North Penn gives St. Joseph’s Prep all it can handle in PIAA 6A semifinals
PHILADELPHIA >> North Penn gave everything it had and tried to give more.
“That was something, man, that was something,” the Knights’ Jake Hubler said of the epic state semifinal that he and his teammates had just battled through on Saturday evening at the Northeast Supersite. “That was crazy.
“It was nerve-racking, but we had it. We had it — it was right there. We just couldn’t finish. We played really hard. I’m proud of all the guys. We left it all out there. We tried our best. We had them 28-25 and just let up that last score.”
The Knights and Hawks gave the crowd of thousands — and many more watching across the state — quite a show, with St. Joe’s prevailing 35-25 to move onto the state final against Pittsburgh Central Catholic, as the Hawks go for their third state title in four years.
But North Penn very nearly made its third trip to the big game in Hershey, leading 17-14 early in the fourth quarter and battling to within three points and driving for a go-ahead score late in the fourth.
#FOOTBALL: 6:27 4Q @SJPrep_Sports 28, @KnightsLoyalty 25. @ReeceUdinski to @NickDillon22 37 TD Pass. Udinski to Johns on 2 point conversion pic.twitter.com/cMalZ1H1M0
— Mike Cabrey (@mpcabrey) December 4, 2016
Quarterback Reece Udinski completed 19 passes to seven different targets, including Hubler (2-30), one of five senior captains along with Udinski, wide receiver Ricky Johns (6-86, TD), Dan Drop and Nick Vasger.
“It’s been an experience,” Hubler said of the season, which included 14 victories, a Suburban One League Continental Conference crown as well as the program’s seventh District One title. “We couldn’t make it to the state championship but I made it this far with my brothers. And that’s all I could ask for.”
Wild finish
The fourth quarter turned into a carnival of big plays.
Every possession in the fourth either ended with a score, a fourth-down stop, or a crucial takeaway as the Hawks were able to squeeze out a victory.
On the third play of the final quarter, D’Andre Swift scored from 27 yards out and then — following a fourth-down stand by the defense — Swift scored again from 12 yards out to push the St. Joe’s lead to 28-17.
North Penn then used an eight-play drive to slice the margin to 28-25, with Udinski hitting Nick Dillon for a 37-yard touchdown on a screen pass, followed by a two-point throw to Johns.
The North Penn defense came up with a fourth-down stop of its own, taking over at its own 40, and then the Knights moved quickly downfield until a fumble — the fourth takeaway St. Joe’s forced on the night — ended the drive.
Swift scored his fourth touchdown of the night to wrap things up.
Udinski rallies Knights
The Hawks’ secondary forced Udinski into an uncharacteristic three interceptions, but the Knights’ senior QB definitely had his moments.
On a 3rd-and-11 at the North Penn 43, Udinski escaped a blitz, then fired a strike downfield to Johns, who out-jumped his defender to come down with a 27-yard reception.
On the next play, Udinski lofted a bull’s eye to the left corner of the end zone, hitting Justis Henley for a 30-yard score and a 14-14 tie.
Kelly Macnamara’s 29-yard field goal gave the Knights a 17-14 lead late in the third. St. Joe’s moved ahead but North Penn battled until the end, driving for what it hoped was a go-ahead score in the final minutes.
“I hope everyone remembers how we just laid it on the line,” coach Dick Beck said.
Top Photo: North Penn’s Ricky Johns tries to turn up field past St. Joseph’s Prep’s Ricky Goodson and DeJuan Dandridge during their PIAA Class 6A semifinal on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)
