Tons of big individual performances in Week 2 last Friday night … so many that I could have called this like 10 Stars.
But alas, I had to whittle it down to the top three – this feature is called 3 Stars, after all.
Like, duh.
After racking my brain, here are the top three individual performances I came up with …
Fruquan Gaston, senior RB, Reading – The guy they call ‘Flash’ certainly did plenty of that against Pottsville, piling up 193 rushing yards on 23 carries (8.4 yards per pop) and scoring a TD (a 2-yard burst) in the Red Knights’ 21-18 win at home over Pottsville. Couple of things here – First, it was the 500th victory in the history of Reading’s football program. Not too shabby there. Second, it was the home debut of Reading coach Preston McKnight, who played for the Knights back in the day. Third, in this rivalry game, the winner gets the Lump of Coal Trophy, and Reading snatched it back. Fourth, Gaston continued his hot start; he rushed for 162 yards and two TDs in Week 1 in Reading’s loss to York High. But on Friday, with all sorts of things going on, Gaston more than lived up to his moniker, helping Reading win its first game this season – and 500th in the history of the program.
Kyle Witmer, senior RB, Donegal – Somebody had to step up and step into Blaine Miller’s big shoes. After all, when Miller graduated last spring, he took three 1,000-yard rushing seasons in a row with him, leaving a gaping hole at fullback in the Indians backfield. Enter Witmer, who had his coming-out party on Friday. In Donegal’s 36-7 win at Eastern York, Witmer pounded out 229 yards on 19 carries (12.1 yards per tote; a lovely average) and scored three TDs in the Indians much-needed first win this season (Donegal fell to Daniel Boone 40-0 in Week 1, so the Indians need a pick-me-up). Witmer’s TD runs covered 57, 11 and 2 yards, respectively, as he helped Donegal pile up 356 rushing yards. It was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Indians – and especially for Witmer – who got some momentum back.
Tyler Purvis, junior WR, Lancaster Catholic – Yes, another Purvis at Lancaster Catholic. Tyler is the third of four Purvis boys who played or will be playing for the Crusaders. First there was Ryan, the stud TE who is playing for Boston College these days. He was an integral part of Catholic’s state-championship basketball team. Then there was Kyle, who was also a standout basketball player. Now there’s Tyler, and what a game he had in Catholic’s 44-7 win over Ephrata. Purvis had 10 catches for 207 yards and he caught three TD passes from Kyle Smith – covering 18, 28 and 96 yards. Purvis also tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Andrew Millay on a fake field goal. Purvis and the Crusaders are at Manheim Central on Friday. Let the hype machine begin.
