Scott Huff features Springfield Township, includes the SOL’s top offensive leaders and looks ahead to this week.
By Scott Huff
685 days.
Springfield had not won a football game in 685 days, but the Spartans ended that painful drought last week with a 28-0 victory over Lower Moreland. The last win for Springfield in a scholastic football game came with a 33-20 victory over Upper Merion back on October 23, 2015.
“It was extremely emotional for me,” said veteran Spartan coach Chris Shelly. “It was like winning a playoff game for us.
“It was something that the players wanted very badly,” added Shelly. “And it was something the coaches wanted very badly for the kids.
“The players all bought into the program this year,” continued Shelly. “And it was great to see them rewarded for all their hard work.”
Springfield did not field a varsity football team last year after the second week of the Suburban One League season due to a lack of numbers. The Spartans could field only 18 varsity players after that second week and decided to compete on the junior varsity level for the remainder of the season.
And as a result, the Springfield football program is no longer a member of the SOL. The Spartans – for football only – will play an independent football schedule.
“We have a core group of seniors, and it was hard on them not to compete on a varsity level last year,” said Shelly. “It was a tough road for them, and us getting out of the Suburban One League was a good thing.
“We were playing teams with much larger enrollments, and to play teams like Upper Dublin and Plymouth Whitemarsh back to back was a war of attrition,” added Shelly. “To be honest, we’re happy we’re out.
“And the teams we played in the Suburban One League are probably glad we’re out too,” continued Shelly. “Beating us wasn’t really helping them a whole lot. I have a lot of respect for all the coaches in the league, but it was just better for us to move on.”
The win over Lower Moreland showcased some offensive and defensive talent for the 2017 Spartans.
Junior quarterback Max Perry – who threw three touchdown passes – connected with junior Wilson Krewson for a pair of scores.
“I have been coaching for 20 years and I can say for certain that Max has ‘it’,” said Shelly of his 6-2, 185 pound quarterback. “He is going to be a very special player for us. He has both the mental and physical tools.
“Carter Stepney played a great game at middle linebacker,” added Shelly. “And both he and Troy Williams ran the ball well.”
Stepney rushed for a game-high 102 yards, while Williams added 94 yards and scored a touchdown.
“We now have 52 kids on the team,” said Shelly. “We had a great offseason, and the kids are very excited to play the rest of the season.”
Next up for Springfield on its new schedule outside the SOL American Conference will be Valley Forge Military this Friday night.
The remaining games include Bristol, Nativity BVM, New Hope-Solebury, Morrisville, and Strawberry Mansion.
Good Luck Springfield.
Get on the SOL Bandwagons
In the SOL Continental Conference there are a pair of teams that finished the first three weeks of the season unbeaten against non-conference foes. Central Bucks West is currently the top-ranked 6A team in all of District One with victories over Hatboro-Horsham (21-13), Council Rock South (19-14), and Quakertown (20-0). Central Bucks South is currently the second ranked 6A team in all of District One with wins over Abington (38-6), Council Rock North (35-7) and Council Rock South (21-7).
In the SOL National Conference there are also a pair of teams that finished the first three week of the season unbeaten against non-conference opponents. Harry S Truman is currently the fifth ranked 6A team in District One with victories over Methacton (48-0), Avon Grove (35-12), and William Tennent (41-0). Bensalem is currently the seventh ranked 6A team in D-1 and has been a master at winning the close games with wins over Frankford (20-14), William Tennent (19-14), and Archbishop Carroll (28-27 in 2 OT).
In the SOL American Conference, there is a single team that finished the first three weeks of the season unbeaten against non-league foes. Upper Moreland is currently the third ranked 5A team in District One with victories over William Tennent (41-14), Phoenixville (42-7), and Upper Perkiomen (34-20).
All aboard!
Top Ten SOL Individual Passing/Rushing/Receiving & Team Scoring
Passing (15 or more C)
QBR C-A Yds TD-Int
1. Evan O’Donnell (CBE) 207.4 33/43 520 5/2
2. Christian Jabbar (CRS) 176.7 26/40 414 3/0
3. Brody McAndrew (N) 143.1 44/78 656 5/2
4. Steve DePaul (NP) 137.4 35/67 554 5/3
5. Billy Griffenburg (A) 136.2 18/35 259 3/1
6. Zach DeMarchis (PB) 134.5 34/62 439 5/2
7. Chris Edwards (HH) 122.5 21/40 263 3/2
8. Jack Johns (CBS) 121.9 34/57 391 2/2
9. Joshua Crecca (CBW) 118.0 17/34 236 1/0
10. Dean Dispisa (S) 117.7 26/45 329 1/2
Rushing
Att. Yds Avg TD
1. Caleb Mead (UM) 55 550 10.0 5
2. David Akinwande (HH) 48 398 8.3 5
3. Josh Pinkney (PR) 31 364 11.7 6
4. Zach DeMarchis (PB) 35 342 9.8 4
5. Ryan Watson (CBS) 36 303 8.4 7
6. Michael Welde (CRN) 65 275 4.2 2
7. Jackson Taylor (A) 20 258 12.9 2
8. Chris Edwards (HH) 34 257 7.6 1
9. Darryl Davis-McNeil (A) 38 257 6.8 3
10. Josh Smith (HH) 22 212 9.6 2
Receiving
Yds. Rec. Avg TD
1. Justis Henley (NP) 348 18 19.3 3
2. Mike Garlick (N) 252 15 16.8 1
3. Andrew Vera (CRS) 252 13 19.4 2
4. Oleh Manzyk (N) 212 13 16.3 2
5. Cory Joyce (N) 175 12 14.6 2
6. Ben Ejimonyuegwo (HH) 126 12 10.5 2
7. Tim Shevlin (Q) 146 11 13.3 1
8. Chris Lochetta (CBE) 191 10 19.1 3
9. Nick Gallo (CRS) 132 9 14.7 1
10. Tre Samuels (S) 128 9 14.2 0
Team Scoring Averages
Offense-Points Scored Per Game
1. Harry S Truman Tigers 41.3
2. Upper Moreland Bears 39.0
3. North Penn Knights 33.7
4. Central Bucks South Titans 33.0
5. Pennsbury Falcons 29.3
6. Pennridge Rams 28.0
7. Central Bucks East Patriots 23.3
8. Neshaminy Redskins 23.3
9. Bensalem Owls 22.3
10. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 20.7
Defense – Points Allowed Per Game
1. Harry S Truman Tigers 4.0
2. Central Bucks South Titans 6.5
3. Central Bucks West Bucks 7.0
4. Pennridge Rams 10.0
5. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 11.3
6. Central Bucks East Patriots 12.0
7. Council Rock South Hawks 13.3
8. Bensalem Owls 13.7
9. Upper Moreland Bears 14.0
10. Quaketown Panthers 15.0
Sneak Peak @ the current 6A SOL District One Standings
1. Central Bucks West Bucks (3-0) 156.667
2. Central Bucks South Titans (3-0) 153.333
5. Harry S Truman Tigers (3-0) 140.000
7. Bensalem Owls (3-0) 133.333
9. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (2-1) 110.000
9. Pennridge Rams (2-1) 110.000
9. Quakertown Panthers (2-1) 110.000
12. Neshaminy Redskins (2-1) 106.667
15. Pennsbury Falcons (2-1) 96.667
15. Abington Ghosts (2-1) 96.667
Sneak Peak @ the current 5A District One Standings
3. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (3-0) 146.667
8. Wissahickon Trojans (2-1) 113.333
This Week in the Suburban One League
SOL American Conference
#Game of the Week
Wissahickon (2-1) @ Quakertown (2-1)
Last Year: Quakertown 40 – Wissahickon 28
Last Week:
Pottsville 46 – Wissahickon 12
Central Bucks West 20 – Quakertown 0
The Rest of the Story
Upper Moreland (3-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-3)
Last Year: PW 21 – Upper Moreland 14
Last Week:
Upper Moreland 34 – Upper Perkiomen 20
Norristown 10 – Plymouth Whitemarsh 9
Upper Dublin (1-1) @ Cheltenham (0-3)
Last Year: Upper Dublin 33 – Cheltenham 0
Last Week:
Upper Dublin 28 – Lansdale Catholic 3
Abington 35 – Cheltenham 20
SOL Continental Conference
#Game of the Week
North Penn (1-2) @ Central Bucks West (3-0)
Last Year: North Penn 48 – Central Bucks West 20
Last Week:
North Penn 29 – Pennsbury 20
Central Bucks West 20 – Quakertown 0
The Rest of the Story
Pennridge (2-1) @ Souderton (1-2)
Last Year: Pennridge 38 – Souderton 10
Last Week:
Pennridge 29 – Perkiomen Valley 0
Hatboro-Horsham 28 – Souderton 3
North Penn (1-2) @ Central Bucks West (3-0)
Last Year: North Penn 48 – Central Bucks West 20
Last Week:
North Penn 29 – Pennsbury 20
Central Bucks West 20 – Quakertown 0
Central Bucks South (3-0) @ Central Bucks East (1-2)
Last Year: CB South 27 – CB East 6
Last Week:
Central Bucks South 21 – Council Rock South 7
Central Bucks East 41 – Methacton 0
SOL National Conference
#Game of the Week
Bensalem Owls (3-0) @ Abington (2-1)
Last Year: Abington 21 – Bensalem 11
Last Week:
Bensalem 28 – Archbishop Carroll 27 (2OT)
Abington 35 – Cheltenham 20
The Rest of the Story
Neshaminy (2-1) @ Council Rock North (1-2)
Last Year: Neshaminy 43 – CR North 7
Last Week:
Downingtown West 37 – Neshaminy 33
Penn Wood 28 – Council Rock North 7
Council Rock South (1-2) @ Harry S Truman (3-0)
Last Year: CR South 12 – HS Truman 6
Last Week:
Central Bucks South 21 – Council Rock South 7
Harry S Truman 41 – William Tennent 0
Non-Conference
Pennsbury (2-1) @ William Tennent (0-3)
Last Year: Pennsbury 21 – William Tennent 6
Last Week:
North Penn 29 – Pennsbury 20
Harry S Truman 41 – William Tennent 0
-30-
About the Author
