Athlete of the Week: Jesse Knepp (Pennridge)

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

amarcus@montgomerynews.com
Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Think about everything that has stood in the way of Pennridge running back Jesse Knepp since first suiting up for the Rams as a sophomore. Then realize he going to finish his high school career with nearly 4,000 rushing yards despite all the obstacles.

Pennridge RB/DB Jesse Knepp

His first two year in coach Randy Cuthbert's offense he has shared the rock with multiple players, usually three players averaging around 10 carries a game, but Knepp has done the most with his opportunities.
The two-way player has battled nagging injuries in the last two seasons and has missed some games, but when he is on the field you know he is going to do something special.
Maybe the injuries correlate with his running style, but it's what makes the 5-foot-9, 175 pounder such and impact for the Rams. When it looks like Knepp is about to be stopped for five yards, he lowers his shoulder, falls forward, and grab an extra foot. He is not afraid to take a big hit and he is always good for giving out a few ear-ringer blows of his own.
Knepp can taste the end zone as soon as he secures the ball between the 2-and-the-0 on the front of his jersey. He's not afraid to plow through the tackles or use his third gear to get outside.
Last Friday against Bensalem was just another typical day at Poppy Yoder Field for Knepp, but anyone else, highlights one-through-nine on their reel of film. Knepp picked up 230 yards on 25 carries. He scored three times from five, 35, and seven yards out in a 34-24 win. He was an easy pick for athlete of the week.

READ THE PENNRIDGE/BENSALEM GAME STORY HERE 

PENNRIDGE SEASON STATISTICS (2-0)

Rushing: Knepp 45-295, 4 TD; Cope 26-190, TD; Kim 3-68, TD; K. Peters 13-37; Marrero 2-17; C. Peters 4-15; Crawford 3-15; McCabe 2-11; Bingham 1-3.

Passing: K. Peters 7-19, 180, 4 TD, 1 INT.

Receiving: Knepp 3-8; Ferrier 2-30, 2 TD; Newman 1-64, TD; Cope 1-45; Moore 1-35, TD.

Interceptions: Marrero (1), Crawford (1), McCabe (1)

Sacks: Short (1), Cope (1)

Field goals/Field goals attempted: 0/0

XP/XPA: Caya 7/8; Dubyk 1/1

Continental Conference Standings

Pennridge     2-0, 0-0

Central Bucks West     2-0,0-0  

Central Bucks East     1-1, 0-0

Hatboro-Horsham     1-1, 0-0

Souderton     1-1, 0-0

Quakertown     1-1, 0-0

North Penn     1-1, 0-0

Scores from around the area...

Pennington 40, Jenkintown 14 (click to read the story)

Lower Moreland 19, Calvary Christian 18 (click to read the story)

Abington 13, Plymouth-Whitemarsh 7

Methacton 14, Upper Merion 7

Downingtown East 49, Norristown 10

North Penn 42, Lansdale Catholic 0 

Souderton 39, Perkiomen Valley 0 (click to read the story)

Cheltenham 27, Bishop McDevitt 13 (click to read the story)

Neshaminy 35, Hatboro-Horsham 7 (click to read the story)

Archbishop Ryan 27, Wissahickon 20

Spring-Ford 27, Sussex Tech 7

Pottsgrove 57, Pope John Paul II 6

Archbishop Wood 42, Chestnut Hill 13 (click to read the story)
Simon Gratz 28, Germantown Academy 15