TOWAMENCIN – North Penn and Neshaminy have become football powerhouses in southeastern Pennsylvania over the last few decades. Storied traditions follow the teams into District and State playoffs year in and year out. Two years ago the two teams squared off in a District Final at Souderton, in which Neshaminy dominated en route to a state playoff berth.

However, on Friday, it was the Knights who would come out on top 28-7 in a very physical District semifinal at Crawford stadium.

The game started off very sloppy for North Penn, with the Knights coughing up the ball inside of their own ten yard line. However a stalwart defensive front was able to repel the Redskins and keep them from putting points off the board.

After what can only be described as escaping the first quarter, the Knights found their stride in the second quarter. Nyfease West was able to pound his way into the end zone at the 6:18 mark in the second.

Both teams seemed to be content going into the locker room with North Penn up 7-0, but Justin Ostopowicz never got that memo. The Knights senior running back broke off a hard 18 yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left in the half to put the Knights up 14-0.

A major question mark for the Knights would be how they would be able to manage without senior two way standout Nick Isabella. Isabella didn’t dress Friday night due to an ankle injury.

In a program as successful as North Penn’s, there is always a next man up. On Friday, that man was junior Dan Drop.

Drop announced his presence with a flurry of hard hits and was a force in a defense that held a tremendous Neshaminy running game to under 30 yards on the night.

“I just spent the week preparing myself because you never know when you could go in,” Drop said after the game. “And hey, we’re playing really well (as a team).”

Neshaminy was able to bounce back in the third quarter when Mason Jones found Denzel Hughes for and right yard touchdown pass. Jones finished 11 of 19 for 164 yards and a touchdown.

45 seconds later the Knights were able to get the points right back on Nyfease West’s second touchdown run of the game, this one from 45 yards out. West finished with 26 carries for 234 yards and two touchdowns.

“My line was just amazing tonight, winning all the battles. I owe all the credit to them,” an elated West said after the game. “It was all them tonight.”

Three minutes later Dontae Stewart found the end zone from 12 yards out to put the nail in the Redskins coffin, and putting the Knights up 28-7, which is how the game would end.

“I thought it was a great effort by our guys,” coach Dick Beck said after the game. “I thought the kids really played hard”

North Penn will face Upper Dublin next Saturday at Souderton for the PIAA District one championship.