Plymouth Whitemarsh is featured in this week’s notebook that includes the SOL’s fab five offensive leaders and a look ahead.
By Scott Huff
Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Dan Chang has built a fabulous coaching resume since taking over the Colonial football program in 2010.
Chang took over a PW program that was in turmoil the previous pair of seasons as the Colonials were a combined 3-19 over those two seasons.
A North Penn High School graduate and member of the tremendously successful football program, Chang played for Michael Pettine Jr. and was on the coaching staff of current Knight head coach Dick Beck.
Chang put PW on the right track immediately with a winning 6-5 overall mark (4-2 SOL American Conference) in his initial season.
What followed were six seasons of unquestioned accomplishment for Chang and Plymouth Whitemarsh. PW won four outright or shared SOL American Conference titles (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016) and two-second place conference finishes (2014 and 2015).
The Colonials during Chang’s tenure coming into this season were an impressive 54-21 (72 percent) overall and a remarkable 41-6 (87.2 percent) in the SOL American Conference.
And then came this season.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-4 overall, 1-1 conference) opened the season against District One power Downingtown East (5-0) and suffered a lopsided 47-6 loss. The second week the Colonials were routed 30-0 by Abington (2-3), and then came an emotional 10-9 loss to non-league rival Norristown (1-4).
The SOL American Conference season opened two weeks ago and PW was punished by 41-7 margin against unbeaten Upper Moreland (5-0, 2-0).
But last week, the Colonials finally celebrated with a victory in a 20-0 conference triumph over Wissahickon (2-3, 0-2).
“We really needed that win,” said Chang. “The beginning of the season was a very rough start for the players. We have been used to having a lot of success.
“Injuries have really been devastating this year,” added Chang. “We lost 12 players to injury – and we have had to play sometimes eight players both ways.
“We dress anywhere from only 30 to 33 players for practice,” continued Chang. “And that has put a lot on some of the seniors on this team.”
Chang mentioned a core of six seniors that have remained steadfast to Chang and the program during the excruciatingly painful 1-4 start.
Seniors Dontae Wilson, Michael Iannarelli, Kirk Bell, Leland Krukowski, Tristian Johnson, and George Rocchino have been the backbone of the 2017 PW team.
“Those kids are out there playing almost every single down – offense, defense, and special teams,” said Chang. “Our players are tough – and they haven’t given up on the season.”
A glance at the PW schedule gives the undermanned Colonials some genuine hope.
“We should be able to compete with the rest of the teams on our schedule,” said Chang in reference to the SOL American Conference opponents. “If we can protect the football, and do the right things, we absolutely feel we can end the season with a winning record.”
The next opponent for Plymouth Whitemarash will come in two weeks against SOL American rival Upper Dublin (2-2, 1-1). The Colonials shared the title with the Flying Cardinals last season.
“We didn’t fill the schedule after we lost the Springfield game,” said Chang as the Spartans decided not to compete in the SOL American Conference this season. “At first, I thought we should really try to fill out our schedule with another game.
“But as things turn out, we’re happy to have the bye week,” added Chang. “We are banged up and get a week to heal a little bit. Plus we get an extra week to prepare for a very good Upper Dublin team.”
Chang and his Colonials have ended a dreadful four game losing streak and hope to come up with a second straight conference victory over the Cardinals.
And recent history has proven that Chang and his Colonials know how to win.
SOL Top Ten Scoring Offenses
Points Scored Per Game
1. Upper Moreland Golden Bears 39.8
2. North Penn Knights 34.8
3. Harry S Truman Tigers 34.6
4. Neshaminy Redskins 31.6
5. Pennridge Rams 30.6
6. Central Bucks South Titans 29.4
6. Pennsbury Falcons 29.4
8. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 28.5
9. Bensalem Owls 25.8
10. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 25.5
SOL Top Ten Scoring Defenses
Points Allowed Per Game
1. Central Bucks South Titans 9.0
2. Neshaminy Redskins 13.0
3. Harry S Truman Tigers 13.6
4. Central Bucks West Bucks 14.0
5. Quakertown Panthers 17.2
6. Central Bucks East Patriots 17.4
7. Pennridge Rams 17.6
7. Upper Moreland Golden Bears 17.6
9. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 18.7
10. Pennsbury Falcons 19.4
SOL Fab Five
Individual Passing/Rushing/Receiving
Passing
QBR C/Att Yds TD/Int
1. Evan O’Donnell (CBE) 198.8 63/86 988 10/4
2. Brody McAndrew N) 154.4 63/111 1023 8/2
3. Steve DePaul (N) 148.2 48/86 742 7/3
4. Zach DeMarchis (PB) 146.9 55/98 777 9/3
5. Jack Johns (CBS) 146.0 49/80 698 4/2
Rushing
Yds/Att Avg TD
1. Sterlen Barr (UM) 705/70 10.1 5
2. Caleb Mead (UM) 670/78 8.6 8
3. Malik Bootman (UD) 580/78 7.4 11
4. David Akinwande (HH) 556/65 8.6 7
5. Zach DeMarchuis (PB) 531/60 8.9 5
Receiving
Rec/Yds Avg TD
1. Justis Henley (NP) 22/380 17.3 3
2. Chris Lochetta (CBE) 21/468 22.3 7
3. Cory Joyce (N) 21/297 14.1 3
4. Mike Garlick (N) 19/389 20.5 3
5. Ryan Watson (CBS) 19/206 10.8 1
SOL National Conference Snapshot
Truman and Bensalem had been the two ‘feel good’ stories in the conference after going unbeaten the first four weeks of the season. But the story doesn’t quite ‘feel so good’ after last week as the Tigers (4-1, 1-1) were victims of a disappointing 56-7 loss to Neshaminy (4-1, 2-0), while the Owls (4-1, 1-0) were clipped 41-21 by Central Bucks West (4-1, 0-1) in a non-league contest.
SOL Continental Conference Snapshot
North Penn and Central Bucks South remained unbeaten in conference play and will clash this Thursday night at North Penn. The Knights (3-2, 2-0) will be coming into the game with an impressive 45-35 victory over Pennridge (3-2, 1-1), while the South defense held Souderton (1-3, 0-2) scoreless in a 20-0 win. South quarterback Jack Johns did not play in the win over the Big Red and will be a huge loss if unable to play against the Knights.
SOL American Conference Snapshot
Upper Moreland and Quakertown remained the only unbeaten conference teams. The Golden Bears (5-0, 2-0) won a critical game last week with a 41-40 thriller over rival Hatboro-Horsham (2-2, 0-1), while the Panthers won an equally thrilling game in a 34-28 overtime victory over Upper Dublin (2-2, 1-1). Upper Moreland should be an overwhelming favorite this week as UM meets winless Cheltenham (0-5, 0-1), while Q-town plays at Hatboro-Horsham (2-2, 0-1) in a key conference contest.
Sneak Peek @ 6A SOL D-1 Rankings
16 Teams Advance to Playoffs
2. Central Bucks South Titans 5-0 154.0
5. Central Bucks West Bucks 4-1 140.0
6. Neshaminy Redskins 4-1 134.0
8. Pennsbury Falcons 4-1 126.0
8. Harry S Truman Tigers 4-1 126.0
8. Quakertown Panthers 4-1 126.0
11. North Penn Knights 3-2 124.0
13. Bensalem Owls 4-1 122.0
15. Pennridge Rams 3-2 110.0
Sneak Peek @ 5A SOL D-1 Rankings
16 Teams Advance to Playoffs
3. Upper Moreland Bears 5-0 160.0
13. Wissahickon Trojans 2-3 84.0
15. Upper Dublin Cardinals 2-2 82.5
Suburban One League Schedule
#All Games this week will be played on Thursday (9/28/17)
SOL National Conference Schedule
# Game of the Week
Pennsbury Falcons (4-1, 2-0) @ Bensalem Owls (4-1, 1-0)
Last Year: Pennsbury 28 – Bensalem 21
Last Week:
Pennsbury 35 – Council Rock North 13
Central Bucks West 41 – Bensalem 21
The Rest of the Story
Neshaminy Redskins (4-1, 2-0) @ Abington Ghosts (2-3, 1-1)
Last Year: Neshaminy 21 – Abington 0
Last Week:
Neshaminy 56 – Harry S Truman 7
Council Rock South 28 – Abington 14
Harry S Truman (4-1, 1-1) @ Council Rock North (1-3, 0-2)
Last Year: Truman 21 – Rock North 14
Last Week:
Neshaminy 56 – Truman 7
Pennsbury 35 – CR North 13
SOL Continental Conference
# Game of the Week
Central Bucks South (5-0, 2-0) @ North Penn (3-2, 2-0)
Last Year: North Penn 42 – CB South 13
Last Week:
CB South 20 – Souderton 0
North Penn 45 – Pennridge 35
The Rest of the Story
Souderton Indians (1-4, 0-2) @ Central Bucks East (2-3, 1-1)
Last Year: CB East 37 – Souderton 36
Last Week:
CB South 20 – Souderton 0
CB East 35 – William Tennent 14
William Tennent (0-5, 0-2) @ Central Bucks West (4-1, 1-1)
Last Year: CB West 20 – William Tennent 7
Last Week:
CB East 35 – William Tennent 14
CB West 41 – Bensalem 21
SOL American Conference
#Game of the Week
Quakertown (4-1, 2-0) @ Hatboro-Horsham (2-2, 0-1)
Last Year: Hatboro-Horsham 27 – Quakertown 6
Last Week:
Quakertown 35 – Upper Dublin 28
Upper Moreland 41 – Hatboro-Horsham 40
The Rest of the Story
Upper Moreland (5-0, 2-0) @ Cheltenham Panthers (0-5, 0-2)
Last Year: Upper Moreland 34 – Cheltenham 19
Last Week:
Upper Morleand 41 – Hatboro-Horsham 40
Germantown Academy 14 – Cheltenham 3
Wissahickon Trojans (2-3, 0-2) @ Upper Dublin (2-2, 1-1)
Last Year: Upper Dublin 37 – Wissahickon 6
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 20 – Wisahickon 0
Quakertown 34 – Upper Dublin 28
SOL Non-Conference
#Game of the Week
Council Rock South (2-3, 1-1) @ Pennridge Rams (3-2, 1-1)
Last Year: Pennridge 28 – Rock South 0
Last Week:
CR South 28 – Abington 14
North Penn 45 – Pennridge 35
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