5. St. Joseph’s Prep 35, North Penn 25
North Penn’s Ricky Johns tries to turn up field past Prep’s Ricky Goodson and Dejuan Dandridge Dec. 3, 2016. (Bob Raines–Digital First Media)
A crazy fourth quarter had the Knights in position to knock off the favored Knights in the PIAA Class 6A semifinals in November. 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, SJP star running back 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 Reece Udinski hitting Nick Dillon for a 37-yard touchdown on a screen pass, followed by a two-point throw to Ricky 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 before Swift dashed North Penn’s hopes with a game-sealing touchdown.
