In his final football notebook of the season, Scott Huff shares his team of the year, player of the year as well as his top offensive player and game of the year for every SOL squad.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
2015 SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE YEAR IN REVIEW
TEAM OF THE YEAR – UPPER DUBLIN FLYING CARDINALS
The 1986 movie Hoosiers about the 1952 fictional Indiana state basketball champion Hickory High School Huskers was a reminder of the remarkable season that Upper Dublin had in 2015.
There was no state championship at the conclusion of the season, however the Flying Cardinals could boast of a PIAA Quad-A District One championship. The journey for Upper Dublin to the district title included wins over much larger schools – much like the Huskers - that included Upper Darby (45-14), Pennsbury (24-14), and finally North Penn (46-21) in the district championship game.
The Cardinals played with heart – no doubt – but don’t be fooled. Upper Dublin was loaded with talent on both sides of the football – and the victories in the district playoffs were not upsets. Head coach Bret Stover had a team that was expected to be very good prior to the season – and in the final analysis – the team was great by the close of the season.
The only blemish on the Cardinal season was a loss to Parkland in the PIAA Quad-A Eastern Finals – and it is a small scar that will long be forgotten in years to come.
Congratulations to the Upper Dublin Cardinals – the best team the SOL had to offer in 2015.
- Upper Dublin by the numbers
- Record - 14 wins and 1 loss.
- Quarterback * Ryan Stover – 157 completions – 2525 yards – 27 touchdowns.
- Running backs * Kalief Lee – 138 carries – 1028 yards – 19 touchdowns; Stover 86 carries – 1003 yards – 13 touchdowns; Stacey Gardner 48 carries – 528 yards – 15 touchdowns.
- Receivers * Jack Rapine 33 receptions – 539 yards – 5 touchdowns; Danny Boggs 28 receptions – 444 yards – 4 touchdowns; Michael Sowers 19 receptions – 308 yards – 5 touchdowns.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – BRANDON MCILWAIN – COUNCIL ROCK NORTH
There is little doubt that quarterback McIlwain – the PA Gatorade Player of the Year - was the best of the elite players in the Suburban One League this season. The South Carolina University recruit registered some eye-popping numbers in his four years as a starter for CR North – and his senior season directed the Indians to a SOL Continental Conference outright championship.
The astonishing numbers for the 2015 championship season were 225 completions for 1528 yards and 30 touchdowns – and 148 carries for 1727 yards and 17 touchdowns. If you do the math – 3255 yards and 47 touchdowns – and he played two games with an injured thumb. The word incredible doesn’t come close to describing his spectacular season.
The remarkable numbers for McIlwain’s career are equally astounding. He has passed for over 6,500 yards and 54 touchdowns – and rushed for over 3800 yards and 43 touchdowns. Again the math is ridiculous – over 10,300 yards and 97 touchdowns.
Oh by the way, McIlwain was voted as a first team SOL Continental Conference player as a defensive back.
In an era of high school football in the area where outstanding Division One players are scooped up by the private schools – McIlwain most likely turned away offers and stayed with his teammates and friends at Council Rock North.
Council Rock North head coach Adam Collachi – and the fans of the Suburban One League – were blessed to see the four-year career of one of the finest players in recent years.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- Goodbye to Abington head coach Tim Sorber. Sorber handed in his resignation after 16 mostly successful years as head coach of the Ghosts. “I put my heart and soul into the job,” said Sorber. “The job is year round – and it wears on you. I would love to come back as an assistant coach at some point. I respect the administration at Abington for the support I have gotten since taking over as head coach. It was a difficult decision – but it was time.”
- Goodbye to both Norristown and Upper Merion. The Eagles and the Vikings played their last game in the Suburban One League – ironically against each other on Thanksgiving morning – and both will exit the SOL to move to the Pioneer Athletic Conference next season. “We will miss the Suburban One League,” said Norristown head coach Joe Powel. “But we are looking forward to playing schools like Spring-Ford and Perkiomen Valley next year and creating new rivalries.”
- Bensalem had a new head coach in Ed Cubbage – the same Ed Cubbage that helped turn around the ever-improving Truman Tiger football program. The Owls entered the 2015 season with a 17-game losing streak with their last win coming on September 21, 2013 against Council Rock South (42-35) – and ended the season with a 28-game losing streak. Bensalem came close to a win in a 36-35 loss to Abington. With Cubbage directing the program, some wins should come next year.
- Wissahickon struggled to a 1-9 record and had its head coach suspended early in the season. The Trojans hope to rebuild its program next season under the direction of both a new head coach and new athletic director Randy Cuthbert. Good luck.
- Hooray for District 11 champion Parkland who defeated La Salle in the PIAA Quad-A quarterfinals and then defeated Upper Dublin in the Eastern Final. The public school Trojans were able to overcome the ‘recruiting’ private school District 12 Explorers. Don’t get me started on the ‘fairness’ of the private vs. public school debate. Let’s just say that it was a great year for Parkland and Upper Dublin.
- Say goodbye to the current SOL National, Continental, and American Conference football configurations. Say hello to the ‘new’ configuration for 2016 necessitated by the defection of both Norristown and Upper Merion to the Pioneer Athletic Conference. The ‘new’ SOL National will consist of Neshaminy, Pennsbury, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Abington, Truman, and Bensalem. The ‘new’ SOL Continental Conference will feature North Penn, Pennridge, Souderton, Central Bucks South, Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, and William Tennent. The ‘new’ SOL American Conference will consist of Quakertown, Upper Dublin, Upper Moreland, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Hatboro-Horsham, Cheltenham, Wissahickon, and Springfield.
2015 SOL American Conference Year in Review
Upper Dublin Cardinals (14-1, 7-0)
Game of the Year: Upper Dublin 46 – North Penn 21
Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Stover
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (10-3, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Upper Moreland 49 – Plymouth Whitemarsh 35
Offensive Player of the Year: Rodney Morgan
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-3, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Downingtown East 35 – PW 28
Offensive Player of the Year: Nafeese Nasir
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (5-6, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Hatboro-Horsham 20 - Upper Moreland 13
Offensive Player of the Year: Casey Walsh
Cheltenham Panthers (5-7, 3-4)
Game of the Year: Cheltenham 41 – Abington 36
Offensive Player of the Year: Brendan Mack
Springfield Spartans (4-7, 2-5)
Game of the Year: Springfield 26 – Bristol 12
Offensive Player of the Year: Justin Hill
Upper Merion Vikings (5-7, 1-6)
Game of the Year: Upper Merion 26 – Norristown 10
Offensive Player of the Year: Isaiah Graham-Mobley
Wissahickon Trojans (1-9, 0-7)
Game of the Year: Wissahickon 7 – Central 6
Offensive Player of the Year: Mason Menhart
2015 SOL Continental Conference Year in Review
Council Rock North Indians (7-4, 6-1)
Game of the Year: Council Rock North 41 – Quakertown 31
Offensive Player of the Year: Brandon McIlwain
Quakertown Panthers (10-3, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Quakertown 28 – Pennridge 21
Offensive Player of the Year: Rob Burns
Central Bucks East Patriots (8-3, 5-2)
Game of the Year: CB East 24 – Quakertown 23
Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Gibson
Council Rock South Golden Hawks (6-4, 5-2)
Game of the Year: CR South 32 – CB East 26
Offensive Player of the Year: Brendan Patterson
Harry S Truman Tigers (6-6, 2-5)
Game of the Year: HST 18 – Conwell-Egan 17
Offensive Player of the Year: Maurice Jackson
Norristown Eagles (4-7, 2-5)
Game of the Year: Norristown 44 – CR North 43
Offensive Player of the Year: Khalif Sinclair
Central Bucks West Bucks (3-7, 3-4)
Game of the Year: CB West 31 – Norristown 28
Offensive Player of the Year: Eddie Shields
William Tennent Panthers (3-7, 0-7)
Game of the Year: William Tennent 54 – Oxford 14
Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Pitcher
SOL National Conference Year in Review
North Penn Knights (11-3, 7-0)
Game of the Year: North Penn 27 – Downingtown East 14
Offensive Player of the Year: Nyfease West
Neshaminy Redskins (9-4, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Neshaminy 16 – Pennsbury 14
Offensive Player of the Year: Will Dogba
Pennsbury Falcons (9-4, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Pennsbury 35 – Downingtown West 28
Offensive Player of the Year: Mike Alley
Pennridge Rams (8-4, 5-2)
Game of the Year: Pennridge 17 – Neshaminy 7
Offensive Player of the Year: Judens Desrosiers
Central Bucks South Titans (4-6, 3-4)
Game of the Year: CB South 40 – CB West 14
Offensive Player of the Year: Joe Bechta
Souderton Indians (4-6, 2-5)
Game of the Year: Souderton 42 – Abington 41
Offensive Player of the Year: Jamar White
Abington Ghosts (1-10, 1-6)
Game of the Year: Abington 36 – Bensalem 35
Offensive Player of the Year: David Kretscham
Bensalem Owls (0-11, 0-7)
Game of the Year: Abington 36 – Bensalem 35
Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Haffner
Suburban One Sports.com
Final Football Rankings
1. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (14-1)
2. North Penn Knights (11-3)
3. Neshaminy Redskins (9-4)
4. Pennsbury Falcons (9-4)
5. Quakertown Panthers (10-3)
6. Central Bucks East Patriots (8-3)
7. Pennridge Rams (8-4)
8. Council Rock North Indians (7-4)
9. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (10-3)
10. Plymouth Whitemarh Colonials (8-3)
11. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (6-4)
12. Truman Tigers (6-6)
13. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (5-6)
14. Central Bucks South Titans (4-6)
15. Souderton Indians (4-6)
16. Cheltenham Panthers (5-7)
17. Abington Ghosts (1-10)
18. Upper Merion Vikings (5-7)
19. Central Bucks West Bucks (3-7)
20. Norristown Eagles (4-7)
21. Springfield Spartans (4-7)
22. William Tennent Panthers (3-7)
23. Wissahickon Trojans (1-9)
24. Bensalem Owls (0-11)
Happy New Year!!!!!!!
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