Zeltt, North Penn stun Pennsbury in District 1-6A first round

FAIRLESS HILLS >> North Penn quarterback Ryan Zeltt had the hot hand all evening long and Bobby Hill produced some playoff magic.

“We call him ‘Bobby Touchdowns.’ Nice little one-handed catch,” Zeltt said of his tight end. “It’s this one play we practice every pregame…”

That play produced the final – and most heart-pumping – points of the evening, as Zeltt hit Hill on a two-point conversion with just 1 minute and 1 second to go, and the Knights held on for a thrilling 22-21 victory over Pennsbury in the First Round of the District 1-6A Playoffs.

No. 14 North Penn built a 14-0 lead over the third-seeded Falcons in the first half, then rallied back from a 21-14 deficit late to go roaring into the district quarterfinals.

“That was a great drive,” Zeltt said of the winning 61-yard march. “We had a lot of trust in our running backs to hold on and score and they did that. And we had a great play called by our coach (Dick Beck) for the two-point play.”

The Knights (6-5) advance to face old rival Central Bucks West next week while a tremendous turnaround season for the Falcons (9-2) came to a close.

Pennsbury had defeated North Penn 44-34 in the regular season behind Galamama Mulbah, who had another monster performance this time around, gaining 273 yards and scoring all three Falcon touchdowns.

But Pennsbury was held scoreless in the first half while NP gained a tremendous edge.

“I think our defense had their best game of the year,” Zeltt said. “In the locker room you could tell, there was this energy. Our linebackers, our d-backs, our d-line, they all came out and played their hearts out. I’m so happy for them.”

Zeltt completed 16 of 23 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown.

Said Beck of his senior QB: “He was awesome. He was throwing strikes all over the place.”

After Mulbah’s 20-yard TD run gave the Falcons a 21-14 lead with 5:08 to play, Zeltt and the Knights went to work.

Zeltt hit Michai Cuffie for four then zipped one to Xavier Bryan for 14.

A two-yard toss to Jay Ford-King was followed by a pass interference call against the Falcons, moving the ball to the Pennsbury 26.

Four consecutive carries by Amir Major (120 yards) carried the Knights over the goal line, his last burst – from nine yards out – making it 21-20 with 1:01 left.

“Amir Major was just phenomenal tonight. He by far had his best night. He was finding the holes and running down hill – I was really happy with him,” Beck said. “I said to them (on the last drive), if we score here, we’re 100 percent going for two. I didn’t wanna deal with (Mulbah) on the 10-yard line (in overtime).”

On the two-point conversion, Zeltt took the snap, sucked in the defense and lofted one over the top to a wide-open Hill.

Said Beck: “It’s something we’ve practiced all year. We have yet to run it. When (Ryan) threw it, I said to myself, oh, Bobby, please catch this ball. He was so open…It was good.”

On their ensuing possession, the Falcons moved the ball to the North Penn 33, but had just seven seconds left. Two desperation throws down the right sideline fell incomplete and the Knights could celebrate.

“It feels really good. We’re the 14 seed but we don’t care,” Zeltt said. “We had a great week of practice and everyone was locked into this game.”

Pennsbury scored on every one of its drives in that regular-season contest, but on the opening series Friday night, the Falcons were forced to punt.

“Stopping them on that first drive – that gave us a big jolt,” Beck said.

Major broke free for a 38-yard gain down the left side and Zeltt later whipped a 19-yard pass to Ford-King on a 2nd-and-15, setting up a 13-yard TD run by Michai Cuffie, making it 7-0 North Penn.

Zeltt found a wide open Xavier Bryan for a 27-yard TD in the second quarter to make it 14-0 Knights at the break.

The Falcons came out determined in the second half.

Mulbah’s three scores (one, 13, 20) on consecutive possessions for Pennsbury catapulted the Falcons into the lead at 21-14 before North Penn drove for the winning points.

“(Pennsbury’s) Galen Snyder is absolutely the coach of the year,” Beck said. “What he did with this group, what they had to deal with the last three years, it’s probably the best coaching job I have seen in my career. What he did this year was phenomenal. His kids played hard. They’re tough, smart, and aggressive. They play like their hair’s on fire.”

District 1-6A First Round

North Penn 22, Pennsbury 21

North Penn 7 7 0 8 – 22

Pennsbury 0 0 14 7 – 21

First Quarter

NP: Michai Cuffie 13 run (Ryan Bocklet kick), 4:17.

Second Quarter

NP: Xavier Bryan 27 pass from Ryan Zeltt (Bocklet kick), 5:56.

Third Quarter

P: Galamama Mulbah 1 run (Dan Zelenko kick), 9:39.

P: Mulbah 13 run (Zelenko kick), 1:13.

Fourth Quarter

P: Mulbah 20 run (Zelenko kick), 5:08.

NP: Amir Major 9 run (Bobby Hill pass from Zeltt), 1:01.

NP                                Pby

First Downs                       18                17

Rushes-yards                    25-146         49-314

Passing (c-a-i)                   16-23-0        2-8-0

Passing yards                    200              18

Total yards                         346              332

Punts                                 0                 1

Fumbles-lost                      2-1               3-1

Penalties-yards                  4-33              6-61

Rushing

NP: Cuffie 8-26, TD; Major 16-120, TD; Zeltt 1-0.

P: Mulbah 36-273, 3 TD; Shane McGurrin 11-44; Nathan Beighley 2-(-3).

Passing

NP: Zeltt 16-23-200-1-0.

P: McGurrin 2-8-18-0-0.

Receiving

NP: Xavier Bryan 5-76, TD; Luke Cody 4-38; Jay Ford-King 4-64; Cuffie 3-22.

P: Beighley 1-15; C.J. Wisor 1-3.