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Eastern Finals…and NORTH PENN is in!!! Dreams do come true. Way back in January when winter workouts started, this group of young men from North Penn had a dream of getting to Hershey to play for a STATE TITLE. The reality is close, and with a win this Saturday vs. Bethlehem Liberty, these athletes will have a chance to etch themselves into football history.
North Penn gets to move on because they played a great game vs. a tough physical Neshaminy team. What a game! Two heavyweights with the district’s top two coaches (Mark Schmidt and Dick Beck) slugging it out. The game started with Neshaminy taking the opening kickoff and going 13 plays only to settle for a field goal attempt that went wide left (big mistake not scoring). As I had stated in my previous blog, I felt Neshaminy had to convert on all its drives because NP was just too explosive.
North Penn took a 7-0 lead into halftime (thanks to Ronnie Akins incredible 42-yard run off left tackle). You could sense that Neshaminy had to make something happen fast because NP has owned the second half this year. Taking the second half kickoff, NP drove the length of the field (converting on fourth down) with Tyler Smith scoring from one yard out.
The play of the game occurred on the next series when Neshaminy (down 14-0) faced with a fourth and long one from their own 29 went for it (30 wedge) and got stuffed. Tough call by Coach Schmidt, but as I said on the air on WNPV, I would have also gone for the first down at that point in the game. Coach Schmidt’s thinking was “I need a first down now, or I’m punting and given NP a fairly short field down by 14 pts.” After the stop, North Penn drove in from the 29 with Akins breaking off left tackle to score from the 10-yard line. GAME, SET, MATCH.
Down 21–0, Neshaminy had to open it up, and North Penn’s fast D-line chased, sacked and harassed QB Brian Titus time after time. North Penn added a fourth score on a perfectly thrown fade pass from QB Justin Davey to ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Ronnie Akins. Akins finished the night with 145 rushing on 14 carries (2 TDs) and two catches for another TD! What a night for Akins and the Knights. One more win to get to the SHOW!
As for Neshaminy…this team can hold their heads up very high. Great season (one of Schmidt best coaching jobs)...and as I stated on the WNPV broadcast, ‘They fought till the end.’ This is a team with some key players coming back with QB-Titus, RB-Bryan Dean, OG’s- Isaac Bailey and Nick DiDonato, WR-Rick Brebner, LBer Corey Majors and a host of others. This NP and Neshaminy rivalry continues to grow, and you can bet the house that these two teams will meet many more times in the playoffs.
THE EASTERN FINALS…As I predicted back in early October, I saw a North Penn vs. Bethlehem Liberty Eastern Final. It’s now here…Saturday Dec. 6, 1 p.m., at Coatesville High School’s Red Raider Stadium. This has all the makings of a classic championship game. Here’s the breakdown:
NORTH PENN is on a roll and very healthy. The Knights’ defensive and offensive lines have improved, and they have some of the top skill players in the state. Except for a lapse here and there (and who plays a perfect game?), NP has gotten better each week and has steamrolled teams in the second half of games.
Beck is doing a great job calling the shots on game day and has this group of North Penn players very focused. With its multiple offensive formations, NP is very hard to match up with defensively. Let them leverage or out-man you at the point of attack, and their backs are off to the races. Stack the line of scrimmage, and Beck pulls a play action out of his hat. Take away one play, and the QB will keep or bootleg to the edge. JUST LOADED OFFENSIVELY.
Defensively, I keep thinking they look vulnerable, but they are fast and angle and scheme to the tendency so well that they get great penetration. Add in the fact they run multiple “D’s” to keep you off balance. Throw in great cover guys in the secondary (coached by Jim Williams), and you have the making of a dominating defense. Plus as former ‘D-coordinator’ - it’s much easier to be calling “D’s” when you’re up two, three, four scores. ‘Bend but don’t break’ sounds awfully good.
LIBERTY is a tough physical team. They have great size and good team speed. I’ve seen them four times this year, and they just find ways to win. OFFENSIVELY, QB Anthony Gonzalez is one tough sucker!!! He takes and delivers more shots running the football in one game than most QB’s take in half a season. He’s a playmaker both running and passing the ball. Big-Time D-1 prospect that bides time with his feet when passing (strong arm) and will scamper for 20 quick yards if you don’t spy him. I have this feeling that he will be at his best this Saturday afternoon.
Running back Brandon Brader is a nice back who is tough and quick and has played great as the year progressed. The area that is dear to my heart - the “O” line - is very impressive. They have improved as the year has progressed, and they now hold the trump card to a possible Liberty victory. Led by Christian Rodriguez and Levi Brown, these six guys will need to turn this into a street fight. The receivers, led by Devin Street (blazing speed) and Knight (great hands), will be tested by NP’s great secondary. The outcome of this battle (one of many) will also play a huge role in the game.
DEFENSIVELY, Liberty brings tons of tough, strong players who can run. Many times vs. George Washing, there was an opening in the line or the back got to the edge only to be gang tackled quickly. Secondary-wise, Liberty plays mostly cover two with some three sprinkled vs. loaded sets. The Liberty defense will be THE deciding factor in its game plan to win vs. North Penn. Last game, North Penn ran the ball very successfully, and that will need to be addressed if Liberty is to get to Hershey.
THE RESULTS…The way I see it! Wow…two very tough teams with great head coaches and fine staffs that have had phenomenal years. Only one will get to the SHOW, and that will be decided by which staff comes up with the best GAME PLAN for this week. How will North Penn and Liberty defend each other?? Both face the best offenses they have seen this year. They played each other early in the season, and both moved the ball. What adjustments will each make on the defensive side (How do we slow down North Penn’s running game? or How do we contain Gonzalez and Street?). This will be crucial for both teams but more so for Liberty. North Penn’s offense is like a Ferrari…150 MPH at all times.
On Offense, which staff will gain knowledge from watching film as to any weakness of their opponent’s defense? THEY ARE THERE...but will they be attacked or “let’s just do what we’ve done all year attitude?” That may not get it done…and there’s no tomorrow.
The GAME PLAN will be crucial if this game is close and goes deep into the second half. That being said my opinion is that North Penn will WIN this game going away in the second half. I see a battle in the first half as each team’s offense tests and probes the other’s defense. In the second half, I see a faster, more skilled North Penn team taking control on both sides of the ball. Could I see Liberty pulling a victory out? YES, but they would have to play a much better game than I’ve seen vs. NP (first game), BECA and GW. On offense, they have shown great explosion at times but have been very inconsistent with drives. Also, they continue to turn the ball over which is a killer at this level of games. EVERY DRIVE WILL BE OF THE UPMOST IMPORTANCE IN THE GAME FOR LIBERTY. On defense, Liberty has many fine players and will have to bring its “A” game to stop the top running attack in the state…no easy feat. The game plan will be crucial for Liberty’s “D”. I see a NORTH PENN VICTORY…say 28-21. I do think this game will be fun to watch!!!!
READERS QUESTIONS!!!!
Kathy D. from Lansdale…Coach, I listen to the games on WNPV, and I enjoy your insight. Where do you think Akins, Smith, Davey and Taggart will go to college? Will they all get scholarships?
Kathy, thanks for the compliment on the WNPV broadcast. I’m enjoying my time there and learning each week. As for the great players you mentioned from NP, that’s a very good question. Big-time colleges that offer scholarships recruit nationally, so it’s very hard to get a full scholarship offer. Akins will have many high level D-1 offers when the season is over. Smith (very special) will be a D1 AA kid (scholarship or non-scholarship) who will make some team very happy. Davey and Taggart are great high school players who will be heavily recruited from D-2 to D-3 schools. They will be stars of those teams and will have great careers. As I said before, if a player wants to play college football, there is a level and a school for him.
William and Tonya W….Coach Carey, our grandson plays for Quakertown and they return many good players. How do you see the Continental Division stacking up next year? Who are the favorites? How will Q-town fare next year?
Will and Tonya, great question as the league is loaded with very good young players coming back next season. Quakertown will be very good, but I’d still put North Penn (which just re-loads) at the top. I see 1) North Penn 2) Quakertown 3) Souderton 4) Pennridge at the top in that order!
Ronnie G., Warminster…Coach, we miss you on the sidelines. Why are they moving this week’s championship game from Tennent to Coatesville?
Ron, thanks, I also miss the sidelines! As to what I’m hearing concerning the game change to Coatesville, it’s all about $$$$$$. Coatesville will put 3-4,000 more people in the stands. Multiple that by $6 admission = $24,000.00. Does that answer your question!!!
Jeff A. from Doylestown…Coach, what’s the word on the CB West job? Any clue?
Jeff, you D-town people are tough!! This is the million dollar question buzzing around Doylestown. The names I hear are B. Hensel (CB South), J. Schmidt (Wissahickon), the offensive coordinator from Episcopal, the coach from Cherry Hill High School and a few others. Interviews to start in the middle of December. This is a huge hiring for the school. They need someone who has energy, knowledge, is a communicator and has a passion to teach winning football. Stay tuned!
That’s it for now!! Until next week….keep the hits coming! There’s no game in America like high school football.
COACH CAREY