North Penn used a 35-point second half to turn a one-point halftime deficit into a rout in Saturday’s non-league game against Lower Dauphin at Ephrata High School. William Tennent & Upper Moreland were winners Friday. Check out all three recaps.
NORTH PENN 41, LOWER DAUPHIN 7
North Penn didn't make things easy on itself in the first half on Saturday.
Fortunately for the Knights, Ziyon Smith helped make the second half a much different story.
Smith returned the opening kickoff of the second half 85 yards for a touchdown and later added two more scores as North Penn broke open a close game and rolled to a 41-7 nonleague victory over Lower Dauphin.
The Knights led just 6-0 after Rylei Gray broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown run in the first half. Lower Dauphin answered with a touchdown and took a 7-6 advantage into halftime.
“We kept making mistakes on offense,” North Penn coach Dick Beck said. “Fumbled snap, then a bad handoff fumble. Two guys come free in the line untouched and hit the running back as he's getting handed the ball. The quarterback gets his foot stepped on and falls backwards going play action.”
Even when the Knights appeared ready to regain control, another mistake got in the way.
“We get the ball first-and-goal inside the five-yard line, and we’re just going to run the ball, normal stuff on the goal line, and we fumbled the snap and they get the ball,” Beck said. “We had a couple long runs that got called back for holding.”
Whatever frustrations North Penn experienced in the opening half disappeared quickly after the break.
Smith took the second-half kickoff and raced 85 yards for a touchdown, immediately putting the Knights back in front, 12-7.
North Penn's defense then got into the act. Lower Dauphin recovered its own fumble in the end zone, resulting in a safety and two more points for the Knights.
Smith struck again with 1:57 remaining in the third quarter, racing 25 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown that extended North Penn's advantage to 21-7.
And he wasn't finished.
Smith recorded his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter and returned it 65 yards for another touchdown, pushing the lead to 28-7.
He later added a touchdown run as the Knights continued to pull away.
Jayden Jenkins capped the scoring with a touchdown run as North Penn completed a 35-point second half.
While the Knights' offense struggled with mistakes early, Beck was encouraged by the play of first-year quarterback London Evans.
“I thought London did some decent things,” Beck said. “I thought he did a nice job.”
The Knights’ coach also singled out Richard Grant for his performance at cornerback.
“He did a really nice job,” Beck said.
Up next: North Penn will host Central York in a nonleague game Friday.
North Penn 6-0-14-21 — 41
Lower Dauphin 0-7-0-0 — 7
Friday, August 28
WILLIAM TENNENT 20, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7
There was a moment early in the second half when William Tennent coach Biz Keeny could sense an all-too-familiar feeling trying to creep back in. The Panthers had taken a 14-0 lead over Council Rock North and carried a 14-7 advantage into halftime. But after talking at the break about the importance of establishing a good drive to start the third quarter, Tennent instead fumbled the football.
For a program that has endured its share of struggles in recent years, it would have been easy to think, “Here we go again.”
This time, however, it didn't happen.
Tennent's defense responded with a stop, the first of several important moments that helped the Panthers – behind the three-touchdown effort of senior Gavin Mensch - earn a 20-7 season-opening victory over the Indians.
“I think the biggest takeaway for us was that we competed the entire game,” Keeny said. “With experience, you kind of know in losing programs that it's, ‘Here we go again.’ But we were able to get a stop. That was huge. We didn't quit. Our kids stepped up and made some plays.”
For Keeny, who has returned to take over a Tennent program that has struggled mightily in recent years, those moments mattered as much as the final score. The Panthers were forced to defend in their own territory on Council Rock North's first two possessions of the second half and held both times.
Then, early in the fourth quarter, Tennent took possession around its own 15 and put together another important drive. The Panthers ran effectively enough to move the ball out near midfield before eventually punting.
With Tennent still leading 14-7 and less than five minutes remaining, CR North fumbled around its own 21. The Panthers capitalized, with Mensch scoring his third touchdown of the game from two yards out that finally put the game away.
“We got the stop when we needed it, and then we got the drive when we needed it,” Keeny said. “Those are the biggest things I would take away from the game. If you're going to start to turn a program around, those are big moments.”
That Tennent was able to handle those situations with an extremely young roster made the performance particularly encouraging.
The Panthers played 17 underclassmen and started two freshmen.
Junior quarterback Braden Rementer was making his first varsity start, and Keeny was pleased with the way he handled it.
“He didn't force balls,” Keeny said. “He took what they gave him. We're trying to find a little bit of an offensive identity at times, but he impressed me with how well he handled the end of the game. His composure was very good.”
While Rementer directed the offense, Mensch provided the scoring.
Mensch put the Panthers on the board in the first quarter, breaking an 80-yard run on a toss play for his first score. He added an 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and then late in the game scored from two yards out.
“He's a guy we're going to have to rely on,” Keeny said. “There are a couple guys like that, and then you've got to find some young kids that are going to make plays on a Friday night. I don't know who they are right now.”
Senior middle linebacker Joe Gentner was among those leading the way defensively.
“I thought he played very well,” Keeny said. “He was very active on the field.”
Tennent has not enjoyed a winning season in years, and Keeny doesn't minimize the challenge involved in changing that.
When the school's principal approached Keeny about returning to the program, Keeny had been planning to retire from teaching. What changed his mind was a shared vision for rebuilding Tennent football rather than simply trying to manufacture a quick turnaround.
A major piece of that plan is establishing a coaching presence inside the school. Five of the seven members of Tennent's staff now work in the building in some capacity.
“To me, it's not about winning being the be-all and end-all for me personally,” Keeny said. “It's about developing young coaches and trying to teach them the way we have to coach at Tennent.”
There are encouraging signs at the player level as well. Tennent has only 10 seniors, but its freshman class includes approximately 24 players.
“They've got to learn how to win,” Keeny said. “They've got to learn how to practice.”
In Friday night's victory -their first in an opening week game since 2019, the Panthers took a first step — and, perhaps more importantly, when the game presented them with an opportunity to fall back into an old pattern, they responded differently.
“It's a process,” Keeny said. “It's going to be a process.”
Up next: William Tennent will host Methacton in a non-league game Thursday, and Council Rock North will be on the road at Harry S Truman Thursday.
Council Rock North 0-7-0-0 7
William Tennent 7-7-0-6 20
UPPER MORELAND 36, FRANKFORD 6
Upper Moreland coach Adam Beach couldn't have asked for much more from his team's season debut.
The Golden Bears received contributions from veterans and varsity newcomers alike, while the defense kept Frankford off the scoreboard until the closing moments in a convincing 36-6 nonleague victory.
“Obviously, it was great to come out with a win in the home opener,” Beach said. “The guys really came in ready to play and put forth a great effort. I was very impressed with a lot of our sophomores who were getting their first varsity experience. It was nice to see a lot of those guys make plays.”
Senior quarterback David Adamski threw three touchdown passes as Upper Moreland steadily built its lead.
Adamski connected with Kyle Moore for a 20-yard touchdown with six minutes remaining in the first quarter, and Tucker added the extra point for a 7-0 advantage.
Adamski found Donnie Dinkins for a 17-yard touchdown with 10:35 remaining in the half, and Moore ran in the two-point conversion to make it 15-0. Upper Moreland's defense quickly gave the ball back to the offense when BJ Chambers intercepted a Frankford pass on the ensuing possession.
The Golden Bears took that 15-0 lead into halftime.
Santino Rodriguez scored on a six-yard touchdown run with 7:53 remaining in the third quarter, and Tucker's extra point extended the lead to 22-0.
Adamski wasn't finished.
He connected with Brody Hughes for a 44-yard touchdown with 5:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Golden Bears a commanding advantage.
Upper Moreland's defense continued to make plays. Moore intercepted a pass with 6:10 remaining in the fourth quarter, adding to an impressive all-around performance for the senior.
Moore eventually found the end zone again, this time on a five-yard run with 18 seconds remaining, then added the two-point conversion.
Frankford avoided the shutout with a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but by then the Golden Bears had long since secured a successful start to their season.
Beach was encouraged by the contributions he received throughout the roster.
On the defensive end, sophomores Aaron Presley and Nick Mendez were among the young players who impressed in their first varsity action, while veterans such as Moore and Rodriguez provided experience.
Beach also praised Diamond Jenkins in an increased offensive role, and senior Ben Holcomb, who came up with a big reception in the end zone.
Chambers caught his coach's attention with the way he responded to some early adversity. After being called for pass interference early in the game, the senior cornerback bounced back with an interception.
“He had a really tough call early in the game – a pass interference call when he stumbled, but then he came back and had a pick,” Beach said. “He didn't let it get him down. He stayed with it and was able to rebound and help the team. That was nice to see as well.”
“It was really good for everyone to come out and have success.”
Up next: Upper Moreland will travel to Bensalem for a nonleague crossover game Thursday.
Frankford 0-0-0-6 — 6
Upper Moreland 7-8-7-14 — 36
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