Repeat of last year as St. Joe's Prep, North Penn clash

Can you say déjà vu? Just like last year, when they held the same positions in The Inquirer's Southeastern Pennsylvania top-10 poll, No. 1-ranked St. Joseph's Prep and No. 2 North Penn are set to clash.

The perennial powers met to open the 2007 campaign. After giving up an early score, the visiting Knights wore down the Hawks and triumphed, 17-7, at Plymouth Whitemarsh.

North Penn, 2-0 after wins against Bethlehem Liberty and Lansdale Catholic, have back three top-notch skill-position players from last year: flanker Ronnie Akins, halfback Tyler Smith, and quarterback Justin Davey.

The run-oriented Knights show multiple formations, run counterplays for Akins, and use Davey on keeper plays and in the shotgun formation.

Of the 5-foot-11, 190-pound Akins, a Division I-A recruit, Prep coach Gil Brooks said: "You can't let him catch those short balls. If he gets the ball out in space, he'll kill you."

While they passed 30 times and netted 223 yards through the air in last year's loss to North Penn, the Hawks (2-0) so far have concentrated on their running game. With a rugged downhill rushing attack, they have thrown just 10 times in victories over Parkland and St. Anthony's (N.Y.).

"You have to get them off the field," Knights coach Dick Beck said. "We can't let them have 20-play drives where there are a lot of 3-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust plays."

Here is a look at the game:

Coaches. Dick Beck is 69-14 in six seasons at North Penn. In 16 seasons at the Prep, Gil Brooks is 147-50-2.

History. North Penn leads the series, two games to one. The teams split in 1999 and 2000, with the Knights winning by 47-6 in 1999 and the Prep by 55-26 in 2000.

Familiar look. Brooks said North Penn's offensive scheme is similar to the one Central Bucks West ran during its dynasty years under Mike Pettine. The link? Beck played under Pettine and then coached with Pettine's son, Mike Jr., at William Tennent and North Penn.

Big boys. The Prep's offensive line includes center Matt Dykan (5-11, 231), guards Mike Pinciotti (6-3, 292) and Shawn Davis (6-0, 265), tackles Mark Arcidiacano (6-5, 282) and Seth Betancourt (6-6, 289), and tight ends Dan McGeever (6-2, 228) and Dan Friedman (6-4, 257).

Referring to the Penn State-bound Arcidiacano and Betancourt, Beck said: "We don't have anybody on our team that size. We're going to have to try to stop them any way we can."

Strong leg. Give North Penn the edge in the kicking game. Brandon McManus is a standout placekicker and punter. Last season, he boomed a 55-yard field goal against Pennridge and a 42-yarder against the Prep.

Injury report. Beck said the Knights are injury-free. Brooks said the Prep will be without 6-1, 208-pound junior defensive end Mike Zikoski (ankle). Junior Sean McGinn (6-4, 237), who had been rotating with Zikoski, will see full-time duty.

The spread. Prep by 31/2.

Analysis. North Penn's play along the defensive line has improved, but we see the Prep winning the majority of the interior battles. Look for a couple of surprise passes from quarterback Mark Giubilato to be the difference.

Pick: Prep, 20-14.