It’s no secret that the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 is highly competitive and seemingly gets better year after year.

And for a young football team still trying to find its footing year after year, Reading High head coach Troy Godinet has preached, “continue to grow, continue to play hard, continue to develop that brotherhood for each other, continue to carry the tradition and build the culture that they want to see,” to his players.

Wins cannot begin to accumulate until variables such as culture start to shift for the better, and Godinet and his staff know that.

That message has gotten through and really stuck with this year’s squad ahead of the season, as they see the vision ahead as one.

“This season, we definitely want to win, but that’s not the only thing,” senior lineman Myles Smith said at the Lancaster-Lebanon League media day in early August. “The main goal as a team is to become better men, because that’s a big thing with our coaches and our culture as Reading High students. We want to become better men, and the football game makes you a better man. We definitely want to hold ourselves high outside of football and how the community views us.”

Captains Rashdiel Ortiz and Ja’Sian Welmaker added, “I want to leave a legacy that when I leave people can remember,” and “We get to have something that seniors last year didn’t get to have and have more like connection, bonding, and really go out there and have fun.”

As the years have gone by under Godinet, who is entering his fifth season at the helm, the younger classes have walked into the building, adopting that same mindset.

No one said changing a football team’s culture is easy, but over time, the atmosphere in Reading is changing for the better.

The Red Knights lost one All-LL first team selection in defensive back Idris Weaver, but return two second team players in Ja’Sian Welmaker and Daron Wilkins.

Welmaker, only a sophomore, showed a lot of promise in his freshman season, clogging up the middle at nose tackle.

As for Wilkins, the junior led the team with three rushing touchdowns a season ago while playing both quarterback and running back, all while dealing with some lingering injury issues.

“He’s electric with the ball in his hands,” Godinet said of Wilkins. “That kid can do some things with the football in his hand, man. He’s probably the fastest kid on our team, and I’m excited to see him continue to grow.”

Fortunately for Wilkins, he’ll be able to showcase his talents in the backfield all season long because sophomore Elijah Fleming is taking the reins at quarterback.

The 5-foot-11 sophomore received varsity action in the Red Knights’ season finale against Hempfield, helping put up some points on the board against the Black Knights.

From a leadership role, Fleming has taken control of the offense in the offseason.

“He’s really dedicated. He stays in the playbook and he’s like someone you could always rely on and count on,” Welmaker said of his longtime teammate since youth football.

With some promise from young, up-and-coming players, along with a positive shift in culture, the Red Knights hope to see an uptick in the win column.

Reading High

Coach: Troy Godinet, fifth season, 7-33.

Last Year’s Record: 1-5 Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1, 1-9.

Key Players Lost: QB Jason Plylaharn, RB/LB Zumar Boston, RB/DB Idris Weaver, OL/DL Xavier Vilorio.

Key Players Returning: QB Elijah Fleming, RB/DB Daron Wilkins, RB/DB Jahziel Perez, TE/DE Jamier Jacob, RT/DT Rashdiel Ortiz, OT/DE Miles Smith, DE Brandon Jones, DT Ja’Sian Welmaker, LB Mayke Lias.

3 Keys to Success

Quarterback Elijah Fleming performs: The Red Knights have struggled to find a consistent quarterback to command their offense. With Fleming being just a sophomore, there will be plenty of time for him to grow and truly become ‘the guy’ to count on for the next three seasons.

Defense improves: Reading High lost by an average of 42-6 last season, allowing 40-plus points in eight games. Players such as Ja’Sian Welmaker, Myles Smith and Brandon Jones will have to make their presence felt in the trenches to begin improving their defense.

Shift in Culture: From the outside looking in, the offseason has proved to be a growth period for a young Red Knights team. It won’t happen immediately, but as guys start to buy into the process, the wins will follow.

Schedule: Aug. 28, Phoenixville; Sept. 4, Muhlenberg; Sept. 11, at Lebanon; Sept. 18, Penn Manor; Sept. 25, at Wilson; Oct. 2, at JP McCaskey; Oct. 9, at South Western; Oct. 16, Hempfield; Oct. 23, Manheim Township; Oct. 30, Cedar Crest.