Stoll’s late touchdown lifts North Penn over Cardinal O’Hara 35-28

by EasternPAFootball.com

LANSDALE – The defending Catholic league champs came into Crawford Stadium with a 1-0 record to face District One powerhouse North Penn in front of a capacity crowd last night. Despite losing starting quarterback Kyle Feiser in the first quarter and second-string quarterback Jim Levens, the Knights turned to third string quarterback senior Ben Meyers. This was a defensive battle most of the game and turned into a 42-point fourth quarter with a 35-28 victory for North Penn last night.

It was a defensive game the first half. Cardinal O’Hara’s opening drive took seven minutes until quarterback Anthony Walters hit Mark Wedderbum in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Tim Moore kicked the extra point and Cardinal O’Hara led 7-0.

North Penn would answer right back on a 48-yard touchdown run by Brandon Turner. Brandon McManus kicked the extra point and with 2:37 to go in the first quarter the game was tied up at 7-7.

North Penn defense would come up with a big play in the second quarter when Cardinal O’Hara Walters fumbled the ball after a big hit and Andrew Sheehan of North Penn recovered the fumble. O’Hara’s defense stopped the drive by North Penn. Both teams would not score the rest of the half and would go into the half still tied up at 7-7.

North Penn would break the tie in the second half when Pete Stoll took the handoff and darted 41 yards for the touchdown run. With 2:33 to go in the third quarter North Penn went in front 14-7.

A defensive game for three quarters turned into an offense explosion in the fourth quarter when Sean Lyons of Cardinal O’Hara would score on a 13-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14.

Cardinal O’Hara regained the lead with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Walters to Wedderbum with 9:43 to go in the game. Cardinal O’Hara led 21-14.

North Penn answered when Tyrece Ervin took the handoff and scored on a 59-yard touchdown run and tie up the game 9:25 left. North Penn got the ball right back and on just two plays Turner scored on a 24-yard touchdown run to give North Penn the 28-21 lead.

Walters of O’Hara tied the game up with an 8-yard run and with 5:43 to go in the game we were tied up at 28-28.

The big play of the night was a fumble recovery by Alex Munio of North Penn setting up the winning drive. Stoll would score the winning touchdown on a one-yard touchdown run with 1:12 remaining in the game putting North Penn ahead 35-28 for good.

Stoll not only scored the winning touchdown but also recovered a fumble by Walters with 42 seconds left in the game. North Penn ran out the clock and preserved the thrilling win in front of a huge crowd 35-28. Coach Dick Beck of North Penn called the game “Inspirational”.

North Penn (2-0) travels to play Archbishop Carroll. Cardinal O’Hara (1-1) will try and rebound on the road against West Catholic.

David

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