TOWAMENCIN- Crawford Stadium was blanketed in pink as North Penn battled against conference rivals Hatboro-Horsham, late Friday night. There was a common theme under the lights –  finding the cure. For the high school’s Key Club, it was hosting a “Tackle for the Cure,” pink-out
themed football game promoting Breast Cancer Awareness month. But for the Knights, this meant finding a cure for both their offensive and defensive
woes.

After a loss to the C.B South Titans a week ago, North Penn notched back into the playoff hunt by advancing to 4-3 (3-1 in conference) and they did so in style, defeating the Hatters 34-0. North Penn’s defense set the pace quickly as senior Derek Brandt intercepted the ball within two-minutes of the opening kickoff. This would set up a 9 yard touchdown run by Kyle Mayfield, who had left last week’s game with an injury late in the 3rd quarter.

North Penn’s defense was the main component of this week’s win, allowing the Hatters only 75 total yards. Hatboro’s offense would not even see North Penn’s half of the field until there was 7 minutes left in the game. North Penn’s secondary held Hatter’s senior quarterback Steven Palo to -5 passing yards, a big improvement from last week’s halftime fallout where C.B South picked apart the Knight’s secondary from the third quarter on. The
Knight’s defensive line continued its domination allowing an average of 2.7 yards per carry, shutting down the Hatboro’s running attack.

But don’t sell the Knight’s offense short, they remained consistent through all four quarters with Kyle Mayfield leading the way. North Penn’s star running back led the team with 76 rushing yards on 12 carries, two of which came in the form of touchdowns. Mayfield would also add to his stat-line by catching a pass from senior quarterback Mike Berstecher and taking it 14 yards for the touchdown. The duo of Shearer and Berstecher continued to trade off possessions, each leading the team with 70+ passing yards.

The Knights now have new opportunity in the Continental , with CB South losing to Pennridge 21-10 on Friday night. With a Knight’s win next Friday against the Pennridge Rams, the Continental Conference title would hang delicately in the balance, with any team able to claim it.

North Penn (4-3, 3-1)              7   10   10   7 – 34

Hatboro-Horsham (1-6, 1-4)   0   0    0    0 – 0

Scoring

First Quarter

NP – Kyle Mayfield 9 yard TD rush (B.Mandes kick)
7-0

Second Quarter

NP – Brandon Mandes 14 yard field goal
10-0

NP – Mike Berstecher 14 yard TD pass to Kyle
Mayfield (B.Mandes kick) 17-0

Third Quarter

NP – Kyle Mayfield 5 yard TD rush (B.Mandes kick)
24-0

NP – Brandon Mandes 20 yard field goal
27-0

Fourth Quarter

NP – Chris McGinnis 24 yard TD rush (B.Mandes kick)
34-0

Team Statistics

NP – HH

Passing Yards 149 -4

Rushing Yards 188 79

Total Offense 297 75

Passing 14-25-1 1-6-1

Fumbles Lost 0 2

Penalties 5-25 5-30

Individual Statistics

RUSHING

North Penn: Kyle Mayfield 7-76, 2 TD; Chris McGinnis
3-28, TD; Steve Gozur 6-51; Anthony Cameron 4-25; John Posavec 3-7; Luke Berry
3-6; Mike Berstecher 2-(-5)

Hatboro-Horsham: Chris Ejimonyeugwo 12-33; Jeff
Panara 6-32; Luke Spahits 9-16; Steven Palo 2-(-2)

PASSING

North Penn: Mike Berstecher 6-11-1-1, 73; Austin
Shearer 7-13-0-0, 71; Jeff Reimel 1-1-0-0, 5.

Hatboro-Horsham: Steven Palo 1-6-0-1,-4.

RECEIVING

North Penn: Kyle Mayfield 1-14, TD; Eddie Posavec
4-56; Colton Pyne 2-26; Steve Gozur 3-19; Luke Berry 1-18; Kris Akins 1-11;
Colby Beck 1-5

Hatboro-Horsham: Luke Spahits 1-(-4)

Interceptions

North Penn: Derek Brandt

Hatboro-Horsham: Kyle Mullen