Scott Huff features Bensalem, Truman and Hatboro-Horsham and highlights some of the SOL’s top performances.
By Scott Huff
The numbers don’t lie and the final numbers after Week 10 of scholastic football in District One have determined the brackets in upcoming Quad-A, Class AAA, and Class AA playoffs. The Suburban One League will feature seven teams in the Quad-A championship race with single teams gaining slots in the AAA and AA playoffs.
The highest seed from the SOL in the Quad-A bracket is Pennsbury (9-1) which earned a # 2 seed and will host # 15 Downingtown West (6-4). The next highest seed is Quakertown (9-1) which earned a # 4 seed and will host # 13 Pennridge (7-3). The third highest seed is Upper Dublin (9-1) which earned a # 6 seed and will host # 11 Council Rock North (6-4).
North Penn (7-3) earned a # 9 seed and will travel to # 8 West Chester Henderson (7-3), while # 10 Central Bucks South (7-3) is on the playoff road and will travel to meet # 7 Garnet Valley (8-2).
In the AAA bracket, Upper Moreland (7-3) earned the # 6 seed and will be on the road at # 3 Bishop Shanahan (7-3).
In the AA bracket, Springfield (4-6) earned the # 2 seed and will host # 3 New Hope-Solebury (4-5).
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Bensalem Owls
The numbers don’t lieand the numbers have told the brutal truth concerning the 2014 Bensalem football season. The Owls (0-10) have allowed an average of 47.7 points per game and have scored an average of 6.6 points per game. But numbers also don’t tell the entire story of the season.
“I am so proud of the way that the kids have stayed with it the entire season,” said Bensalem head coach Kevin Kelly. “We have worked very hard to improve each week, and I think we have improved in some ways. But the final results may not show that improvement.”
Bensalem was placed in a very difficult situation playing in the SOL National Conference this season. Some of the schools in the ‘old’ SOL National Conference – such as Truman, Council Rock South, Council Rock North, and William Tennent – shifted to the ‘new’ SOL Continental Conference due to enrollment figures. That foursome was replaced – again by enrollment – by North Penn, Central Bucks South, Pennridge, and Souderton – ouch.
“One of the players who has really shown a great deal of improvement since the beginning of the year was DeVante Porter,” said Kelly. “We had to move him from running back to quarterback, and he has played well. He has been our heartbeat and has played with great energy.”
The torturous SOL National Conference season is now in the rear view mirror for Bensalem. The final game of the season is scheduled this Friday night when the Owls travel to Upper Merion to play a non-conference game. The Vikings are 1-9 and have allowed an average of 33.8 points per game and scored an average 11.6 points per game.
“We talked about playing the game for the last week and a half and the players are excited to play,” said Kelly. “We will practice hard this week and hope to take advantage of an opportunity to win this week.”
SOL National Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Joe Unangst and Imeir Simmons of Pennridgesparked the Rams to a 48-14 victory over Bensalem. Unangst rushed for a game-high 157 yards and scored four touchdowns, while Simmons rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
Nick Isabella and Nyfease West of North Penn each rushed for over 100 yards as the Knights marched to a 28-0 victory over Abington. Isabella rushed for a game-high 111 yards and scored two touchdowns, while West ran for 107 yards and a score.
Charles Snorweah of Pennsbury rushed for a game-high 179 yards and a touchdown as the Falcons soared to a 17-3 victory over Neshaminy.
Blake Gular of Souderton rushed for a team-high 65 yards and scored a touchdown as the Indians defeated Central Bucks South 14-10.
Matt Magdelinskas of Neshaminy rushed for a team-high 176 yards as the Redskins – who were without sophomore quarterback Mason Jones due to an injury – were defeated by Pennsbury 17-3.
Kevin Witchey of Central Bucks South completed 20 passes for 152 yards and ran for a touchdown as the Titans were defeated by Souderton 14-10.
DeVante Porter of Bensalem rushed for a team-high 140 yards and ran for a touchdown and threw a TD pass as the Owls were defeated by Pennridge 48-14.
SOL National Conference Final Standings
1. Pennsbury Falcons (6-1 conference, 9-1 overall)
North Penn Knights (6-1, 7-3)
3. Central Bucks South Titans (5-2, 7-3)
4. Pennridge Rams (4-3, 7-3)
5. Neshaminy Redskins (3-4, 4-6)
6. Abington Ghosts (2-5, 5-5)
Souderton Indians (2-5, 4-6)
8. Bensalem Owls (0-7, 0-10)
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Harry S Truman Tigers
The numbers don’t lie and the numbers told the brutal truth for a Truman football program that desperately wanted to play in the PIAA Quad-A playoffs this year.
The Tigers are 6-4 with gutwrenching losses to Upper Dublin (28-21), Council Rock South (16-14), Quakertown (24-21), and most recently to Norristown (18-17), and those tough setbacks kept the Tigers on the outside of the 16-team District One playoff field.
“We are playing a football game this week, but this isn’t the game we were hoping to play,” said Truman head coach Jon Craig as his Tigers prepare to play Cheltenham (5-5) in a non-conference – non-playoff – game. “We wanted to play in the playoffs, but it is still a varsity football game and we will accept the challenge.”
The goal of playing in the playoffs may have evaporated with the painful upset loss to Norristown – but Craig has found another goal to fuel his family of Tigers.
“The 1994-1995 Truman football team won seven games,” said Craig. “That is the highest total of any Truman team – and we have an opportunity to win eight games this year.
“First we have to beat a good Cheltenham team this week,” added Craig. “And then we would have to beat our rival Egan (3-7) on Thanksgiving. We want to end the season with a couple of wins and build on that for next year.”
SOL Continental Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Vince Alimenti and Brendan Patterson of Council Rock South each posted huge numbers as the Golden Hawks soared to a 40-29 victory over rival Council Rock North. Alimenti rushed for a game-high 246 yards and scored three touchdowns, while Patterson rushed for 115 yards and three scores.
Alex Gibson and Jack Lamb of Central Bucks East each had sensational games as the Patriots marched to a 35-21 victory over Quakertown. Gibson rushed for a game-high 217 yards and scored a touchdown, while Lamb passed for a score and ran for two other touchdowns.
Nik Banks of William Tennent rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns and also passed for 129 yards and a TD as the Panthers won a 47-0 non-conference game against Dobbins.
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North scored three rushing touchdowns as the Indians were defeated by Council Rock South 40-29.
Desmond Gorski and Derick Cross of Norristown teamed up for a 70-yard touchdown pass as the Eagles upset Truman 18-17.
Trysten Hunt of Truman scored a pair of touchdowns as the Tigers were tamed by Norristown 18-17.
Rob Burns of Quakertown rushed for a team-high 70 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers were defeated by Central Bucks East 35-21.
SOL Continental Conference Final Standings
1. Quakertown Panthers (6-1 conference, 9-1 overall)
2. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (5-2, 6-4)
3. Council Rock North Indians (4-3, 6-4)
Truman Tigers (4-3, 6-4)
Central Bucks East Patriots (4-3, 5-5)
6. William Tennent Panthers (2-5, 5-6)
Norristown Eagles (2-5, 4-6)
8. Central Bucks West Bucks (1-6, 2-8)
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
The numbers don’t lie and the numbers have shown all season that Hatboro-Horsham (3-7) has the ability to score points offensively, but those points have not resulted in a winning season.
“There is no question that we have had the ability and confidence to move the ball offensively,” said Hatboro-Horsham head coach Mike Kapusta. “But there have been times when we have struggled defensively to make adjustments and play with that same confidence.
“Last week we had a nice win over Cheltenham,” added Kapusta in reference to the Hatters’ 35-27 win over the Panthers (5-5). “We scored some points and were able to come up with some defensive plays.
“Casey Walsh has been extremely fun to coach this season,” continued Kapusta of his terrific quarterback. “He plays with no fear – any time the game is on the line, he wants the ball in his hands.”
The quirk in the schedule this season is that Hatboro-Horsham will have a rematch with rival Upper Moreland on Thanksgiving morning. The two teams played each other in the ‘regular’ SOL American Conference season with Upper Moreland (7-3) taking the Hatters to the woodshed in a 42-6 contest.
“We will get ready to play West Chester East (4-6) this week,” said Kapusta. “And then we will prepare for Upper Moreland on Thanksgiving. The players are looking forward to a chance at redemption, and it is a game that is filled with community pride and emotion.”
SOL American Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Casey Walsh and Kingsley Nworu of Hatboro-Horsham fueled the Hatters to a 35-27 victory over Cheltenham. Walsh completed 19 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, while Nworu rushed for a team-high 103 yards and a touchdown.
Tyler Whitmore and Josh Abrams of Upper Moreland sparked the Golden Bears to a 44-21 win over Wissahickon. Whitmore rushed for a game-high 123 yards and four touchdowns, while Abrams threw for 107 yards and a score and rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Khalif Lee, John Lee, and Ryan Stover of Upper Dublin each turned in fine performances as the Cardinals soared to a 42-0 victory over Upper Merion. Lee and Lee each scored two touchdowns for the winners, while Stover completed nine passes for 182 yards and a touchdown.
Nafeese Nasir and Jake Winterbottom of Plymouth Whitemarsh each rushed for over 100 yards as the Colonials marched to a 30-13 victory over Springfield. Nasir rushed for a game-high 150 yards and two touchdowns, while Winterbottom rushed for an additional 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Gregory Crowder of Cheltenham rushed for a game-high 150 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers were defeated by Hatboro-Horsham 35-27.
Martin Worgan and Chris Stone of Springfield each turned in fine performances as the Spartans were defeated by Plymouth Whitemarsh 30-13. Worgan ran for a team-high 131 yards and a touchdown, while Stone completed 10 passes for 129 yards and a TD.
Shannon Carnard of Upper Merion rushed for a game-high 140 yards, and the Vikings were defeated by Upper Dublin 42-0.
Mike Schoenleber of Wissahickon completed nine passes for 123 yards and rushed for a touchdown as the Trojans were defeated by Upper Moreland 44-21.
SOL American Conference Final Standings
1. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (7-0 conference, 9-1 overall)
2. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (6-1, 7-3)
3. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (4-3, 7-3)
Cheltenham Panthers (4-3, 5-5)
5. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (3-4, 3-7)
6. Springfield Spartans (2-5, 4-6)
7. Wissahickon Trojans (1-6, 2-8)
Upper Merion Vikings (1-6, 1-9)
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1. Pennsbury Falcons (9-1, 6-1)
2. North Penn Knights (7-3, 6-1)
3. Quakertown Panthers (9-1, 6-1)
4. Upper Dublin Cardinals (9-1, 7-0)
5. Central Bucks South Titans (7-3, 5-2)
6. Pennridge Rams (7-3, 4-3)
7. Council Rock North Indians (6-4, 4-3)
8. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (6-4, 5-2)
9. Abington Ghosts (5-5, 2-5)
10. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-3, 6-1)
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