This week’s notebook features Neshaminy, Truman and Wissahickon and highlights some of the top performances of the opening weekend.
By Scott Huff
The first week of the 2015 high school football seasonis in the record books – and not without its share of surprises.
Perhaps the most surprising thing to me was the fact that there were six football games involving SOL teams that needed the ‘mercy-rule’ to hasten the conclusion. Those games included victories by Central Bucks East over Cheltenham (54-14); Pennridge over Hatboro-Horsham (55-29); Quakertown over Upper Perkiomen (41-0); Upper Dublin over Delaware Charter (42-7); Norristown over Methacton (43-13); and Springfield over Lower Moreland (42-0). Central Bucks South over Central Bucks West (40-14) was two points away from a mercy rule. I attended the CB East win over Cheltenham – and the cheerleaders at East would do backflips for the number of points that the Patriots scored. The tally went like this – 7-14-21-28-35-38-40-47-54. Grand total = 284 cartwheels!
The first football game played at the First Lieutenant Colby Umbrell Field @ Patriot Stadium was an emotional one for the CB East community.
Umbrell was the captain of the CB East football team in 1999. He attended Johns Hopkins University and upon graduation from college he moved on and graduated from the US Army Ranger School. Umbrell was tragically killed while serving his country in Iraq.
The new stadium was spectacular – and the dedication to a fallen hero was equally magnificent.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Neshaminy Redskins
There was no cupcake on the menu for the first game of the Steve Wilmot era at Neshaminy.
The Redskins and their first-year head coach traveled an hour and a half to Montclair, New Jersey, to play a powerful Montclair team that had not lost a home game in 29 dates and had won 46 of its last 48 games.
Neshaminy was more than up to the daunting task, coming from behind to capture a thrilling 37-31 victory.
“The game was terrific – and for the most part, our execution was good,” said Wilmot. “The first game you play you never really know what to expect. We had some questions – and I think those questions were answered.
“We want to challenge our kids before the league season begins, and this game was quite a challenge,” added Wilmot. “This game came about before I became the head coach, and I was fine with it. Our parents’ club did a great job of getting things set up for the trip.”
Neshaminy is coming off a 4-6 season that is shockingly uncharacteristic of the Redskin program.
“I told the kids before the game that they were a great group of kids – I’ve told them that since we took the job,” said Wilmot. “We got beat up a little bit last year.
“Not only do I have a great group of players – I have a great group of (assistant) coaches who I trust a great deal,” added Wilmot. “Most of the coaches have been with the program for years, and I have nothing but confidence in my staff.”
There is no cupcake on the menu this week for Neshaminy as the Skins host Downingtown West. The Whippets – who handled Neshaminy 28-7 last year - opened the season with a 41-3 victory over Haverford High.
“Downingtown West is always good,” said Wilmot. “They have a lot of weapons on offense, and they played well against us last year.”
Last year Neshaminy was a disappointing 0-2 after the first two outings against quality competition – this year the hope for the 2015 Skins is an impressive 2-0.
SOL National Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Mason Jones of Neshaminy fired two touchdown passes to lead the Redskins to a 37-31 victory over Montclair (NJ). Denzel Hughes caught both touchdown passes while Will Doba scored two touchdowns – one the game winner in the fourth period.
Nate Norris of Central Bucks South scored two touchdowns and paced a Titan offense that collected 435 yards of total offense in a 40-14 rout of Central Bucks West. Titan quarterback Sam Thompson passed for 189 yards and a touchdown.
Joseph Piacine of Pennridge scored a pair of touchdowns as the Rams routed Hatboro-Horsham 55-29. Quarterback Devon Balmer passed for a pair of scores and also rushed for a touchdown.
Rob Daly of Pennsbury scored the game-winning touchdown in the fourth period as the Falcons edged Council Rock South 13-6. Chris Rupprecht led Pennsbury in rushing with 92 yards.
Nyfease West of North Penn scored a pair of touchdowns for the Knights in their 24-12 loss to La Salle.
Blake Gular and Jamar White of Souderton each scored a touchdown as the Indians dropped a 20-14 contest in double overtime to Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Michael Brooks of Abington was the leading rusher and scored a touchdown as the Ghosts were defeated by Northeast 21-14. Abington quarterback David Kretscham fired a 60-yard touchdown pass to George Reid.
This Week in the SOL National Conference
Central Bucks South Titans (1-0) @ Council Rock North Indians (0-1)
Pennsbury Falcons (1-0) vs. La Salle Explorers (1-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh
Souderton Indians (0-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (0-1)
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-0) @ Abington Ghosts (0-1)
Downingtown West Whippets (1-0) @ Neshaminy Redskins (1-0)
Central Bucks East Patriots (1-0) @ Pennridge Rams (1-0)
Bensalem Owls (0-1) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (0-1)
North Penn Knights (0-1) vs. West Catholic (1-0) @ Widener
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Harry S Truman Tigers
Truman opened the season in impressive fashion with a 28-14 victory over West Chester Rustin - a perennial District One playoff team.
“It was a great night for us,” said Truman head coach Jon Craig. “It was a test to see what we can do. This is a team that has challenged itself to be taken seriously.
“This is a team that has lofty goals,” added Craig. “The Rustin game is behind us – we have to be humble and move on. We know that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.
“We have a huge game this week against Upper Dublin,” continued Craig in reference to the Friday night contest on the road against the defending SOL American Conference champions - who advanced to the district semifinals last season. “We need to get over that hump with Upper Dublin. We felt we could have beaten them last year – but we didn’t get it done.”
In fact, the 28-21 loss to Upper Dublin was the biggest loss the Tigers (7-5 overall) suffered the entire season. The four other setbacks came against Council Rock South (16-14), Quakertown (24-21), Norristown (18-17), and Cheltenham (28-27).
“Our staff has talked a lot about what it takes to get on top of the heap,” said Craig. “We have a group of seniors on this team that can provide the leadership that it takes to win games.
“This program has come a long way the last few years,” added Craig. “But we feel that there is potential on this team to take it even further and become a playoff team.”
And a win over Upper Dublin would surely fuel that PIAA Quad-A district playoff trip.
SOL Continental Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Rob Burns of Quakertown rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers clawed Upper Perkiomen 41-0. Jon Potynski rushed for 109 yards and a score, while quarterback Tom Garlick completed eight passes and threw for two touchdowns.
Eddie Shields of Central Bucks South rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Kevin O’Hanlon as the Titans had little trouble defeating Central Bucks West 40-14.
Mark Lopez-Shefcyk of Truman rushed for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass as the Tigers defeated West Chester Rustin 28-14.
Diavante Lloyd of Norristown fired two touchdown passes as the Eagles soared to a 43-13 victory over Methacton.
Chad Guzzi of Central Bucks East rushed for a game-high 120 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots marched to a 54-14 victory over Cheltenham. Quarterback Jack Lamb threw a pair of scoring passes for the winners.
Dan Costello of William Tennent scored a pair of touchdowns as the Panthers won their season opener with a 31-19 victory over Mastery Charter North.
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two scores, but it was not enough as the Indians were defeated by Perkiomen Valley 56-36.
Brendan Patterson of Council Rock South rushed for a game-high 94 yards and scored a touchdown as the Golden Hawks were beaten by Pennsbury – 13-6.
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Quakertown Panthers (1-0) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (0-1)
Harry S Truman Tigers (1-0) @ Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (1-0)
Wissahickon Trojans (1-0) @ Norristown Eagles (1-0)
Souderton Indians (0-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (0-1)
Bensalem Owls (0-1) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (0-1)
William Tennent Panthers (1-0) @ Fels (0-1)
Central Bucks East Patriots (1-0) @ Pennridge Rams (1-0)
Central Bucks South Titans (1-0) @Council Rock North Indians (0-1)
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Wissahickon Trojans
Wissahickon head coach Paul Noon began his tenure at Wissahickon with a razor-thin 7-6 victory over Central.
“It was a beautiful thing,” said Noon, who comes to the Trojans after a two-year head coaching stint at Valley Forge Military Academy. “We are very young – but we got some varsity experience to go along with the win.
“We played with a mental toughness for 48 minutes,” continued Noon. “It was a good sign that shows the players have bought into our system. We faced some adversity – and we handled it well.
“We knew coming into the season that it wasn’t going to be easy,” added Noon as Wissahickon finished the 2014 season 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the SOL American Conference. “But we come into the season expecting to win.”
Next on the schedule for the Trojans will be a Norristown team that stunned PAC-10 neighborhood rival Methacton 43-13.
“It should be a great game,” said Noon. “Norristown has a lot of weapons, and they have good coaches. It looks like they have bought into what that coaching staff wants them to do.
“In looking at the film, Methacton turned the ball over, and we can’t do that,” added Noon. “We are planning to give them a good test.
“In looking at our film, we saw that we still have some room for improvement,” continued Noon. “And we will work hard on those areas. It was great to see the smiles on the players’ faces after the Central game.”
And Noon hopes to see those same smiles after the Norristown game.
SOL American Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Nafeese Nasir of Plymouth Whitemarsh rushed for a game-high 199 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Colonials edged Souderton in double-overtime – 20-14.
Rodney Morgan of Upper Moreland rushed for a game-high 251 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Golden Bears clawed Penncrest – 28-15.
Michael Schoenleber of Wissahickon scored the only touchdown for the Trojans in a 7-6 victory over Central.
Ryan Stover of Upper Dublin passed for a touchdown and scored on a touchdown run as the Flying Cardinals soared to a 42-7 victory over Delaware Valley Charter.
Casey Walsh of Hatboro-Horsham passed for 209 yards and a touchdown – and also rushed for two touchdowns – as the Hatters were topped 55-29 by Pennridge.
Brendan Mack of Cheltenham threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Panthers were defeated by Central Bucks East 54-14.
Jarrett Quinn of Upper Merion threw a touchdown pass as the Vikings were sunk by Radnor – 21-7.
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (0-1) @ Quakertown Panthers (1-0)
Harry S Truman Tigers (1-0)@ Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (1-0)
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-0) @ Abington Ghosts (0-1)
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (1-0) @ Archbishop Carroll (0-1)
Springfield Spartans (1-0) @ Lansdale Catholic Crusaders (1-0)
Bishop McDevitt (1-0)@ Cheltenham Panthers (0-1)
Upper Merion Vikings (0-1) @ Harriton Eagles (0-1)
Wissahickon Trojans (1-0) @ Norristown Eagles (1-0)
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