North Penn opened SOL National Conference play with an impressive 47-22 win over Pennridge Friday.
By Scott Huff
North Penn (2-2, 1-0) opened its Suburban One League National Conference schedule with a 47-22 victory over visiting Pennridge (3-1, 0-1) – and it all depended on which side of Crawford Stadium you watched the game from as to how you felt the game was decided.
A Knight fan would revel in the defense’s ability to turn the ball over three times with fumble recoveries – and how the NP offense would make Pennridge pay dearly for the miscues by cashing in on some big plays. And those North Penn special teams were indeed special by scoring on a 91-yard kickoff return.
“I was very happy with the way that we were able to create turnovers and then turn them into points,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck. “And I feel good about our kick return game.”
A Ram fan would shudder at the three unforced fumbles by the offense – and the inability of the defense to stop the big North Penn plays. And those Pennridge special teams were far from special.
“All of the fumbles we lost were significant fumbles,” said Pennridge head coach Jeff Hollenbach. “The team that wins the turnover number almost always wins the game. Not to take anything away from North Penn, but we did a good job of beating ourselves tonight.
“I really believe that we are a good football team,” added Hollenbach. “I reminded the kids that in 1998 I coached against Mike Pettine Jr. down here and we lost 20-19. And then we won 10 in a row. We have a lot of good football ahead of us.”
“Pennridge is a good football team,” said Beck. “They are going to win games in this league – no question.”
But not tonight – not against an opportunistic North Penn team that opened the season 1-2 that included lopsided losses to Catholic League powers La Salle and Archbishop Wood.
“We’re 1-0 in our league, and that’s all we can think about,” said North Penn captain Mike Liddy – who scored on a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. “Coach Beck just wants us to go out and play smash-mouth football. And we did that tonight.”
Pennridge got on the scoreboard first on a short drive that covered 34 yards on four plays. DeVon Balmer capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown keeper, and Ethan Aigeldinger added the PAT to give the Rams a 7-0 lead with 8:18 left in the quarter.
The lead would last 10 seconds as sophomore Elgin Horton burned the Rams’ kickoff coverage team for a 91-yard return along the North Penn’s sideline for a touchdown. Senior Matt Ammendola – who was extremely impressive all night – knotted the score with his placement.
The first costly fumble for the Rams came on the ensuing series as NP defensive end Keith Earle recovered a fumble. Three plays later junior Nyfeese West scored on a 1-yard burst and Ammendola added the PAT to present to Knight with a 14-7 lead.
The North Penn offense – which had really not done too much to this point – made its mark early in the second period. Junior quarterback Jake Bevan – making his first start of the season – drilled Earle on a gorgeous 57-yard scoring touchdown to boost the score to 20-7.
Pennridge answered with a punishing 12-play drive that began and the Rams’ 25-yard line and ended on the Knights’ 22-yard line with a their second fumble – again recovered by Earle.
And again, North Penn struck quickly with its big-play offense. Junior Nick Isabella bolted 40 yards – Bevan darted 22 yards – Deion Robinson added eight yards – and Ammendola booted a 26-yard field goal with 0:13 left in the half to expand the lead to 23-7.
Pennridge opened the second half with a hurry-up offense that was very efficient. The Rams put together an impressive 17-play scoring drive that covered 91 yards with Balmer again earning scoring honors – this time with a one-yard run. After a North Penn penalty – PHS went for the two-point conversion with Joe Unangst collecting the twin digits to slice the lead to 23-15.
Unangst finished the contest with a game-high 124 yards on 21 carries.
North Penn again struck quickly. Robinson returned the ensuing kickoff 44-yards – Bevan found Liddy for a 30-yard pass completion – and would later find senior Colby Beck wide open in the back of the end zone for the touchdown. Ammendola’s PAT boosted the lead to 30-15.
Pennridge, though, would not go away. The Rams pieced together a 10-play scoring drive that covered 72 yards. Unangst snared a 10-yard scoring pass from Balmer, and Aigeldinger’s PAT made it a one-score game at 30-22.
North Penn again had the answer. A couple of costly Pennridge 15-yard penalties fueled a Knight drive that ended on the 27-yard line. Ammendola proved once more that he is one of the finest kickers in the state as he blasted a perfect 40-yard field goal that had plenty of leg left over to give the Knights a 33-22 advantage.
North Penn would stick the dagger in the Rams late in the fourth period with two more touchdowns.
Liddy scooped up still another Pennridge fumble and rambled 17 yards for the score – and in the final moments Isabella scored on a 23-yard run to make the score final at 47-22.
“We saw some good things,” said Beck. “But we still have things that need to be fixed.”
The same could have been said by Coach Hollenbach.
Pennridge Rams 7 0 8 7 – 22
North Penn Knights 14 9 7 17 – 47
P: DeVon Balmer 2 run (Ethan Aigeldinger kick)
NP: Elgin Horton 91 kick off return (Matt Ammendola kick)
NP: Nyfeese West 1 run (Ammendola kick)
NP: Keith Earle 57 pass from Jake Bevan (kick failed)
NP: Ammendola 26 FG
P: Balmer 1 run (Joe Unganst run)
NP: Colby Beck 6 pass from Bevan (Ammendola kick)
P: Unganst 10 pass from Balmer (Aigendinger kick)
NP: Ammendola 40 FG
NP: Mike Liddy 17 fumble return (Ammendola kick)
NP: Nick Isabella 23 run (Ammendola kick)
Pennridge Rams North Penn Knights
20 First Downs 12
214 Rushing Yards 184
79 Passing Yards 104
293 Total Offense 288
6-65 Penalties / Yards 5-50
2-39 Punts / Average 1-33
Pennridge:
Rushing: Joe Unangst 21-124; DeVon Balmer 13-26 & 2 TD; Nick Hirsch 9-23; Matt Firuta 2-11; Imeier Simmons 6-11; Blake Schoenmeirer 1-10; Ryan Gordon 1-9; and Jordan Garis 1-0. Totals 54-214-& 2 TD.
Passing: Balmer 9-15-0; 79 yards & TD.
Receiving: Garis 3-45; Unangst 5-22 & TD; Ian Mosser 1-12. Totals 9-79 & TD.
North Penn:
Rushing: Nick Isabella 7-84 & TD; Nyfeese West 10-57 & TD; Jake Bevan 6-21; Justin Ostopowicz 4-15; and Deion Robinson 1-8. Totals 28-184 & 2 TD.
Passing: Bevan 5-8-0; 104 & 2 TD; Justin Henley 0-1-0; 0. Totals 5-9-104 & 2 TD.
Receiving: Keith Earle 1-57 & TD; Mike Liddy 1-30; Henley 2-11; and Colby Beck 1-6 & TD.
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