Back for a fourth season is the popular Intelligencer/Courier Times ‘Let’s Talk Football,’ featuring high school football beat writers Kevin Cooney and Dan Dunkin. Cooney, the Phillies beat writer, covers schools in the Intelligencer area while Dan Dunkin – who has been covering sports at the high school and professional level for 25 years - will cover teams in the Courier Times area. Both share their perspective on the teams in their coverage area. To stay on top of the high school football news in the area, visit the web site http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/
(Note: Kevin Cooney was unable to contribute to ‘Let’s Talk Football’ this week. SuburbanOneSports.com football writer Scott Huff is filling in during his absence.)
SuburbanOneSports.com: Neshaminy manhandled another opponent in Downingtown West last Friday. Your thoughts about the Redskins.
Dan Dunkin: “I find Neshaminy a very interesting team. They have exciting potential, and they’re on a nice track right now. They’ve had two good games to start the season. They’re playing like they should play with excellent senior leadership, a really good blend of talent on both sides of the ball and just a lot of commitment – attacking, really playing hard and smart. They’re really doing a good job.
“A great case in point was game two against Frankford. Like I said, that was going to be a big test for their defense. Well, they passed with an ‘A’ because they shut them down, and their defense really was the story of the game. All the formations Downingtown West comes at you with – the motion, just everything, it was a lot to prepare for, and their staff and their kids prepared great, and it showed. Their offense took care of the rest. Their running game was led by a really good line. D’Andre Pollard is popping on all cylinders. Another bright sign was how well their quarterback – Tyler Wombaugh – played. He made some really nice throws – he rolls out and throws the ball really well. That was a good sign for them. What they’re done – they’ve added some dimensions to their offense and their defense, and it makes them more dangerous this year than last year. They’ve got good speed on the flanks, they’ve got good speed in the backfield, they’ve got depth, and they’ve got the speed on defense they wanted with their personnel movement.
“Alex Nicholas is doing a terrific job at nose tackle. He’s very hard to block, he’s low to the ground, very powerful, good quickness. Luke Carrezola, who’s going to UConn, is off to a terrific start at defensive end. Denny Lord is really playing well at inside linebacker. He was one of the personnel moves, and their secondary played fantastic against Downingtown West. That’s a big play team. They throw the ball deep quite a bit, and they have got the speed and togetherness back there. They didn’t allow anything, and they made some great plays, so hats off.
“Going into Souderton on Thursday, I think this is a ‘take care of business’ team. If they play well this week, that will prove that. Some people might say it’s a trap game. They got sky high for Downingtown West, and now you have a short week, Souderton is down, and Neshaminy is going to have a letdown. I don’t think so. Not the way this staff coaches and prepares and the kind of leadership and maturity they have on this team. I think they’re going to take care of Souderton pretty handily.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Pennsbury had an impressive showing against a strong Frankford team. Talk about the Falcons.
Dan Dunkin: “That was a necessary game they had to have coming off that tough loss at Easton where they played with a very strong team for more than a half and then they kind of faded down the stretch. They went into Frankford, which is not a very easy road test. They’re a very athletic Public League team and beat them 43-12. “Chuck Snorweah really looks good at running back. He got better in the offseason. He’s stronger. He’s not a big kid, but he’s compact and he’s got really good speed, breaks a lot of tackles. Like Neshaminy, they’ve got good depth at running back.
“It also was important for their defense to settle in and play a better game than they did against Easton and they did because they didn’t allow any big plays except the special teams allowed a kickoff to be run back in the second half. Defensively, they played well after the opening drive and really shut down Frankford, which has weapons. They made them throw, and they could hardly complete a pass. I think that was a confidence booster.
“Pennsbury is a young team, but they’re really going to be good down the road. It’s going to be interesting to see how good they get to be this year. I think this game on Thursday is going to tell a lot. It’s Downingtown East again like last year, but it’s a much different Downingtown East team. They’re very good and expected to be in the hunt in their league playoffs as usual, but they’re not a pedal-to-the-metal passing team. They’re a power running team, and they have made defense a priority whereas in the past it was like pinball – they were a finesse team and just outscored you. They’re a lot different. They’re more like Pennsbury, and I think this plays into Pennsbury’s wheelhouse. I think this team is going to be jacked up at home to make a statement. They played their tails off at Downingtown East last year and lost 42-28 against one of those typical Downingtown East no-huddle offenses, and they hung in there well. They want to make a statement in this game. They’re at home, and I think it’s important that they not only play well but they win and come out of this tough schedule 2-1 and hit the ground running for the SOL National.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: What is your early impression of an Abington team that is 2-0 out of the gate?
Dan Dunkin: “Abington is kind of a mystery to me. They’re always going to have some speed. Craig Reynolds is really, really a good player. He’s made himself better. He’s one of the best backs in the area, no question about it. I think what we have to look at with Abington is – how is their speed going to work versus the physicality and speed of a Neshaminy and Pennsbury?”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Truman hung tough with Upper Dublin after beating Lincoln the first week. Share your thoughts about Truman.
Dan Dunkin: “I’m big on Truman. I’m on the Truman bandwagon. I’ll say it again – they’re going to win three or four league games this year. I’m predicting that but not Neshaminy or Pennsbury. You can do the math on the rest. The Upper Dublin coach himself said it – they’re not the old Truman. They will hang in there with you and trade blows. They have good athletes, they have good kids, they’re committed. The seniors have been with Ed Cubbage and his staff for four years. All that hard hard work – it’s starting to pay off, and the culture is starting to change there. I give their staff a ton of credit. You can’t measure their progress yet in wins, but now they’re going to see some more this year. It would be good to see them get some tangible results.
“You can certainly measure the progress they’ve made in terms of the roster numbers, kids that have stuck with it, the individual improvements and the way they’ve been competitive with more teams. I think with the new league realignment next year, they’re going to be right in there now because they’re going to be playing against schools their own size. I think some of the teams they can beat this year are some of the teams they’re going to be playing next year in the Continental Conference. I think Truman is turning the corner, no doubt.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Do you have any thoughts about the remaining National Conference schools?
Dan Dunkin: “Council Rock North is a bit of a mystery because they’re 2-0, but how good are they? They haven’t played a top notch team, and again, that’s the case this week. (Quarterback) Brandon McIlwain is playing well, but their defense isn’t tackling well, and they don’t have a lot of depth. I don’t know about them in the league this year. They’ve got some good kids and a good staff, but they’re kind of a mystery to me. McIlwain is wonderful to have, but their defense – that, to me, is the key. They’ve got to play more consistently this year to be in the hunt.
“I want to see Council Rock South against Pennridge on Thursday. I give Vince Bedesem a lot of credit for scheduling the way he does. My feeling is they’re going to be way more competitive in the league this year than last year, and they’re going to get some tough benefits from this tough schedule. As I noticed against CB South, they are a physical, aggressive team. They just made a lot of mistakes – big play breakdowns on defense, but I think they’re correctible. I like the way their quarterback, Greg Paprocki, has improved running the offense. They do have some good running backs, so I think they’ll be able to play their system better this with their defense playing better then they can get ball control with their wishbone. I want to see them play well against Pennridge though. They need to in order to go into the league season with some confidence, but I think they’re going to be okay.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: The most surprising score last week had to be North Penn’s 49-3 loss to Archbishop Wood. Your thoughts on North Penn as it heads into this week’s game with St. Joe Prep.
Scott Huff: “North Penn has proven to be one of the elite programs in the state of Pennsylvania for the last decade, and any loss by the Knights is surprising. This final score was shocking – even more shocking in that it took place on the grass and dirt at Crawford Stadium. Last year North Penn failed to make the PIAA Quad-A district playoffs, but don’t count the Knights out of those district playoffs this year – yet. The one nagging fact about the rugged Knights’ opening season schedule against Philadelphia Catholic League powers La Salle, Wood, and St. Joe Prep is that those teams can basically ‘recruit’ each and every year, and North Penn is bound by school district boundary. Sure the Knights have a huge male school enrollment, but there are no guarantees that awesome talent resides in the North Penn school district. After losses to La Salle and Wood by a collective score of 83-10, the Knights get St. Joe’s Prep. The Hawks, touted one of the premier teams in the state this season, come into this game with a lopsided loss of their own. The nationally ranked Don Bosco Prep of New Jersey gunned down St. Joe Prep 42-0 last week – an equally shocking loss? Give North Penn and head coach Dick Beck credit – the Knights don’t schedule ‘cupcakes’ in the non-conference games. And sometimes that results in a painfully losing diet.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Pennridge senior Michael Class became the all-time leading rusher in Pennridge school history last Friday in the Rams’ win over Bensalem. What are the numbers?
Scott Huff: “Michael Class has rushed for a career total of 4,088 yards, and that eclipsed the career mark of 4,046 yards registered by 2004 Ram graduate Ryan Greiser. Class will be presented a game football after the national anthem before the Pennridge home game against Council Rock South this Friday to honor his accomplishment. The rumor mill, buy the way, has the talented Class showing an interest in attending Lehigh University next year. That is just a rumor – but we always enjoy a good rumor.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Talk about the three unbeaten teams in the SOL Continental Conference – Pennridge, Quakertown, and Hatboro-Horhsam.
Scott Huff: “Pennridge being part of that conversation is not at all surprising. The Rams had one of the most exciting wins in recent memory in their 33-27 overtime win over Emmaus in the ‘Return of Randy Cuthbert Bowl’ and followed that with a 37-6 win over a Bensalem team that upset PHS last year. Quakertown and Hatboro-Horsham, though, are a different story. The Panthers and Hatters each won just a single game a season ago – and each is 2-0 this year. It is great to see those programs reclaim some of the respect that those proud alumni have been searching for in recent seasons. Pennridge meets CR South (0-2) this week; Quakertown meets Cheltenham (1-1); and Hatboro-Horsham meets CR North (2-0) in Week Three.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: What are your thoughts about Souderton and Central Bucks South?
Scott Huff: “Both the Indians and the Titans played excellent football programs and suffered defeats that should benefit them as the season moves along. Souderton played two fine programs in Pottsgrove and Unionville and led both games before taking a spanking later in the game. Now the Indians get to play Neshaminy – one of the very best teams in the state. And if Neshminy is not the best team in the state – Coatesville just might be. CB South took a 46-13 beat down against the Red Raiders last week – and talented running back Josh Adams was held to negative yardage. That won’t happen this week when CB South plays Notre Dame (New Jersey) this week.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Your thoughts about Central Bucks West & East?
Scott Huff: “Central Bucks West and Central Bucks East both bounced back from season opening losses. West featured the talents of Truman transfer Marvin Todd in its win over William Tennent, and the Bucks should be in good shape to win a second straight against Wissahickon this week. CB East has featured the talents of quarterback Zach Nelsen and receiver Brandon Ilkiw who set school records in the loss to Boyertown. The Patriots’ home date with Abington should be one of the ‘must-see’ games of the weekend with the way that both teams can move the football.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Talk about the two unbeaten teams in the SOL American Conference – Upper Dublin and Springfield.
Scott Huff: “Upper Dublin is somewhat of a surprise in that the young Cardinals start five sophomores on both offense and defense. Senior quarterback John Derr has thrived in his leadership role and has taken charge of the offense with his super ability to run the football. Upper Dublin should easily move to 3-0 for the non-conference portion of the schedule, as the Cardinals will travel to Philadelphia to play Lincoln on Friday. Springfield has proven that it not only can play with its level of competition – but also excel at that level. The Spartans have beaten both Lower Moreland and Neumann Goretti this season in convincing fashion, and has an unwanted bye in the schedule this week. Things get a whole lot more difficult, however, as Springfield moves into the Suburban One League American Conference portion of the schedule. The Spartans are the only Class AA team in a conference that features five Quad-A teams, two Triple-A teams – and Springfield.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Plymouth Whitemarsh has gotten off to a slower than slow start. Why?
Scott Huff: “Plymouth Whitemarsh had transformed itself into the class of the SOL American the last few seasons and challenged itself to a difficult non-conference schedule with Perkiomen Valley, Abington, and Downingtown West. Perk Valley is near the top of the Pioneer Athletic Conference and handled the Colonials 33-0, while Abington is near the top of the SOL National Conference and routed PW 34-12. Now the Colonials must face a good Downingtown West team that is near the top of the Ches-Mont League and is coming off a 39-0 loss to Neshaminy. Ouch. Things will improve once Plymouth Whitemarsh – the defending SOL American Conference champion - begins its SOL American schedule.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: What are your thoughts about Wissahickon?
Scott Huff: “Wissahickon is much like both Plymouth Whitemarsh and North Penn. Like the Colonials and Knights, Wissahickon challenged itself with a non-conference game against Archbishop Ryan last week and suffered a 42-7 loss. The Trojans – who won a PIAA District One playoff game last season with a stunning 38-35 win over Downingtown East – might have moved ‘up’ a little too far to schedule a PCL power like Ryan. However, the Trojans did so last season and the turned out just fine for Head Coach Jeff Cappa and his team.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Which is the real Cheltenham? Are the Panthers the team that lost 56-14 to Downingtown West or the team that whipped up on Bishop McDevitt 42-0?
Scott Huff: “Neither. Things will begin to shake themselves out this week when Cheltenham meets Quakertown. Both breeds of Panther should be extremely well matched this season, and Head Coach Joe Gro will begin to get a clearer picture of his team after this week. The game films from the Downingtown West and Bishop McDevitt games will be of little or no help to either Gro or his future opponents.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Upper Merion came up with its first win. Who’s next?
Scott Huff: “Upper Merion was shut out in its first game against Penncrest, but responded with a 34-point outbreak in the Vikings 34-14 victory over Octorara. Jequan Mitchell rushed for close to 200 yards and quarterback Carmen Fortino passed for over 130 yards in the win as Upper Merion showed nice offensive balance. Up next for the Vikings in Olney from the Philadelphia Public League. Look for UM to enter SOL American Conference play next week with a 2-1 non-conference record.”
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