Red Knights use special teams, special effort by Amier Burdine, to win again
(This story will be updated later tonight with additional details and postgame reaction.)
By Hunter Phillips — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
After defeating rival Muhlenburg last week, Reading High looked to replicate its success versus Red Lion.
Although allowing a 96-yard kickoff return on the opening play certainly wasn’t part of their strategy, it all worked out in the end Friday night as the Red Knights defeated the Lions 42-35 in a non-league game at Albright’s Shirk Stadium.
It was a huge night for senior quarterback Amier Burdine, who topped his stunning performance last week with another huge game. Burdine rushed for 113 yards and passed for 147.
Burdine was surely not alone. His wide receivers performed alongside him all night long. Longtime basketball teammate Ruben Rodrgiuez was his main connection. The two combined for 85 yards and three touchdowns.
When Reading couldn’t get it done through the air, its run did. Alex Alverado rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman running back Cameron Small supplied 62 yards.
Even with the huge offensive night, it was the defense and special teams that gift-wrapped the win. The most important play of the game happened to be the last of the first half when defensive lineman Karim Martinez scooped up a fumble by Red Lion quarterback Mason Hollingshead and took it 44 yards for a touchdown.
As the defense came up big time and time again, it left the offense in prime position to take advantage. Xaiver Beaty’s fumble recovery late in the third quarter set up another Reading touchdown.
A special team’s gamble led to the Red Knights recovering an onside kick, putting the offense in yet another prime position to score.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Red Lion | 14 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 35 |
| Reading High | 0 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 42 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Red Lion | Strausbaugh, 96 kickoff return (Coppersmith kick) | 11:40 |
| 1 | Red Lion | Deisley, 7 run (Coppersmith kick) | 2:54 |
| 2 | Reading | Rodriguez, 15 pass from Burdine (Alverado rush failed) | 11:06 |
| 2 | Red Lion | Coppersmith, 16 pass from (Coppersmith kick) | 6:16 |
| 2 | Reading | Rodriguez, 21 pass from Burdine (pass failed) | 00:29 |
| 2 | Reading | Martinez, 44 fumble return (Rodriguez, pass from Burdine) | 00:00 |
| 3 | Red Lion | Strausbaugh, 25 run (kick failed) | 7:09 |
| 3 | Reading | Rodriguez, 25 pass from Burdine (Alvarado run) | 3:26 |
| 4 | Reading | Alvarado, 7 run (Alvarado run) | |
| 4 | Reading | Alvarado, 4 run (run failed) | 4:15 |
| 4 | Red Lion | 7 run (run) | 2:31 |
Team statistics
| Red Lion | Reading High | |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Rushes-yards | 32-244 | 39-260 |
| Passing yards | 47 | 147 |
| Total yards | 291 | 407 |
| Passes | 5-13 | 8-18 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-2 | 2-1 |
| Punts-average | 3-31 | 2-36 |
| Penalties-yards | 5-50 | 12-75 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Red Lion: Strausbaugh 20-132, Hollingshead 9-84, name unavailable 2-23, Desily 1-5.
Reading High: Burdine 15-113, Alvarado 12-85, Small 12-62.
PASSING
Red Lion: Hollingshead 5-13-1–47.
Reading High: Burdine 8-18-1–147.
RECEIVING
Red Lion: Rentzel 2-13, Strausbaugh 1-8, Coppersmith 1-16, Miller 1-10.
Reading High: Rodriguez 5-85, Samuel 1-27 Philistin 1-23, Orbe 1-12
INTERCEPTIONS
Reading High: Philistin.
