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Knights 'Ground' Falcons 27-3 to Advance to District One Championship

North Penn ends Cinderella run by Pennsbury Friday night

There is no asset more valuable to a football team than experience in big time game situations, a fact that Knights made blatently obvious Friday night as tenth-seeded slammed the door shut on the Cinderella season of Pennsbury by a tally of 27-3 in the PIAA District One Semi-Final.

Led by a sensational performance by senior Dan Gevirtz, who had a hand in all four Knights touchdowns, North Penn advanced to the District One Championship game for the eighth time in 10 years.

North Penn (11-2), who won their tenth game in a row, took control of the line of scrimmage from the outset as, on the opening play, James Fielder broke off a 43-yard run, setting up a first-and-goal; two plays later, Gevirtz snagged a 9- yard scoring toss in the flat from senior signal caller Corey Ernst to put the hosts up 7-0 less than two minutes into the tilt.

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“James Fielder epitomizes this team and what we are about,” said longtime Knights head coach Dick Beck. “We thought he was done after the Pennridge game. Just to have him suit up tonight was a big lift for everyone. He would run through a wall for this team. He is a special individual.”

The Knights defense allowed a 19-yard field goal as the only Falcons score, following a 90-yard, 16-play drive in which North Penn stopped the vaunted Pennsbury “ground and pound” offensive machine on a third-and-seven forcing the kick.

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“The last two games are probably the best I have ever seen our defense play in my career,” added Beck. “These are two quality teams we have played to get to this point and our defense, which starts with the play of the line has been nothing short of spectacular.”

North Penn – who will face Council Rock South, a 38-24 winner over Garnett Valley, in next week’s title game– responded to the Falcons drive by mounting an 8-play, 64-yard drive of their own, culminating in a 23-yard touchdown scamper by Gevritz. This boosted the lead to 11 after the PAT from Bandon Mandes.

The defense stood to the challenge again by stopping Pennsbury, who was four-of-nine on fourth down conversions. A fourth-and-two from the Knights 40-yard line gave the home team 1:17 to work with before the intermission.

On a blown coverage, Gevritz picked up 43 yards on a strike from Ernst, who called his own number two plays later, rambling into the end zone from 8 yards out and the rout was on.

“There is something special about putting on this jersey and this helmet with the sword,” said Gevirtz. “There is pressure no doubt, but to be part of the North Penn tradition and take this field for the last time as seniors, is something we will never forget.”

As the Knight closed out the scoring with a 63-yard punt return by Gevirtz in the second half, and the final seconds ticked of the Crawford Stadium clock, several of the North Penn seniors, including John Garland and T.J Smink, went to center of the field and claimed a piece of the home turf that they protected so well over their careers.

BOX SCORE

Pennsbury            0            3            0            0            3

North Penn           7            13          7            0            27

 

10:50   NP            Gevirtz 9 yd pass from Ernst  (Mandes kick)

10:12   PB            Knieaziewicz 19 yard FG

  5:36   NP            Gevirtz 23 yd run (Mandes kick)

  1:17   NP            Ernst 8 yd run (kick blocked)

 

10:05   NP            Gevirtz 63 yd punt return (Mandes kick)   

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