North Penn rolls in district final

The recipe for success was almost too simple, and too similar to the week before: Build a quick lead, milk the clock, and let the defense do the rest.

One week after stonewalling the run-heavy Pennsbury offense in the District 1 Class AAAA semifinals, North Penn met an equally run-heavy Council Rock South team and won big in almost the exact same fashion, this time by 34-14 Friday night at Plymouth Whitemarsh in the district championship game.

"I hate to sound like a broken record," North Penn coach Dick Beck said. "But when you're facing a team that likes to run the ball, I think you have to score early and often to make them do what they don't want to do."

The win marks the Knights' second straight District title. North Penn (12-2) will play next week in the state semifinals against the winner of Saturday's matchup between La Salle and Nazareth.

"It's an awesome feeling being back at this point," said Ralph Reeves, who scored two of his four touchdowns in the first quarter, allowing the Knights to all but cruise to a comfortable win.

"It's a familiar feeling to be in this position, but I love it, there's nothing better."

Similar to Pennsbury, Council Rock South (12-2) is traditionally efficient at moving the ball on the ground, but lacks quick-strike ability. And from the time it fell behind by 7-0 on a Reeves 3-yard run early in the first quarter, it was in serious need of big play ability - but rarely found it.

"In my mind, turnovers cost us this game today," said C.R. South coach Vince Bedesem, whose team turned the ball over three times, all leading to points for North Penn.

All of Reeves' TDs were from inside the 5-yard line. His first came after C.R. South botched a handoff and turned the ball over on its own 9. Reeves' second score of the first quarter, a 1-yard run with 2 minutes, 13 seconds left, was set up by a 24-yard run by quarterback Corey Ernst.

Finally, a methodical drive led to the only second-quarter points when Reeves punched it in from 2 yards out with 6:53 left in the half, giving the Knights a 21-0 halftime lead.

One of C.R. South's lone big plays came when it recovered an onsides kick on the opening play of the second half. The Golden Hawks then drove 36 yards on eight plays for their first touchdown.

The Knights stripped the Hawks of the momentum, however, denying C.R. South's running game for the rest of the quarter.

"We didn't want to give up the big play," Beck said. "And we didn't. I thought our D-line played really well."

The game was cemented on the first play of the fourth quarter. Dan Gevirtz, quiet to that point, escaped for a 42-yard touchdown run, putting North Penn ahead by 28-7.

"We're looking to win next weekend and go to Hershey," Beck said. "That's what this team's goal has been. We're sick and tired of losing in the East final."

North Penn   14 7 0 13 – 34

Council Rock South   0 0 7 7 – 14

NP: Reeves 3 run (Mandes kick)

NP: Reeves 1 run (Mandes kick)

NP: Reeves 2 run (Mandes kick)

CRS: Alimenti 1 run (Solis kick)

NP: Gevirtz 42 run (Mandes kick)

NP: Reeves 3 run (kick block)

CRS: Whiteley 1 run (Solis kick)