North Penn’s Nyfease West named The Reporter’s Football Athlete of the Year
His postseason-yardage total stretching beyond the length of seven football fields, Nyfease West was prolific, powerful, and at his best when North Penn needed him the most.
The senior running back rushed 106 times for 739 yards and five scores in the Knights’ postseason run to the District One Class AAAA Championship Game.
Chosen as The Reporter’s Athlete of the Year for high school football, West possessed a rare mix of speed, toughness and determination that helped the Knights to a very memorable 2015.
His finest performance in the playoffs came on the road at Downingtown East, as West grinded out 247 yards on 34 carries, enabling the Knights to knock off the tournament’s top seed.
His eight-yard gain in the final minutes gained one more crucial first down, locking up the 27-14 victory.
“It was very satisfying,” West said. “I’m glad we got that first down. We really wanted to put those guys away.
“(The fast start) was huge for us. Our line was firing off the ball, Izzy (Nick Isabella) had some great blocks for me and Reece (Udinski) was throwing some great balls. Our offense was firing on all cylinders.”
West’s postseason conquests also included a 115-yard performance against Unionville, as part of a 48-7 win, and 233 yards and a pair of scores against Neshaminy in a 28-7 semifinal victory.
In the Knights’ 46-21 loss to Upper Dublin in the district final, West went over the 100-yard mark again, gaining 144 yards and again reaching the end zone twice.
A tough running game is tradition at North Penn, and nothing typified that more than a thrilling 22-17 victory over Neshaminy in Week Nine of the regular season, when West rushed for 103 yards and the game-winning score on the way to a Suburban One League National Conference title for the Knights.
“We just wanted to drive it down their throats at the end,” West said. “We knew we could pass it a little bit, but our line is just incredible, man — I give all the praise to them on that.”
“Nyfease,” coach Dick Beck said, “really got his feet under him and was really running hard.”
West finished the year with 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged over seven yards per carry. Also a receiving threat, the Delware State-bound back chipped in eight catches for 80 yards, as he helped the Knights finish 11-3 overall, including a 7-0 mark in the tough SOL National.
He’s excited about what lies ahead for him at Delaware State.
“They’re really good guys,” he said of the coaching staff. “They promised a lot for the program next year, all you can ask for, and I have faith in them.”
Follow Kev Hunter on Twitter @khunter10
