Scott Huff previews Friday’s Upper Dublin/Cheltenham American Conference showdown and predicts the outcomes of games featuring SOL teams.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on…
The Cheltenham football program has finally joined the conversation when coaches, players, and fans discuss the possible contenders for the SOL American Conference championship.
The Panthers joined that title conversation after defeating favored Quakertown 17-14 last week, but the Blue & Gold will have a huge challenge this week as Cheltenham (4-1, 1-0) will host perennial conference power Upper Dublin (3-1, 1-0).
“We were beyond excited that we beat a quality team like Quakertown – at Quakertown,” said Cheltenham head coach Ryan Nase. “We went all in with Quakertown, but we have to put that behind us to play another quality team this week in Upper Dublin.
“It is our Homecoming Game and the community and players are excited,” added Nase. “We have won our last five games at home, and the players don’t want that to come to an end.”
Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover is well aware of the new breed of Panther the Cardinals will face this year.
“Cheltenham beating Quakertown has to give them a great deal of confidence,” said Stover. “They are not afraid of anyone, and it looks like they have put things together.
“Cheltenham has athleticism, size, and are very well coached,” added Stover. “They are a much-improved football team from the one we played early on last year.”
The Upper Dublin-Cheltenham ‘rivalry’ has been very one sided the last five seasons. The Flying Cardinals have outscored the Panthers by a staggering 201-34 in victories over that span. The last Cheltenham win came in 2012.
Both Upper Dublin and Cheltenham compete on the 5A level of District One. The Cardinals ‘boast’ a dressed roster of only 41 players – the Panthers just 42 players.
“We have to be careful of the way we practice during the week,” said Stover. “We play with a quick whistle – don’t take anyone to the ground. You have to be smarter with the way we handle the players.”
“When you have a small roster, you have to worry a little about the depth,” agreed Nase. “Depth is going to be a real issue with us this year.”
Stover has had over a decade of success with Cardinals, while Nase is in just his second year at the helm for the Panthers.
“One reason that we have been successful is that the coaching staff has been around each other for a long time,” said Stover. “We look at our team and adapt to the talent on our team. We don’t play a system.”
“This is the second year of rebuilding the program,” said Nase. “We want to be better as a team, we want to be better as a coaching staff, and everyone in the program really wants that.”
The game is huge in determining the SOL American champion – but it also has huge implications in the PIAA District One 5A playoffs at the end of the season. Sixteen of the 25 teams from D-1 in 5A will make the postseason.
Currently, Cheltenham is ranked third in the PIAA District One 5A rankings with 144.00 points, while Upper Dublin is ranked sixth with 135.00 points.
“Maybe this will be the first of two meeting between these teams this year,” said Stover. “That would be a good thing for both of us.”
And for the entire Suburban One League.
Upper Dublin(3-1, 1-0) @ Cheltenham (4-1, 1-0)
2018 Resume
Upper Dublin 28 Norristown 7
Upper Dublin 32 Central 12
Upper Dublin 38 Hatboro-Horsham 7
Penn Charter 42 Upper Dublin 17
Cheltenham 14 CR South 0
Cheltenham 34 Bishop McDevitt 27
Abington 27 Cheltenham 0
Cheltenham 17 Norristown 7
Cheltenham 17 Quakertown 14
Upper Dublin-Cheltenham Time Capsule
2012-2017
2017 Upper Dublin 49 Cheltenham. 7
2016 Upper Dublin 33 Cheltenham. 0
2015 Upper Dublin 42 Cheltenham. 6
2014 Upper Dublin 28 Cheltenham. 7
2013 Upper Dublin 49 Cheltenham 14
2012 Cheltenham. 28 Upper Dublin 14
SOL American Conference Champions
2010-2017
2017 Upper Moreland 6-0
2016 Plymouth Whitemarsh 6-1
Upper Dublin 6-1
2015 Upper Dublin 7-0
2014 Upper Dublin 7-0
2013 Plymouth Whitemash 7-0
2012 Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-0
2011 Plymouth Whitemarsh 6-0
2010 Cheltenham 5-1
Upper Dublin 5-1
This Week in the Suburban One League
American Conference
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters(2-3, 1-1) @ Upper Moreland Bears (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week:
Hatboro-Horsham defeated Wissahickon 28-14
Upper Moreland defeated PW 47-30
Last Year:
Upper Moreland defeated Hatboro-Horsham 41-40
Hatboro-Horsham defeated Upper Moreland 34-0
Prediction: Hatboro-Horsham 21 – Upper Moreland 20
Upper Dublin Cardinals (3-1, 1-0) @ Cheltenham Panthers (4-1, 1-0)
Last Week:
Upper Dublin lost to Penn Charter 42-17
Cheltenham defeated Quakertown 17-14
Last Year:
Upper Dublin defeated Cheltenham 49-7
Prediction: Cheltenham 21 – Upper Dublin 20
Quakertown Panthers (4-1, 1-1) @ Wissahickon Trojans (0-5, 0-2)
Last Week:
Quakertown lost to Cheltenham 17-14
Wissahickon lost to Hatboro-Horsham 28-14
Last Year:
Quakertown defeated Wissahickon 32-13
Prediction: Quakertown 49 – Wissahickon 6
National Conference
Abington Ghosts (3-2, 1-1) @ Neshaminy Redskins (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week:
Abington lost to CR South 14-10
Neshaminy lost to Truman 27-26
Last Year:
Neshaminy defeated Abington 32-29
Prediction: Neshaminy 21 – Abington 17
Bensalem Owls (0-5, 0-2) @ Pennsbury Falcons (2-3, 1-0)
Last Week:
Bensalem lost to CB South 35-7
Pennsbury defeated CR North 35-7
Last Year:
Pennsbury defeated Bensalem 34-14
Prediction: Pennsbury 38 – Bensalem 13
CR North Indians (1-4, 0-2) @ Truman Tigers (4-1, 1-1)
Last Week:
CR North lost to Pennsbury 35-7
Truman defeated Neshaminy 27-26
Last Year:
Truman defeated CR North 56-28
Prediction: Truman 45 – CR North 17
Continental Conference
Pennridge Rams (1-4, 0-2) @ CB West Bucks (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week:
Pennridge lost to Souderton 38-33
CB West defeated William Tennent 35-14
Last Year:
Pennridge defeated CB West 26-6
Prediction: Pennridge 35 – CB West 28
CB South Titans (2-3, 1-0) @ William Tennent Panthers (2-3, 0-2)
Last Week:
CB South defeated Bensalem 35-7
William Tennent lost to CB West 35-14
Last Year:
CB South defeated WT 37-17
Prediction: CB South 34 – William Tennent 14
Souderton Indians (2-3, 2-0) @ CB East Patriots (2-3, 0-1)
Last Week:
Souderton defeated Pennridge 38-33
CB East lost to North Penn 31-21
Last Year:
CB East defeated Souderton 10-7
Prediction: CB East 34 – Souderton 31
Non-League Games
North Penn Knights (5-0, 2-0) @ CR South Hawks (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week:
North Penn. Defeated CB East 31-21
CR South defeated Abington 14-10
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Prediction: North Penn 35 – CR South 14
Springfield Spartans (3-1) @ Bristol Warriors (2-2)
Last Week:
Springfield defeated Dover (NJ) 33-6
Bristol defeated George School 21-0
Last Year:
Bristol defeated Springfield 41-14
Prediction: Bristol 28 – Springfield 21
Suburban One Sports.com
‘Great Eight’
Record Ranking Last Week
- North Penn Knights 5-0 1
- CR South Golden Hawks 4-1 4
- Truman Tigers 4-1 7
- Neshaminy Redskins 2-3 3
- Cheltenham Panthers 4-1 8
- Quakertown Panthers 4-1 2
- Upper Dublin Cardinals 3-1 6
- Abington Ghosts 3-2 5
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