Langhorne: Back home after two weeks on the road, Neshaminy entertains old friend North Penn in a big SOL Conference game. And although seeing the Knights in the playoffs almost every year tonight’s contest is the first regular season game between these two since 2007. That year was also the last time North Penn visited Harry’s House for a regular season game. Plus making this a big one is that each is fighting for a playoff seeding and a win is critical. So as it is, there’s no need to say too much more about these clubs as both can claim a place among the best of the Keystone State’s football programs. So as we say, let’s just get down to the field and let these teams show their stuff.

Neshaminy won the coin toss and then elected to receive. With the kick out of the endzone, the ‘Skins started at their 20. As the home team offense was looking good on the first set, the Blue & Red quickly had a first down. But stalling out on a sack of Mason Jones after a first, the next effort went nowhere and Kevin Goetz came in to punt it away. A boomer looked great but a tremendous North Penn return had it back to Neshaminy’s 25. From there the Knights were looking good but not for long as Denzel Hughes made a big pick and took it back to the 45. Not able to capitalize, though, Goetz was soon punting once again with the ball then downed at the Knight’s 18.

From that spot the Lansdale club engineered a long drive that didn’t end till a turnover on downs deep on Neshaminy’s side of the field. But with Jones and company still having trouble, Neshaminy was forced to punt for the third time. And this time a North Penn player got through, blocked the kick and the bouncing ball was then fallen on by a blue clad player in the endzone. The PAT was then good and North Penn had the first lead, 7-0. Another deep Lansdale kick then gave Neshaminy the ball at the twenty as the first quarter ended shortly.

Rolling to the second-quarter, the teams exchanged possessions before a North Penn punt was returned to their 42 for a good spot for Neshaminy. Mixing it up from there, Jones, D’Andre Pollard, Hughes and the rest of the boys moved the ball down to the Knight’s 20 where it got tough. In fact, it went to a 4th and eight with a Skins pass play failing to convert.

Following the turnover on downs, North Penns offense also looked stale as they soon punted it back to Neshaminy. Bringing their offense back out at the mid-field spot, there was then under five minutes remaining in the first half. Needing a spark, it was Pollard who provided it when he took the first handoff and went the distance for the touchdown. Dylan McDonald hit the PAT and the score tightened up to 7-7 all.

With McDonald putting one deep on the kickoff, the North Penn returner had it to the 38 before he was brought down. Working the ball methodically from there, a fourth and short was converted at the 50 and kept a key drive alive for the Knights. But with the clock a factor, the visitors didn’t reach the 13 yard stripe until there was just about 13 seconds still to play. Going for it on a third-down pass, it missed and the Knights then tried a 30 yard field goal which also missed. The last play of the first-half saw Neshaminy take a knee as the teams retired for the half still locked at seven a piece.

Following the Neshaminy kickoff to start the second-half, North Penn looked as if they owned the world with a nice drive seeing them march down the field. But soon enough that first Knight’s drive came up a cropper. Then putting the ball back to Langhorne, Jones and his boys took over at their 25. Looking to get control of the game, Neshaminy went up top but it backfired as the pass was picked. Still, with the home teams defense stiffening the visitors could only come away with a field goal and a slim 10-7 lead.

Following another touchback kickoff by Lansdale, the Frederickmen started at their 20. Sticking to the ground the chains were soon moved but another Jones passed was soon intercepted. As North Penn smelled blood, two ground efforts went nowhere. Then going for the back ten on third and long, it was Hughes making the pick in the endzone to earn the turnover and see the ball put at the twenty.

Turning to Pollard on the first handoff, he busted it to the 40 with a late hit pushing the ball to the North Penn 45. That was followed by a nice run by ‘Hollywood’ Magdelinskas and then a pass by Jones that had the ball at the 23. It was just then that the clock rolled to the fourth-quarter and the teams switched directions.

Following the walk, and looking to move the ball from there, Jones rolled out and nailed Hughes at the six-yard stripe for a big first down. Then in a different look this year, a direct snap to Pollard was just the ticket as he earned the score to give Neshaminy the lead, 13-10, with a blocked PAT keeping it tight.

McDonald’s kickoff as followed was high and short and after a nice return the Knights set-up at mid-field. Pushing hard from there it went to a third-and-long at the 27 when Cale Kitchenman came up with a huge sack that put North Penn into a 54-yard field goal try. Missing the uprights, the pigskin went back to Langhorne at their 20 with 5:51 on the 4th-quarter clock.

Looking to burn time, Pollard then earned a first across the 30 on two runs. Using The Wildcat on two more, it went to a third-and-seven as Jones went under center. He then hit Hughes for a big catch that looked good enough for the first but a weird spot by the ref made it fourth-and-one. Goetz came in to punt from there and hit a high short kick that gave the ball to North Penn at their 46 with just 2:45 on the clock.

Staying on the ground, two runs had the Knights facing a third-and-three with 1:30 on the clock. Airing it out deep, a big pass was good to the ten-yard line for a first-and-goal. One run was then short as the clock dropped to 45 seconds with the Lansdale quarterback taking it to the one-yard line on the next try. From there a Knight back slipped across to give Beck’s Boys a 16-13 lead. The PAT was good too and with 19 seconds on the clock, North Penn went in front, 17-13.

The Blue Knight kickoff that ensued was then grabbed by Pollard but with a foot in the endzone Neshaminy got the ball on its 20. From that spot some pass plays saw Neshaminy grab some yards but not enough to turn the tide before time expired.

Wow! Classic Neshaminy versus North Penn. So we start with a congratulation to two fine teams that battled for 48 minutes — it was a terrific effort by both clubs. And with that said, we’re glad to have the Knights back on the schedule as there is no better bunch to play. As to Neshaminy it was a terrific showing even though it was still a tough loss. But with Pennsbury on the schedule next Friday there’s no time to wring the crying towel. So let’s shake it off and get ready for the Black & Orange and the season-ender. And to all you fans, make sure youre at the field plenty early as it will be standing room only.

See you at the Game!

Photos courtesy of Jesse Garber

For more game photos go to Jesse Garber on Zenfolio

GametimePA – North Penn uses late drive to rally past Neshaminy