Comets’ two-way standout will be preferred walk-on for Owls’ football team
JEFFREY REINHART jreinhart@LNPnews.com
This just in …
The Lancaster-Lebanon League has produced another Division I college football player.
Penn Manor senior Cody Booth, a two-way all-star performer for the Comets last fall, has accepted an offer to be a preferred walk-on for Temple, which competes in the Mid-American Conference.
Booth, a rugged tight end and defensive end, used his 6-5, 210-pound frame to inflict plenty of damage on both sides of the ball for Penn Manor last fall.
His tackling and pass-rushing prowess from his defensive end spot earned him First-Team Section 1 All-Star honors, and his 23 catches for 300 yards (and 1 TD) from his tight end spot earned him Second-Team Section 1 All-Star honors.
Temple is led by fourth-year coach Al Golden, who had 28 prep student/athletes sign National Letters of Intent earlier this month.
Booth will be a walk-on, but he has preferred status, so he’ll be given every chance right away to earn a spot on the roster.
Penn Manor went 5-2 in Section 1 and 9-3 overall last fall, bowing out to Cumberland Valley in the District 3 Quad-A quarterfinals.
Booth was a key cog in the Comets’ resurgence, and now he’s taking his game to Temple, where he will run into at least one familiar face: Lancaster Catholic grad Matt Balasavage plays tight end for the Owls.
Temple went 5-7 overall last season, and next season, the Owls will play Penn State, Villanova, Army and Navy in non-conference games before taking on their MAC foes.
