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Reading capitalizes on Dover's sloppy play


The second half started off much like the first half for Dover on Friday night, and for the home team that wasn't a good thing.

In both instances, Dover fumbled on its second play of it's initial possession of the half.

It was that kind of night for the Eagles, who turned the ball over four times. Reading capitalized on two of those turnovers and used an efficient running game to win 26-7.

Dover (4-3) was held to just 151 yards of offense and was flagged for 95 yards of penalties. It was one of those games where the game tape won't see the light of day again for the home team.

"We are going to bury it (game tape) and just start fresh," Dover head coach Wayne Snelbaker said. "We just told them, 'You have got three weeks now and you have to get all three.'"

Snelbaker is eluding to the final three games of the season for Dover, all of which are Division II contests. Up first is a visit to York Suburban, followed by the Route 74 rivalry game against West York and ends with a trip to Susquehannock.

Jason Crawford scored three times for Reading, hitting paydirt on runs of 8, 39 and 45 yards. The sophomore finished with 179 yards on 18 carries.

The Red Knights (4-3) running game accounted for all 330 yards of offense for the visitors.

"We were trying to slow it down," Snelbaker said. "They got on the perimeter on us a little bit and we changed a few things."

Reading used a 48-yard kickoff return by Khary Mauras to start the game and set up its first touchdown.

The Red Knights scored five plays later on an 8-yard run by Crawford with 9:58 to play in the first quarter.

Dover turned the ball over three times in the first half, but Reading only capitalized on one of them.

"You can't give a team like this that many opportunities," Snelbaker said. "Turnovers will kill you every time."

After an 83-yard interception return by the Red Knights was called back by a penalty, the visitors used a 12-play 73-yard drive to go ahead, 14-0.

On that drive the Red Knights converted two fourth downs, one of which came on a fake punt. Kirk Boston capped the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run off the left side.

The Eagles also gave Reading three first downs on offside penalties, all three of which came on third down for the visitors. Dover was flagged 10 times and Reading racked up 50 yards on five penalties.

Some of the calls, specifically in the second half weren't received well by the home team and there were a few delays in the game by the officiating crew that stalled the game's momentum.

"I can't control that, that's on them," Snelbaker said of some of the calls. "Not our kids either."

One big victory for Dover was announced during the game — this weekend marks the 13th year that senior Kire Watkins has been cancer free.

Dover's Tad Pequignot scored on a 1-yard run with 8:28 to play in the game to get the home team on the scoreboard.

Reading6866—26Dover0007—7

First Quarter

R — Jason Crawford 8 run (kick failed), 9:58.

Second Quarter

R — Kirk Boston 12 run (Boston run), 3:33.

Third Quarter

R — Crawford 39 run (kick failed), 10:31

Fourth Quarter

D — Tad Pequigmot 1 run (Josh Bradley kick), 8:28

R — Crawford 45 run (kick failed), 5:37

RDoFirst downs169 Rushes-yards52-33036-114 Passing0-2-04-6-1 Passing yards037Total yards330151Punts0-02-29 Fumbles-lost4-23-3Penalties-yards5-5010-95
Individual statistics

Rushing — R, Kirk Boston 10-77, Jason Crawford 18-179, Elisiah Bayne 11-29, Khary Mauras 7-38, Kristan Diaz-Cruz 1 - (-1), Kelvin Toro 3-5, Joel Ortiz 1-1, Isaiah Davis 1-2. Do, Brett Mohn 12-39, Cole Jesmer 8-41, Durran Ledbetter 8-31, Tad Pequignot 7-6, John Sterner 1 - (-3).

Passing — R, Bayne 0-2-0-0. Do, Jesmer 1-2-1-6, Pequignot 3-4-0-31.

Receiving — Do, Mohn 1-6, Caden Snyder 2-30, Ledbetter 1-1.