To view WNPV's video preview of Saturday's North Penn versus La Salle showdown, click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/videos/all/137
By Scott Huff
If one was to listen closely enough, the faint echo that came from the North Penn sideline after the Knights lost to La Salle – 27-14 – in the season opener sounded exactly like Arnold Schwarzenegger in The Terminator.
“I’ll be back!”
And North Penn is back – and so is La Salle for that matter – as the Knights and Explorers will battle each other in the PIAA Quad-A Eastern Final championship game to be played at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School on Saturday at 1 pm.
Last Week:
North Penn (13-1) won its 13th consecutive game of the season with a surprising 42-6 rout over Neshaminy (12-2). The Knights turned the PIAA Quad-A Eastern Semifinal contest into a ‘mercy-rule’ game with a 35-0 lead early in the second half.
North Penn featured both a big play offense and a big play defense in the victory.
Knight safety Gerard Wendowski intercepted a pair of passes for NP to set up ‘short-field’ touchdowns, while linebacker Matt Donovan did the same with his pick.
North Penn running back Brandon Mercer scored a pair of touchdowns with a spectacular 49-yard TD burst and a five-yard TD scamper on a fourth down call.
Senior running back Craig Needhammer jetted for a 54-yard touchdown dash and collected 105 yards on just four carries.
La Salle (12-1) followed up its bye week with a come-from-behind 19-7 win over Easton (12-3). The Explorers represented District 12, while the Red Rovers represented District 11 in the PIAA Quad-A Eastern Semifinal game.
La Salle trailed its game against Easton - 7-3 - at the half and needed a huge defensive play to seal the win.
With the Red Rovers driving for a potential game-winning touchdown, Jamal Abdur-Rahman intercepted a pass late in the game with the Explorers clinging to a 13-7 lead and returned it for a 37-yard touchdown.
Abdur-Rahman was the leading rusher in the game with 106 yards on 17 carries. Ryan Winslow kicked a pair of field goals for the Explorers of 32 and 26 yards. Quarterback Matt Magarity scored on a one-yard run.
La Salle has now won 11 straight games. The lone loss of the season for the Explorers came against Bergen Catholic (New Jersey) – 22-21.
In the huddle:
North Penn senior running back/safety Craig Needhammer is just a little bit excited for the rematch with La Salle.“We are remember what it felt like walking off that field the first week of the season,” said Needhammer. “We know that we didn’t play well that night, and to get a second chance adds a little fuel to the fire.”
Needhammer actually played linebacker in that first meeting against the Explorers. And North Penn head coach Dick Beck attributes the Needhammer move to safety as a huge plus to the Knight defensive success.
“I love to play defense, it actually is more fun than playing offense,” said Needhammer. “Anything that gets me to stay on the field is great. I’m all for it.
“We know that La Salle is a good football team, and if we want to beat them we are going to have to be able to go out and do our thing,” added Needhammer. “We have to go full speed for the entire game.”
And Needhammer will play all of those 48 minutes.
La Salle senior running back/defensive back Jamal Abdur-Rahman is just a little bit excited about the rematch with North Penn.“We look at the game as another step on the way to Hershey,” said Abdur-Rahman in reference to the PIAA Quad-A State title game next Saturday at Hersheypark Arena. “This is a big game for us - we need to gain some respect with a win. If we lose this game, the game we won the first week will mean nothing.”
Abdur-Rahman played the first game of the season at far less than 100 percent. In fact, the gifted Villanova-bound ball carrier rushed for a meager 25 yards on just nine carries.
Not only can you expect much more from Abdur-Rahman on the offensive side of the ball, Jamal has become a terrific defensive back as well.
“I take a lot of pride in being a complete football player,” said Abdur-Rahman. “You can make plays on both sides of the ball.”
And Abdur-Rahman will have 48 minutes to make those plays.
Coach Speak:
North Penn head coach Dick Beck knows that the teams the squared off in September are not the same teams that will battle for a PIAA Quad-A Eastern Final championship this time around.
“I know that we are a lot better, but so are they,” said Beck. “We have a feel for what they are going to do, and we are going to have to contend with some excellent athletes.
“Both teams have been though the wars this year,” added Beck. “This is absolutely the most talented team we have played this year.”
La Salle head coach Drew Gordon also knows that the teams that squared off in September are not the same teams that will battle for a PIAA Quad-A Eastern Final championship this time around.
“If North Penn plays like they did (against Neshaminy), I don’t know if anyone can play with them,” Gordon was quoted as saying. “That was execution in every aspect of the game.
“They ran downhill and played the game at full speed,” added Gordon. “If we play like we played in the first half (against Easton), we don’t have a chance.”
Tale of the Tape – North Penn vs. La Salle
Who? North Penn (Suburban One League) vs. La Salle (Philadelphia Catholic League)
What? PIAA Quad-A Eastern Final
Where? Colonial Stadium – Plymouth Whitemarsh High School – Plymouth Meeting.
When? Saturday (12/11/10) – 1 pm
Records:
North Penn – 13-1 - [.929]
La Salle – 12-1 – [.923]
Offensive Scoring:
North Penn – 504 – [35.7]
La Salle – 436 – [33.5]
Defensive Points Allowed:
North Penn – 190 – [13.6]
La Salle – 111 – [8.5]
Individual Stats:
North Penn Rushing: Craig Needhammer 186 carries / 1348 yards / 16 touchdowns; Dominic Taggart 144 / 959 / 15; Brandon Mercer 40 / 438 / 6.
La Salle Rushing: Jamal Abdur-Rahman 175 carries / 1482 yards / 25 touchdowns; Tim Wade 80 / 386 / 4; Kevin Forester 56 / 336 / 4.
North Penn Passing: Corey Ernst 115 completions / 1772 yards / 21 touchdowns.
La Salle Passing: Matt Magarity 63 completions / 905 yards / 11 touchdowns. (*note: Magarity missed four games this season*)
North Penn Receiving: Dominic Taggart 31 receptions / 595 yards / 8 touchdowns; Brandon Mercer 21 / 352 / 3; Gerard Wendowski 28 / 314 / 6.
La Salle Receiving: Sean Coleman 22 / 351 / 6; Jamal Abdur-Rahman 20 / 257 / 1; Colin Buckely 15 / 204 / 5.
*******PREDICTION: NORTH PENN 24 – LA SALLE 17]*******
The Western PIAA Quad-A Finals will feature North Allegheny (13-1) vs. Cumberland Valley (12-2).
The Tigers and the Eagles will meet this Saturday – 1 pm – at Mansion Park in Altoona.
North Allegheny advanced to the western final with a 21-6 victory over State College (7-7). Vinnie Congedo rushed for a game-high 142 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns for the Tigers. Quarterback Mike Buchert rushed for 62 yards and passed for an additional 89 yards.
Cumberland Valley rolled to a 35-7 ‘mercy-rule’ victory over Red Lion (10-4) to advance to the Western Final. Running back Mike Gray and quarterback Tanner Klinefelter led the Eagles to the win.
*******[PREDICTION: NORTH ALLEGHENY 21 – CUMBERLAND VALLEY 20]*******
The Facts – and only the facts – NP-LA SALLE Game One
September 3, 2010 – Crawford Stadium
La Salle 0 6 21 0 - 27
North Penn 0 14 0 0 - 14
NP: Dominic Taggart 15 run (Brandon Mandes kick)
LaS: Sean Coleman 24 pass from Matt Magarity (kick failed)
NP: Taggart 2 run (Mendes kick)
LaS: Coleman 38 pass from Magarity (Ryan Winslow kick)
LaS: Colin Buckley 20 pass from Magarity (Winslow kick)
LaS: Magarity 1 run (Winslow kick)
La Salle North Penn
15 First Downs 13
104 Rush Yards 200
201 Pass Yards 78
305 Total Offense 278
2-24 Punts/Avg 1-28
3-30 Pen/Yards 6-60
La Salle Explorers
Rushing: Tim Wade 12-74; Jamal Abdul-Rahman 9-25; Matt Magarity 5-5 & TD. Totals: 26-104 & TD.
Passing: Magarity 13-22-1, 201 yards & 3 TD.
Receiving: Sean Coleman 5-114 & 2 TD; Mike Piscopo 2-43; Colin Buckley 2-35 & TD; Kevin Forester 1-20; Wade 1 (minus 4); Abdul-Rahman 2 (minus 4). Totals 13-201 & 3 TD.
Interceptions: Connor Reilly; Ryan Otis.
North Penn Knights
Rushing: Craig Needhammer 18-110; Dominic Taggart 9-51 & 2 TD; Ralphie Reeves 3-13; Corey Ernst 7-11; Ryan Hessenius 3-10; Brandon Mercer 3-5. Totals 43-200 & 2 TD.
Passing: Ernst 8-16-2, 78 yards.
Receiving: Reeves 3-37; Gerard Wendowski 3-25; Needhammer 2-16. Totals 8-78.
Interceptions: Mercer
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