North Penn hits the road for first time, faces CB South in clash of 5-0 teams

September 29, 2016

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In a battle of unbeatens, North Penn will hit the road for the first time this season when the Knights travel to Central Bucks South Friday evening for a Suburban One League Continental Conference contest.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

North Penn comes into the game a perfect 5-0, including a 2-0 mark in the conference. The Knights were overwhelming last week in a 45-21 win over Pennridge.

The Titans are also 5-0 at the midway point, with a 2-0 record in the Continental, and are coming off a 7-0 shutout of Souderton Area.

Steve Sherman 21st-Century Media Council Rock South senior linebacker Ryan Magrann (#34), right, chases CB South ballcarrier Tyler Watson (#17) in Golden Hawks battle with the Titans Friday, Sept. 9 at Walt Snyder Stadium. — Council Rock South senior linebacker Ryan Magrann (34), right, chases CB South ballcarrier Tyler Watson (17) in Golden Hawks battle with the Titans Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 at Walt Snyder Stadium. (Steve Sherman/Digital First Media)

South’s offense has had success behind the versatile skills of quarterback Sam Thompson, who mixed in 53 yards rushing with some timely passing in the win over Souderton. Running back Tyler Watson was the workhorse last week and also showed off his speed — his 78-yard touchdown run was the only score of the game.

The Titans’ defense, with Watson at safety and brothers Matt and Nate Norris at linebacker, has been stingy, allowing just six points per contest.

South will need a monumental effort on defense to slow down a North Penn attack that has put up 40-plus points in back-to-back contests.

With Nick Dillon now healthy and producing long, shifty runs out of the backfield, Ricky Johns has returned to his usual spot out wide, making the wide receiver group of Johns, Justis Henley and Jake Hubler one of the most dangerous around.

Quarterback Reece Udinski found seven different receivers last week, piling up 279 yards and five TD’s. The Knights’ defense has been equally disruptive to opponents’ game plans, as NP has given up seven points or less three times this season — Johns, Henley, Owen Thomas and Nick Vasger were all in on key plays last week in the victory over the Rams.

This will be the 11th meeting between the two programs, with the Knights holding a 7-3 edge overall in the series. One of the Titans’ three victories came two years ago at South, a 28-27 decision, but then North Penn rolled to a 46-20 win in the rematch one year ago at NP.

The two teams played each other for the first time back in 2006, a 35-13 win for the Knights.

Top Photo: Nick Dillon scores for North Penn during the Knights’ Friday, Sept 23, 2016 game against Pennridge. (Bob Raines/Digital First Media)

Kev Hunter

Kevin Hunter

Kev Hunter is a sports reporter for Montco Media. He has been a staff writer for The Reporter Newspaper in Lansdale since 2000. Prior to that, he covered sports for The Day Newspaper in New London, Conn. He began his writing career at The Courier-Post in South Jersey, along with covering prep football in Pa. for The Philadelphia Inquirer.