North Penn aims to reach 5-0 in SOL Continental battle with Pennridge
North Penn goes for a perfect 5-0 at the midway point of the regular season while Pennridge aims for its biggest win of the fall thus far when the two teams meet under the lights Friday in a Suburban One League Continental Conference clash at Crawford Stadium.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Both teams were victorious last week in their SOL Continental openers, with the Knights putting together an overwhelming performance, routing previously-unbeaten Central Bucks West, 48-20, and with Pennridge dominating the second half in its 38-10 win over Souderton Area.
North Penn’s offense has been rolling in 2016, averaging 35 points per game and giving opposing defenses too many weapons to worry about.
Last week, quarterback Reece Udinski connected with wide receiver Ricky Johns three times for scores, and running back Nick Dillon added a TD — Dillon is averaging a robust eight yards per carry for the Knights.
Udinski is also off to quite a start, completing 62 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 9-to-2.
Pennridge’s defense, keyed by middle linebacker Nick Tarburton, who led an inspired performance last week, will try to slow down the Knights at Crawford.
Offensively, the Rams have versatile quarterback Jagger Hartshorn, who has already rushed for 554 yards this fall with seven touchdowns. He’s thrown for 381 yards — four TD’s, two interceptions — and last week against Big Red, Hartshorn scored a touchdown rushing, receiving and also throwing.
The Rams (2-2) began the season with a win at Norristown before falling to Neshaminy and Perk Valley and then getting things back under control with a win over Souderton.
It’s the 82nd meeting between these two programs, with North Penn holding a 47-31-3 edge. The Knights have won three in a row against the Rams, with Pennridge’s last victory coming back in 2012, the last time NP didn’t reach the playoffs. The Rams went to the district semifinals that fall.
Since then, it’s been all North Penn, including last year’s 31-7 victory in Week Four.
The first meeting between the two came back in 1930, as what was then Lansdale High School and Sell-Perk battled to a 0-0 tie in the second week of the regular season.
Top Photo: North Penn’s Ricky Johns runs for a touchdown after grabbing Reece Udinski’s pass over the middle during the game against Central Bucks West on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
