O'Brien: North Penn rights the ship once more

To no one's surprise, North Penn is back on a winning track after a slow start in a rugged nonleague slate.

The Knights have rebounded from a 1-2 beginning with four straight victories, are contending for the Suburban One League National Conference title, and are closing in on another PIAA District 1 Class AAAA playoff berth.

"Those early games point out our mistakes," senior captain Justin Ostopowicz said. "We learn what areas we have to work on moving forward."

Ostopowicz, a running back and defensive back, has played a key role in this year's turnaround. The 5-foot-7, 180-pounder from Lansdale has carried 56 times for 429 yards and five touchdowns. He has 14 receptions for 190 yards.

"He's tough, he runs low to the ground, and he's been catching the ball well out of the backfield," North Penn coach Dick Beck said.

With swift senior tailback Nyfease West sidelined the last three games due to a shoulder injury, Ostopowicz has helped fill the void. He had first-half scoring bursts of 60 and 35 yards in last Friday's 55-20 romp over conference rival Bensalem.

Ostopowicz said the squad's offensive line has "come a long way since the beginning of the season. Those guys are really starting to mesh."

Center Mike Gallagher, guards Dan Lare and Dan Liberio, tackles Tobias McCullough and Mark Shadle, and ends Keith Earle, Nick Vasger, and Owen Thomas lead the charge up front.

Junior quarterback Reece Udinski has shined by completing 78 of 186 passes for 1,213 yards and 12 TDs. He connected on 18 of 24 throws for 254 yards and three scores in a Week 2 win over West Catholic.

Udinski's primary targets are Ostopowicz, Earle, wideout Ricky Johns, and slotbacks Justis Henley and Jake Hubler.

Against Bensalem, the Knights' defense featured linemen Liberio, Earle, Vasger and Korey Thompson, linebackers Johns and Dontae Stewart, and backs Ostopowicz and Henley. Johns returned a fumble for a 51-yard TD.

North Penn visits National Conference co-leader Pennsbury (6-1, 4-0) at 7 p.m. Friday in Fairless Hills. Beck said West, a Delaware State recruit who doubles as a defensive back, will be a game-time decision.

"Physicality is going to be a big part of this game," said Ostopowicz, who is considering Kutztown and Shippensburg for college. "We're going to have to be ready to face a very good offensive backfield."

Notes. Edison, of the Public League, has canceled the rest of its season due to a rash of injuries and academic issues. The Owls (2-5) will forfeit their games vs. Class AAAA Independence League rivals Northeast and Ben Franklin. . . . Tyliek Raynor, a running back and Arizona recruit, is expected to return to Imhotep Charter's lineup Saturday vs. School of the Future. He missed the last five games with a shoulder injury. . . . Bishop Shanahan's Jake Guinan has carried 85 times for 616 yards and five TDs. . . . Haverford High's receiving corp is led by Bobby McClure (20 catches for 385 yards, five TDs), Chris Trainor (21 for 371, five), and Matt Corbett (18 for 359, five).