‘No words’ to describe turnover-plagued Red Knights
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
| Final | |
| Penn Manor | 41 |
| Reading | 8 |
By Andrew Clauser — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Reading High committed eight turnovers in a 41-8 loss to Penn Manor in a battle of winless Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 teams Friday at Shirk Stadium.
The Comets (1-1, 1-4) broke open a close game at halftime, scoring 26 unanswered points in the second half.
Randy Guthrie scored three touchdowns for Penn Manor, on runs of 2, 70 and 45 yards.
After the Red Knights fumbled at their own 4 early in the game Guthrie cashed in on a 2-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
On the Comets’ next possession Guthrie took the ball 70 yards for a TD to extend the lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter. He added another score in the second half and finished the night with 143 yards on the ground.
Reading (0-2, 0-5) got on the board late in the second quarter when senior quarterback Jason Plyaharn Jr. connected with wide receiver Joseph Munoz for a 13-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-7 with 4:40 left in the opening half.
The Red Knights kept the momentum going on the next possession, pinning the Comets on their own 1, then stopping them on third-and-long only to commit a personal foul that gave them a first down.
The second half was all Penn Manor. Quarterback Connor Smeigh gashed the Red Knights defense on consecutive drives with touchdown passes of 25 and 57 yards to Tristan Ronan and Collin Robinson, respectively.
The Red Knights offense sputtered. Plylaharn was unable to connect with his receivers, had two fumbles and was intercepted three times in the second half. One of those picks was returned for a touchdown by linebacker Christian Herman.
Key statistic
Reading committed a season-high turnovers — five fumbles and three interceptions; six came in the second half.
Quotable
“I have no words to describe this game other than we resorted to our old ways after gaining momentum at halftime. (We had) costly turnovers and zero discipline. We have to take that more seriously.” – Reading coach Troy Godinet.
Quotable
“ (Tyrice) Bradley has the heart of an ‘Old Red Knight.’ He took hits all night and dished them out all night. If every kid put that same effort and heart we would be much better.” – Reading coach Troy Godinet.
Up next
Reading High hosts Cedar Crest next Friday 7.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Penn Manor | 8 | 7 | 13 | 13 | 41 |
| Reading | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Penn Manor | Guthrie, 2 run (Guthrie run) | 4:46 |
| 2 | Penn Manor | Guthrie, 70 run (Brown kick) | 8:02 |
| 2 | Reading | Munoz, 13 pass from Plylaharn (Bradley run) | 4:40 |
| 3 | Penn Manor | Ronan, 25 pass from Smeigh (Brown kick) | 9:00 |
| 3 | Penn Manor | Robinson, 57 pass from Smeigh (run failed) | 6:13 |
| 4 | Penn Manor | Herman, 51 interception return (kick failed) | 4:44 |
| 4 | Penn Manor | Guthrie, 45 run (Brown kick) | 2:19 |
Team statistics
| PENN MANOR | READING | |
| First downs | 11 | 11 |
| Rushes-yards | 24-167 | 32-86 |
| Passing yards | 110 | 61 |
| Total yards | 277 | 147 |
| Passes | 8-17-1 | 7-17-3 |
| Fumbles-lost | 1-0 | 7-5 |
| Punts-average | 4-38 | 3-23 |
| Penalties-yards | 8-80 | 7-55 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Penn Manor: Guthri 12-143, Dupree 5-15, Robinson 5-14, Florentino 1-(-1), Sleigh 1-(-4).
Reading: Boston 13-41, Bradley 7-32, Plyaharn 4-11, Williams 1-8, Wilkins 1-(-1), Lias 2-(-2), Weaver 4-(-3).
PASSING
Penn Manor: Smeigh 7-16-1—106, Robinson 1-1-0–4.
Reading: Plyaharn 7-17-3—61.
RECEIVING
Penn Manor: Guthrie 3-(-2), Robinson 2-65, Ronan 1-25, Dupree 1-18, Florentino 1-4.
Reading: Weaver 2-30, Bradley 2-7, Munoz 1-13, Slaughter 1-8, Worthy 1-3.
INTERCEPTIONS
Penn Manor: Valentin, Doyle, Herman.
Reading: Weaver.
