TOWAMENCIN-Coming off a two-game win streak, the 14th-ranked Knights looked to keep their playoff chances alive during their game Friday night, against the Pennridge Rams. Although it was close, the Knights came out on top with a 17-16 victory.
“It’s a battle week in, and week out,” North Penn head coach Dick Beck stated, “[going into the game] I felt like it was going to be a war.”
The battle started with a North Penn fumble on their own 39-yard line, however, Ryan Bocklet’s 38-yard punt made it very difficult for the Rams to make it out of their own end.
With 9 minutes left in the first quarter, Pennridge quarterback, Noah Keating, threw an interception to linebacker, Christain Johns Wallace, putting the Knights at the 5-yard line. Matt Bucksar’s handoff to Amir Major gave the Knights the first points of the game, and Ryan Bocklet put the ball through the uprights giving North Penn a 7-0 lead with 8:16 left in the quarter.
With an offsides penalty in their favor, the Rams drove down the field in pursuit to counter the Knights. On the 11th play of their drive, Keating threw a completion to Joseph Gregoire, sending the teams into the second quarter tied at 7.
The second quarter started similarly to the first with a North Penn fumble on 3rd down, forcing them to punt. Although Bocklet got the punt off, a flag was thrown for roughing the kicker, resulting in an automatic 1st down for the Knights. With Bucksar’s rushing touchdown and Bocklet’s extra point, the Knights regained their lead, making it a 14-7 game at the half.
After halftime, the Knights came out strong. Matt Bucksar threw a 34-yard pass to receiver, Rashad McNeil, putting the Knights at the Ram’s 17. The forward movement halted there, however, forcing Bocklet to kick a field goal, increasing the Knight’s lead over the Rams to 10 points.
Following a turnover on downs, and a fumble on the snap for Bocklet’s punt, Pennridge got the ball on the 18. The Rams capitalized on this opportunity, kicking a field goal, and making the score 17-10.
With 9:38 remaining in the game, Joseph Gregoire intercepts Bucksar’s pass at the North Penn 42. A few plays later, Noah Keating scored a rushing touchdown, closing the gap to 1 point. With the game in his hands, Aiden Hatfield’s extra point went wide right of the goal post, giving the Knights a 17-16 victory.
“Coming into this game, I was really excited to get to play with my team, and get this win,” Matt Bucksar stated. “This game was probably the biggest game of our season, this helps us with our seeding to [get into] playoffs and I’m just so happy we just pulled the “dub”.”
“I think we will have a good shot to make playoffs especially if we win next week,” Coach Beck added.
The Knights look to add to their 5-4 record and secure their spot in playoffs in their final game against 1-7 Abington, next Friday at Crawford Stadium.