For Openers, Reading Looks Like Its Old Self

WAKEFIELD - Matt Sannella's first time carrying the ball this season wasn't all that impressive. The 3-yard first-quarter run didn't produce a score or even a first down. But it got better real quick for Reading's senior quarterback.

Sannella ran for touchdowns the next three times he carried the ball, leading Reading to a 37-16 win over host Wakefield on Friday night. The Rockets quarterback scored on runs for 47, 32, and 27 yards as Reading ran up a 37-0 lead before Wakefield scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. For a Reading team coming off an injury-filled 3-8 season last fall, Friday's win had to feel good.

"I couldn't be happier for Matt," said Reading coach John Fiore. "He's worked hard and he played well, did the things we needed him to do tonight. I'm real pleased with how the whole team played and Matt was a key part of it."

Sannella's stats won't overwhelm you. He finished 5-for-9 passing for 82 yards and ran for 109 yards on just four carries. But three of those carries were touchdowns and when he wasn't doing it himself he was directing an efficient offense that took advantage of good field position and Wakefield mistakes.

After Wakefield's eight-play opening drive came up empty, Reading took over and went on a 10-play drive that resulted in a 20-yard field goal by Luke Forbes. Wakefield went three and out and Sannella and the Rockets went back to work. Taking over at their own 47, Sannella hit Javon Nortelus for a first down, and following a penalty, Sannella took off for his first touchdown, a 47-yard run that made it 10-0.

Wakefield continued to struggle on offense and a bad snap on a punt gave Reading the ball at the Wakefield 32. Sannella threw an incomplete pass to the end zone on the first play, but took it himself on the second, scoring from 32 yards out to make it 17-0 with 4:53 to play in the half.

At that point Wakefield was still alive and the Warriors and quarterback Mike Lucey put together a determined 14-play drive that ended with an incomplete pass to the end zone from the 7-yard line as time expired.

"To get that stop there when we needed it, real proud of the kids for competing hard," said Fiore.

If Wakefield had hopes of a comeback they were dashed in the first minute of the third quarter. Starting at their own 35, Josh Williamson ran for 8 yards, Pat Conroy for 44 yards, and Nortelus finished it off with a 13-yard touchdown run. Reading went 65 yards in three plays that took less than a minute and made the score 24-0.

"I was really pleased with how the kids responded in the second half, that third quarter. Getting a couple big chunk plays early and scoring on our first possession ... then we got a stop right away on defense," said Fiore.

A short time later Jeremy Rosh intercepted Lucey and four plays later Sannella scored his last touchdown, this time from 27 yards out to make it 30-0 with 7:37 to play in the third quarter. It was Sannella's last time on the field.

Wakefield scored twice in the fourth quarter, each time a touchdown pass from Lucey to Mike O'Keefe. That combination will be an important part of any Wakefield success this fall. Lucey finished 15-of-28 passing for 121 yards and two touchdowns with O'Keefe catching nine of those passes.

"There's a lot we can clean up, a lot we can do better but we played together as a team tonight, and we played hard."

Photo by Bob Holmes