North Penn Haverford Observations

[Gang $$ Green]

Was at this one last night. Was an entertaining game with lots of offense. Story of the night was the overwhelming effectiveness of North Penn running game.

While statistically Haverford defense has been good those of us who saw them all year long knew that running right at them could prove problematic. Garnet Valley was a slow buldgeoning this was lightning strikes. Think Haverford realized going in they could not sit in 4-4 and switched fronts and loaded line of scrimmage. Often there was no third level. It was get back at loss or gone.

North Penn did nice job formationally getting safety, Mosley in particular out of middle of field with wide slot look. While the defensive look might have looked crazy to outsiders I can understand it. They gave up 479 rushing yards but I can understand what they were trying. For Haverford to get to next level they gotta get bigger and stronger in front seven. Just get overwhelmed there against good teams.

That said the two backs for North Penn were the best two backs they had seen all year. Explosive physical runners. North Penn also displayed nice throw game when rarely needed. Only oline they saw all year anywhere close to this one was garnet Valley. North Penn also executed and had no turnovers. They were the better team.

However Haverford was not without their moments and this was far from the blowout many predicted. Haverford missed two point conversion to tie it at 28 late in third quarter. Haverfords qb was tremendous. Think he really came of age last night. Knock had been running timid in between tackles. He was awesome last night and played and ran tough. Haverford threw the ball very well against North Penn. Mosley was very good. North Penn secondary struggled took a bunch of interference calls and this one would have been closer without a couple key drops. North Penn got great pressure all night. Qb showed great poise.

Haverford was not going to win the game but I also witnessed one of the oddest pieces of officiating I’ve ever seen. Haverford scored on a 15 yard zone read to make it 41-32 with about 5 minutes to go. After the Qb was two yards in the end zone the white hat referee from behind the play came running up to line of scrimmage where some bodies were. Threw a flag around celebration time. I thought it must be a personal foul, late hit or unsportsmanlike etc. He called a hold. In 40 plus years of watching football this was the latest hold flag I’ve ever seen thrown. Again pretty sure at that point Haverford wasn’t stopping North Penn so result probably not in doubt but that was one horrendous display of officiating. I actually hope the guys flag got stuck or something.

North Penn offense is going to be a bear for anyone. Think you are either going to have to outscore them with your throw game or methodically keep them off the field with your run game. I think we know what the garnet valley tack will be.

Congrats to North Penn. They are good team and well coached. Kudos to Haverford for playing their tails off. No moral victories but they are closing the gap on these top teams just not there yet. Lots coming back skill wise. Bigger and stronger up front key to next step.

 

[SPEED&JUMP DR.]

GG. How do you think GV matches up with NPenn. NP has been vulnerable all year defensively to the big play , especially by the pass. Unfortunately, that's not GV forte. Do you think GV can grind out enough drives to keep NP offense off the field ?

 

[coverandmove1]

Speed, this one should be a nail biter. Missed xtra point or 2 point conversion to win it type game. Saw both these squads and remember last year's final. Both have played Haverford with gv winning 28-13 and np 41-26. Np d struggled in first half but only gave up 6 in second half by bending not breaking. Haverford certainly has some athletes and challenged np step for step for 3 quarters. Going back to last year's game, np over gv 48-38, 14 pts for gv came on def scores, I believe a sack fumble and late pick six. Gv offense thus put up 24 on a good np def, which is certainly down from last year. Np needs to watch Springfield game plan against garnet and play sound assignment football , can they for 4 quarters? Can gv control the clock, will np want to grind to keep there d off field, what trick play will np pull out this year? I think np holds on in a squeker.

 

[Gang $$ Green]

Speed I think it’s a great contrast of styles. North Penn way more explosive. Both teams are very well coached. I personally think neither team is as good as last years version especially defensively.

I lean to North Penn here. I think their primary weakness defensively is in the secondary. That isn’t G-V strength. I also think having played G-V last year going to help as they have seen it up close. I would never count Garnet Valley out because they are very good up front on offense and very well coached.

We all know these games are about matchups. When I saw the matchups come out my initial thought was Haverford might give NP more problems than GV. Hard to gauge athleticism on film and thought Haverford athletes might surprise NP D. Then it was matter if their D could cobble together some stops they couldn’t. Both GV and NP just overwhelmed Haverford D with run game.

I think NP will match Garnet physically. I like NP ability to be multiple better on offense. They can throw the ball. I also think if Garnet has to play the soph qb it will limit how much effectiveness they can have throwing it. I also think North Penn will be best offense they have seen by far. Ricci is great. He will attempt to limit possessions even if they are down 14. North Penn will score on some explosive plays. If they play turnover free think they win by two scores. Their issue is going to come with next offense that can really throw as we saw first time with dte.

 

[bmr2121]

The only team that can stop and beat North Penn in D1 is Pennridge! NP will beat Garnet Valley......