Cherradi’s 22-yard field goal gives North Penn 2OT win over CR South

NEWTOWN TWP. >> Reality was just as good as fantasy for Ayoub Cherradi.

The North Penn senior kicker could be found at the bottom of a celebratory dogpile after connecting on a walk-off 22-yard field goal in the second overtime, keeping the Knights undefeated with a 27-24 victory over host Council Rock South Friday night at Walt Snyder Stadium.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s a thing that I dream about. I used to wish that this would happen,” Cherradi said. “I just worked hard, I’m so happy we had that. It’s such a great win for the entire team, entire program. It’s want we’re based on.”

First-half struggles on offense — especially in the passing game — had North Penn down 10-0 at halftime but the Knights rallied to take a 17-10 lead on Cherradi’s 25-yard field goal at 5:18 in the fourth quarter.

The Golden Hawks, however, sent the Suburban One League non-conference matchup to overtime by driving 68 yards with quarterback Noah Caldani connecting with Nick Gallo for an eight-yard touchdown with 20.3 seconds left in regulation.

Both teams scored on their opening play of the first extra session. In the second OT, North Penn’s defense held then Kenneth Grandy blocked South’s 33-yard field goal try. After three runs put the Knights at the five, Cherradi split the uprights from 22 yards out.

“I was filled with joy,” Cherradi said. “I’ve been a backup for two years this is my first year starting. I wasn’t supposed to be here, I was so happy that I had the chance.”

Shamar Edwards paced the Knights (6-0, 2-0 SOL Continental) with 99 yards on 17 carries while Julian White and Solomon Robinson each ran for touchdowns as North Penn earned its second double overtime win this year — edging Neshaminy 34-33 in the season opener.

“We came out in the first half and we just weren’t playing our game at all. If we got something going, it seemed like something else went against us. We had a huge moment in the locker room as our leaders took over,” North Penn junior Nate Brown said. “We just got hyped up for the second half, we came out, executed and we had the guts to pull it off in the end which was huge.”

Chase Patterson ran for a game-high 136 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries for the Golden Hawks (4-2, 2-0 SOL National), who had their four-game winning streak snapped. North Penn, which improved to 3-0 all-time against South, has now won 21 straight game against SOL teams.

“I thought Council Rock South played a hell of a game. I’m sure it was entertaining for everyone in the stands,” Knights coach Dick Beck said. “It was a real old-school football game – guys running the ball, tackling tough, forcing turnovers, stuff like that.”

Both teams return to conference play Friday. North Penn visits Souderton while Council Rock South hosts Bensalem.

The game had eight turnovers — three fumbles and two interceptions by CR South, three interceptions by North Penn — with both sides with touchdowns on a takeaway.

Matt Checchia gave the Golden Hawks a 7-0 lead with 51 seconds left in the first half with his 98-yard interception return for a TD. In the fourth, Brown put North Penn up 14-10 returning a fumble — after White and Edwards got to Caldini in the backfield — 14 yards to the end zone at 10:47.

“I saw Julian get him first then I saw Shamar hit the ball out and I just came running after the ball and it popped up, took a perfect bounce,” Brown said. “And I’m just thinking I can’t get caught. Ran as fast as I could to the end zone. Happiest moment.”

After Brown’s scoop and score, the Knights forced a punt and took over at their own 34 with 9:29 remaining in the fourth. Edwards broke off a 38-yard run on the drive’s first play and NP got down to the Hawks’ seven but had to settle for a Cherradi 25-yard field goal at 5:18.

“I would have like to have punched it in there to get up two scores. So I was a little disappointed. I got super conservative,” Beck said. “I definitely wanted to get the three points out of it, I didn’t want to turn it over. So that’s probably on me.”

Down seven, CR South began the next series as its 32 and used 13 plays to level the contest at 17-17 at 20.3 seconds when Gallo hauled in a Caldani pass at the NP six and darted across the goal line.

Robinson put the Knights up 24-17 on the first play of overtime, taking a QB keeper right for a 10-yard touchdown. The Golden Hawks needed just a single play to answer — Patterson going up the middle to score from 10 yards out.

On the first possession of the second overtime, CR South was called for offensive pass interference, making it at 3rd and Goal from the 25. Caldani found Dawson Fresses for 14 yards to the 11. A false start backed the Hawks up five to make it a 33-yard field goal for Adam Keylin. Grandy came off the right edge and blocked the effort.

That gave North Penn the chance for the win, which the Knights took courtesy of Cherradi’s right foot. 

“He’s been huge all year,” said Brown of Cherradi. “He hasn’t really missed an extra point all year except for one which was a bad hold by myself. He’s been huge. Other team was talking trash before the play, but he just kept his calm, put it right through.”

“I think it shows that we have guts and we’re not out until that last buzzer hits,” Brown said. “We’ll always keep fighting until the very end.”

In the second quarter, the teams traded turnovers on three consecutive plays. After NP recovered a South fumble, Sammy Vaniver picked off Robinson only for Andy Cole to intercept Caldani the next snap.

The Knights went three-and-out but Brown forced a fumble on the punt return with North Penn recovering at the Golden Hawks’ 40.

A pass interference penalty put North Penn at the 25. Two plays later, however, a pass ticked off a NP receiver’s hands and was intercepted by Checchia at the South two. Checchia went down the right sideline before cutting back across the field to finish a 98-yard pick six with 51 seconds left in the second quarter.

The first play of North Penn’s next series, Vaniver came up with his second interception, setting South up at the Knights 39.

A Caldani 18-yard completion to Andrew Vera put the Golden Hawks at the eight and CR South went into intermission up 10-0 when Keylin hit a 25-yard field goal as time expired in the half.

North Penn pulled within 10-7 on its second drive of the third, White losing his shoe but finding the end zone on a 26-yard run at 3:27 to cap a four-play, 58-yard drive.

“The first touchdown drive the second half was really strong for us,” Beck said. “Running the ball tough and getting three yards and a cloud of dust was really nice.”