Reporter/Times Herald Area Week 14 Football Previews

North Penn goes for its eighth district title Friday night when the Knights take on Coatesville in the District 1-6A Final at Pennridge’s Helman Field.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The top-seeded Knights come into this one a perfect 13-0, fresh off a 35-21 win over Downingtown West. Second-seeded Coatesville is also 13-0, coming off a 42-7 rout of Garnet Valley.
The winner of this contest heads to the state semifinals against Harrisburg.
Both rushing attacks are on a roll, in what is a matchup of the last two district champs — North Penn in 2016 and Coatesville a year ago.
The Knights’ Shamar Edwards ran for a whopping 318 yards last week, along with three touchdowns. He also played a pivotal role on defense, intercepting a pass and also breaking up another pass that led to a crucial interception.
R.J. Macnamara has also been key on both sides of the ball for the Knights, getting into the backfield to stop runners for losses while also contributing to the Knights’ robust ground attack. He reached the end zone twice last week.
The North Penn defense was dominant in the first two rounds against Ridley and Neshaminy and then came up with key takeaways last week.
Now comes the biggest challenge.
Aaron Young racked up 227 yards on 20 carries last week for the Red Raiders, who put the game into the mercy rule by the fourth quarter against previously-unbeaten Garnet Valley.
Quarterback Ricky Ortega showed his versatility by weaving 57 yards to the end zone, breaking at least four tackles along the way.
History, meanwhile, is on the side of the Knights.
North Penn is 3-0 against Coatesville in the postseason: 27-13 in the District 1-4A Quarters; 31-0 in the District 1-6A First Round; and most recently, 42-25 in the 2016 District 1-6A Semis.
The Knights own an overall 4-2 series edge over Coatesville.
The Red Raiders won the first meeting between the two back in 1992, 19-3, and then Coatesville won again in 1993, 28-7. Since then, it’s been all Knights: a 38-20 victory in 2001 followed by three playoff victories over the Red Raiders.

District 1-6A Final
(2) Coatesville at (1) North Penn
Time/Place: 7 p.m. Friday, Pennridge High School.
Records: Coatesville is 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the Ches-Mont National Division. North Penn is 13-0 overall and 6-0 in the SOL Continental.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey and @khunter10.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast on the radio on WNPV 98.5 FM/1440 AM.
Last Week: The Knights rallied past Downingtown West, 35-21. The Red Raiders rolled, 42-7 over Garnet Valley.
Up Next: The winner advances to next week’s state semifinal against Harrisburg.
Last Meeting: The Knights earned a 42-25 victory over the Red Raiders in the district semis in 2016.
Playoff History: North Penn and Coatesville have met three previous times in the postseason — all wins by NP. The first came in 2005, a 27-13 decision in the District 1-4A Quarterfinals. Next came 2013, a 31-0 shutout by the Knights in the first round of the District 1-6A Tournament, and the other came in 2016, a 42-25 win by NP in the District 1-6A Semis.
Players to Watch: North Penn’s Shamar Edwards ran for an astounding 318 yards last week and also scored three touchdowns. R.J. Macnamara added a pair of scores on the ground for the Knights. Coatesville counters with Aaron Young, who gashed the Garnet Valley defense for 227 yards on 20 carries last week.
Prediction: North Penn 35, Coatesville 34.

District 1-5A Final
(5) West Chester Rustin at (2) Upper Dublin
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Dublin.
Records: Rustin is 10-2 overall and 5-0 in the Ches-Mont American. Upper Dublin is 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the SOL American.
On Twitter: @emor09 and @ADRobinson3.
Last Week: The Golden Knights squeezed by Penn Wood, 10-8. Upper Dublin won big, 40-7 over Unionville.
Up Next: The winner advances to the state semifinals against Manheim Central or Cocalico.
Players to Watch: Lucas Roselli scored on an 88-yard touchdown run for the Cardinals last week to send them on their way. Quarterback Will Pileggi can air it out for Rustin.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 28, Rustin 22.

PIAA-5A State Quarterfinal
Hollidaysburg vs. Archbishop Wood
Time/Place: Friday, 2 p.m., at Milton Hershey High School.
Records: Hollidaysburg is 9-4 overall. Wood is 9-3 overall and 4-2 in the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division.
Last Week: The Golden Tigers blanked Wallenpaupack, 31-0. Wood advanced with a 57-6 thumping of Simon Gratz.
Up Next: The winner moves on to the state semis against either West Allegheny or Penn Hills.
Players to Watch: Hollidaysburg quarterback Brady Walters got hot last week throwing the football, and he also picked up key gains with his legs. Wood quarterback Jack Colyar threw for four touchdowns last week.
Prediction: Wood 31, Hollidaysburg 17.