Intelligencer/Courier Times: "Let's Talk Football" (9-4-15)

Back for its sixth season, the popular Intelligencer/Courier Times ‘Let’s Talk Football’ features Kevin Cooney and Drew Markol.  Cooney, the Phillies beat writer, will handle the Bucks County Courier Times coverage area and also is part of a panel each Friday night on the WNPV/Intelligencer Scoreboard Show. Markol is the football beat writer for the Intelligencer area. Both are regular contributors on the weekly Game On show, and to view this week’s show, click on the following link: http://www.theintell.com/videos/hsgameon/  To stay on top of the high school football news in the area, visit the Intelligencer/Courier Times web site http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/

SuburbanOneSports.com:  Heading into the opening weekend, what are your initial thoughts about football in the Suburban One League this season?

Kevin Cooney:  “I was on Game On today, and I said that I think there’s a strong chance that no Suburban One League team makes the semifinals in District One. I have a rationale for that. If you look on paper, this will be the year of the quarterback. You look at Brandon McIlwain (Council Rock North), you look at Mason Jones (Neshaminy), you look at Mike Alley (Pennsbury), you look at Tom Garlick (Quakertown), and you look at Ryan Stover (Upper Dublin). There are some good quarterbacks across the board, and I think you’re seeing offenses that are a little more college-centric. Where I worry about the teams – it seems like there are a lot of questions along the lines. I wonder, as you get deeper into the tournament, what kind of shape these quarterbacks going to be in, not so much that they’re going to be injured but how banged up are they going to be? How many hits are they going to take?

“Those are pretty big questions that I think all these teams have to answer, especially the teams in the National Conference. The National Conference is going to be a meat grinder again because you still have Pennsbury, Neshaminy and North Penn in there, and Abington is in the mix. Pennsbury last year was a super team, and you saw they were a clear notch above. Nobody, at least on paper, jumps out at you like that. Pennsbury is very good, but I don’t think they’re a clear notch above everybody else. I think Neshaminy will be better this year because some of the turmoil they had last year is gone, and Steve Wilmot helps the situation. I think Dick Beck will have North Penn playing better. Their schedule at the beginning is still very tough. You have La Salle this week, and you have Downingtown East in week three.

“I just look at everything, and I have to wonder. On paper, if you look at the Suburban One League as a whole, Upper Dublin may be the best team. Obviously, they went deep into the playoffs last year, but does their schedule prepare for them to take the next step in districts? I don’t know, and those are questions that may get answered in time.

“You look at Coatesville, you look at the two Downingtowns, you look at Garnet Valley - there seems to be a little bit of a shift this year. I just think those Chester County and Delaware County teams are better.

“North Penn is going to be interesting because you have Nyfease West there. If they can get their offensive line together, North Penn is a sleeper, and how often can you say North Penn is a sleeper?

“I’m at a point right now where if I look at this right now, I just think the Suburban One League is a little down from where it’s been. This leads to a bigger district issue because it almost seems like the District One Tournament is going to be the ceiling for these teams this year because of everything that’s gone on with the Philadelphia Catholic League, the private schools and even how District 11 has improved. I don’t see a state team coming out of District One, I just don’t.

“That Pennsbury team last year was as good as the Suburban One League has had in the last 10 years, and if they don’t get St. Joe’s Prep, they probably get to a state final, but Prep is so dominant. You almost wonder if that’s the brick wall now, and that leads to other issues. I just get that sense right now, and this is not picking on Pennsbury – this is everybody – I just don’t know if it’s realistic to think public schools can win a state title, and I don’t know if it’s realistic to think all the power still resides in District One in the Suburban One League.

“And we’re not even counting Ridley. Ridley’s not really even factored in this equation anymore. We’re talking the Downingtowns, we’re talking Coatesville, which are growing areas.”

Drew Markol:  “It’s too early to talk across the district, but as far as the SOL is concerned, Upper Dublin might be the best team. That quarterback – Ryan Stover – is a stud. If Brandon McIlwain is the best player in the district, Stover is not far behind. In last year’s district semifinal against Pennsbury, that game could have gone either way. Pennsbury goes on and hands it to Coatesville in the district final, but Upper Dublin really gave them a fight, and you could see that Upper Dublin team had a lot of juniors. It wasn’t just Stover – he does have some help. Maybe it’s a little bit odd with an American Conference school, but they are absolutely legit.

“You have to look at Pennsbury because they’re the defending district champs. They did lose a lot, but they’ll restock pretty well. Losing Charles Snorweah will hurt them.

“Having McIlwain at CR North – it all depends on what he has around him and how much help he gets. He can’t be running for his life on every play, but he can also win them some games because it’s not every day you get a South Carolina signee playing quarterback for you.

“The Continental Conference is very interesting. You have CR North, Quakertown and CB East, and you can’t forget Truman and CR South. And how about CB West? Their numbers are pretty good, and they have a new coach. With Quakertown, you have Tom Garlick at quarterback for a full season. Last year when they made the district playoffs and won their first district playoff game, they had some nice seniors, but they had some good sophomores and juniors who helped and are now a year older. That’s a huge thing in high school football because if you have a bunch of seniors who have been there before, you’re going to do well.

“At CB East, this looks like one of the best teams John Donnelly has had there, and the early word is – you have to take this as a grain of salt because all we’ve seen are scrimmages – that they’re pretty good. Their running back, senior Alex Gibson, was hurt last year, but he’s back and that will help. There are a lot of good teams and a lot of good players in the Continental, so it will be an interesting thing to keep an eye on as we go along.

“Again, like last year, top to bottom, I think that is the most interesting conference of the three because you look at the National, and it’s the usual suspects with Pennsbury, North Penn and Neshaminy. From what I’ve heard, Pennridge is supposed to be very good. Jeff Hollenbach has said it’s the biggest team he’s had in 15 years, and who knows about CB South? They lost Josh Adams, but their numbers are pretty good. I remember talking to Souderton coach Ed Gallagher a couple of years ago, and he said when this current group, who are now seniors – he had pretty high hopes for them. When you looked at the games last year, you could see glimpses of potential. Again, they’re in a tough conference, but do I think they’ll be better? Yes, absolutely, but again, I think the Continental will be the most interesting to watch.”

SuburbanOneSports.com:  Central Bucks West will face Central Bucks South in its opener. Your thoughts about the Bucks starting a new era.

Kevin Cooney: “West has a new coaching staff and kind of a fresh start. It’s going to probably be pretty emotional there. That being said, the problems they’re going to have are the problems they had before all of this – and that’s talent, and what I mean by talent is they’re not deep. They’re the type of team that will surprise some teams in some years, but they’re not a steady contender anymore because it’s just too hard. They could benefit next year from realignment, but I think this year it’s going to be one of those years, ‘Let’s just get the program back on its feet.’ If they go 6-4 or 5-5, that’s a great year for West.”

Drew Markol:  “The new coach, Chas Cathers, is a young guy, but those kids seem to swear by him. They look organized, their numbers are good – they’ve got a good turnout, and they just seem like they’re buying into what he’s saying. Sure, they have a lot to play for. They lost their last two games last year because of the hazing issue, and all of a sudden your season is over. The juniors back from a year ago who saw that happen are saying, ‘That was then. We need to show this is a new group, and we want to pick it up and show the community we got everything straightened out and we’re looking to rebound.’ There’s no better way to do that than win a couple of games and get that moving.

“For those West kids, their big game is CB East, but I think this is a telling game. For West, they have something to prove because we didn’t see their last two games, and South was so much with Josh Adams over the past couple of years. People thought of them, and it’s Adams left, Adams right and Adams up the middle. With Adams at Notre Dame, that’s no longer the case. Can they do some different things? I heard their numbers are tremendous.”

SuburbanOneSports.com:  North Penn opens its season with a tough La Salle team. What are your thoughts about that game?

Kevin Cooney:  “La Salle has been the elephant in the room, if you will, and I give Dick Beck credit – he’s not ducked them. There are some other schools that probably would have ditched out of this game.

“There’s a new coaching staff at La Salle this year, so that may change things a little bit. The Gordons are not there, Mark Schmidt, who was there last year, isn’t there. Nyfease West back helps North Penn. North Penn is in a situation where they will be better in October because they play a game like this, but can you go through the lumps? Can you get over the hurdle?

“If I’m Dick Beck and if I’m within a touchdown, mission accomplished. If you win the game, you’re off to a really good start because then you have West Catholic next week and then you go to Downingtown East in two weeks. You’ve come out of the meat grinder 2-1 and with a sense of momentum going into the league season. If he goes 1-2 and plays well all three games, I think he’d be okay, but this is the type of game that has given North Penn trouble early in the season, and I could see it again Friday night.”

Drew Markol:  “It’s a good game for North Penn to play, it’s a good way to gauge yourself – you’re playing one of the top teams in the area, maybe one of the top teams in the state. La Salle has that St. Joe’s Prep hurdle to get over if they want to get back into the state playoff title talk, but they’ll be good. Kyle Shurmer, the quarterback, is gone – he’s at Vanderbilt, but I’m sure they have somebody waiting to step in. For North Penn, it’s a tough schedule again. It’s La Salle, and then West Catholic next week. West Catholic is small, but they’re always good. They took North Penn to overtime last year. What North Penn needs is just to win a couple of these early games so they don’t put themselves in a hole. Once they get things together, they start playing together, but you’re walking a thin line if you have to keep trying to do that. They need a good start. Nyfease West is a senior now, and he’ll get a ton of work. We’ll see.

“Dick Beck had to replace his entire offensive line, which is usually not a great sign, so a lot will depend on how fast that offensive line figures it out.”

SuburbanOneSports.com:  Any other opening week games that catch your eye?

Kevin Cooney:  Neshaminy is playing a New Jersey team, and the Jersey teams are technically in week zero. Pennsbury and CR South is a little interesting just because that’s a tough style. Right out of the gate, you’re going against the wishbone. Pennsbury is going to be favored, but it’s an interesting style to start with.

“CB East opening its new stadium – that’s a big moment for their program. It’s a shame they don’t have lights, but when you’ve been waiting 50 years for a stadium, you can wait five more years for the lights.

“If you’re looking for the must-watch games this year, you have the obvious ones – North Penn/Neshaminy, Neshaminy/Pennsbury. You could take the four teams at the top of the National, and every time they play it will be bloody. Neshaminy finishing on the road at North Penn and at Pennsbury will be an incredibly tough ending. I’m fascinated by Quakertown and CR North because it’s Brandon McIlwain going against probably the best team in the Continental Conference. PW and Upper Dublin will be interesting.

“The way the preseason schedule is usually set up. In week one you usually have a handful of marquee games, in week two, you have the absolute fluff-a-nutter of non-league games, and then week three you may have a scattering of really good non-league games. Then you turn everyone loose.

“This first week is interesting because kids’ heads aren’t always there. Even if you’re back to school, you’re in that not-really-back-to-school rotation. It’s going to be interesting to see how this all breaks down.”

On September 2, the Kevin J. Cooney Memorial Foundation Golf Tournament – in memory of Kevin Coooney’s father - will be held at Middletown Golf Club. Former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel will be there. Proceeds will benefit The Cancer Treatment Center of America and the Juniata Golf Foundation. The entry fee is $125 - $120 per person if a foursome. Hole sponsorships opportunities available as well. For more information, e-mail KevinCooney40@gmail.com.  Donations also can be sent to: Kevin J Cooney Memorial Foundation, The Beneficial Bank, 3202 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia PA 19114.