor | Roman, 14 pass from Smeigh (Jeffers kick) |
| 2 | Reading High | Laws, 8 run (run failed) |
| 2 | Penn Manor | Roman, 11 pass from Smeigh (kick blocked) |
| 3 | Reading High | Laws, 11 run (Camara run) |
| 4 | Penn Manor | Smeigh, 1 run (kick blocked) |
Team statistics
| Reading High | Penn Manor | |
| First downs | 15 | 13 |
| Rushes-yards | 38-153 | 40-64 |
| Passing yards | 137 | 65 |
| Total yards | 290 | 129 |
| Passes | 10-22 | 8-15 |
| Fumbles-lost | 4-3 | 2-1 |
| Punts-average | 2-42 | 5-49.2 |
| Penalties-yards | 15-106 | 6-65 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Reading High: Laws 8-48, Boston 12-43, Fritz 4-17, Alvarado 7-13, Weaver 3-12, Samuel 1-7, Beatty 1-7, Camara 6-6.
Penn Manor: Smith 5-24, Dupree 10-23, Guthrie 8-12, Warfel 3-11, Smeigh 8-(-18).
PASSING
Reading High: Fritz 4-8-1–76, Plylaharn 6-13-2–61.
Penn Manor: Smeigh 8-15-1–65.
RECEIVING
Reading High: Samuel 4-20, Beatty 2-22, Weaver 2-21, Santos 1-58, Laws 1-16.
Penn Manor: Roman 5-52, Robinson 2-14, Dupree 1-(-1).
