North Penn fell to Central Dauphin in the state title game, but this squad leaves behind quite a legacy. To view game action photos, please visit the Photo Gallery. To view the Calkins Media highlight video, please click on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzOx9zbtSPQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.phillyburbs.com%2Fsports%2Fhigh_school%2F&feature=player_embedded
HERSHEY – As time was winding down on the scoreboard clock in Saturday’s PIAA Class AAAA state title game at HersheyPark Stadium, the realization that it was over began to hit home on North Penn’s sidelines.
The scene was a poignant one as the farewells began. Teammates embraced, making no attempt to hide the emotions they were feeling.
Dreams die hard, very hard, and on a snowy December night in Hershey, the Knights’ dream of winning a state title came to a heartbreaking end. A state title – seemingly within their grasp – had slipped away..
“It’s like a knife through the heart,” said senior James Fielder after Saturday’s 14-7 loss to Central Dauphin. “We worked since the beginning of January for this. I played football with more than half these people since I was five.
“We gave it all we had. We left our hearts on the field. It wasn’t our night. I don’t know what else to say.”
This North Penn squad had done the improbable, rebounding from a 1-2 start to win 12 straight and earn a spot in the state final where they ran into a Central Dauphin squad that would not be denied.
“They were tough,” Fielder said. “They were a tough team.”
So were the Knights, who battled to the bitter end, and while many were surprised to see this year’s squad playing for a state title, the players were not in that number.
“I knew we could do it,” senior Ralph Reeves said. “After that 1-2 start, I didn’t think it was likely, but I knew we could because our team’s got heart.”
Reeves, a rare four-year starter and the heart and soul of this team, was asked what he would remember most about this year’s squad. He had an immediate response.
“The heart that our team had,” he said. “Every single player on our team had heart, and that’s all that matters.
“Coming back last week (against La Salle) after they tied it up 14-14 and getting that ‘W’ and to bounce back after the 1-2 start we had and to get to this moment right here – our team has heart, and I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”
The Knights gave their fans a season to remember with their magical postseason run, and while they seemed to become a team of destiny after their emotional 21-14 win over La Salle in the Eastern Final a week earlier, things just didn’t go North Penn’s way on Saturday night. It looked as though momentum might be swinging in the Knights’ favor when – after Fielder powered his way into the end zone from five yards out – they knotted the score 7-7 at the 10:09 mark of the fourth quarter.
That momentum lasted all of two minutes as Central Dauphin answered with a TD drive of its own to go on top 14-7. The Knights were never heard from again.
“I thought we had our opportunities,” coach Dick Beck said. “I thought they played an excellent game. Both teams played mistake-free. There weren’t many penalties and no turnovers. I would have liked to have gotten a turnover. We were just one play away.”
The senior captains accepted the runner-up trophy, some with tears in their eyes, and a North Penn alum – offering consolation to his former teammates - might well have put the Knights’ second place finish in perspective when he said, “I would give everything back to play in this game right now. I would give everything back.”
Reeves acknowledged that, despite the outcome, the experience had been a special one.
“It was awesome,” he said. “The atmosphere was wild, and it was so emotional. We came up a little short, but it was a crazy experience.”
“We’ve come so far since the beginning of the season,” senior TJ Smink added. “To fall short hurts so much, but I know I’ve made friends for life with all these guys.
“We’re going to be in our 30’s looking back at this game – this is a once in a lifetime thing right here. Unfortunately, it had to end like this.”
As disappointed as the players were to come up short on the scoreboard, they were even more disappointed to see their storybook season end.
“I played with Matt Smith since fifth grade,” Reeves said. “I played Cannoneers with these guys my whole life. I’m going to miss playing with them more than anything. I loved playing with every single one of those guys. It was a pleasure being on the same field with every single one of those guys, and I’m going to miss them like crazy. Every single person had heart, every single person had drive. For the sophomores and juniors – remember this feeling. Have that heart next year and have that heart in years to come, and they’ll do great things.”
Long after the fans had left the stadium, Reeves and Smith emerged from their squad’s locker room under the stands and made the trek to the team bus together. It marked the end of an era for North Penn football, and coach Beck paid his seniors the ultimate compliment.
“They will be remembered forever,” the Knights’ coach said. “They have put their names in stone in this program. Every single one of them is pretty amazing, I’m just proud to have an opportunity to coach them. They just never quit.”
This year’s North Penn squad – the 2011 PIAA Class AAAA runner-up - leaves behind a legacy that will not soon be forgotten.
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