High School Top 10: North Penn And Neshaminy In Huge Battle

Week of Nov. 29, 2013

1. Imhotep Charter (Record: 10-1. Weeks Rated: 14.)
2. Archbishop Wood (Record: 10-2. Weeks Rated: 14.)
3. North Penn (Record: 10-3. Weeks Rated: 3.)
4. Neshaminy (Record: 12-1. Weeks Rated: 14.)
5. St. Joseph's Prep (Record: 9-3. Weeks Rated: 14.)
6. Pennsbury (Record: 10-2. Season over.)
7. Perkiomen Valley (Record: 10-3. Season over.)
8. Academy Park (Record: 10-2. Weeks Rated: 3.)
9. Malvern Prep (Record: 8-2. Season over.)
10. La Salle (Record: 8-3. Season over.)

By Joseph Santoliquito

PHILADELPHIA (CBS)—It's an interesting path that's taken North Penn and Neshaminy to the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA championship Friday night, being played at Souderton High School at 7 p.m.

That Neshaminy, the No. 4 seed, is here is not that much of a surprise. Redskins' coach Mark Schmidt had a good feeling entering this season his young team would mature and succeed and they have.

Save for one bump against Pennsbury during the regular season, it's been a strong season for Schmidt and Neshaminy.

As for North Penn, that's been a different story for the Knights and their coach, Dick Beck. Beck is not afraid to play anyone—and that includes a brutal pre-Suburban One League schedule that included powerhouses La Salle, Archbishop Wood and St. Joseph's Prep. It meant beginning the season 0-3 and being outscored 118-16.

Since then, the Knights have won 10 straight, including beating No. 6 Coatesville, the defending District 1 champion and PIAA Class AAAA state runner-up. The Knights have outscored their three district playoff opponents by 102-40.

Beck made the point the first three games were played without speedy sophomore Nyfease West, who rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns in North Penn's 40-19 district semifinal victory over Perkiomen Valley.

North Penn and West will be facing a defense that's posted four shutouts this year and only given up more than 20 points three times this year.

Neshaminy will counter with star junior tailback D'Andre Pollard, who rushed for 209 yards and two scores in the Redskins' 35-14 district semifinal victory over Abington. Pollard has rushed for 2,564 yards and will probably break Jamar Brittingham's school single-season rushing record of 2,585 set in 2001 tonight against North Penn.

North Penn and Neshaminy should be the best local game of the weekend. Under Schmidt, Neshaminy has won two district titles and one PIAA Class AAAA state championship in 2001.

Neshaminy does enter the game with some added motivation. The Redskin seniors were freshmen in 2010 when North Penn crushed Neshaminy, 42-6 in the district championship. Neshaminy has not won a district championship since 2004, when the Redskins reached the state championship and lost to Pittsburgh Central Catholic (49-14).

Games of the Week
State Class AAAA District 1 Championship
North Penn (10-3) vs. Neshaminy (12-1) at Souderton, Friday at 7.

State Class AAA Quarterfinals
Academy Park (10-2) vs. Archbishop Wood (10-2) at Northeast, Friday at 7.

State Class AAAA Quarterfinal
St. Joseph's Prep (9-3) vs. Parkland (12-1) at Bethlehem Liberty, Saturday at 1.

State Class AA Quarterfinal
Catasauqua (12-1) vs. Imhotep Charter (10-1) at Germantown High School Super Site, Saturday at 1.

District 1 Class AAAA Football champions
1992: Coatesville 19, Central Bucks West 12
1993: Central Bucks West 32, Coatesville 21
1994: Downingtown 14, Central Bucks West 7
1995: Plymouth Whitemarsh 12, Central Bucks West 0
1996: Downingtown 39, Plymouth Whitemarsh 36
1997: Central Bucks West 36, Plymouth Whitemarsh 22
1998: Central Bucks West 35, Norristown 14
1999: Central Bucks West 21, North Penn 0
2000: Central Bucks West 39, Downingtown 14
2001: Neshaminy 28, Conestoga 12
2002: North Penn 26, Interboro 14
2003: North Penn 43, Interboro 28
2004: Neshaminy 51, North Penn 34
2005: North Penn 55, Downingtown East 20
2006: Pennsbury 14, Ridley 0
2007: Ridley 19, West Chester Henderson 0
2008: North Penn 28, Neshaminy 0
2009: Ridley 19, North Penn 10
2010: North Penn 42, Neshaminy 6
2011: North Penn 34, Council Rock South 14
2012: Coatesville 59, Spring-Ford 28