Mention Friday night’s District One AAAA showdown against Ridley to members of North Penn’s football squad, and there’s no mistaking the respect the Knights’ next opponent commands.
There’s also no mistaking where they believe the game will be won and lost.
“Ridley is an amazing team, especially its defense,” said senior J.D. Dzurko, who anchors the Knights’ offensive line. “I have seen them on film, and they are a very good team and will definitely be our toughest challenge yet.
“I think the key will be – we have to be tougher than they are. We have to get lower and play harder. There’s no just getting around these kids. They’re not pushovers. They’ll fly to the ball, they’ll beat you and do whatever it takes. We just have to play our best game of the year, put together everything we learned and come out Friday night and kick some butt.”“Watching film, we have a lot of respect for them,” said senior Tyler Scherer, who is also a member of the ‘O’ line. “I know the job I have to get done is stop their D-tackles, who have great angles, stay low and seem like they’re very good players.
“If we can control their D-line, then we’re going to be able to control the game, I think.”
Controlling Ridley’s defensive line will be no easy task for the Knights. Defense, it seems, has been a trademark of the Green Raiders under renowned defensive coordinator Ralph Batty, and this year is certainly no exception.
The Green Raiders boast five shutouts and have allowed an average of just 7.5 points a game. In the second round of the district playoffs, they demolished a Unionville squad that sent Pennsbury home for the season 37-0.
Those are the kind of numbers that command respect.
“The key will be how our offensive line shows up against their defense,” junior offensive lineman Will Kye said. “Their linebackers are very good, and their D-line is very fast and physical. We have to show up and play our hearts out.”
Which is exactly what the Knights have done week in and week out en route to a perfect 13-0 mark, and if the Green Raiders – the district’s seventh seeded squad – entertain thoughts of upsetting the top-ranked Knights, they will have to stop a high-powered Knight offense that has scored 116 points in three playoff games.
Leading the offensive attack is junior running back Craig Needhammer, who has 1,458 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns. He also has 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterback Todd Smolinsky also has been outstanding. The senior field general has completed 65 percent of his passes (105-of-161) for 1,574 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also has accumulated 531 yards on the ground.
Dom Taggart has excelled at wide receiver, hauling in 32 passes for 533 yards and five touchdowns. He also has 272 rushing yards and five touchdowns. T.J. Gill has 22 receptions for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore tight end Ralphie Reeves has 15 receptions for 280 yards and five touchdowns.
On the other side of the football, the Green Raiders have some dangerous offensive weapons of their own. Topping the list is quarterback Colin Masterson, who has thrown for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. His favorite target is wide receiver Dion Shaw, who has surpassed the 500-yard mark. Running backs Jalen Randolph and Shahaid Smith also pose a threat out of the backfield.
In the last meeting between the two schools in the 2006 district semifinals, Ridley defeated North Penn 21-17. The Green Raiders won the district title in 2007, but the Knights captured the crown last season.
The Knights will be playing for their fifth district title of the decade.
“It’s been great,” Scherer said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more. It’s been my dream ever since I started watching North Penn football as a young kid.”
If there are those who are surprised to find the Knights playing for a district crown on Friday night, don’t count the players in that number.
“I knew we lost a lot of starters, but we’re the North Penn Knights,” Kye said. “We’re going to be able to push ourselves.
“I don’t feel as though we have any limitations. We’ll go as far as we work. How bad we want it is how far we’ll get.”
Kick-off for Friday’s district title showdown between North Penn and Ridley is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Coatesville High School.
*North Penn stats are courtesy of The Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier-Times.
On the air…
Friday night’s District One AAAA title game between North Penn and Ridley will be broadcast live on WNVP 1440 AM and on the internet at www.wnpv1440.com, beginning at 7 p.m.
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