North Penn defeated Neshaminy in a classic battle between the SOL rivals. To view action photos of the game, visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
“The greatest achievement is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall” – Vince Lombardi
North Penn seniors Dan Gevirtz and Danny Wynne fell hard during the host Knights 21-7 victory over Neshaminy in their PIAA Quad-A District One playoff game. But both rose from the slippery Crawford Stadium turf and made key plays to send the Big Blue to a district semi-final match against Pennsbury next week.
Pennsbury will make the trek to North Penn after shocking Coatesville – 42-21.
Gevirtz – who cost his team valuable field position with a fumbled punt return – sliced and diced his way through a Redskin defense for 200 yards of total offense and two critical touchdowns.
“As a senior and a leader you have to put the bad plays behind you and make plays to help your team win,” said 
Gevirtz who rushed for 130 yards and a score and added seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. “We made some mistakes tonight, but we won the game and we have a chance to correct those mistakes next week.”
Wynne – who ran a great pass route but dropped what appeared to be an easy touchdown pass from quarterback Corey Ernst – cradled the game-breaking six-yard touchdown pass to seal the deal for the Knights in the fourth period.
“It was tough not making that play, but you have to be able to move forward and make the next play,” said Wynne – who also played a punishing defensive game and came up with a bone-rattling hit on Neshaminy’s Sean Ulmer on a screen pass. “To make that touchdown catch was very exciting. We needed to get that score to be able to finally put the game away.
“As seniors, you never know when it is going to be your last game,” added Wynne. “The seniors on this team have played together since we were young, and we want to keep on playing.”
“After we beat Hatboro-Horsham, we circled around the NP at midfield thinking that this was going to be our last home game,” said Gevirtz. “It was a miracle that we got this home game (due to a Knight win over West Chester Rustin and a Neshminy win over Unionville), and now it looks like we get a second miracle and get to play here again next week against Pennsbury.”
The North Penn win over Neshaminy was hard earned. The Knights and Redskins were even on the scoreboard after the first period, and NP led by just 14-7 at intermission.
“I’m proud of the team, proud of the coaches, and we were ready to go,” said Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt. “We had our opportunities – one play here – one there – and we have a chance to win the game. Defensively, we played well enough to win. Offensively, we needed to make a big play.”
The North Penn defense was suffocating as it allowed the Skins only five first downs and a scant 117 yards of total offense.
The Knights scored on their very first possession of the game with a six-play; 62 yard scoring drive. Kyle Mayfield – who rushed for 115 yards on 12 carries – highlighted the drive with a 30-yard burst up the middle of the Neshaminy defense. Ernst capped the scoring march with a gorgeous 15-yard touchdown pass to Gevirtz. Brandon Mandes was perfect on the first of his three extra points.
What proved to be the most impressive drive of the game by Neshaminy came on the ensuing drive. Ulmer – who was held in check by the swarming Knight defense with only 40 yards on 17 carries – scooted in for a four-yard touchdown run. The scoring play was run from the ‘wildcat’ formation with Justin Andrews making a pitch to Ulmer for the score. Nicholas Tucci would add the point after touchdown to knot the score at 7-7 with 2 minutes, 50 seconds left in the quarter.
Neshaminy would not score again and would manage only two first downs over the final 38 minutes and 10 seconds of the contest.
North Penn scored what proved to be the winning touchdown in the second period. Gevirtz darted through the heart of the Redskin defense for a 74-yard score. The Knights would carry the 14-7 lead into the locker room at intermission.
North Penn would ice the game in the final period on the Ernst-to-Wynne touchdown connection. The play culminated a 10-play, 77-yard touchdown march. The big play of the drive came on a 23-yard burst by Mayfield and a 15-yard scamper by Gevirtz.
Neshaminy – which started six sophomores on defense and only six seniors on both sides of the ball – will have its best days ahead of them.
“There were times when our inexperience hurt us,” said Schmidt. “But give North Penn credit, they are well prepared and are an excellent football team.”
Even when you knock them down, they get right back up – and beat you.
Neshaminy Redskins 7 0 0 0 - 7
North Penn Knights 7 7 0 7 - 21
NP: Dan Gevirtz 15 pass from Corey Ernst (Brandon Mandes kick)
N: Sean Ulmer 4 run (Nicholas Tucci kick)
NP: Gevirtz 74 run (Mandes kick)
NP: Danny Wynne 6 pass from Ernst (Mandes kick)
Neshaminy North Penn
5 First Downs 18
38 Rushing Yards 284
79 Passing Yards 142
117 Total Offense 426
8-36 Punts / Avg 4-36
Neshaminy:
Rushing: Sean Ulmer 17-40- TD; Blake Sullivan 2-7; Justin Andrews 1-4; Denny Lord 1-2; Joe Bianchino 3 (minus 15). Totals 24-38 – TD.
Passing: Joe Bianchino 6-18-1; 79 yards.
Receiving: Bobby Marterella 4-84; Ulmer 2 (minus 5).
Interceptions: Wilson
North Penn:
Rushing: Dan Gevirtz 10-130-TD; Kyle Mayfield 12-115; Ralphie Reeves 5-34; Matt Smith 2-13; Corey Ernst 6-(minus 8). Totals 35-284-TD.
Passing: Corey Ernst 13-21-1-142 yards & 2 TD.
Receiving: Dan Gevirtz 7-70 - TD; Danny Wynne 2-29-TD; Shayne Watson 2-25; Eddie Posavec 1-9; and Mike Isabella 1-9. Totals 13-142 – 2 TD.
Interception: Ralphie Reeves.
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