EAST MARLBOROUGH – In a game which, based on rankings and playoff points, should have been a close game, North Penn toppled the Indians of Unionville to the tune of 48-7 in the opening round of the PIAA District 1 football tournament on Friday evening.

On a cold and windy night the game started off slow and sloppy, with three straight three-and-outs. However the Knights caught a break on the Indian’s second possession, as a bad snap on the punt attempt led to a North Penn possession that started at the Unionville eight yard line.

Two plays later Justin Ostopowicz danced into the end zone to get the scoring going for the Knights. Ostopowicz was an unexpected spark in the passing game out of the backfield for the knights, hauling in 5 passes for 37 yards.

The game then became the Nick Isabella show. The North Penn senior ended with 134 all-purpose yards, 106 of which came on the ground. Isabella was also able to find the endzone three times, as well as being the leader and hardest hitter on a stalwart North Penn defense that held the Indians to 170 yards of total offense and seven points.

“All week at practice we worked on seeing who has the ball (on the read option) and we were able to execute that well tonight,” Isabella said of his defense. “We did a good job on defense tonight.”

In the fourth quarter, the Knights went up 41-7 on Dontae Stewart’s one yard TD run, however a missed extra point saved the Indians from the mercy rule. However it would not last, as Tyler Gilett’s 38 scampered into the end zone from 38 yards out to give the Knights a 48-7 lead, and deliver a Coup de Grace to Unionville.

The Knights will travel to Downingtown East next week to take on the #1 ranked Cougars. The Knights will come out fired up, after a last second penalty snatched victory out from their grasps in the first meeting of the two teams.

“We can’t wait to get back at them,” Isabella said after the game. “Get back out there on the field and show them who’s boss.”