Opening Act
North Penn too much for Ridley in District 1-6A opener
AMBLER >> Solomon Robinson threw a pair of touchdown passes, North Penn’s defense had a shutout until the fourth quarter, and R.J. Macnamara’s two rushing TD’s put it away for North Penn in a rain-soaked, 2614 victory over Ridley Friday night in the opening round of the District 1-6A Playoffs.
The win advances the topseeded Knights to a quarterfinal game next week, at home against Neshaminy or Haverford.
Robinson threw a pair of firsthalf touchdown passes to give the Knights the early edge.
After a scoreless first quarter, Robinson threw deep to running back Shamar Edwards, covering 62 yards for the score and a 7-0 North Penn lead.
No. 16 Ridley struck right back.
Elijah Yakpasuo returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards for a score, tying things up at seven apiece.
The Knights got the lead back before the half, however, as Robinson connected with Evan Spann for a 22-yard score and a 13-7 advantage at the break.
The Knights increased their lead late in the third, as Macnamara found a crease and ran to the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown and a 19-7 lead.
Macnamara’s 45-yard burst made it 26-7 before Ridley
capped the scoring with a seven-yard QB run by Jack Bakey.
— Kev Hunter
UPPER DUBLIN 41, PHOENIXVILLE 12 >> The Upper Dublin football team scored touchdowns on its first two offensive plays and rolled into the District 1-5A quarterfinals, the No. 2 seed Cardinals posting the first 41 points in a 41-12 firstround victory over visiting No. 15 Phoenixville at Cardinal Stadium.
Lucas Roselli ran for three touchdowns and caught another as UD (91) won its playoff opener for the fifth straight season and hosts SOL American rival No. 8 Cheltenham in the quarters.
A Selvin Haynes interception set the Cards up at the Phoenixville 14. On the next play, quarterback Mike Slivka rolled left and connected with Haynes for a 14-yard score at 9:58 in the first quarter.
UD recovered a fumble at the Phantoms 13 on the ensuing series and the next snap Roselli found the end zone for a 14-0 lead at 9:01.
Roselli made it 21-0 Cardinals with his 17-yard TD run with 48.4 seconds left in the opening quarter.
John Kohlbrenner came up with an outstanding special teams play to put UD up 28-0, blocking a punt and grabbing the ball in the air to return it 37 yards for a touchdown at 10:19 in the second quarter.
Roselli’s 13-yard touchdown run at 3:19 made it 34-0. Slivka found Roselli for a 29-yard TD pass for a 41-0 lead with 52.4 seconds left in the half.
Phoenixville made it 41-6 with just 2.3 seconds before the break, Anthony Stevenson hauling in a 17-yard TD pass from Connor Patania.
The Phantoms (4-7), making districts for the first time since 2013, added another touchdown at 9:22 in the third on a two-yard run by Travis Pannella.
— Mike Cabrey
UPPER MERION 33, INTERBORO 22 >> Upper Merion’s season came to an end with a 33-22 loss against Interboro in the first round of the District 1 Class 5A playoffs Friday night at Upper Merion Area High School.
No. 8 Upper Merion was in great shape late in the first half.
Vikings quarterback Dale Clayton rushed for a one-yard touchdown and Zaire Savage ran in the two-point conversion to give Upper Merion a ninepoint lead, 22-13, with 3:05 left until halftime.
No. 9 Interboro’s Michael Moore returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown.
Two plays later, Savage fumbled and the Bucs recovered at Upper Merion’s 40-yard line.
Interboro turned that turnover into a touchdown to take a 26-22 lead into halftime and they never trailed again.
The Vikings misfortune continued in the third quarter. Michael Zelli lost a fumble inside their own 10-yard line on the third play of the half. Two plays later Moore was back in the endzone and the Bucs led, 33-22.
Clayton rushed for two one-yard touchdowns in the second quarter.
The Vikings took a 7-0 lead on an Anthony Swenda three-yard run in the first quarter.
— Ed Morlock