Central Bucks West squeaks by North Penn football. It came down to a field goal
DOYLESTOWN — This one figured to be close and, man oh man, it lived up to that expectation.
It took a 33-yard field goal with six seconds left in regulation by Central Bucks West senior Ryan Clemens to account for the final margin, a 17-14 win for the Bucks over visiting rival North Penn in a Suburban One League National Conference game between two teams that seem primed for deep playoff runs in the upcoming PIAA District One Class 6A tournament.
"We knew it would be close because they're a really good team and so are we," said CB West senior Devin McGowan, who rushed for 60 yards on four carries and scored the Bucks' first touchdown on a 32-yard scamper late in the first quarter.
"It was a little like Deja vu there at the end like our game against CB South. But this time we won it."
The Bucks lost to the Titans 22-17 on that game's final play (a 39-yard pass) before turning the tables against the Knights. (North Penn did have one more play from scrimmage after the field goal from Clemens, but a bad snap ended any hope of a miracle comeback.)
The Bucks improved to 7-2 with the win and 5-1 in the SOL National. The Knights dropped to 7-2 (4-2 SOL National).
CB West's Clemens has had quite a run: For Central Bucks West on the football field
McGowan's touchdown, followed by an 8-yard scamper around the right end by Clemens on the Bucks' next possession, gave the hosts a 14-0 lead that looked like it might be enough with the way West's defense was limiting an explosive Knights offense.
"I was happy with the way our defense played against a very good offense," CB West head coach Rob Rowan said.
"And we knew they would come back."
The Knights came back with a touchdown late in the second quarter on a short run by junior Aiden Ashley and then tied things up when senior Christian Johns-Wallace went in from the 1-yard line early in the fourth quarter.
However, prior to their second touchdown, North Penn junior quarterback Matt Bucksar was injured after barreling his way 15 yards on a fourth-and-five play to set up the score and had to leave the game.
North Penn's offense stalled after that, but the Knights did stop a potential West go-ahead score when sophomore Rylei Gray recovered a Bucks fumble in the end zone for a touchback with just under four minutes left.
The Knights went three and out, though, and West took over on its own 39 with 93 seconds showing and quickly moved down the field for the winning kick. Clemens ran for 26 of his game-high 165 rushing yards on the final drive and also caught an 11-yard pass.
"He does it all," Rowan said of Clemens. "That kid is just a superstar and we rely so much on him."
What does it mean for North Penn football?
Despite the loss, the Knights again showed they're legit. Their only two losses have come against unbeaten CB South and West by a combined 11 points. This is a team nobody will want to face in districts.
What does it mean for Central Bucks West football?
With the win, and if they can beat archrival CB East next week, the Bucks would likely earn a second or third seed in the district tournament and could be playing several home games in the playoffs.
Key play
In a game full of them, the clutch field goal by Clemens was the biggest.
Game balls
Ryan Clemens, CB West. He ran for 165 yards, caught passes, made a ton of tackles all in addition to kicking the winning field goal.
Ryan Bocklet, North Penn. The senior punter/kicker continually boomed his punts and his kickoffs and also made a leaping snag of a bad snap deep in Knights territory and got a punt off, averting disaster for the Knights.
They said it:
"Clemens is one of the best players in the league and in the state," North Penn head coach Dick Beck said. "He's so good on offense, but he's really, really good on defense, too, and made a lot of big tackles."
"We expected a 12-round heavyweight fight and that's what happened," Rowan said of West's fourth straight win over North Penn. "Two good teams slugging it out."
What's next for North Penn football?
The Knights play at Abington on Oct. 25 (7 p.m.).
What's next for Central Bucks West football?
The Bucks host Central Bucks East on Oct. 25 (7 p.m.).
Drew Markol covers local sports for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: High school football: Central Bucks West, North Penn
