Check out the recaps for SOL football teams in action Friday. Neshaminy/Pennsbury photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography, and CR South/CR North photos provided courtesy of Mike Sperando. Cheltenham/Wissahickon photos courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Stats used in the wraps are provided courtesy of the Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier Times. For complete high school football coverage, visit the web sites: http://www.theintell.com/sports and http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports.
SOL National Conference
NESHAMINY 35, PENNSBURY 7
Defense has been the calling card of a Redskin squad that clinched a share of the National Conference title, thanks to Friday’s no-doubt-about-it win over the Falcons. In the five games since falling to Harry S Truman on Sept. 22, the Redskins have allowed just 21 points.
“Overall, this was by far our best team effort of the year – offense, defense and special teams,” coach Steve Wilmot said. “A lot to be happy about tonight.
“I keep saying the same thing over and over – the defensive line played very good tonight, but I also have to give a lot of credit to our linebackers. It seemed like they were in the right spot at the right time pretty much the whole game.”
Appropriately, it was a defensive play in the second quarter that forever turned the tide in Neshaminy’s favor. It came after the Falcons – trailing 7-0 – had marched to the Redskins’ eight-yard line where linebacker Oleh Manzyk recovered a fumble.
The stage was set for a 91-yard scoring drive that was capped when Brady McAndrew found Ryan O’Connor with a three-yard touchdown pass to put the Redskins on top 14-0. The drive was highlighted by a pair of long runs – the first by O’Connor and the second by Chris James.
“Without a doubt, that turnover was huge,” Wilmot said. “Any turnover is huge, but especially when they’re going in to score. I’m proud of our offense for taking it (91) yards.”
McAndrew engineered another long scoring drive late in the second quarter. The drive included big pass plays to Cory Joyce and O’Connor. A defensive pass interference call put the ball on the Falcons’ 11. On the first play – and with the Falcon linebackers blitzing – McAndrew found Joyce with a strike that sent the Redskins into halftime with a 21-0 lead.
James had a pair of touchdown runs in the second half – the first for 10 yards and the second from 38 yards. Between those two runs, the Falcons got on the scoreboard when quarterback Drew Hensor connected with Sheehan Miles for an 18-yard TD.
Wilmot credited the efforts of a pair of linebackers.
“I saw Connor Moss and Emmanuel Ampofo out there making plays,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Whenever they tried to go around the end, I saw those two guys on the spot. You don’t always see those two guys in the middle because it sometimes gets clogged up. I just noticed Connor Moss and Emmanuel Ampofo making nice open field tackles and saving longer gains.”
James finished a stellar outing with 217 yards and two touchdowns. He entered the game needing 124 yards to reach the 1,000-yard milestone. He easily surpassed that.
“Chris James has really picked up the workload in a big way,” Wilmot said. “I have no idea how many yards he had, but I’m hoping he went over a thousand because he deserves it. He’s just a tough kid. He might not weigh the most, but he’s not afraid to hit the hole, sink his hips and fall forward for another yard.”
McAndrew threw for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns with Joyce hauling in five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns.
“Brody and Cory have had chemistry since last year,” Wilmot said. “I think Brody did a really nice job taking care of the football and throwing the ball where it had to go. He had a really good game.”
Joyce and Manzyk have the distinction of being part of four straight regular season wins over the Falcons.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Wilmot said of facing Pennsbury. “Both sides were full, both student sections – Pennsbury had the PHS chant, and Neshaminy had the NHS chant. It was just a really good high school atmosphere.
“I’m really proud of my team tonight. There’s a whole lot to be proud of. We start our second season tomorrow when we find out who we play (in the district tournament).”
Neshaminy (7-3, 5-1 SOL) is projected to be the 10th-seeded team in the District One 6A Tournament while Pennsbury (5-5, 4-2) will be the 15th or 16th seed.
Pennsbury 0-0-0-7 7
Neshaminy 7-14-7-7 35
HARRY S TRUMAN 42, BENSALEM 3
The Tigers scored early and often en route to a win that clinched a share of the National Conference crown, the program’s first ever SOL title.
James Koliyah’s three-yard touchdown run was followed by a one-yard TD plunge by Dylan Fleming that put the Tigers on top 14-0 after one quarter. They doubled that in the second quarter. Javeer Peterson scored from 30 yards out, and Koliyah’s second TD sent the Tigers into halftime with a 28-3 lead. Enzo Poulson and Peterson added touchdown runs in the second half.
Dawson Fontaine’s 32-yard field goal in the second quarter accounted for the Owls’ only score.
The Tigers’ defense allowed just 74 yards of total offense. Peterson (85 yards) and Poulson (76 yards) led a balanced Tiger attack.
Harry S Truman (9-1, 5-1 SOL) will be the fifth seed in the upcoming District One 6A Tournament. Bensalem closed out its season with a 1-9 record (1-5 SOL).
Bensalem 0-3-0-0 3
Harry S Truman 14-14-14-0 42
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 17, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7
The Golden Hawks opened up a 17-0 lead and held on for a win to earn the coveted Rock Cup.
“Everything you say about North-South – it kind of rang true,” assistant head coach Tony Checchia said. “It doesn’t matter what the records are. Rock North struggled this year, and with that said, they came out, they had a really great game plan.
“Defensively, they had a solid understanding of what we do offensively. They did a lot to bottle up Chase Patterson and make it real hard on him. On offense, they mixed it up. They just played a really solid game. Their kids came out and didn’t play like they were 1-8. They were playing as if they had an opportunity to go to the playoffs.
“Our kids came with the right approach. I don’t think we took them lightly. I just think that was a team that had nothing to lose. I don’t think their coach Matt McHugh gets enough credit.”
The Golden Hawks – thanks to a Chase Patterson TD run – took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
“The message at the half wasn’t fire and brimstone or anything like that,” Checchia said. “It was – ‘Hey, don’t expect them to stop playing. They’re here to play football. Just because we’re playing for a playoff spot – they’re not just going to let you have it. You have to earn it.’
“I think the message hit home, and in the second half, we got things going a little better.”
The Golden Hawks scored on the opening drive of the second half with quarterback Andrew Vera taking it in from 60 yards out. They tacked on a field goal, and it was 17-0 before the Indians got on the scoreboard.
“They had some opportunities,” Checchia said. “We came up with a fourth-and-goal stop with two-and-a-half minutes left.
“They had a good game plan and were definitely well coached. You would have thought we were two teams fighting with everything on the line. That’s what it felt like. We say it every year – whether we’re both 2-8, whether we’re both in the middle, whether we’re playing for nothing or playing for everything, the game itself has its own meaning, and that was certainly the case tonight.”
Council Rock South (6-4, 4-2 SOL) is projected to be the 12th seed in the District One 6A Tournament.
“We were in a position to control our own destiny – win and you’re in,” Checchia said. “So that was the mantra of the week, that was the focus.”
Council Rock North closed out its season with a 1-9 record (0-6 SOL).
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 30, SOUDERTON 7
As endings go, this was a good one for the Titans.
South, benefitting from a pair of Souderton turnovers, went on top 10-0. Brian Madden connected on a 24-yard field goal, and Carter Hallgren found Brady Prezelskii from eight yards out for a touchdown.
The Indians answered with an eight-yard DeAndre Wakefield touchdown run, and it was a 10-7 game. But not for long. Matt Tobey’s 14-yard touchdown run was followed by a 14-yard TD pass from Hallgren to Matt Norris that sent the Titans into halftime with a 23-7 lead.
Shea Coffin was on the receiving end of Hallgren’s third touchdown pass to account for the only score in the second half.
The Indians managed just 49 yards on the ground against a stingy Titans’ defense that was the unsung hero of the win.
Connor DiLissio’s 94 yards led all ground gainers for the Titans. Souderton quarterback Andrew Vince threw for 166 yards.
Tim Zucal had an interception for the Indians.
Central Bucks South and Souderton finished the season with identical 4-6 records (3-3 SOL).
Souderton 7-0-0-0 7
Central Bucks South 10-13-0-7 30
NORTH PENN 56, WILLIAM TENNENT 14
A pick six by Shamar Edwards – who took it 60 yards for a TD – put the Knights on the scoreboard and set the tone for a dominating performance in the team’s 10th win without a loss.
RJ McNamara had a pair of touchdown runs in the first quarter – one from 67 yards and the other from 16, and for good measure, quarterback Solomon Robinson and Evan Spann hooked up for a 55-yard touchdown. The Knight led 28-0 after one quarter and took a 42-7 lead into halftime.
Tennent got on the scoreboard when Jason Schweizerhof found Dawson Pierson with a 15-yard TD pass. Edwards had a pair of touchdown runs in the second quarter.
Edwards led the Knights with 136 yards on the ground while McNamara had 91. Kip Mooney hooked up with Ryan Savage for Tennent’s final score.
North Penn (10-0, 6-0 SOL) will be the top seed in the upcoming District One 6A Tournament. William Tennent closed out its season with a 2-8 record (0-6 SOL).
North Penn 28-14-7-7 56
William Tennent 0-7-0-7 14
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 43, UPPER MORELAND 6
Lucas Roselli’s first of two first-half touchdowns – this one from 16 yards out – put the Flying Cardinals on the scoreboard. By the time the first quarter ended, they led 20-0 and took a commanding 34-6 lead into halftime.
The win wrapped up a perfect SOL American Conference season, but still, there wasn’t a whole lot of celebrating.
“We did a little bit, but the second season begins next week and this is really why we play,” UD coach Bret Stover said. “All that work that we put in during the offseason – yes, our first goal is to win the American Conference, but now the fun really begins. We’ll see how far we can take it. What’s nice is we’re probably guaranteed three home games as long as we can stay alive.”
The Flying Cardinals might have had an idea it was going to be their night when sophomore Micah Bootman picked off a UM pass on the first play of the game.
“We had a lot of distractions,” Stover said. “It was homecoming week and it was Senior Night. The kids handled that part of it really well, which I always worry about.
“Our kids really approached it like a business venture and went out and took care of business. We were able to get everyone in the game tonight, which is always cool.”
Dylan Vlotnikoff and Lucas Nina-Boesler both scored their first career touchdowns – both on passes from quarterback Mike Slivka. Vlotnikoff’s was from 12 yards out while Nina-Boesler had a nine-yard TD reception. Mason Novak also had a TD run. Sophomore Jake Rossman scored UD’s final touchdown on a 15-yard run.
“Our young kids forced a safety in the fourth quarter,” Stover said. “They went out and held their own.”
The Flying Cardinals’ defense limited the dangerous Caleb Mead to less than 50 yards on the ground. The senior running back was coming off a 248-yard effort against Cheltenham.
“Obviously, Mead is a sensational running back, and he was the focus of the attention,” Stover said. “But they have some other weapons too that we were able to take away – their wideout number 11 (Jahaire Johnson) and number 23 (Safier Barr).
“They are impressive on film, that’s for sure. (Defensive coordinator) Dave Sowers does such a great job. We kind of pride ourselves in winning the game Monday through Thursday in preparation because we’re not the biggest, but we are well prepared.
“I think we have high football IQ kids. They go out and they trust us as a staff that we’re going to put them in the right spots, and if they do what they’re told – it’s up to them to make the plays and they do more times than they don’t.”
Upper Dublin (8-1, 6-0 SOL) will be the second seed in District One 5A Tournament. Upper Moreland (3-6, 2-4) is off until Thanksgiving when the Golden Bears will travel to Hatboro-Horsham.
Upper Moreland 0-6-0-0 6
Upper Dublin 20-14-0-9 43
CHELTENHAM 45, WISSAHICKON 8
The Panthers have their share of headliners at the skills positions. There’s Adonis Hunter at quarterback, Jamir Barnes at running back and the speedy TJ Harris at wide receiver.
Friday night’s game, according to coach Ryan Nase, belonged to five players who never get mentioned except when things go bad.
“Not to steal a line from Chip Kelly, but big people push around little people,” the Panthers coach said. “We were just bigger than them up front, and I think it just caught up to them.”
Deserving the spotlight, according to Nase, was the Panthers’ offensive line comprised of left tackle Marcus Winfield, left guard Ryan Felder, center Dan Gaffin, right guard Timi Towolawi and right tackle Brendan Cannaly.
“The movement we were getting up front – Wissahickon loads the box, like most people do on us,” Nase said. “We were really worried about the weather and the rain because our original game plan was to throw the ball 30-35 times tonight.
“After watching the first couple of plays, we were like, ‘Yeah, we’re going to run the ball.’ I have to see my stats, but my guess is we ran the ball close to 50 times.”
Siddiq Williams had a pair of touchdown runs while Jamir Barnes and Frank Sullen each had a rushing touchdown.
“It’s all a credit to the offensive line,” Nase said.
The Trojans were without sophomore quarterback Nick Santo.
“The quarterback not playing hurts them a ton,” Nase said. “Number three (Maurice Willis) and number five (Chris Smalls) were really good football players. If we played them first game of the season next year, I guarantee the outcome would not be the same.
“They were probably in the same boat as we were. We’re a little low on numbers, and most guys go both ways. We’re beat up too, and I think that’s caught up with them too.”
Entering Friday’s game, Cheltenham (7-3, 4-2 SOL) was seeded seventh in the District One 5A power rankings. Wissahickon closed out its season with a 1-9 record (0-6 SOL).
HATBORO-HORSHAM 56, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 35
A 35-0 tear that began with Amir Bookard’s 91-kickoff return for a touchdown turned an early 7-0 deficit into a lead the Hatters would never lose. That run, however, was not the beginning and end of the action in a contest that saw the two teams combine for 91 points and close to 700 yards of total offense.
The Hatters took a 28-7 lead into halftime and then spent the second half exchanging touchdowns with the Colonials – each side had four.
Jordan Collazo led the Hatters with 135 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries. Bookard added 70 yards and a TD. Quarterback Will Riemenschneider threw for a touchdown and ran for another. Ismael Collazo also had a TD run.
For the Colonials, Michael Paciello led the way with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown. Christian Pierce and Brian Desnin also had TD run. Quarterback Larry McLaughlin threw for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-4, 4-2 SOL) is off until Thanksgiving when the Hatters will host Upper Moreland (10 a.m.). Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its year with a 1-8 record (1-5 SOL).
Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-0-7-21 35
Hatboro-Horsham 14-14-14-14 56
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 20, ABINGTON 13
Jack Neri scored a fourth quarter touchdown to break a 13-13 tie, propelling the Bucks to their second win in as many weeks. They finished the season strong after a 2-6 start.
“The resilience and toughness of our guys – it’s just a total testament to them as individuals,” coach Rob Rowan said. “We faced all different levels of adversity this year and continued to battle.
“Instead of coming undone at the seams, they stayed together. I think that’s what’s really exciting moving forward.”
In Friday’s win, the Bucks took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Neri found Jack Fallon with a five-yard touchdown pass. A 39-yard touchdown run by Fallon sent the Bucks into halftime with a 13-0 lead that turned out to be anything but secure.
Abington quarterback Tamir Berthau made it a 13-6 game when he took it in from 12 yards out. With less than a minute remaining in the third quarter, Berthau scored on a seven-yard keeper to make it a 13-13 game after three.
Another big run by Fallon set up a one-yard touchdown plunge by Neri with just under four minutes remaining for the 20-13 final.
Fallon led the Bucks with 134 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries.
“He’s just a dynamic playmaker and once again really broke some big plays for us to put us in scoring position,” Rowan said. “Jack Neri played really well at the quarterback position. He threw a crucial ball to Jake Ojert on the drive that we scored on to take the lead.
“Jake’s a kid who’s been battle tested all year, has fought through some adversity on his own, and he just came up and made a huge play, and I’m just so happy for him.”
The Bucks’ defense limited the Ghosts to just 190 yards of total offense.
“Abington is a good football team with a lot of dynamic skill on their team, and they were tough up front,” Rowan said. “They came out in the second half and did some things and were able to tie the game up.
“Our kids knew what was at stake, and instead of falling apart, they came together at a crucial moment. It’s just a testament to them. I thought the whole defense collectively played well. We had some breakdowns coverage-wise in the second half.”
Senior linebacker Ryan Hieber was once again a force on defense.
“He’s one of the best high school linebackers I’ve ever been around,” Rowan said. “He is just tough as nails, and he probably had another dozen tackles. He’s just an unbelievable high school linebacker.”
Closing the season with two impressive wins is a springboard for the Bucks heading into the offseason.
“It’s just a matter of sticking to what we know works,” Rowan said. “We kept telling our kids – eventually the ball is going to start bouncing our way and we’re going to get some breaks.
“We were in every game this year. Ultimately, these past two games we’ve done a better job executing, minimizing mistakes and penalties and ultimately been able to come out on the right side, so it’s huge. We’ll definitely carry the mindset moving into next year.”
Central Bucks West and Abington finished the season with identical records. Both were 2-4 in the SOL and 4-6 overall.
Central Bucks West 7-6-0-7 20
Abington 0-0-13-0 13
QUAKERTOWN 15, KENNETT 13
A blocked two-point conversation by Nick Levinski with 6:42 remaining in the fourth quarter preserved the win for the Panthers.
Kennett took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but the Panthers answered with 15 points in the second to take a lead they would not lose.
Quakertown (8-2, 4-2 SOL) is projected to be 10th or 11th in the District One 6A Tournament, pending the outcome of Saturday’s games.
Kennett 7-0-0-6 13
Quakertown 0-15-0-0 15
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 55, EDISON 12
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