Dominating North Penn rocks Quakertown, 43-13
Dominating North Penn rocks Quakertown, 43-13
So much for Quakertown's bid to challenge North Penn for top bragging rights in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
The Knights scored touchdowns on each of their six first-half possessions, rested their starters in the second half and won easily, 43-13, Friday night at rain-soaked Alumni Field. The Panthers turned the ball over four times, including three fumbles, in what was a dreadful opening 24 minutes for the hosts.
North Penn, The Inquirer's No. 1-ranked team in Southeastern Pennsylvania, improved to 7-0 overall, 4-0 in the conference. It has outscored foes by a combined 257-58.
Quakertown, which came in looking to avenge last year's 49-13 drubbing at Crawford Stadium and beat the Knights for the first time since 1979, dropped to 5-2 and 2-2.
On the opening possession, Dick Beck's squad marched 65 yards on seven plays and scored the first of six straight TDs on a 5-yard burst around the left corner by senior quarterback Todd Smolinsky. Fullback Mike Culbreath, filling in for injured starter Ryan Hessenius, cleared running space for him.
Receiver Dom Taggart and tailback Craig Needhammer each scored twice for the defending Continental Conference champions.
Taggart (four catches for 109 yards) found pay dirt on a 17-yard, left-side reverse in the first quarter and snagged a second-quarter slant toss from Smolinsky (6-for-8 passing, 114 yards) and turned it into a 47-yard score to make it 28-0 with 6 minutes, 27 seconds left in the first half.
Needhammer escaped for a 13-yard TD early in the second quarter and later added a 1-yard dart off right tackle. He finished with 75 rushing yards on 10 carries.
The first-half scoring explosion was capped by Culbreath's 10-yard. Thanks to the mercy rule, there was a running clock in the second half.
Against North Penn's second-stringers, Quakertown senior tailback Tony Latronica ran for scores of 1 and 30 yards in the second half.
North Penn 14 27 0 2 - 43
Quakertown 0 0 13 0 - 13
NP: Smolinsky 5 run (kick failed)
NP: Taggart 17 run (Needhammer pass from Smolinsky)
NP: Needhammer 13 run (Harris kick)
NP: Taggart 47 pass from Smolinsky (Harris kick)
NP: Needhammer 1 run (kick failed)
NP: Culprit 10 run (Harris kick)
Q: Latronica 1 run (DeLan kick)
Q: Latronica 30 run (kick failed)
NP: Safety, Barndt tackled in end zone
Contact staff writer Rick O'Brien at 610-313-8019
