North Penn, CB East, CB West & Plymouth Whitemarsh were winners in Friday’s opening round of the District 1 6A Tournament. North Penn/Pennridge photos courtesy of Brad Jenkins, Plymouth Whitemarsh/Owen J Roberts photos courtesy of Michael Rice Photography, Upper Moreland/WC Henderson photos courtesy of Richard Owens, and CB South/Coatesville photos courtesy of Jenn McDonald. Check back for photo galleries.
District 1 6A opening round
#14 NORTH PENN 38, #3 PENNRIDGE 21
(Game stats provided courtesy of Pennridge football)
North Penn was undoubtedly the last team Pennridge wanted to see across the bracket when the District 1 6A Tournament released its final seedings.
Forget the fact that the Knights – battling one injury after another – stumbled into the playoffs with losses in three of their last four regular season games. It didn’t matter that the Rams had defeated the Knights 20-8 four weeks earlier.
North Penn is invariably a dangerous playoff opponent, and the Knights – the defending District 1 6A champions – proved as much with Friday night’s upset of the third-seeded Rams, delivering one big play after another and bearing absolutely no resemblance to the team that was outscored 71-20 in its three-game losing streak.
How could a Knights’ team that looked as though it barely had a pulse deliver such a scintillating performance?
“I would say we have a bunch of kids that are really close friends,” North Penn coach Dick Beck said. “It’s exciting for them. They stick up for each other. They persevere. They support each other when things are bad. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine, but these kids like spending time together. They love playing football.”
There were heroes galore for the Knights.
Quarterback London Evans led the charge, completing 9 of 13 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
“He played great, absolutely,” Beck said of his senior QB.
Sal Colella had 13 carries for 118 yards and a touchdown and also threw for one TD while Zyon Smith had 13 carries for 69 yards and also had an interception.
“Sal did a great job getting positive yards every time, and Zyon was very explosive,” Beck said.
Duke Horgan had three receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown while Wil Rittenhouse had five receptions for 81 yards and three touchdowns.
All of this against a Pennridge defense that had allowed double-digit points just three times in 10 games and only once allowed more than 11, and that came in their final regular season game, a 21-14 loss to Central Bucks South.
Beck and the Knights, however, had a winning game plan and executed it to perfection.
“Their safety, number seven, Sean Leuthe, was awesome the last time we played them,” Beck said. “He was coming downhill, making tackles at the line of scrimmage. He was so aggressive. I thought we had to attack the middle of field with anything to slow him down, because he just kept making almost every tackle.
“The game plan was to go fast and try to make him play a little more honest. I think when we started to beat them down deep in the middle of the field, then that started opening up the running game a little bit.”
The Knights got on the scoreboard first when Matthew Kasitz split the uprights with a 33-yard field goal, and their lead grew to 10-0 after Colella – on the halfback option, connected with Rittenhouse on a three-yard touchdown.
Pennridge had an immediate answer with Michael Ferguson delivering an electrifying 93-yard return on the ensuing kickoff to make it a 10-7 game at the end of one quarter. 
Any thoughts that the tide had turned the Rams’ favor were put to rest when Rittenhouse hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone late in the second quarter, capping a 95-yard drive and sending the Knights into halftime with a 17-7 advantage.
“I think Wil Rittenhouse high points the ball better than anybody,” Beck said. “(Evans) threw a couple of balls up high, and he made great catches on them. That touchdown at the end of the first half was gold. That was big. He just threw it up, and Wil just went up for the ball and got it.”
Late in the third quarter, Duke Horgan – never breaking stride – caught a highlight reel 62-yard touchdown pass from Evans that put the Knights on top 24-7.
Pennridge had an answer when Trevor Picciotti, in a standout individual effort, scored on a 19-yard touchdown run. The Rams’ two-point attempt came up short, and the Knights led 24-13 heading into the final quarter.
The Knights had yet another highlight reel play when Rittenhouse reached up an hauled in a high pass for a 42-yard touchdown that put the Knights on top 31-13.
“The first time we played them, we were missing two offensive linemen,” Beck said. “We were missing our best defensive player, Jamal Bell, who is great on the offensive line and the defensive line. He played really well tonight. I thought our O-line had, by far, their best night.”
Comprising the offensive line that gave Evans all kinds of time were Bell, Charles Ashley, Kris Way, Rogelio Vasquez-Gonzalez, Jaden Johnson, Tycho Beuters, Xavier Higdon and fullback Nick Augustine.
Pennridge made it a 31-21 game after quarterback Aiden Tetkowski connected with Bradley Dornon on a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Two minutes later, Colello put an exclamation mark on the win, shedding one would-be tackler after another on a 52-yard touchdown run for the 38-21 final.
For the game, the Knights amassed 437 total yards – 253 through the air with an average of 16.9 yards per pass play. 
Beck acknowledged the standout defensive effort of corner Richard Grant. The Knights, who were still without Rylei Gray, were also missing their leading tackler, middle linebacker Jacob Garrett, as well as Tyler McGonagle.
“I’m very proud,” Beck said. “I didn’t expect to score this many points, but I thought we had a chance. The coaches got together, and I thought a couple of coaches made some great comments about where we needed to attack, and they were right on. It was a total team effort and coaching staff effort, without a doubt.”
The Rams were led on the ground by Piciotti’s 97 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Matt Schafer had 31 yards on five carries. Tetkowski threw for 101 yards and one touchdown.
Up next: North Penn (6-5, 3-4 SOL) will travel to the winner of the #6 Downingtown West/#11 Council Rock South in Friday’s second round. Pennridge (9-2, 6-1) will travel to Quakertown for the annual Thanksgiving Day game on Nov. 26.
North Penn 10-7-7-14 38
Pennridge 7-0-6-8 21
#2 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 56, #15 PERKIOMEN VALLEY 42
The Bucks’ offense was all but unstoppable in Friday night’s district opener, but despite their offensive prowess, they could not put the game out of reach from a Viking squad – that although it never seriously threatened – did not go down quietly, putting up 42 points against a strong West defense.
“I knew coming in they were going to be an incredible test,” West coach Rob Rowan said of the Vikings. “That team finished 4-7 after tonight. That’s the best 4-7 team you’re ever going to find. They are very, very talented, very well coached, and they’re tough. You’re not going to find 4-7 teams that look like that often.”
In a preview of things to come, the Knights put a pair of touchdowns on the board in the opening quarter. A 51-yard run by Baylen Cape set up the game’s first touchdown – a two-yard run by Cape.
Three minutes later Nick Miletto took it to the house from 41 yards out, and the Bucks led 14-0. The Vikings cut that lead in half with a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
West answered with another touchdown drive, this one also featuring a whole lot of Cape – who had a pair of 21-yard runs, setting the stage for a two-yard touchdown by quarterback Josh George. A 33-yard touchdown pass from George to Louie Cipollo put the Bucks on top 28-7, but the Vikings answered with a touchdown to pull to within 28-14.
The Bucks still had time for one last touchdown drive, and George found Cape in stride with a 36-yard touchdown strike that sent West into halftime with a 35-14 lead.
The scoring slowed down considerably in a third quarter that saw the two teams exchange touchdowns. West back-up quarterback Ethan Stoneback scored on a three-yard run to cap a drive that included runs of 27 and 10 yards by Miletto.
After the Vikings made it a 42-28 game, Miletto scored on the first play from scrimmage on the Bucks’ very next drive, outrunning every PV defender on an 80-yard touchdown run that put West on top 49-28.
Rowan was not surprised by his team’s relentless effort on offense.
“These are things we preach, we practice,” the West coach said. “These are things that we believe. From an identity standpoint, these characteristics are who we want to be and who we are.
“So, I’m not surprised when these things happen because, like I said, this is stuff that we preach and practice on a consistent basis. Those guys are really talented football players, and I give them so much credit for how hard they play in every facet.”
Again, PV answered with a TD that made it a 49-35 game, still plenty of time for one more touchdown for each side with Miletto capping the West scoring with a one-yard touchdown for the 56-42 final.
“We’re certainly pleased with our offensive execution in all phases, the run game, the pass game,” Rowan said. “Anytime you put 56 points up against a very good football team, obviously you’re executing offensively at a high level, so we’re certainly proud of that.”
The veteran coach went on to credit his coaching staff.
“Our offensive coordinator called a phenomenal game,” Rowan said of Jim Gehringer. “The guys he works with on a consistent bases – our O-line coaches, our tight end coach, our receivers coach, our running backs coach – it’s a collective effort to be able to execute like that and put up 56 points in a playoff game.
“I don’t know what the statistics are , but the past six weeks there’s been a lot of points that have been put up on the offensive side of the ball, and he’s done a phenomenal job of just getting our guys in the right places.”
Up next: Central Bucks West will face archrival Central Bucks East in an All-SOL second round game next Friday. For his part, Rowan is focusing on his squad.
“It’s about us and our preparation,” he said. “I respect their program tremendously. We’ll get back to work and focus on the things we need to get better at.
“Playoff football – everybody’s 0-0. Right now, we’re 0-0 going into next week. That’s our mentality, and our whole focus will be going 1-0 and preparing to be our best when it matters most.”
Perkiomen Valley 0-14-7-21 42
Central Bucks West 14-21-7-14 56
#10 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 28, #7 RIDLEY 7
Roll back the calendar to August 28.
The date of the first game of the fall football season, and the Patriots were on the road at Ridley and fell to the Green Raiders 28-7. Just over two months later, they were back in an opening round game of districts with an opportunity for redemption.
The Patriots seized the moment, controlling play from the outset on their way to the decisive win.
“One of our coaches here, Tim Barno, was saying for weeks it just seemed like it was lining up this way, and sure enough it did,” East coach John Donnelly said. “It’s a much more enjoyable ride home tonight than it was week one.”
The win also put this year’s squad in the program record books.
“It’s been twenty-one years since East has won a playoff game, and this is only the second win in program history of a playoff game,” Donnelly said. “We’ve been in the playoffs six times in the last 11 years, but we did not advance. That was one of our goals this year, to earn a playoff berth and then to advance.
“We’re in the elite eight now. It’s District One football. I think we’re battle tested coming out of the National Conference. We’ve got five teams that were part of the 16-team field, so I know that our competition has gotten us battle ready.”
Mike Price was the catalyst on offense for the Patriots, scoring three touchdowns – two on the ground and one in the air. Hunter Pulford threw for two TDs. Owen Metzger also accounted for a touchdown.
Price put the Patriots on the scoreboard with a TD run in the first quarter. He also was part of East’s second quarter touchdown – this one on a short pass from Pulford that sent the Patriots into halftime with a 14-0 advantage.
In the third quarter, Pulford connected with Metzger on a touchdown pass, and the Patriots led 28-0 in the fourth quarter after Price punched it in for his second TD run.
Ridley’s lone score came with 35 seconds remaining in regulation.
“Mike Price had some serious yardage on the ground,” Donnelly said. “The O-line did a great job, just surging all night. And Hunter Pulford made some big plays on defense.”
Pulford, it turns out, rarely leaves the field, playing a pivotal role on defense at middle linebacker.
“That’s what we’ve had the last three years – Dan Vogleson, Logan Simpkiss, and now Hunter Pulford,” Donnelly said of a linebacker going behind center. “He’s just doing a phenomenal job. There’s probably not many, if any, kids in the state that are doing that, and he’s doing it at a pretty high level. I thought he was outstanding tonight”
Donnelly was not surprised by his team’s standout performance in the second meeting between the two schools.
“We’re a different team,” he said. “We won four of the last five games. I think we’re playing really good football right now.
“We also had three starters that did not play in that game for a variety of reasons. We had all of our bullets in the chamber tonight. I think we really came out and asserted ourselves in the trenches on both sides, and it was a great win for the program.”
Donnelly credited the play of several players.
“Liam Hoey is first-team all-league linebacker,” the East coach said. “He is a tough son of the gun, and he made some plays tonight.
“The D-line, I thought, held up and made some plays. On the back end, our secondary. Tommy Seiler, Yaroslav Yevlantyev and Asher Green – those three guys did a good job on the back end. A lot of pass breakups, some near picks.
“It was just a great, great win for the program. The sheer joy and elation on their faces was priceless. They knew that we had an opportunity here to make some history, and we did.
“Our conference is so tough, it’s difficult to get into the field. The last couple years, we’ve been just on the outside looking in, the seventeen seed. That’s happened to us like three or four times.
“We’re not just happy to get into the field. Obviously, everybody’s goal is to advance—but our kids just really understood the magnitude of it. They wanted to be part of history, and I’m so happy that they were able to notch the win.”
Up next: Central Bucks East will travel across town to take on #3 Central Bucks West in a battle of the sister schools next Friday in a second round contest.
Central Bucks East 7-7-7-7. 28
Ridley 0-0-0-7 7
#5 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 59, #12 OWEN J ROBERTS 31
(Game stats provided courtesy of PW football)
The Colonials’ offense was working on all cylinders, and the visiting Wildcats didn’t stand a chance.
For the game, the Colonials had just 25 passing yards, but their punishing ground game accumulated 432 yards on 41 carries. 
“I thought right from the start our offensive line was dominant tonight,” PW coach Dan Chang said. “Those guys were moving people and opening up some big holes, and our backs ran really hard, made guys miss, and we were really productive on the ground.”
Comprising the Colonials’ standout offensive line were Jack Jingoli, Colin Calvanes, Max Montemayor, Brody Amplo and Liam Ward.
“Our tight end Chase Tadeo, our wing James Cain, and our receiver Max Peterson were all really big in blocking,” Chang said. “Offensively, I thought we were firing on all cylinders in the run game.”
Aiden Orensky jumpstarted the PW offense with a 17-yard touchdown run, and after the Wildcats put a field goal on the scoreboard, Orensky was back at it – this time scoring on a 44-yard run. OJR briefly kept themselves in the game with a touchdown that made it a 14-10 game, but Orensky brought an abrupt end to any Wildcat celebration when he ran the ensuing kickoff back 92 yards for a touchdown and a 21-10 advantage.
“Orensky was electric tonight,” Chang said. “He had eight carries for 167 yards and three touchdowns and a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.”
The second quarter was more of the same for the Colonials. Mike Giangiulio had a 50-yard touchdown run, and then Orensky had his third rushing touchdown – this one for 33 yards. Giangiulio’s five-yard touchdown sent PW into halftime with a 42-10 lead, putting the mercy rule in effect for the second half.
In the second half, Giangiulio had a one-yard touchdown run, James Cain contributed a 12-yard TD run, and Max Peterson nailed a 37-yard field goal.
Giangiulio led the Colonials’ ground game with 194 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
Up next: Plymouth Whitemarsh will travel to #4 Spring-Ford for Friday’s second round contest.
Owen J Roberts 10-0-14-7 31
Plymouth Whitemarsh 21-21-14-3 59
#9 COATEVILLE 35, #8 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 26
(Check back for a game recap)
The Titans knew they would have their hands full against a strong Coatesville squad. They battled but came up short and saw their successful season come to an end.|
“Tonight was a disappointing loss,” South coach John Cataldo said. “Once you get to playoffs, only one team will end their season with a win.
“Football is about a lot more than wins and losses. The mental strength this team showed this year and their ability to overcome adversity will serve them well far beyond football. When they look back, despite all they went through, they can call themselves champions. I am incredibly proud of the kids, and my fellow coaches for this season.”
Central Bucks South closed out its season with a 6-5 overall record. The Titans were 6-1 in the SOL, capturing a share of the National Conference crown.
#4 SPRING-FORD 42, #13 QUAKERTOWN 28
The Panthers battled gamely, pulling within a touchdown late but coming up short in their bid for an upset.
It was a 14-7 game after one quarter with Gavin Handschmucher scoring on a four-yard run to account for the Panthers’ score.
The Rams took a 28-7 lead into halftime, but the Panthers battled back.
In the third quarter, a 37-yard touchdown pass from Carter Tucholski to Dominic Ferrugio made it a 35-14 game, and with two second remaining in the quarter, Tucholski scored on an 11-yard run, pulling the Panthers to within 35-21.
Things got real interesting when Daimon Lowande-Richardson took it in from eight yards to make it a one-score game, 35-28, with 6:37 remaining.
The Rams responded with a touchdown, and the Panthers came up short, but they showed their mettle with a gutsy comeback attempt.
Quakertown (6-5, 5-1 SOL) is off until Thanksgiving Day when the Panthers will host Pennridge.
#1 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 42, HARRY S TRUMAN 12
Class 5A
#11 UNIONVILLE 21, #6 WISSAHICKON
(Game info courtesy of Andrew Robinson X: @ADRobinson3)
The Trojans came up just short in Friday’s district opener.
Wiss led 7-0 after Ryan Kim scored on a 10-yard run. Unionville knotted the score early in the second quarter, but the Trojans went back on top when Evan Dixon scored on a seven-yard run that sent Wiss into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
That turned out to be the Trojans’ last hurrah as Unionville rallied with a pair of second half TDs to eke out the win.
Wissahickon closed out its season with an 8-3 record (4-1 SOL).
Unionville 0-7-0-14 21
Wissahickon 7-7-0-0 14
#12 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 34, #5 UPPER MORELAND 14
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