TOWAMENCIN – The number one seed, North Penn, faced the fourth seed Coatesville in the District 1 Class 6A Semifinal game Friday night. It was running back Nick Dillon leading the way rushing for 138 yards and four touchdowns. The Knights won 42-25 over Coatesville (11-2).
North Penn (13-0) advanced to the district championship next week against Garnet Valley, who defeated Perkiomen Valley 44-27. This is their 11th district final game in the last 15 years.
1st Quarter
The first quarter felt like two heavy weight fighters sizing each other up. North Penn’s opening drive went to the Coatesville 23. Kelly MacNamara missed the 40-yard field goal. After trading punts no one seemed to want to get the early lead until with 4:11 left in the quarter, Coatesville drove 78-yards for the score. With the ball on the one-yard line and facing a fourth down, Aaron Young took the hand off and scored from one-yard out. The extra point was no good and the Red Raiders led 6-0.
With the quarter ending, North Penn was on the move. They had an untimed down after getting called for a holding penalty. Quarterback Reece Udinski hit Justis Henley for a 28-yard completion to the Red Raiders 17 as the quarter ended. That set up their first score of the night.
2nd Quarter
On the next play, Anthony Andrews ran right up the middle untouched for the score. McNamara’s kick put North Penn up 7-6 with 11:54 remaining in the half.
Coatesville took the lead back when Ricky Ortega rolled out and found Mekhi Alexander down the sideline and he made a nice move to the end zone for the 37-yard touchdown pass.
Before the half, North Penn would widen their lead scoring on their next two possessions. Nick Dillion out raced the defense to the end zone for the one-yard run. Udinski threw a perfect pass over the defender into the arms of Owen Thomas, who went 68 yards for the score.
North Penn went into halftime leading 21-13.
3rd Quarter
At the start of the second half, North Penn made the play of the night on their first possession of the second half. Udinski completed a pass to Jake Hubler near the sideline, who in one motion, pitched the ball to Dillion who was streaking down the sideline and took it 61-yard for the score.
Udinski to Hubler hook & lateral to Dillon for a 61 yard score. 28-13 lead for North Penn over Coatesville to start 3rd @KnightsLoyalty pic.twitter.com/EngKnZadpS
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) November 19, 2016
The wheels started to come off for Coatesville. Andrew Roth intercepted a Ortega pass and went 50 yards to the 35. Dillion capped off the drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The Knights led 35-13 with 4:14 left in the quarter.
4th Quarter
Coatesville’s defense came up with a big hit on the Knights receiver and the ball ended up in Frankie Delossantos’ hands. He went 85 yards for the score.
North Penn would add one more score, a Dillon 7-yard run. Ortega finished the night hitting Jadan Hudson for a 37-yard touchdown pass.
NOTE: North Penn’s Reece Udinski completed 11 of 17 passes for 258 yards and one score. Justin Henley caught four passes for 105 yards and Owen Thomas had two catches for 105.
Coatesville’s Ricky Ortega passed for 220 yards on 21 of 33 passes and two touchdowns. Aaron Young rushed for 134 yards on 15 carries and one score.
