North Penn gunning for 3-0 start against Pennsbury
Some familiar guests come to Crawford Stadium Friday night as North Penn plays host to rival Pennsbury in a non-conference clash under the lights.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
North Penn comes into this one with plenty of momentum, 2-0 after consecutive wins over La Salle and Downingtown East.
The Knights scored a total of 56 points in the two victories.
“I love it,” wide receiver Justis Henley said of the attack, following the victory over the Cougars last week. “Explosive.”
Henley has been a speedy and reliable target for quarterback Reece Udinski, the two hooking up a total of six times last week for 142 yards and a score. Henley has 166 receiving hards thus far, with Udinski throwing for 471 yards in the two victories.
North Penn also had a big offensive night in Week One against La Salle, which in turn shut out Pennsbury last week, by the count of 28-0.
It is a young Pennsbury squad in 2016, the team returning only three starters from a year ago. The Falcons are running a spread offense under first-year coach Dan McShane, and the team squeezed out a 10-6 win over Frankford in Week One before falling to the Explorers in Week Two.
The offense, with a lot of new pieces and in a new scheme, is still settling in. Nasan Robbins — a quick, shifty runner — has been getting the majority of the carries, with Zach DeMartis taking over under center.
A Falcons defense that includes free safety Tyrone Hodges has played tough, keying the opening-day win and almost coming up with a goal-line stand last week against La Salle.
The Falcons will need a monumental effort from the defense on Friday night against high-scoring North Penn, as the Falcon pass attack is still finding its way — Pennsbury had just four completed passes last week and six first downs for the game.
Pennsbury looks to avoid a 1-2 start while North Penn is aiming for a 3-0 mark heading into its conference schedule.
It’s a rivalry that goes back years, with the Knights holding a 16-14 edge in the series.
But it’s also a rivalry that has been rather one-sided for some time, despite some pretty tight contests. North Penn has won 15 in a row over the Falcons, including a 10-0 record in 14-plus seasons under coach Dick Beck. The Knights earned a pair of postseason victories over the Falcons during that span, in 2011 and 2013.
Pennsbury’s last victory over North Penn came back in 1996, a 28-27 decision in overtime.
Top Photo: North Penn’s Ricky Johns tries to get through a hole before the Downingtown East defense plugs it during their game on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
