North Penn, La Salle clash at Crawford Stadium in season opener

If it’s the start of the high school football season, then it’s time for another North Penn-La Salle battle on opening night, as the Knights take on the Explorers under the lights Friday evening at Crawford Stadium in a match-up of perennial powers.

Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

It’s the seventh straight season that these two squads have squared off against each other to start the season. The Explorers have taken all six of the previous season openers, including last year’s 24-12 decision at Crawford.

The Knights went on to an 11-3 finish in 2015, going all the way to the District 1-AAAA Final, where they would fall to Upper Dublin. La Salle, 8-4 a year ago, made it to that same weekend, losing to Parkland in overtime in a state quarterfinal clash.

North Penn has quite a tandem returning this year with quarterback Reece Udinski and wide receiver Ricky Johns. Last fall the two connected 49 times for 966 yards and 10 scores. Johns, a senior who has verbally committed to West Virginia, could be a key weapon on Friday night in keeping drives alive against La Salle’s 4-2-5 defense, which steadily improved over the course of last season.

Udinski is a proven winner under center for the Knights, coming off a year in which he aired it out for 2,439 yards and 17 touchdowns. Key for the Knights will be how quickly an untested offensive line comes along, and how some new backs can find the holes and gain valuable yards.

La Salle’s backfield took a major blow when quarterback Isaiah Jones (a transfer from Germantown Academy) was lost for the season due to a torn ACL.

Dan Lamorte steps in at QB for the Explorers, hoping to lead yet another La Salle playoff run. He can take comfort in the fact he has Syaire Madden to hand the ball to.

Madden, La Salle’s leading rusher a year ago, racked up 1,213 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015, and will be a focus for a Knights defense featuring hard-hitting Owen Thomas as part of a strong linebacking corp.

The Explorers are 7-1 overall against the Knights. NP’s lone victory over La Salle was a 21-14 win in the 2011 Eastern Final.
La Salle at North Penn
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Crawford Stadium.
On Air: The game will be broadcast live on the radio on 1440 AM and live on the internet at wnpv1440.com.
On Twitter: @khunter10.
Records: North Penn is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. La Salle is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
Last Season: The Knights were 11-3 a year ago, losing to Upper Dublin 41-26 in the District 1-4A Final (state quarter). The Explorers were 8-4, falling 16-13 in overtime to Parkland in the 4A state quarters.
Last Meeting: La Salle earned a 24-12 win over NP in the 2015 season opener at Crawford.
Players to Watch: North Penn quarterback Reece Udinski can spread the ball around and also get it deep to wide receiver Ricky Johns. La Salle has a dangerous runner in the backfield in 1,200-yard rusher Syaire Madden.
Prediction: North Penn 17, La Salle 14.

Souderton at Plymouth Whitemarsh
Time/Place: Friday, 7 p.m., at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
On Twitter: @emor09.
Records: Souderton Area is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. Plymouth Whitemarsh is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL American.
Last Year: Big Red went 4-6 a season ago. The Colonials were 8-3, losing to Downingtown East in the first round of the District 1-4A Playoffs.
Last Meeting: PW won a thriller, 20-14 over Big Red.
Players to Watch: Koby Khan is ready for a heavy workload. He’ll be the featured back in Big Red’s Wing-T attack. The Colonials have a playmaker roaming the secondary, as Christian Jones can step up at both linebacker and safety.
Prediction: Souderton Area 28, Plymouth Whitemarsh 21.

Methacton at Upper Dublin
When: Friday, Upper Dublin High School, 7 p.m.
On Twitter: @DwaySports.
Records: Methacton is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. Upper Dublin is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League American Conference.
Last Year: The Warriors finished 1-10 a season ago. The Cardinals had their finest season in the program’s history, winning the District 1-4A trophy and advancing to the Eastern Final, where they fell to Parkland.
Players to Watch: Zhaire Lee moves mountains for the Cardinals. The third-year guard is an anchor along the offensive line and should give quarterback Justin Horn ample time to throw. The Warriors want to own possession time and give running back Ryan O’Toole plenty of carries.
Prediction: Upper Dublin 28, Methacton 14.

Martin Luther King at Wissahickon
When: Friday, 7 p.m., at Wissahickon High School.
On Twitter: @srichards31.
Records: Martin Luther King is 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Public League. The Trojans are 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League American Conference.
Last Year: MLK went 6-5 a season ago, reaching the Public League quarterfinals. Wiss finished 1-9 in 2015.
Players to watch: The Cougars can get quite a push up front on both lines with 6-foot-4, 275-pounder Oryan Lee there to make an impact. The Trojans have speed and toughness at the running back spot with Darryl Baldwin there to pace the offense.
Prediction: Wissahickon 20, Martin Luther King 18.

Hatboro-Horsham at Central Bucks West
When: Friday, 7 p.m., at War Memorial Field.
On Twitter: @mpcabrey.
Records: The Hatters are 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League American Conference. The Bucks are 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the SOL Continental.
Last Year: The Hatters broke even with a 5-5 finish. The Bucks went 3-7 a season ago.
Players to Watch: Brandon Brandt-Crews adds a sparkling new dimension to the Hatter offense, speed on the outside and an ability to make amazing grabs. The Bucks have a vertical threat of their own in wide receiver Kevin O’Hanlon.
Prediction: Central Bucks West 24, Hatboro-Horsham 20.

Pennridge at Norristown
Time/Place: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Norristown High School
On Twitter: @DwaySports.
Records: The Rams are 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. The Eagles are 0-0 overall and 0-0 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Last Year: The Rams narrowly missed the District 1-4A Playoffs, going 8-4. The Eagles finished 4-8 a season ago.
Players to Watch: Tyler Tate can wreak havoc for opposing offenses. Norristown’s standout defensive end will be in high gear for this season opener. The Rams’ Jagger Hartshorn is a run and pass threat at the QB spot.
Prediction: Pennridge 21, Norristown 14.

Top Photo: La Salle’s Syaire Madden ,15, leaves a wake of Simon Gratz defenders in his path for a big gain during first half action of their playoff contest at Northeast High School on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. (Mark C Psoras/Digital First Media)