In a Continental Conference showdown, North Penn earned a 35-28 win over Central Bucks South. To view photos of the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Warrington – North Penn is back – but did the Knights really go anywhere?
North Penn (3-3, 3-0) grabbed the Suburban One League Continental Conference by the throat as the Knights marched to a critical 35-28 victory over host Central Bucks South (4-2, 2-1). The Blue & White joined Central Bucks West (5-1, 3-0) at the top of the conference standings, and North Penn had to do so against an explosive CB South offense.
“Our goal is always to win the league championship,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck. “CB South beat us last year (36-29) by making one more big play than us. This year it was our turn to come up with that one huge play.”
In a track meet that featured 738 yards of total offense – it was a North Penn defensive play that sealed the win. CB South was driving for a game-tying touchdown late in the fourth period with the score 35-28, and the Titans were faced with a fourth-and-three at the Knight 31-yard line. The Titans called timeout – and with sensational running back Josh Adams on the sideline with a knee injury – elected to run play-action. The ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete.
“Coach Beck came into the huddle and told us exactly what they were going to run,” said North Penn senior linebacker/fullback Luke Berry. “They ran the exact play that Coach Beck said they would run, and we were able to come up with the stop.”
Berry, though, was to make his biggest contribution as a punishing running back as Berry blasted through the Titan defense for 193 yards and three touchdowns.
“The line was blocking great all night,” said Berry as the Knights punished the CB South’s defense for 416 yards on the ground and five rushing touchdowns. “This was the biggest game of the year for us, and for us to come up with a win against CB South was important. Now we can control our own destiny if we can win out.”
In an era of football where the fullback is almost lost as a featured back at all levels, Berry might just reverse that mindset.
“With the success we had tonight with Luke, we are going to have to do more of that,” smiled Beck. “We did a nice job up front blocking and Luke always runs hard.”
“North Penn found something and they went right after it,” said Central Bucks South head coach Dave Rackovan. “They controlled the line of scrimmage, and we weren’t able to stop them.”
Central Bucks South actually took the early lead with a score on its first drive of the game. Senior quarterback Matt Radwanski fired a gorgeous 30-yard touchdown to pass to senior Kevin Moran, and Jon Williams was perfect to the first of his four points after touchdown to give the Titans a 7-0 lead.
North Penn answered right back with a five-play scoring drive. Berry earned scoring honors with a 46-yard scoring burst and place kicker Andrew Kirsch converted the first of his five successive extra points to knot the score at 7-7.
The Knights took a 14-7 lead later in the first period when NP scored on an 8-play drive as Berry capped the drive with a 1-yard burst.
Central Bucks South knotted the score at 14-14 by the close of the first period. Dion Clifton concluded the 7-play scoring drive with an 8-yard touchdown scamper.
North Penn took a 21-14 lead into the locker room when senior Lewis Dickinson bulled in for a 2-yard touchdown run. Berry highlighted this drive with a 35-yard run.
Central Bucks South again bounced back to knot the score at 21-21 as Adams scored on a spectacular 53-yard touchdown run. Adams – who left the game in the third quarter with his knee problems – finished with 95 yards rushing.
North Penn went up 28-21 with 9-play scoring drive that covered 85 yards. Senior Kris Akins – who raced for a 17-yard run during the drive - reached pay dirt for the Knights on a 3-yard run.
The North Penn defense got a stop – and extended the lead to 35-21 when Berry scored on a 2-yard burst. The drive was set up by a super 68-yard dash by sophomore Nyfease West. West – who did not score a touchdown – was a wonderful compliment to Berry with 186 yards on 22 carries.
CB South closed to within a single score at 35-28 when Radwanski fired an 8-yard touchdown pass to Paul Weeks. The score came with 10:10 left in the game – and that touchdown proved to be the final points of the game.
“It’s hard to believe, but North Penn came in here very underrated,” said Rackovan. “But that is a good football team – a good North Penn football team.”
“We played North Penn football tonight,” said Berry. “We played some power North Penn football.”
North Penn is back – but the Knights really haven’t gone anywhere.
North Penn Knights 14 7 14 0 - 35
Central Bucks South Titans 14 0 7 7 - 28
CBS: Kevin Moran 30 pass from Matt Radwanski (Jon Williams kick)
NP: Luke Berry 46 run (Andrew Kirsch kick)
NP: Berry 1 run (Kirsch kick)
CBS: Dion Clifton 8 run (Williams kick)
NP: Lewis Dickinson 2 run (Kirsch kick)
CBS: Josh Adams 53 run (Williams kick)
NP: Kris Akins 3 run (Kirsch kick)
NP: Berry 2 run (Kirsch kick)
CBS: Paul Weeks 8 pass from Radwanski (Williams kick)
North Penn Knights Central Bucks South Titans
18 First Downs 15
416 Yards Rushing 163
33 Yards Passing 126
449 Total Offense 289
3-42 Punts / Avg. 3-38
6-50 Pen. / Yards 4-35
North Penn:
Rushing: Luke Berry 20-193 & 3 TD; Nyfease West 22-186; Kris Akins 2-23 & TD; Lewis Dickinson 2-4 & TD; Austin Shearer 2-10. Totals 50-416 & 5 TD.
Passing: Shearer 4-6-0; 33 yards.
Receiving: Nick Wright 1-14; Brandon Quinn 1-11; Dickinson 1-7; Berry 1-1. Totals 4-33.
Interceptions: None.
Central Bucks South:
Rushing: Josh Adams 11-95 & TD; Dion Clifton 14-77; Matt Radwanski 9 (minus 9). Totals 34-163 & TD.
Passing: Radwanski 12-21-126 &2 TD.
Receiving: Eric Katz 5-38; Kevin Moran 2-39 & TD; Paul Weeks 2-17 & TD; Adams 1-20; Clifton 1-12.
Interceptions: None.
- Log in to post comments
