MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN!!!! Two left! North Penn vs. Neshaminy, Schmidt vs. Beck. May the best team win. This is the game that we’ve been waiting for since the season started. I have felt all along that if Neshaminy kept improving (they did!) they would end up meeting North Penn in the District final.
Wow, there are so many variables that will come into play during this game to be held this Friday night on William Tennent’s new turf field at 7 p.m. The winner plays in the Eastern Finals (vs. Beth Liberty) with the next step getting to the SHOW --- the State Final. I had the chance to broadcast North Penn’s victory over Downingtown West, and I’ve watch the Neshaminy’s win over Garnet Valley on film now going on “three times.”
This will be an interesting game with coaching playing a HUGE ROLE as Beck and Schmidt try to put their players in the best positions to WIN. Both coaches will have their scouting reports out early to their teams and depend heavily on past tendencies. Then there is the sheer physical aspect of Neshaminy’s size and strength vs. North Penn’s speed and skill. Most people that I talk to see a “BIG” NORTH PENN win, but I think it’s going to be a close hard-fought game. There are many factors and scenarios, but in the end, the team that plays the BEST “D” will emerge victorious.
Here’s my assessment of the two teams, what their strengths and weakness are and who I feel will win the game. As a sub-note, I have seen Neshaminy one time live and four times on film. North Penn seven times live and one on film. I know both head coaches well (the top two in District One) and have witnessed each get the best of the other in previous games.
NORTH PENN-------advantages over NESHAMNY
QUARTERBACK- Justin Davey is dual threat who is calm and smart. He will kill you with his feet and had a great year throwing the ball (70 percent completions). Must be accounted for!!
RUNNING BACKS - Tyler Smith and Ronnie Akins. I hesitate putting Akins in this category, but he can do it all. Best combo of power and speed I’ve seen since his brother Kevin Akins (NP ‘03) and Jamar Brittingham (Neshaminy ‘01). Then there’s Tyler Smith who is amazing. Over 1,500 yards rushing and gets so much on his own after breaking through the line of scrimmage. Speed, multi-moves, great hands = Tyler Smith.
RECEIVING – Ronnie Akins and Tyler Smith. Give Akins a cushion when he splits out, and you’re playing Russian roulette. Quick wams or stop passes, and now you have a 6’ 1” stud RB “one on one” with your ‘D’ back. NOT MANY CAN TACKLE AKINS “one on one” in the open field. Roll up and he blows by you. Pick your poison. How Neshaminy handles Akins when he splits or flanks out could win or lose the game for them. Tyler Smith and screen passes are synonymous!
DEFENSIVE TEAM SPEED – NP has blazing team speed on “D” that makes up for a lack of size. North Penn runs everyone down, but it will be interesting to see how they fare vs. the power running attack of Neshaminy.
KICKING GAME - Brian McManus, who just committed to Temple, is the top kicker in the state. Usually kicks the ball into the end zone on kickoffs and has great hang time on his punts (although inconsistent on punts). Major weapon for the Knights. Great range on field goals. His three field goals were the difference in the Liberty win for NP
NESHAMINY--------- advantages over NORTH PENN
OFFENSIVE LINE – The best “O” line in District One led by Rutgers recruit 6’3’ 255 lbs, TE Paul Carrezola, Tackles - Dan Wenclewicz (6’1” 285) and Dan Shirey (6’ 3” 275), Guards – Issac Bailey (6’ 245) and Nick DiDonato (5’10” 245) and center John Zavorski (6’3” 266). They pave the way for a trio of backs that run hard and have speed. If Neshaminy is to win the game, this ‘O’ line must completely dominate the front seven of North Penn. Keep the North Penn offense off the field and MUST SCORE EVERY TIME THEY HAVE THE BALL. This is their hope!DEFENSIVE LINE – Very strong physically with Jay Colbert (6’2” 225) and Carrezola at the ends and Nick Shaffer(6’2” 255) and Shirey at the defensive tackles in Neshaminy’s 44 cover ‘3’ defense. This “D” line, like the offensive line, must take total control over North Penn “O” line and pursue to the ball like madmen. Expect Neshaminy to also roll up into their 6-2 front, but this could be dangerous if North Penn creases the eight-man box (good-bye!)
THE GAME – “How I see it”
I’ve thought long and hard on this one, and you surely have two contrasting styles competing against each other. North Penn with the quick-strike capability and Neshaminy with the long, grind-it-out style. As a former coach, I really miss the game planning and plotting that goes a long way towards victory. With that being said, the Neshaminy vs. NP game plan formulated by Coach Schmidt and Coach Beck will determine who wins this game. I honestly think North Penn has advantages in many areas, and if Beck’s game plan is right and THE BOYS EXECUTE IT…..LIGHTS OUT FOR THE REDSKINS.
On the other hand, if Schmidt has the right game plan “on both sides of the ball,” then Neshaminy has a great chance to win. Coaching is always the separator in high school football over the course of a season, but the bigger the game, the more the perspective head coaches have to be on their “A” games. It’s NO SECRET WHAT EACH TEAM HAS TO DO TO WIN. Can’t wait to see the chess match between these two fine coaches. These are the top teams, and it’s only fitting that they meet in the District final after not playing each other because of league realignment.
My final pick – NORTH PENN over NESHAMINY….. In the end NP just has too much speed for the Neshaminy “D.” They get to the corner and in “open spaces,” and Akins has a field day with the Redskins’ corners that play too far off. Neshaminy puts together some nice drives, but the “bend not break” defense of NP rises up and gives the ball back to the offense. Good for NP…bad for Neshaminy. In the end, North Penn prevails and moves on to the Eastern Finals.
On another note ……THANKS TO ALL for the e-mails, phone calls and texts expressing how much you enjoyed the Pettine interview. I passed many on to coach Pettine. We appreciate it. Until next week…keep the hits coming! There’s no game in America like high school football.
COACH CAREY
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