Knights rally behind Gray and Pownall to secure 42-21 road win
North Penn opened its football season in convincing fashion Friday night, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Downingtown East, 42-21, in a nonleague matchup at Kottmeyer Stadium.
Senior running back Rylei Gray and receiver Matthew Pownall combined for five touchdowns, helping the Knights outscore East 28-14 in the second half, according to a report in The Daily Local. The win came despite a standout effort from East sophomore Juelz Chiron-Robinson, who rushed for 242 yards and two scores.
After falling behind 7-0 late in the first quarter, the Knights answered quickly, according to the gameplay report. A one-yard score by Gray tied the game, and a late touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Bucksar to Pownall gave North Penn a 14-7 halftime lead.
The Knights extended the margin in the third quarter with Pownall’s 45-yard run and a short touchdown by Gray following a Cougar fumble on the ensuing kickoff.
Gray later broke free for a 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth, his third of the night, before North Penn sealed the game with a defensive score, according to the article. Garrett Jacob returned a fumble 65 yards for the final touchdown, giving the Knights a three-score victory in their first trip back to Kottmeyer since a district playoff loss to Downingtown West last fall.
North Penn (1-0) will host Council Rock South on Thursday. For Downingtown East, the loss served as an early test against one of District 1’s perennial contenders.
Read the full game report at The Daily Local
