Chester falls short despite spirited rally

Sometime during a 29-point second-quarter onslaught a long way from home Friday night, Chester’s football team could’ve packed it in against Reading.

But the Clippers didn’t, and while the effort didn’t yield a win, it fostered an entertaining game and maybe a little momentum for the Del Val opener next week.

Chester roared back to within one score, but the Clippers ultimately fell, 49-38, at the hands of Reading at Shirk Stadium late Friday.

Chester (2-3) closed the gap to within 43-38 in the fourth quarter thanks to three straight scores, but Reading, which ran for 446 yards on 54 carries, kept grinding away on the ground to salt away the victory.

All seven of the Red Knights’ scores came on the ground on an evening where they didn’t complete a pass. Kelvin Toro carried in three of them, including the clincher in the fourth quarter, a 60-yard scamper. Toro, who finished with 175 yards on 13 carries, scored on six-yard darts bookending halftime to put the Red Knights up, 36-8, early in the third quarter.

But Chester answered. Jamir Green hit Brahiem Bishop for a 63-yard score. After Thomas Perez ran for a touchdown to restore the edge to 43-16, Charles Ashford made a big play on defense, returning a fumble nine yards to the house early in the fourth.

That allowed Green to hit Daqwan Wells for a 72-yard touchdown and Devan Freeman to run for an 18-yard score to briefly give the Clippers a window back into the game.

Green, who threw for 284 yards and two interceptions, also hit Jalil Seals on a 42-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Green led the way with 17 carries for 121 yards and converted four two-point conversions with his legs. Bishop accounted for six catches and 107 yards through the air. Chester outgained Reading, 465-446.

Five Red Knights scored on the ground. Zachary King, Isiah Giddens and Jaxell Flores accounted for Reading’s first three touchdowns.