TOWAMENCIN – Week 2 was a very different story for the Knights on Friday at Crawford Stadium where a week after the Knights put up 55 points,  this time, it wasn’t until the 4th quarter where the Knights scored their first and only touchdown of the game.

The North Penn Knights (1-1) lost to the La Salle Explorers (2-0) 42-6 in an uncharacteristic loss for the Knights.  Last year the Knights won this head-to-head match 21-13, and many believed it would be another close and low scoring game but the Explorers won the battle offensively and defensively in the trenches while the skilled players did their jobs and the Knights did not capitalize when they had chances.

“The O-line, we didn’t have too hot of game but there’s always those downfalls and those good games, so hopefully we can learn from this and just get better every week,” senior captain Cory Keim said.

La Salle’s Samuel Brown was all over the game from the start.  He rushed for a 4-yard touchdown for the game’s first score with 7:37 left in the first quarter.  The number of turnovers for the Knights was an issue as their first turnover was a turnover on downs that setup a 68-yard passing touchdown from Jack Machita to Brown and the Explorers were up 14-0. Machita was 14-18 on completions and threw for 256 yards.

Khalani Eaton fumbled the ball with 4:29 left in the quarter and the Explorers recovered the ball but on the very next play, Ethan Spann stripped and recovered the football for the Knights.  His brother, Evan Spann, on the next play hauled in an 81-yard reception from Kolby Barrow.  Barrow was 10-18 passing and threw for 173 yards, along with running for 26 yards on 7 carries, before exiting the game with an ankle injury.

“We were just trying to basically find the open man, but their defense was very good.  [La Salle] played an all-around very good game.  I mean give props to them,” Barrow said.

But the Knights did not capitalize on the big play as RJ Macnamara fumbled and the Explorers picked it up.  La Salle held a 14-0 lead at the end of the first.

The Explorers took that turnover and converted it into 7 points with a 97-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard rush by Brown.  The Knights got the ball back but Jalen Hanton intercepted a pass intended for Kevon White.  La Salle then went 65-yards on 9 plays to score a touchdown on Brown’s 9-yard touchdown reception.  The Knights got the ball near the red zone and were knocking on the door but then an incomplete pass intended for Macnamara caused a turnover on downs.  At the end of the half, it was 28-0 in favor of La Salle.

There was only one score in the third quarter and of course, it was from Brown who caught a 30-yard touchdown with 7:23 left in the quarter.  Brown finished the night with 5 touchdowns, 62 rush yards on 9 carries, and 228 receiving yards on 8 catches.

The Knights started a drive in third quarter and ended it in the 4th quarter, where the Knights went 80-yards in 8 minutes and 45 seconds capped off by a 1-yard rush from Nate Brown.  On the Knights next possession, Eaton fumbled again and the Explorers put up their final score of the game with a 47-yard run from Mao Howell.  The Knights had a total of 6 turnovers, including 3 fumbles lost.

The Knights will be on the road for the first time this season as they travel to Pennsbury High School next week for a date with the Falcons.  The Knights won this matchup last year 33-7.

“I think next week, we’ll come back harder, stronger, and just concentrate more and hopefully stay healthy,” Keim said.