Reporter/Times Herald Football: Top seed North Penn opens 6A playoffs vs. Ridley
The North Penn football team’s District 1 postseason begins with a shift in its starting point.
With rainy conditions expected Friday, the top-seeded Knights’ Class 6A first-round game with No. 16 Ridley has moved for Crawford Stadium to the turf at Wissahickon. Kickoff is still set for 7 p.m. Winner advances to face either No. 8 Neshaminy or No. 9 Haverford in the quarterfinals.
North Penn is one of three unbeaten sides in the 6A field — defending champ No. 2 Coatesville and No. 3 Garnet Valley the others still chasing perfection — and heads into the postseason 10-0 for the fifth time under coach Dick Beck. Three of those teams (2003, 2008, 2016) won the district championship while Ridley handed the 2009 squad its lone loss with a 19-10 victory in the District 1-4A title games.
That was the last contest between the Knights and Raiders (6-4), who met four times in the postseason between 2002 and ‘09. North Penn won the first two games in ‘02 and ‘03 but Ridley comes into Friday holding a two-game winning streak over the North Penn, beating NP in the 2006 4A semifinals then in the 2009 final.
After missing districts last season, Ridley began this year 0-4 against a tough opening slate — Father Judge, Garnet Valley, Springfield-Delco and Radnor — but the Raiders have not lost since, entering Friday’s matchup on a six-game winning streak. The Raiders’ last two victories have come against 6A tournament qualifiers — beating No. 13 Upper Darby 32-14 in Week 9 then last Friday edging Haverford 31-28 thanks to a field goal with 1:41 remaining.
Ridley racked up 356 yards on the ground against the Fords last week, Elijah Yakpasuo leading the way with 157 yards on 18 carries while quarterback Jack Bakey carried the ball 24 times for 120 yards.
North Penn, which is 15-1 in playoff openers under Beck, capped its regular season scoring a season high in points, rolling past William Tennent 56-14 last Friday. And while the Knights start the postseason coming off a easy victory, they have tested plenty of times in 2018, including winning a pair of double-overtime contests against district qualifiers Neshaminy (34-33 in Week 1) and Council Rock South (27-24 in Week 6).
Against Tennent, Shamar Edwards eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the fifth time this season, posting 138 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries, Seniors Edwards and Julian White lead a NP rushing attack that averages 236.1 yards per contest — Edwards leading the team with 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns with White collecting 601 yards and 14 TDs. Senior Jon Haynes is the Knights’ top threat in the passing game, hauling in 19 catches for 386 yards and four touchdowns.
(16) Ridley at (1) North Penn (District 1-6A First Round)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Wissahickon High School.
Records: Ridley is 6-4 (6-3 Central League). North Penn is 10-0 (6-0 Suburban One League Continental Conference).
On Twitter: @khunter10.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast on the radio on WNPV 98.5 FM/1440 AM.
Last Week: North Penn wrapped up its second unbeaten regular season in three years with a 56-14 win over William Tennent last Friday. Ridley used a late field goal to beat Haverford 31-28 last Friday for its sixth straight win.
Last Meeting: The Knights and Green Raiders last met in the 2009 District 1-4A final with Ridley claiming a 19-10 win.
Postseason History: Ridley last made districts in 2016, reaching the 6A quarterfinals before losing to Coatesville 41-21. North Penn lost to Garnet Valley 36-35 in the last season’s District 1-6A quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Elijah Yakpasuo and quarterback Jack Bakey both went over the century mark on the ground last week – 157 for Yakpasuo while Bakey posted 120. North Penn’s Shamar Edwards ran for 136 yards and two scores against William Tennent and leads the Knights with 1,127 yards and 11 TDs on 150 carries in 2018.
Prediction: North Penn 27, Ridley 16.
(11) Quakertown at (6) Perkiomen Valley (District 1-6A First Round)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Thomas J. Keenan Stadium, Perkiomen Valley High School.
Records: Quakertown is 8-2 (4-2 SOL American). Perkiomen Valley is 8-2 (5-0 PAC Liberty Division).
Last Week: Quakertown won its third straight, topping Kennett 15-13 for a non-league victory last Friday. Perkiomen Valley claimed its third straight PAC championship with a 35-17 win over Pottsgrove in the league title game last Friday.
Postseason History: Both Quakertown and Perk Valley were shutout by Pennridge in last season’s District 1-6A tournament – the Panthers falling 24-0 in the first round while PV lost 25-0 in the quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Christian Patrick and Michael Terra pace the Panthers on the ground. PV quarterback Cole Peterlin comes into the playoffs having thrown for 1,366 yards and 17 TDs.
Prediction: Perkiomen Valley 21, Quakertown 10.
(10) Downingtown East at (7) Spring-Ford (District 1-6A First Round)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Coach McNally Stadium, Spring-Ford High School.
Records: Downingtown East is 8-2 (4-2 Ches-Mont American Division). Spring-Ford is 8-2 (4-1 PAC Liberty).
Last Week: Spring-Ford earned a 42-21 win over Pope John Paul II last Friday. Downingtown East lost to unbeaten Coatesville 42-7 last Friday.
Postseason History: East advanced to last year’s District 1-6A quarterfinals before losing to eventual champ Coatesville 61-42. Spring-Ford lost to Neshaminy 42-21 in District 1-6A first round last season.
Players to Watch: Garvey Jonassaint and Zach Hamilton lead the Cougars’ rushing attack. Spring-Ford quarterback Ryan Engro leads an offense that averages 34.2 points per game.
Prediction: Downingtown East 30, Spring-Ford 28.
(15) Phoenixville at (2) Upper Dublin (District 1-5A First Round)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Cardinal Stadium, Upper Dublin High School.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: Phoenixville is 4-6 (1-4 PAC Frontier). Upper Dublin is 8-1 (6-0 SOL American).
Last Week: Phoenixville defeated Methacton 14-7 last Friday. Upper Dublin cruised past Upper Moreland 43-6 last Friday for a fifth win in a row.
Postseason History: Phoenixville is back in the postseason for the first time since 2013 when it lost to Pottsgrove 49-7 in the District 1-3A quarterfinals. Upper Dublin advance to last season’s District 1-5A semifinals before falling to Springfield-Delco 17-6.
Players to Watch: Alex Washington paces the Phantoms’s rushing attack. UD quarterback Mike Slivka threw for 142 yards and two scores against Upper Moreland. He has 1,223 yards and 14 TDs passing this year.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 35, Phoenixville 12.
(9) Interboro at (8) Upper Merion (District 1-5A First Round)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Upper Merion High School.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: Interboro is 5-5 (3-2 Del Val League). Upper Merion is 6-4 (3-2 PAC Frontier).
Last Week: Interboro picked up a third straight win last Friday, besting Glen Mills 41-6. Upper Merion avenged a 21-0 Week 4 loss to Owen J. Roberts by edging the Wildcats 29-27 last Friday.
Postseason History: The Bucs lost to Pottsgrove 33-8 in last year’s District 1-4A semifinals. The Vikings are making their first postseason appearance since 2004 when they won the District 1-3A title before falling to Berwick in the state quarterfinals.
Players to Watch: Interboro running back Michael Moore posted 135 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the win over Glen Mills. UM’s Zaire Savage combined for 138 yards (70 rushing, 68 receiving) and two touchdowns in the OJR win last week.
Prediction: Upper Merion 23, Interboro 21.
(3) Father Judge at (2) La Salle (PCL-6A Semifinals)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
On Twitter: @AlexWahlReport.
Records: Father Judge is 2-7 (1-4 PCL Red). La Salle is 4-5 (3-2 PCL Red).
Last Week: Father Judge lost its second straight, falling to Archbishop Wood 31-14 last Friday. La Salle topped Roman Catholic 26-14 last Friday.
Last Meeting: The Explorers rolled past Judge 55-20 in Week 7 this season.
Postseason History: Judge lost to St. Joseph’s Prep 41-7 in last season’s PCL-6A semifinals. La Salle lost to St. Joseph’s Prep in the last year’s PCL-6A final 17-3.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Sean Daley leads La Salle on the ground with 612 yards and eight touchdowns. Daly has also thrown for 650 yards and six scores. Judge QB Shane Dooley has 1,569 yards and 15 TDs passing and 511 yards and nine TDs rushing.
Prediction: La Salle 41, Father Judge 17.
Germantown Academy at Malvern Prep
Time/Place: 1 p.m. Saturday, Malvern Prep.
Records: Germantown Academy is 6-2 1-2 Inter-Ac). Malvern Prep is 9-0 (3-0 Inter-Ac).
Last Week: GA lost to Episcopal Academy 29-7 last Friday. Malvern defeated Haverford School 38-20 last Friday.
Last Meeting: Malvern claimed a 28-7 victory over the Patriots in Week 11 last year.
Players to Watch: Junior Trae Vance leads GA in rushing with 883 yards and nine TDs on 142 carries. Malvern’s defense is lead by linebacker Keith Maguire, a Clemson commit, while Friars QB Drew Gunther had thrown for 1,852 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Prediction: Malvern Prep 30, Germantown Academy 20.
(3) New Hope-Solebury at (2) Pope John Paul II (District 1/12-3A Semifinals)
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Saturday, Conshohocken A Field.
Records: New Hope-Solebury is 8-2 (5-0 Bicentennial Athletic League). Pope John Paul II is 8-2 (4-1 PAC Frontier)
Last Week: New Hope-Solebury claimed the outright BAL title by blanking Morrisville 41-0 last Friday. It was the Lions’ second straight shutout in seventh consecutive victory. PJP II’s three-game win streak was snapped last Friday in a 42-21 loss to Spring-Ford.
Last Meeting: Visiting PJP II handed the Lions the season’s first loss in Week 2, the Golden Panthers scoring all of their points in the second half of a 39-27 win.
Postseason History: New Hope-Solebury lost to Conwell-Egan 42-14 in last year’s District 1/12-3A semifinals. PJP II lost to Upper Perkiomen 28-21 in last season’s District 1-4A semifinals.
Players to Watch: New Hope-Solebury tight end Patrick Cooney has caught 42 passes for 732 yards and 10 touchdowns. Quarterback Kamal Gray is PJP’s top playmaker.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 34, New Hope-Solebury 28.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Bonnner & Prendergast (PCL-4A Semifinal)
Time/Place: 1 p.m. Sunday, Cardinal O’Hara High School.
Records: Archbishop Carroll is 4-5 (PCL Blue Division). Bonner & Prendergast is 3-7 (1-6 PCL Blue).
Last Week: Archbishop Carroll lost to Bishop McDevitt 28-14 last Friday. Bonner & Prendergast was shut out by West Catholic 41-0 last Friday.
Last Meeting: Bonner & Prendie erased a 20-7 second-half deficit to earn its first PCL Blue victory in Week 8, a late two-point conversion giving the Friars a 21-10 win over Carroll.
Postseason History: Bonner lost to Cardinal O’Hara 42-7 in last year’s PCL-4A final. Carroll fell to Archbishop Ryan 21-20 in last season’s PCL-5A semifinal.
Players to Watch: Carroll QB Russell Minor-Shaw has thrown for 1,051 yards and 18 touchdowns – 10 going to Koran Butler. Charles Ingram leads the Friars in rushing (524 yards, five TDs on 93 carries) and has a team-high 18 catches for 122 yards.
Prediction: Archbishop Carroll 28, Bonner & Prendergast 24.
