North Penn defended its district title with a convincing 34-14 win over top-seeded Council Rock South in Friday night’s District One AAAA title game. To view game action photos, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
Plymouth Meeting - Smile!!!
North Penn can finally smile after spilling some blood on the football field at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School. The Knights (12-2) captured a convincing 34-14 victory over Council Rock South (12-2) in the PIAA District One Quad-A final. North Penn had lost its last three games played on the unlucky PW turf that included last season’s PIAA Eastern Final to La Salle (38-35) and non-conference games this season to La Salle (44-27) and St. Joseph Prep (51-33).
The Knights will meet the winner of Saturday’s Nazareth-La Salle game to determine the Eastern Final champion. That winner goes to Hershey to compete for the state title.
“What a great win – it broke the curse,” grinned North Penn senior fullback/linebacker Ralphie Reeves, who scored four touchdowns on just four carries for seven yards. “After our win over Pennsbury (in the district semifinal), I was hoping we would play anywhere else but here. I didn’t have good memories of this place. But I’ll never have a problem playing here again.”
“This place has been our kryptonite, but not any longer,” beamed senior linebacker Matt Smith who helped spearhead a Knight defense that limited the punishing Rock South running game to only a pair of second half touchdowns. “To win a district title – on this field – is an awesome feeling. I will never forget tonight.”
“To be honest, we really didn’t want to play the game here,” smiled versatile senior wideout/running back Dan Gevirtz who scored on a sensational 42-yard touchdown run that iced the win for the Knights in the fourth period. “It is really a relief to come off this field with a win.”
The offensive numbers for North Penn were far from impressive (251 yards of total offense), but the opportunistic Knight defense (three key fumble recoveries and a turnover on downs) was remarkable.
“Our goal was to play defense with fire but under control,” said North Penn senior defensive/offensive tackle Josh Cook who disrupted numerous Golden Hawk running plays. “To play against a team that runs the ball as well as Council Rock South runs its triple option, you have to play with a lot of discipline. You just have to worry about doing your job.”
“It is all about assignment football,” said Reeves, who relentlessly flew to the football from his inside linebacker post. “We were well coached for what they were going to do, and we had to just go out and execute.”
The first North Penn scoring ‘drive’ came after the Knights recovered a fumble on the Rock South seven-yard line. Smith carried on first down to the two yard line, and Reeves blasted in from there on the next snap. Brandon Mandes added the placement, and NP held a quick 7-0 lead.
The next North Penn offensive series extended the lead to 14-0. The scoring march featured a gorgeous 51-yard scamper by senior quarterback Corey Ernst on a third-and-two situation, and a 12-yard pass from Ernst to tight end Shayne Watson. Reeves culminated the drive with his second carry of the game – and second touchdown of the game – with a two-yard burst.
The Knights recovered a muffed Golden Hawk punt that set up their third and final touchdown of the first half. Ernst hit Gevirtz with a 19-yard pass play and James Fielder with an 11-yard pass connection. Reeves capped the nine-play, 49-yard drive with his third carry of the game – and his third touchdown of the game – with still another two-yard blast.
Council Rock South made its best attempt to get back into the game when they recovered a squib kick to begin the second half.
The Hawks covered the 36 yards on eight running plays to put the ball into the end zone for the first time. Anthony Alimenti earned scoring honors for Rock South with a one-yard run. Ben Solis added the point after touchdown to cut the lead to 21-7.
It would be the closest CR South would get to the eventual district champions.
North Penn’s defense came up with a huge stop and turned the ball over to the Knight offense on downs, and later in the half Gevirtz broke free for his long distance touchdown run to stretch the lead to 28-7. Gevirtz – who led the Knights with 70 yards rushing – was moved into the NP backfield after an injury (shoulder) to Kyle Mayfield.
The North Penn defense came up with still another Rock South fumble and took advantage of the short field to score its fifth rushing touchdown. Reeves culminated the short drive with his fourth carry of the game – and his fourth touchdown of the game – on a one-yard dive.
Council Rock South put the final points of the game on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The Hawks flew 60 yards on just five plays as Ryan Whiteley crashed in from the one-yard line. The highlights of the drive were two wonderful runs by quarterback Brian Donnelly – the first of 19-yards – and the second of 36 yards.
The loss ended a fantastic season for the Hawks who were the #1 seed in the bracket. And the pain etched on the faces of the Rock South players as they exited the football field at Plymouth Whitemarsh was clearly visible.
It was finally time for the North Penn players to leave the PW turf with a smile – and they did.
North Penn Knights 14 7 0 13 - 34
Council Rock South 0 0 7 7 - 14
NP: Ralphie Reeves 2 run (Brandon Mendes kick)
NP: Reeves 2 run (Mandes kick)
NP: Reeves 1 run (Mandes kick)
CRS: Anthony Alimenti 1 run (Ben Solis kick)
NP: Dan Gervitz 42 run (Mandes kick)
NP: Reeves 2 run (kick blocked)
CRS: Ryan Whiteley 1 run (Ben Solis kick)
North Penn Council Rock South
13 First Downs 10
178 Rushing Yards 188
73 Passing Yards 0
251 Total Offense 188
4-35 Punts / Avg 4-36
5-25 Penalites / Yards 1-15
North Penn -
Rushing: Dan Gevirtz 8-70 & TD; James Fielder 11-36; Kyle Mayfield 6-22; Jordan Henley 2-17; Corey Ernst 3-38; Ralphie Reeves 4-7 & 4 TD; Matt Smith 1-5; and Mike Isabella 2-3. Totals 37-154- 5 TD.
Passing: Corey Ernst 6-9-0; 73 yards.
Receiving: James Fielder 2-14; Shayne Watson 2-18; Dan Gevirtz 1-19; and Mike Isabella 1-12. Totals 6-73.
Council Rock South –
Rushing: Brian Donnelly 15-87; Anthony Alimenti 13-45 & TD; Ryan Whiteley 15-42 & TD; PJ Steinmetz 3-13; and Angelo Miller 1-1. Totals 47-188 – 2 TD.
Passing: Brian Donnelly 0-2-0; 0 yards.
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