This week’s notebook features Abington, CR North and Cheltenham and highlights some of the weekend’s top performances. Photo provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
By Scott Huff
The fourth week of the Suburban One League season is in the books – and the October 23rd date on the calendar is going to showcase some exceptional SOL games in all three conferences. The trio of conference showdowns on Friday will have major implications not only on conference championships – but seedings in the upcoming District One playoffs.
The marquee contest in the SOL National Conference will feature the battle of the conference unbeaten squads – North Penn (5-2, 4-0) @ Pennsbury (6-1, 4-0). The Knights enter the game after a 55-20 rout over winless Bensalem, while the defending District One champion Falcons escaped with a 38-32 victory over host Pennridge (4-2, 2-2).
The marquee contest in the SOL Continental Conference will feature the battle of conference unbeaten squads – Quakertown (7-0, 4-0) @ Council Rock South (5-2, 4-0). The Panthers enter the game after their most competitive game of the season in a 28-7 victory over Central Bucks West (2-4, 2-2), while the Golden Hawks soared to an easy 39-0 victory over winless (conference) William Tennent (3-4, 0-4).
The marquee contest in the SOL American Conference will feature a battle between unbeaten Upper Dublin (7-0, 4-0) @ once-beaten Upper Moreland (6-1, 3-1). The Flying Cardinals soared to a 42-0 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-2, 2-2) last week, while the Golden Bears edged Upper Merion (2-5, 0-4) in overtime – 22-21.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Abington Ghosts
Abington (0-7, 0-4) head coach Tim Sorber and his 2015 Ghosts have a single goal in mind – win a game.
“This has been one of the weirdest practice schedules that I can ever remember,” said Sorber. “With all the school days off with holidays and the Pope’s visit, we haven’t really had too many normal weeks of practice all year. We played two Monday night games two weeks in a row.
“Last week against (Central Bucks) South was the first time in a long time we had a regular practice schedule,” added Sorber in reference to Abington’s 34-25 loss to the Titans. “And I thought that was one of the better games that we played all year.
“We are a very young team with a very young coaching staff – and we miss the routine of preparation,” continued Sorber. “We have four new high school football coaches who work extremely hard – but they just don’t have the experience to draw on.”
Sorber has built an enormously successful Abington football program over the last five seasons – a program that has registered a terrific 44-17 record – which included three 10-win seasons.
The practice schedule was not the only unkind schedule the Ghosts have had to deal with. Prior to the game with CB South – Abington lost games to Northeast (7-0), Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-2), Upper Dublin (7-0), Neshaminy (5-2), Pennsbury (6-1), and Pennridge (4-3) – and that adds up to a cumulative 34-8 record.
“The major disappointment was that we weren’t more competitive in some of those games,” said Sorber. “We’ve had some injuries – and we don’t have a whole lot of depth.
“But we will have a full week to get ready for Souderton this week,” added Sorber. “(Junior wide receiver) George Reid and (senior quarterback) David Kretscham have developed a good relationship – and we have developed a passing game.
“Now we have to put some other things together,” continued Sorber. “All we really want right now is a win.”
‘Notable Numbers’ in the SOL National Conference
Mike Alley of Pennsbury rushed for a game-high 169 yards and scored a touchdown as the Falcons edged Pennridge 38-32. Alley also threw a pair of TD passes for the winners, and Chris Rupprecht carried 19 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Reece Udinski of North Penn completed all four of his passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns as the Knights marched to a 55-20 victory over Bensalem. Ricky Johns and Justin Ostopowicz each scored two touchdowns for the winners. Johns caught two passes for 70 yards, while Ostopowicz carried just four times for 86 yards.
Will Dogba of Neshaminy carried the ball 31 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins defeated Souderton 21-10.
Joe Bechta, Sam Thompson, and Nate Norris each rushed for 100 yards as the Titans defeated Abington 34-25. Bechta had 116 yards and a TD – Thompson had 112 yards – and Norris rushed for 100 yards and thre touchdowns for the winners.
David Kretscham of Abington completed 21 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns as the Ghosts were defeated by Central Bucks South 34-25. George Reid scored two receiving touchdowns for Abington.
Matt Mauer of Pennridge kicked two field goals of 39 yards as the Rams fell to Pennsbury 38-32. Ryan Gordon rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, and Devon Balmer completed 12 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown.
Vance Haffner and Malcom Carey of Bensalem each rushed for over 100 yards as the Owls fell to North Penn 55-20. Haffner rushed for a game-high 129-yards and two touchdowns, while Carey rushed for 106 yards and a TD.
Blake Gular of Souderton scored on a 36-yard touchdown run as the Indians were defeated by Neshaminy 21-10.
This Week in the SOL National Conference
North Penn Knights (5-2, 4-0) @ Pennsbury Falcons (6-1, 4-0)
Central Bucks South Titans (3-4, 2-2) @ Pennridge Rams (4-3, 2-2)
Abington Ghosts (0-7, 0-4) @ Souderton Indians (3-4, 1-3)
Bensalem Owls (0-7, 0-4) @ Neshaminy Redskins (5-2, 3-1)
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Council Rock North Indians
Council Rock (4-3, 3-1) head coach Adam Collachi and his staff had to revamp the game plan last week against Truman when standout senior quarterback Brandon McIlwain injured his thumb in the Norristown game the week before.
McIlwain was unable to throw – but the talented South Carolina recruit was more than able to use his legs in a 34-15 victory over the Tigers. McIlwain rushed 26 times for 170 yards and scored four touchdowns in the key SOL Continental Conference win.
“Brandon is dealing with (injury) stuff – and so are some of the other players,” said Collachi. “We will proceed with what we are told he can do (as far as throwing the ball). Last week the coaching staff came up with a great game plan – and after we lost to Norristown (44-43) we needed to come back with a win.”
CR North is 3-1 in the conference and will close out the season against tough conference opponents the next three weeks in Central Bucks West (2-2), Quakertown (4-0), and Council Rock South (4-0).
“We want a chance to be one of the 16-team field for district playoffs,” said Collachi. “Central Bucks West is surely no slouch – and both Quakertown and Council Rock South down the line – we know how good both of those teams are.
“We don’t talk about playoffs with the kids – but we do talk about the importance of each game,” added Collachi. “We have to respond to the challenges ahead of us – and we need to get ready each week with a great week of practice.”
‘Notable Numbers’ in the SOL Continental Conference
Rob Burns of Quakertowncarried 20 times for 226 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers defeated Central Bucks West 28-7. Tom Garlick completed 10 passes for 111 yards for the Black Cats.
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North carried the ball 26 times for 170 yards and four touchdowns as the Indians captured a 34-15 victory over Truman.
Alex Gibson of Central Bucks East carried 31 times for 131 yards and two rushing touchdowns – and also caught a TD pass – as the Patriots marched to a 37-21 victory over Norristown.
Brendan Patterson of Council Rock South scored three touchdowns as the Golden Hawks soared to a 39-0 victory over William Tennent. Patterson scored on a 90-yard kickoff return and also scored two rushing touchdowns for the winners.
Maurice Jackson of Truman rushed for a team-high 130 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers were caged by Council Rock North 34-15.
Desmond Gorski threw two touchdown passes to Simeon McCray as Norristown was defeated 37-21 by Central Bucks East.
Tyler Lynch of William Tennent completed seven passes for 93 yards as the Panthers were defeated by Council Rock South 39-0.
Eddie Shields of Central Bucks West completed six passes for 64 yards and a touchdown as the Bucks were defeated by Quakertown 28-7.
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Quakertown Panthers (7-0, 4-0) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (5-2, 4-0)
Norristown Eagles (3-4, 1-3) @ William Tennent Panthers (3-4, 0-4)
Central Bucks East Patriots (5-2, 2-2) @ Truman Tigers (2-5, 0-4)
Council Rock North Indians (4-3, 3-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (2-5, 2-2)
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Cheltenham Panthers
Cheltenham (3-4, 2-2) head coach Joe Gro and his inexperienced Panthers have won two straight SOL American Conference games after a 1-4 overall start to the season – and the Black Cats are favored to win a third straight conference game this week against Wissahickon (1-6, 0-4). And the catalyst for the entire season for Cheltenham has been senior quarterback Branden Mack.
“I have run out of accolades to give Branden,” said Gro of the Temple University recruit. “He does so many things for us – running and passing. But the best thing about him is that he is a beautiful teammate. He is the first one to congratulate a teammate for making a big play.
“The amazing thing about him is that a lot of times he takes the blame for things that go wrong that have absolutely nothing to do with him,” added Gro. “There isn’t a day that goes by that he doesn’t do something else to help the team.”
Mack and his teammates had a rough go at the beginning of the season losing four of five games. But those losses came against some quality competition that included Central Bucks East (5-2), Quakertown (7-0), Upper Dublin (7-0), and Upper Moreland (6-1).
“We recognized how difficult the beginning of the season was going to be for us,” said Gro. “Our reality is that we are where we thought we might be at this time of the season.
“We told the players that we have a five-game season left in front of us,” added Gro. “The coaching staff is going to be committed to coaching the best we can – and the players need to be just as committed.
“We know that we are never going to play a mistake-free football game – and we’re also not going to coach a mistake-free football game,” continued Gro. “What we need to do is to continue to work hard and make improvement each week.”
And the new and improved Panthers will attempt to make it a three-game conference winning streak this week against Wissahickon.
‘Notable Numbers’ in the SOL American Conference
Ryan $tover of Upper Dublin completed 17 passes for 219 yards and five touchdowns – and also ran for a sixth score – as the Cardinals soared to a 42-0 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Rodney Morgan of Upper Moreland rushed for a game-high 149 yards and a touchdown as the Golden Bears edged Upper Merion in overtime – 22-21. Casey Decker threw two touchdown passes for the winners.
Jordan Mason of Hatboro-Horsham rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns – on just five carries – as the Hatters topped Wissahickon 42-20. Brandon Crews caught four passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns for the winners.
Branden Mack of Cheltenham completed six passes for 98 yards and a touchdown – and also rushed for 86 yards and a TD – as the Panthers defeated Springfield 26-7. Yasin Abdul-Haqq carried 16 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns for the winners.
Michael Schlonleber of Wissahickon completed 12 passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns as the Trojans were defeated by Hatboro-Horsham 42-20.
Nafeese Nasir of Plymouth Whitemarsh carried 20 times for 101 yards as the Colonials were defeated by Upper Dublin 42-0.
Isaiah Graham-Mobley of Upper Merion carried just six times for 94 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings were sunk by Upper Moreland 22-21 in overtime.
Justin Hill of Springfield rushed 16 times for a team-high 44 yards and a touchdown as the Spartans were defeated by Cheltenham 26-7.
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Upper Dublin Cardinals (7-0, 4-0) @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears (6-1, 3-1)
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (5-2, 2-2) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (4-3, 4-0)
Wissahickon Trojans (1-6, 0-4) @ Cheltenham Panthers (3-4, 2-2)
Springfield Spartans (2-4, 1-3) @ Upper Merion Vikings (2-5, 0-4)
SuburbanOneSports.com
Top Ten
1. Upper Dublin Cardinals (7-0, 4-0)
2. North Penn Knights (5-2, 4-0)
3. Pennsbury Falcons (6-1, 4-0)
4. Quakertown Panthers (7-0, 4-0)
5. Pennridge Rams (4-3, 2-2)
6. Neshaminy Redskins (5-2, 3-1)
7. Council Rock South Hawks (5-2, 4-0)
8. Council Rock North Indians (4-3, 3-1)
9. Central Bucks East Patriots (5-2, 2-2)
10. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (6-1, 3-1)
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