Rick O'Brien: La Salle-North Penn epic full of highlights

As countless people said afterward, the bout between a pair of Southeastern Pennsylvania football heavyweights couldn't have been scripted any better.

Well, maybe if it had lasted six or seven overtimes, was decided by a 55-yard field goal or a no-time-on-the clock Hail Mary pass, and drama was added by playing on a snow-covered or rain-pelted turf.

With back-and-forth scoring, No. 1 La Salle and No. 2 North Penn kept spectators at Plymouth Whitemarsh (many watched from outside the stadium) glued to the action for nearly all of the game's 48 minutes.

The Explorers' wild, 38-35 victory in Saturday's PIAA Class AAAA state semifinal wasn't settled until beefy tackle Ryan Geiger intercepted a deflected screen pass with 1 minute, 14 seconds to play. The Knights, out of time-outs, could not land another counterpunch.

Here is a review of the epic, which will long be remembered for its swift shifts in momentum, physical interior tussles, highlight-film catches, make-or-break plays, and overall competitiveness.

Best individual performance. With apologies to La Salle's Jamal Abdur-Rahman and Sean Coleman, North Penn's Dom Taggart, a rugged-as-anything fullback, carried 28 times for 138 yards and four touchdowns. He doubled as an outside linebacker.

Close second. Abdur-Rahman, a speedy tailback and Villanova recruit, rushed 21 times for 142 yards and three scores. In the second half, he produced bursts of 16, 19, and 23 yards. At cornerback, he notched three solo tackles and an assist.

Best catch. In the first quarter, Coleman (five receptions for 118 yards) made a diving, 27-yard grab over the middle. Two plays later, Abdur-Rahman scored from the 2 and Ryan Winslow's extra-point boot made it 7-7.

Best hit. In the third quarter, after Coleman made a 16-yard catch at the North Penn 19, he was nailed instantly by cornerback Danny Wynne. A dazed Coleman had to gather himself before getting up.

Top drive. Down by 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, the Knights put together a 15-play, 87-yard series that was capped by Taggart's 19-yard TD run off right tackle. On fourth and 8 from their own 48, up-back Craig Needhammer took a direct snap in punt formation and darted 8 yards to move the chains, just barely.