The raucous celebration of crimson-clad players around the Lump of Coal Trophy was a memorable farewell to the Berks Football League for Pottsville’s players and fans.
“It’s a nice way to finish. We’re leaving the Berks League winners,” said coach Tom McGeoy, whose Crimson Tide defeated Reading 34-14 on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Pottsville is joining the Anthracite Football League next season.
After opening the season with seven straight losses during an 18-game losing streak, the Crimson Tide (2-7, 2-4 Berks I) won their second straight game.
Darion Jacoby and Eric Wapinsky combined to rush for 205 yards and four touchdowns as Pottsville won its first home game since closing the 2013 season with a 27-7 win over Twin Valley.
But Wapinsky said the return of the Lump of Coal to Pottsville didn’t set in until the final period.
“My O-line came over to me and started congratulating me, and I said, ‘It wasn’t my congratulations. I was
congratulating them.’ That’s their win, not mine,” Wapinsky said.
Referring to the Tide’s streak-busting win at Daniel Boone last week, McGeoy said, “Last week, I thought our O-line played great. Tonight was a step even better.”
That front opened the way for 255 yards rushing and a clock-consuming offense that helped to limit Reading (4-5, 1-4) to two long touchdown runs.
“They did an excellent job of playing together, executing and playing excited,” Reading head coach Rob Flowers said of the Tide.
Pottsville didn’t fade after the first of those touchdown runs — a 55-yard carry by Khary Mauras that gave Reading a 7-0 lead after one period.
But after Reading’s Elisiah Bayne ended two Pottsville drives with interceptions, Jacoby brought the momentum back to the Tide.
His 27-yard punt return to Reading’ 16-yard line set up a four-play drive capped by his game-tying 4-yard touchdown run.
Pottsville then stopped Reading on downs at Pottsville’s 45 with 37 seconds left in the first half.
Swapping Jacoby and Wapinsky at quarterback, the Tide turned the remaining time into points. Jacoby’s 22-yard pass to Steve Drum — Jacoby’s lone pass of the night — set up Wapinsky’s 14-yard touchdown run with 8 seconds left for a 13-7 halftime edge.
Pottsville moved to Reading’s 4-yard line to begin the third quarter before a sack by Kirk Boston on fourth down ended the march.
But Reading only moved eight yards in three plays and punted, setting up the Tide.
Jacoby responded with a 40-yard run. One play later, Jacoby ran 11 yards around left end to score a touchdown. Kolby Kleckner’s extra point gave Pottsville a 20-7 lead.
Reading answered three plays later. Jai Whitlock, who led Reading with 80 yards rushing, got 62 in one carry, bursting through a crowded line to run to the end zone.
Boston’s kick cut the lead to 20-14, but Pottsville’s missed extra-point kick in the first half never became a factor because the Tide scored next.
Wapinsky completed three passes in the 66-yard drive, including an 18-yard touchdown to Jeremy Witman, who leaped over a defender in the back of the end zone.
With a 27-14 lead following the point after kick, Pottsville regained the ball on downs and produced its final touchdown march, a 56-yard drive capped by Wapinsky’s 13-yard run with 4:57 left.
Minutes later, it was time for the celebration.
“I heard Eric say we got the monkey off our back last week and now we believe that, hey, we play well, we’re going to win a game,” McGeoy said.
Game Summary
Read (4-5, 1-4) 7 0 7 0 — 14
Pot (2-7, 2-4) 0 13 7 14 — 34
Read — Mauras 55 run (Boston kick)
Pot — Jacoby 4 run (Kol. Kleckner kick)
Pot — Wapinsky 14 run (kick failed)
Pot — Jacoby 11 run (Kol. Kleckner kick)
Read — Whitlock 62 run (Boston kick)
Pot — Witman 18 pass from Wapinsky (Kol. Kleckner kick)
Pot — Wapinsky 13 run (Kol. Kleckner kick)
Read Pot
First Downs 7 21
Rushes-Yards 28-224 37-255
Passes 2-7-0 6-11-2
Passing Yards 17 83
Total Yards 241 338
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 0-0
Penalties 6-57 4-29
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Reading — Whitlock 13-84, Mauras 3-63, Bayne 6-50, King 2-18, Boston 4-9. Pottsville — Jacoby 21-130, Wapinsky 8-75, Murhon 6-42, Alisauckas 2-8.
PASSING: Reading — Bayne 1-6-0, 6; Goda 1-1-0, 11. Pottsville — Wapinsky 5-10-2, 61; Jacoby 1-1-0, 22.
RECEIVING: Reading — Boston 1-11, King 1-6. Pottsville — Drum 2-28, Witman 1-18, Kor. Kleckner 1-16, Angelichio 1-11, Jacoby 1-10.
INTERCEPTIONS: Reading — Bayne 2.