Despite last minute location changes, the excitement of senior night, and the suspense of homecoming, the North Penn Knights took on the Neshaminy Redskins, in what may have been the best game of the season for the Knights. Neshaminy opened up the game with a drive that lasted more than 6 plays and took almost 4 minutes off the clock. Brandon Turner ended the ‘Skins drive, breaking up a 30 yard pass attempt on 3rd down, forcing the punt. North Penn received the punt deep in their own zone. After a 15 yard gain by Shane Gallagher, Adam Hearns followed the play with a 30 yard gain of his own. Unfortunately a holding penalty called the run back. A false start on the next play forced the Knights even further back, landing them at their own 7 yard line. After being sacked on 2 nd & 18, Hearns found Eric Halberstadt on a short screen pass. Halberstadt broke through the pack and ran 85 yards for the score. After the extra point, the Knights led 7 - 0 with 5:26 left in the quarter. The Knights held onto this lead through the end of the first quarter.

After working the ball to the 50 yard line at the end of the first quarter, the Knights opened up the quarter in a big way. Once again Adam Hearns connected with Halberstadt, this time on a 45 yard TD pass, only 11 seconds into the period. After a missed field goal the Knights increased their lead to 13. The kickoff was into the end zone, putting the Skins on their own 20 yard line. After a few short plays, North Penn forced a fumble by stripping the ball out of the receiver’s hands on a 10 yard passing play. Senior Chris Cazier recovered, putting the Knights on the Redskin’s 40 yard line. The offense moved the ball to the 19, where Jon Striefsky connected from 28 yards out, to increase the Knights lead to 16. Once again kicker Dave Kornock sent one deep into Redskins territory, and Neshaminy had to move the ball 75 yards to get their first touch down. After a 4 and ½ minute drive a 15 yard run by the quarterback put the Redskins on the board. With one minute left in the half Neshaminy was successful in converting for 2, cutting the Knights lead in half. At the end of the second quarter the Knights led by a score of 16 - 8.

The third quarter opened with Neshaminy kicking off to the Knights. After moving up field to the 28 yard line, Shane Gallagher broke numerous tackles for a TD. Unfortunately for Gallagher and the Knights it was called back due to a holding penalty. Another penalty on the next play forced a 3 rd and 17. After scrambling in the pocket, and a great block by Zach Raffle to prevent a sack, QB Adam Hearns threw an incomplete pass to force a punt. The Redskins took over on their own 20 yard line. Neshaminy had an answer for the Knights this time. On an 80 yard scoring drive the Redskins quarterback found the back of the end zone once again, but this time from only 3 yards out. With less than a minute left another two point conversion tied the score at 16 all. As the third quarter wound to a close, North Penn had possession of the ball.

The Knights responded quickly, and with 11:11 left to play in the game Hearns threw a 60 yard pass to Jeff Gill, who ran in for the score. In their first drive of the quarter the Knights were once again on top, 23 - 16. Neshaminy had another impressive drive, working the ball to the Knights 12 yard line. After Hearns was called for pass interference in the end zone, the Skins had an opportunity to score from the 1 yard line. A fumble in the goal line, recovered by North Penn’s Peter Stoll, ended that opportunity however. After a few short plays the Knights were forced to punt away, retuning the ball to the Redskins, on the North Penn 45. Gerald Bell was big for the Knights, taking down the Neshaminy quarter back, forcing a 7 yard loss with 1:33 left in the game. After a pass that was almost intercepted by Stoll, the Skins went back to the air, this time connecting, putting the ball on the goal line. With 1:04 left in the game the Neshaminy Redskins tied the score at 23. A desperate attempt by North Penn to regain their lead in regulation was no good, after Hearns set up Halberstadt to throw deep to Jeff Gill for the score. The toss was intercepted by the Redskins, forcing overtime as the score was tied 23 - 23 at the end of regulation.

In overtime Neshaminy was the first to strike. On their first play of the overtime period the Redskins scored from 10 yards out, and after the extra point was good, they held the lead 30-23. Not to be out done the Knights had their chance to score. After an off sides penalty on the first drive to move North Penn back to the 15, the Knights looked to Gallagher. Moving the ball to the 9 on 2 nd and 15, he set himself up for a 9 yard run to give the Knights 6 more points. After a time out the Knights decided to go for the win. Putting Halberstadt in as QB and moving Hearns out to the right side, the Knights were a threat in the air as well as on the ground. Junior Peter Stoll got the call, and on a handoff from 5 yards out he powered into the end zone for two points and the win. The final score was North Penn 31, Neshaminy 30.

The Knights take on Truman next Friday night, away. Game time is 7:00.

-Meghan Halberstadt, NP 2005