Reporter/Times Herald Week 2 Football: North Penn goes Exploring

Two longtime rivals square off in Week Two of the high school football season, as North Penn hosts non-league foe La Salle Friday night at Crawford Stadium.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

The Knights cranked up the offense in their season opener last week, prevailing 55-34 over Neshaminy. Meanwhile. La Salle won a tight, low-scoring battle, edging Imhotep Charter 15-12.

R.J. Macnamara, a Delaware commit, battled through a hamstring injury last week and still found the end zone twice on runs for NP. Sophomore Khalani Eaton had a breakout game and then some, rushing for 280 yards and a pair of scores.

In addition, Kenneth Grandy returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in an explosive performance for the NP offense and special teams.

Evan Spann added a pair of rushing touchdowns while Grandy also hauled in a 69-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kolby Barrow in the second quarter.

“The offensive line was fantastic,” Knights coach Dick Beck would say after the victory.

Eaton’s 280 yards rushing provided most of the 432 yards the Knights collected on the ground in the win. It was the first time North Penn eclipsed 400 yards rushing since Week Three of 2018 in a win over Pennsbury.

La Salle needed some big second-half heroics in its opener.

Senior quarterback Jack Machita threw the winning touchdown pass to junior Tim Mehlmann last week for the Explorers in their victory over Imhotep.

Machita finished 9-of-16 passing for 56 yards. He added 38 more yards on the ground.

Sophomore running back Sam Brown added 43 yards on 10 carries for La Salle, including a pivotal 12-yard score with 1:45 left in the third.

North Penn won 21-13 over La Salle a year ago.

The following is a game-by-game look at the area for Week 2.

Germantown Academy at Simon Gratz
Time/Place: Friday, 2:30 p.m., Ocean City High School (N.J.).
Records: The Patriots are 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC. Gratz is 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the Philadelphia Public League, 4A.
Last Week: GA was idle. Gratz won 12-0 over Mastery North Charter.
Players to Watch: Trae Vance brings some versatility to the running back position for the Patriots. Breon Askins is a big target at tight end for Gratz.
Prediction: Germantown Academy 14, Simon Gratz 7.

Central Bucks West at Council Rock South
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Rock South.
Records: The Bucks are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL Continental. The Golden Hawks are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: West defeated Hatboro-Horsham 31-17. Rock South fell 36-13 to Cheltenham.
Players to Watch: Jack Fallon had a 64-yard run last week and is part of a strong running back group for West. Sal Mastromarco had two touchdown receptions last week for Rock South.
Prediction: Central Bucks West 27, Council Rock South 20.

Council Rock North at Wissahickon
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon.
Records: The Indians are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL National. The Trojans are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Rock North fell 41-7 to West Chester East. Wiss lost 16-10 to Penncrest.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Jack Owens, who had a short rushing touchdown last week, looks to get the Rock North offense untracked. Jalen Smalls had 97 yards and a rushing touchdown last week for Wiss.
Prediction: Wissahickon 17, Council Rock North 10.

La Salle at North Penn
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at North Penn.
On the Air: The game will be broadcast live on 1440 AM and online at wnpv1440.com.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: The Knights are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL Continental. The Explorers are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the Philadelphia Catholic League Red Division.
Last Week: North Penn won 55-34 over Neshaminy. La Salle won 15-12 over Imhotep Charter.
Players to Watch: Khalani Eaton rushed for 280 yards and a pair of scores last week for NP. Jack Machita had a clutch game under center for La Salle last week.
Prediction: North Penn 24, La Salle 17.

Methacton at Plymouth Whitemarsh
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at PW.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: The Colonials are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL American. The Warriors are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: PW won 42-20 over William Tennent. Methacton rolled, 34-6 over Harriton.
Players to Watch: Brian Dresnin ran for almost 200 yards in PW’s opener. Michael Torcini is a tough runner for Methacton.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemash 27, Methacton 19.

Norristown at Upper Merion
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Upper Merion.
Records: The Eagles are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Liberty. The Vikings are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: Norristown lost 28-13 to Upper Dublin. Upper Merion beat Lower Merion 41-7.
Players to Watch: Quarterback Nick DiNolfi got some things going late last week for Norristown. Upper Merion QB Dale Clayton looks to stay on a hot streak.
Prediction: Upper Merion 30, Norristown 16.

Pennridge at Neshaminy
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Neshaminy.
Records: The Rams are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL Continental. The Skins are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL National.
Last Week: Pennridge blanked Delaware Valley 13-0. The Skins lost 55-34 to North Penn.
Players to Watch: Connor Pleibel hauled in a 63-yard touchdown pass in Week One for the Rams. The Skins’ Ian Sheehan had a monster game last week, hauling in six passes for 220 yards.
Prediction: Pennridge 20, Neshaminy 17.

Souderton at Quakertown
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Quakertown.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: Big Red is 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL Continental. The Panthers are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the SOL American.
Last Week: Souderton won 31-18 over Pottsgrove. Quakertown lost 27-13 to Central Bucks East.
Players to Watch: Ethan Smerecki was a great target in the passing attack last week for Big Red. Matt Park is a solid linebacker for the Panthers.
Prediction: Souderton 21, Quakertown 14.

Spring-Ford at Truman
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Truman.
Records: The Tigers are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL National. The Rams are 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Liberty.
Last Week: The Tigers won 29-8 over Olney. The Rams lost 34-24 to Central Bucks South.
Players to Watch: B.J. Beard can get deep for Spring-Ford. Nadir Jones can cover a lot of ground in the secondary for Truman.
Prediction: Spring-Ford 19, Truman 18.

Lansdale Catholic vs. Penn Charter
Time/Place: Saturday, 10 a.m., at Ocean City High School (N.J.).
Records: The Crusaders are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Blue. Penn Charter is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the InterAC.
Last Week: Lansdale Catholic won 44-42 over Father Judge. Penn Charter was idle.
Players to Watch: L.J. Phillips, a 6-foot-3 presence, completed 15-of-19 passes for 339 yards and three scores last week for LC. Marc Poland II is a versatile two-way player for Penn Charter, at wide receiver and corner.
Prediction: Lansdale Catholic 20, Penn Charter 19.

New Hope Solebury at Pope John Paul II
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at PJP.
Records: New Hope is 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the BAL. PJP is 0-1 overall and 0-0 in the PAC Frontier.
Last Week: New Hope lost 21-0 to Upper Moreland. PJP fell 47-46 to Roman Catholic.
Players to Watch: Evan Davidson is a deep threat for New Hope. Kamal Gray came on strong under center for PJP last week.
Prediction: Pope John Paul II 33, New Hope 27.

Maryland Freedom (Md.) at Archbishop Wood
Time/Place: Saturday, 7 p.m., at William Tennent.
Records: The Vikings are 1-0 overall and 0-0 in the PCL Red. Freedom is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in league play.
Last Week: Archbishop Wood won 42-30 over Pope John XXIII (N.J.). Freedom was idle.
Players to Watch: Ryan DiVergilis was part of a robust running attack for Wood last week. Ethan Lewis helps anchor the lines for Freedom.
Prediction: Archbishop Wood 23, Maryland Freedom 14.