JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
Cody Booth will probably never forget his first defensive touchdown as a varsity football player.
Penn Manor’s junior defensive end scooped up a fourth-quarter fumble in the Comets’ non-league game at Cocalico last Friday night, and returned it 43 yards for the go-ahead score in Penn Manor’s 36-21 win.
It was Penn Manor’s first win and Cocalico’s first loss this season, and Booth had his hands all over the Comets’ victory.
Not only did he return the fumble for the go-ahead touchdown, but he hauled in a pair of touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback P.J. Rheam, who was making his first career start under center.
Booth’s 16-yard TD catch gave Penn Manor a 15-7 lead in the first quarter, and his 25-yard TD grab capped the scoring.
For his efforts, Booth is the New Era Player of the Week.
Booth got some major help on his clutch fumble return. Senior outside linebacker Bevan Embry made a big stick on Cocalico halfback Kyle Fisher, jarring the ball loose.
“Bevan made a big hit and Cody picked it up and took it to the house,” Penn Manor coach Todd Mealy said. “It was a huge play. The hit by Embry and the return by Booth were the game-changers.”
And helped put Penn Manor in the win column for the first time this season.
After scoring three touchdowns against Cocalico, Booth sat down for the New Era’s Five Questions:
AFTER A 0-2 START, HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO GET A WIN AGAINST COCALICO, WHICH WAS 2-0?
“It was huge. We really needed a victory, and we were all really excited about it. It was a big, big victory. And we were all really happy for Coach Mealy because it was his first win. He got the game ball. It was like all of our hard work from the off-season finally paid off.”
LAST YEAR’S TEAM WENT TO DISTRICTS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. DID THOSE GUYS SET THE BAR OR WHAT?
“Oh, yeah. We all have to step up because we all have some big positions to fill. We definitely feel some pressure because we all have those big shoes to fill. You feel it from the fans and you feel it from the coaching staff because everyone has high expectations. We’re expected to do well now, so there is a little more pressure around.”
THE FUMBLE RECOVERY AND ENSUING TD RETURN REALLY TURNED THE GAME AROUND. TELL US ABOUT THE PLAY.
“Bevan made a nice hit – he got his helmet right on the football. I was on my pursuit angle and the ball popped in the air and I was like, ‘Wow! This is right in my hands.’ He got hit and fell backward and I grabbed the ball right out of the air. I grabbed it and took it to the house. I ran it in next to a couple of teammates and we were having fun with it. It was the coolest feeling.”
BOB FORGRAVE REALLY TURNED THIS PROGRAM AROUND THE LAST TWO YEARS, BUT HE LEFT TO TAKE THE JOB AT HEMPFIELD. HOW HAS COACH MEALY’S TRANSITION GONE?
“It’s gone pretty well I think. I guess some guys took it differently. We’re doing a couple of things differently … some new changes. We all wanted to go to know him right away, and after two-a-days we all really started liking him a lot. So it’s gone pretty smoothly.”
IS THERE A FOOTBALL PLAYER YOU EMULATE?
“Dallas Clark, the tight end for the Indianapolis Colts. I like him a lot. He’s a tough player. He just goes out and gets it done. I like to watch how he plays.”
