North Penn 34 - Council Rock South 14

Kev Hunter describes the Knights' win in North Penn Rolls C.B. South. Led by 4 touchdowns from Ralph Reeves, the Knights finished off the Golden Hawks for their second straight District 1 title. This sets up the Knights for round 4 with the LaSalle College High School Explorers with a trip to Hershey on the line.

While the consensus will be that LaSalle is the superior team, the North Penn Knights will leave nothing on the field in their quest to get back to Hershey. The North Penn pass defense will have to provide the best performance of the last 2 years if they want to win. North Penn has certainly been of the losing side when they were favored. Ralph Reeves was their when they lost to Liberty in 2008 and Ridley in 2009. They came awfully close last year. If Corey Ernst's last pass had been complete, the Knights would have been in position to go to Hershey. That's all in the past now, and it comes down to Saturday's game at Northeast High School.

Labels: North Penn football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football, PIAA playoffs

posted by Ed at 1:40 PM

North Penn-Council Rock South Preview

I feel compelled to link to the easternpafootball.com preview of tomorrow night's game. I particularly liked Armand Vanore's questions, which I will attempt to answer/predict.

Will the Knight defensive front be able to maintain their gap integrity vs. the Hawks triple option attack? Yes, the Knights have always focused on this and the defensive linemen are chosen for speed, strength and technique. This will allow them to succeed in filling the gaps.
Will heavyweights Smink and Garland be able to wear down the Hawks defensive front if they have a lead in the fourth quarter? Maybe, maybe not. If not, the Knights will go to traps and screens to free up Mayfield and Gevirtz in space.
Will Bedesem roll the dice and have Donnelly throw more in this game? Yes, and North Penn will be prepared, leading to stalled drives and turnovers.
Will Ernst look more to his TE (Reeves) in the second half? Only if necessary.
Will the Knights be able to avoid the turnovers that have plagued them in their previous four losses over the last two years? Probably not, but it will not be a factor, just like it wasn't a factor when Gevirtz muffed the punt against Neshaminy.

In this Suburban One heavyweight bout, it will all come down to execution. Everyone already knows what the game plans will be. North Penn's extensive playoff experience will give them an edge in taking advantage of any mistakes by Council Rock South.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, North Penn football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 10:05 AM

As the District 1 Final approaches

Kev Hunter says Top-seeded CR South a tough opponent for NP in finals in the Intel. He goes through a lot of comparisons, but it seems like the defense that steps up could determine the outcome of the game. Both offenses have been prolific in the playoffs and both defenses stingy. If either the Golden Hawks or the Knights can manage to lock down the other teams offense, that could determine the game. Chris Felton seems to agree in Inside Football Week 14. He summarizes, " I think it’s going to come down to discipline and execution. You have two systems. North Penn is a little more diverse. They can throw the ball, and they can run the ball very well. Council Rock South is the triple option, and they’re not going to pretend that they’re not. Everybody in the stadium that follows both of these teams and knows anything about District One football knows what Council Rock South is going to be running. That includes obviously North Penn, so it’s going to come down to execution for Council Rock South.

At the end of the day, just like in any other big-time playoff football game, it’s also going to come down to defense. North Penn is going to have to prove they can stop the triple option, and because of the numbers they sometimes put up, Coucil Rock South’s defense is sometimes overshadowed. I think it’s one of the top defenses in the area.

Again, it’s going to come down to execution and defense."

Football Fever Week 14 interviews the coaches of some common opponents. Neshaminy's Mark Schmidt and CB South's Dave Rackovan both foresee a close game. Pennridge's Randy Cuthbert thinks that North Penn has the edge. Finally, Christiaan DeFranco reviews the North Penn Knights football program in North Penn's Beck one of the best in the biz. As DeFranco notes, Coach Beck's program revolves around his system and getting the most out of his players in the system. With a few exceptions, this leads to great teams without focusing on star players. Certainly, the "skill position" players stand out because they score points. The defensive players in Dick Beck's system are often overlooked, in large part because they don't throw up big numbers in tackles or interceptions. They usually aren't on the field enough to get to big numbers. By the middle of the 3rd quarter they are often on the bench giving other players an opportunity to hone their game skills. The end result has been a North Penn football team that consistently been among the best high school AAAA football teams in the state.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, North Penn football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 11:06 AM

Just three from District 1 still left in PIAA tourney

Don Seeley gives a good summary of the playoff situation in District 1 and lists the remaining teams from around the state in the Pottstown Mercury. Seeley also summarizes North Penn's success in the post season over the last 10 years. He points out that the Knights have only missed the District 1 final once since 2002, in 2007 when they lost to Neshaminy during the regular season and then again in the play-offs. On Friday night, North Penn will be going for its sixth District 1 AAAA title in the last 10 years.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, North Penn football, PIAA football

posted by Edward at 8:36 AM

Kyle Berger (@bergerkg) tweeted that the 4 sites under consideration for NP-CRS are Tennent, Souderton, H-H, or P-W.

Kevin Cooney (@KevinCooney) and TJ Smink (@tsmink77) just tweeted PW at 7:30 on Friday. TJ was told by Coach Beck.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, North Penn football, North Penn Knights, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 1:28 PM

North Penn 27 - Pennsbury 3

Pennsbury's size didn't slow down the Knights. Dan Gevirtz continued in his role as a difference maker in the playoffs scoring touchdowns on the ground, in the air and on a punt return. James Fielder got to extend his North Penn career, adding 25 of the Knight's 155 rushing yards. The defense is making the 2011 Knights the playoff juggernaut that they are. Dick Beck was quoted in the Intell's Knights roll into District Final, "Our defense is playing maybe better than any defense I’ve ever had. They have really come together and really have it going.”

Other articles about North Penn's win over Pennsbury:
Plenty of heroes for North Penn
North Penn gets in the holiday spirit

Next up for the Knights, the Golden Hawks of Council Rock South. CR South came in as the number one seed in the District 1 AAAA football playoffs. They advanced to the final with a win over Garnet Valley. The game is scheduled for Friday night at 7 PM, but, as usual, the site is the subject of speculation. Plymouth-Whitemarch seems to be the leader in the rumor mill. I'm not sure if William Tennant would be available. Some have proposed War Memorial in Doylestown, but they always winterize before Thanksgiving. Hopefully, the two teams won't be forced to make the long trip to Coatesville.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, high school football, North Penn football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 11:16 AM

North Penn-Pennsbury Preview

I wasn't going to post anything before the game, but Kevin Cooney did a really good job in The Run To The Playoffs. Most of the things I read focused on the size of Pennsbury's offensive line. The Knights under Dick Beck have successfully dealt with this numerous times before. North Penn starters don't get their jobs because of their size. They get to start because they are fast, strong and smart.

The game is still likely to be a fight in the trenches. As Kevin rightly points out, "For all the talk of these spread offensive attacks that go five wide receivers deep and throw it around the yard, it is generally the "smack-you-in-the-face" attacks that win at this time of year." This is something I've been saying for years. It goes along with my observation that Florida and Texas High School Football have great athletes playing at a superior level, but they don't generally play in 20 degree (or colder) weather. Granted, Accuweather is predicting high 40's for game time tonight. I remember a North Penn-Downingtown West game the day after Thanksgiving 3 years ago where I couldn't feel my legs when I got up at half time. But I digress.

Kevin points out that this is another "no surprises" game where two teams will line up and try to outplay each other. And to highlight another of my recurring themes, Kevin sums things up: "The winner will be the team that executes the best."

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 4:55 PM

Knight dominance of Redskins continues

I finally got to see the 2011 North Penn Knights in person on Friday night and they put on quite a performance. The Knights defense held Neshaminy in check all night, allowing a single touchdown and less than 125 yards total offense. Dan Gevirtz continued his playoff break-out with over 200 total yards, and both he and Kyle Mayfield broke the century mark on the ground. Kev Hunter's North Penn defense devastates Neshaminy provides a good summary of the game. Some other game summaries:

The Intel: North Penn defense smothers Neshaminy
Times-Herald: North Penn shuts down Neshaminy
The Reporter: North Penn's defense always on attack
Levittown Patch: Neshaminy Football Season Ends With Loss To North Penn

The Times-Herald had a nice write-up on Ralph Reeves by Dennis C. Way in Reeves epitomizes North Penn football. The article correctly points out that Ralph is a prototypical North Penn stand-out. He has captured 2 District Titles with the Knights and has been on the field for every game of the Knights' 28 game streak in the Suburban One Continental Conference. I'm pretty sure he is the 2nd four year starter (after Temple's Brandon McManus) for the Dick Beck coached Knights. It would be a nice ending for his high school career if he got to play in Hershey.

The Knights will face Pennsbury Friday night at Crawford Stadium. Pennsbury has played extremely well all season with a huge offensive line pushing the traditional SOL ground and pound. Dick Beck should be ready for this. As Kev Hunter notes in Pennsbury brings offense into matchup with NP, Dick Beck is 6-0 against Pennsbury. The Knights have tended to offset size with speed and technique. Friday night should be a good test of the Knight's defense to see if they have what it takes to get to Hershey.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, high school football, North Penn football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 3:54 PM

Final District 1 AAAA Football Playoff Seedings

After Episcopal Academy & Methacton both won, the D1 seedings are:

16 – Upper Dublin
15 – Pennsbury
14 – Neshaminy
13 – CB South
12 - Ridley
11 – North Penn
10 - Coatesville
9 – Downingtown East
8 – WC Henderson
7 – Spring-Ford
6 – West Chester - Rustin
5 – Garnet Valley
4 – Plymouth-Whitemarsh
3 – Unionville
2 - Abington
1 – Council Rock South

Inter-conference replays: Pennsbury at Abington, Ridley at Garnet Valley, Downingtown East at Henderson. The higher seeded (home) team won the first game in all 3 cases.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, high school football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 2:03 PM

District 1 AAAA Football Playoff Bracket

Kyle Berger has made his predictions on WNPV.
16 – Upper Dublin
15 – Pennsbury
14 – Neshaminy
13 – CB South
12 - Ridley
11 – North Penn
10 - Coatesville
9 – Downingtown East
8 – WC Henderson
7 – Spring-Ford
6 – West Chester - Rustin
5 – Plymouth-Whitemarsh
4 – Garnet Valley
3 – Unionville
2 - Abington
1 – Council Rock South
These results are dependent on GA-Episcopal (UD gets points from a GA win and could move up to the 14 seed) and Methacton-Pottstown (PW gets points from a Methacton win and could move up to the 4 seed). Half the bracket is from Suburban One. 5 teams are from Ches-Mont.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, high school football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 12:15 AM

In Two Big Games in District 1 AAAA Rick O'Brien takes the insipid stance that both Downingtown East and Pennsbury win. A Pennsbury win I can understand; if they were playing at Heartbreak Ridge, I would say the game was Neshaminy hands down, but the game is in Fairless Hills. Mark Schmidt may be able to get the Redskins to pull out the win and get into the playoffs, though. Not that Neshaminy has shown the ability to play with the big boys this year, and their prize for a win would be a re-match with Council Rock South. CR South crushed Neshaminy in the first game. Downingtown East, however, has to go to West Chester and beat a Henderson team that takes sole possession of the league title with a win. By my calculation, a Henderson win would vault them to the 8th seed and result in a rematch with East the next week. This would be the most interesting finish to alter the District 1 AAAA bracket. For this reason alone, I am picking Henderson.

Labels: District 1 AAAA playoffs, football, high school football, PIAA football

posted by Ed at 11:25 AM

Brad Cashman vs. WPIAL

There is a Pittsburgh Post Gazette story linked on the Pennlive HS Football forum in which PIAA Executive Director Brad Cashman is quoted as saying that he is going de-link the 6 classes (which only needs a majority vote) and the shorter season (which needs a 2/3 vote) at the May reading.

I believe that this proposal is turning into a pi$$ing contest between Cashman and the WPIAL. It would appear that he plans to pass the 6 classes on a simple majority and then try to force the 21 votes for the shorter season since the 6 classifications are already a fait accompli. While these actions show a certain mastery of bureaucratic procedures and gamesmanship, I don't know how much it advances PA interscholastic athletics.

2009 may be the last true state football championship for a while.

Labels: high school football, Pennsylvania High School Football, PIAA, PIAA football, WPIAL

posted by Ed at 9:22 AM