TOWAMENCIN- Most likely last time in the swamp as we know it.  With playoffs getting underway next week, everyone knew that this was their last chance to watch their football team in their home stadium, so the emotion was high on the field, sidelines, and bleachers.

The North Penn Knights (7-3) beat the William Tennent Panthers (3-7) 54-14.  Before the game, senior ceremonies took place to honor the senior cheerleaders, managers, and players.  Senior captain RJ Macnamara has been on the team for four years, so tonight was a big deal especially for him.

“[The football program] has meant the world.  These guys are my family, there’s no other way to explain it.  This is where I come and feel comfortable all the time.  This is where I love to be,” Macnamara said.

The game started with a bang as Sean Brennan fielded the squib kick and had a 60-yard return to setup a 9-yard touchdown run by senior Nate Brown, on the next play.  Daniel Moon’s kick was good and the Knights had a very early 7-0 lead.  On the first play of the Knights next possession, Kolby Barrow, who got the start tonight after going down with a bone bruise on his left foot in week 2, found fellow senior teammate, Ken Grandy, for a 62-yard touchdown as the Knights went up 14-0.

“It felt really good.  Teammates really helped me get back into the roll really quickly,” Barrow said on his return.

The Panthers did answer back as they went down the field on 10 plays for 70 yards in 7 minutes and 25 seconds for a touchdown as Thomas Santiago ran for a 3-yard touchdown to cap off the drive.  The first quarter ended with the score at 14-7.

And the second quarter started with a bang as well, as senior captain Evan Spann had a 46-yard rushing touchdown on the quarter’s first play.  4 minutes later the Knights scored another touchdown as Barrow had an 8-yard rushing touchdown.  With 4:37 left in the first half, Grandy fielded a punt off a hop and returned it for a 70-yard touchdown.

“I was able to pick up the muff punt and once I caught the ball, the wall was set, great blocks, and I was gone,” Grandy explained.

With 3:45 left in the half, the Knights had a defensive highlight as Grandy picked off a pass from Matt Miller intended for Derrick Consenza.  This led to a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Barrow with 31 seconds left in the first half of action.  At the end of the half, the score was 41-7.

“We just wanna be as explosive on offense as possible. I thought we did a nice job.  I thought Kolby came in tonight and was fantastic.  We did a lot of things really good offensively,” Head Coach Dick Beck said.

The Panthers got back on the board in the third quarter as they drove down the field and Miller connected to Owen Clark for an 8-yard touchdown reception.  Freshman Ryan Zeltt entered the game for the Knights and connected with Grandy for a 50-yard reception to setup a 21-yard touchdown pass to Brown.  The third quarter ended with the score at 47-14.

There was only one score in the 4th quarter and it was a 14-yard rushing touchdown from senior Danny Harkins.  The Knights will now await the playoff bracket to see who, when, and where they will play.

“Can’t wait to get into playoffs.  We don’t care who we play, where we play, we just like to be in,” Coach Beck said.

A big question heading into playoffs was who would be the starting quarterback, the senior Kolby Barrow who began the season as the starter before getting injured or freshman Ryan Zeltt who filled in nicely for the injured Barrow.  Coach Beck answered the question tonight.

“Kolby will be the quarterback and I feel pretty good about our quarterback situation.  We got pretty good depth there so I think we’re pretty good,” Coach Beck said.

“Just worried about winning.  Just worried about our next team, who we play, and prepare right and follow the gameplan,” Barrow said on his mentality heading into playoffs.