SOL Football Forecast (10-22-26)

Football Forecast – 10

By Scott Huff

Playoffs….we’re talking Central Bucks playoffs…….
If the 16-team 6A PIAA District One playoffs were to begin this week, all three high schools in the Central Bucks School District would be in the hunt for a championship.

Central Bucks West (7-1 overall) is currently ranked #4 in the district * Central Bucks East (5-3) is currently ranked #8 and Central Bucks South (4-4) is currently ranked #10.

This could be the third time in the last decade that all 3 Central Bucks schools would be in the D-1 6A postseason.

The last time was in 2022 * CB East was ranked #6 * CB South was ranked #10 and CB West was ranked #11.

In 2021, * CB West was ranked #8 * CB East was ranked #11 and CB South was ranked #15.

In the last decade, Central Bucks South was a 6A District One playoff team seven times * in 2024 (#1) * in 2023 (#5) * in 2022 (#10) * in 2020 (#14) * in 2019 (#8) * in 2017 (#9) and in 2016 (#7).

In the last 10 years, CB West has made the District One playoffs 7 times * in 2025 (#6) * 2024 (#3) * 2023 (#1) * 2022 (#11) * 2021 (#8) * 2019 (#2) and 2017 (#12).

In the last decade CB East has made the District One playoffs 4 times * in 2022 (#6) * in 2021 (#11) * 2018 (#15) and 2016 (#9).

The closing two weeks of the regular season have some difficult challenges for the Bucks, Patriots and Titans.

Central Bucks West (7-1 * #4) will close out the season at Pennsbury (3-5 * #19) and at home with Central Bucks East (5-3 * #8).

Central Bucks East (#8) will close out the season at Abington (2-6 * #24) and at Central Bucks West (7-1* #4).

Central Bucks South (4-4 * #10) has the most difficult games to close out the season as the Titans will host both North Penn (4-4 * #12) and Pennridge (8-0 * #1).

Stay tuned

‘You can’t make chicken soup without the chicken’… folk idiom
Council Rock North head coach Vince Bedesem has been attempting to make chicken soup all season, but for the overmatched and overwhelmed Indians (0-8) there just hasn’t been a winning recipe.

Bedesem was cooking plenty of chicken soup back in a day when he was the head coach at CR South in 2011.  The Golden Hawks finished the season 12-2 with D-1 playoff victories over Upper Dublin (34-7), Downingtown East (31-19) and Garnet Valley (38-26).

Bedesem and his Rock South team lost in the 2011 District One final to North Penn, 34-14.

Bedesem during his successful tenure at CR South won 3 Suburban One National Conference titles and coached the Golden Hawks into the D-1 playoffs five times.

That was then where he began the CR South program and this is now for Bedesem as he begins his tenure at his alma mater, Council Rock North (Class of 1984). 

Bedesem inherited a program that was 0-10 last year * 1-19 the last 2 seasons * and has not had a winning season since 2015.

The 2026 Indians have been competitive in two games this season * a 21-7 opening season loss to William Tennent (2-6) and a 6-0 overtime loss to Bensalem (2-6).

William Tennent’s ‘other’ victory this season came against Class 2A New Hope-Solebury (35-7), while the ‘other’ win for Bensalem came against Dobbins Tech (42-7) * a Philly public school that is 1-7 this season.

The remaining 2026 CR North games all have been ‘mercy-rule’ games that included sizable losses to Harry S Truman (42-7), Abington (38-0), Souderton (63-6), Upper Dublin (38-7), Plymouth Whitemarsh (63-0) & Quakertown (36-7).

The current excruciating 23-game losing streak may finally come to a thankful end this week when the Class 6A Indians travel to meet Class A Morrisville (6-1). 

Rock North has 636 male students & Morrisville has 128 male students – which is the lowest number of male students in any PIAA District One school.

The Bulldogs have put together a terrific season, though, with victories over Samuel Fels (12-8), Kipp Collegiate Academy (29-6), Academy of the New Church (35-0), Delaware County Christian (21-7), New Hope Solebury (19-13) & Lower Moreland (22-14). 

The lone loss of the season for Morrisville came against Boys Latin Charter School, (38-8).  The Warriors (5-3) play in the Philadelphia Public League – Liberty Division.

Council Rock North is hopeful that Coach Bedesem can finally cook up some chicken soup this week.  The Indians & their fans have been starving for a victory for far too long.

Stay tuned.

Slow but sure…Upper Moreland nears championship
Upper Moreland (7-1, 3-0) last won a Suburban One League American Conference championship during the 2020 Covid-shortened season with a 4-0 conference record.

Plymouth Whitemarsh has been a consecutive 5-time SOL American Conference champion ever since that 2020 season, but the Colonials were ‘moved’ to the SOL Continental Conference this season.

Plymouth Whitemarsh had denied the Golden Bears a shot at a conference championship with 5 consecutive regular season conference wins.

The Colonials defeated Upper Moreland in 2025 (28-18) * in 2024 (21-14) * in 2023 (35-7) * in 2022 (56-20) & in 2021 (31-28).

The last SOL American Conference win for the Golden Bears over Plymouth Whitemarsh came in their 2020 championship year, 63-35.

The path to a 2026 SOL American Conference championship should not be extremely challenging for the Purple & Gold as the Golden Bears hosts William Tennent this week (2-6, 0-3) & plays @ Hatboro Horsham (2-6, 1-2) the final week of the regular conference season.

Stay tuned.

PIAA District One Football Rankings
Class 6 A * 16 of 30 teams Qualify for Playoffs

Class 5A * 16 of 27 teams Qualify for Playoffs

And the beat goes on…

SOL National Conference
North Penn Knights (4-4, 2-3) @ Central Bucks South Titans (4-4, 4-1)
Last Year:
North Penn 28 * Central Bucks South 7
Last Week:
North Penn surprisingly has a losing conference record as the Knights were defeated by host Central Bucks East, 34-12.  North Penn led 6-0 and trailed by just 14-12 @ halftime.  Londan Evans fired a pair of touchdown passes * one to Sal Colella (9-yards) & one to Jacob Garrett (11-yards).
Central Bucks South remained in contention for a conference championship with a 9-0 victory over host Pennsbury.  The Titans broke open a scoreless game as Gavin Graham scored on a 10-yard run in the third quarter.  The CB South defense recorded a sack by Jake Friedman in the end zone to close out the scoring.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 21 * North Penn Knights 17

Central Bucks West Bucks (7-1, 4-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (3-5, 1-4)
Last Year:
Central Bucks West 17 * Pennsbury 7
Last Week:
Central Bucks West remained in contention for a conference title as the Bucks routed Neshaminy, 40-8.  Braylen Cape scored on runs of 55 & 43 yards * Nick Miletto scored on runs of 9 & 3 yards * Finn Riley scored on a 9-yard run & Josh George threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Owen Pudlo.  CB West led 40-0 @ halftime.
Pennsbury played very well defensively but was shut out offensively in a 9-0 conference loss to Central Bucks South.  The game was played in a driving rainstorm that hampered both the Falcons & the Titans.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 24 * Pennsbury Falcons 8

Neshaminy Redskins (3-5, 1-4) @ Pennridge Rams (8-0, 5-0)
Last Year:
Pennridge 14 * Neshaminy 7
Last Week:
Neshaminy suffered a 40-8 conference loss to Central Bucks West.  The lone score for the Redskins came in the fourth quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Bradley Dalessandro to Colson Hill.  The final tally came on a 2-point conversion by Dan McGarrity.
Pennridge played a rare Saturday afternoon game and more than enjoyed the day as the Rams gouged host Abington, 42-7.  Trevor Picciotti rushed for a game-high 123 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 22 & 59 yards.  Mike Ferguson returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown.  Quarterback Aiden Tetkowski scored on a 9-yard run, while Ronin Loch scored on a 20-yard run.  Blake Borek concluded the scoring with a spectacular 49-yard touchdown scamper.
Prediction:
Guest Forecaster:  Amelia V. Moyer
Pennridge Rams 38 * Neshaminy Redskins 7

Central Bucks East Patriots (5-3, 3-2) @ Abington Galloping Ghosts (2-6, 0-5)
Last Year:
Central Bucks East 49 * Abington 7
Last Week:
Central Bucks East running back Mike Price was sensational as the Patriots marched to a 34-12 victory over North Penn.  Price rushed for close to 200 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 19, 18, 15 & 4 yards.  Price also threw a touchdown pass to Owen Grotz.  The CB East defense generated 5 Knight turnovers.
Abington remained winless in the conference as the Ghosts were defeated by unbeaten Pennridge, 42-7.  Jason Raysor scored on a 49-yard run in the 4^th quarter to avoid the shutout.  Abington has now lost 35 straight conference games and has been outscored 207-19 this season in its 5 conference losses.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 49 * Abington Ghosts 7

SOL Continental Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-0, 4-0) @ CR South Golden Hawks (4-3, 2-2)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh remained unbeaten with a convincing 42-0 conference victory over Upper Dublin.  The Colonials led 28-0 at halftime.  Plymouth Whitemarsh rushed for 280 yards.  Aiden Orensky scored 2 touchdowns for the winners, while Michael Giangiulio & Ryan Guarino each scored single touchdowns.
Council Rock South prepped for its showdown with Plymouth Whitemarsh with a 42-7 ‘mercy-rule’ conference victory over Bensalem.  Logan Smith scored 2 touchdowns on receptions from quarterback Joey Saracino * Jerry Rogers scored on a touchdown run & Brody Walker also scored on a TD run. The defense came up with a pair of scores * DJ Andrzejewski has a ‘pick-6” & Ryan Kruszczynski scored on a fumble return.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 27 * Council Rock South Golden Hawks 10

Quakertown Panthers (4-4, 4-1) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (3-5, 2-2)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin 42 * Quakertown 28
Last Week:
Quakertown remained in contention for both a conference title & a District-One playoff berth with a 36-7 victory over winless Council Rock North.  Quarterback Carter Tucholski threw a pair of touchdown passes * one to Mason Pavone (15-yards) & one to Lucas Furness (42-yards).  Tucholski also scored on a 1-yard run.  Daimon Lowande-Richardson scored on runs of 1 & 15 yards.
Upper Dublin lost for the 2^nd week in a row as the Flying Cardinals were grounded by unbeaten Plymouth Whitemarsh, 42-0.  Upper Dublin was held to less than 100 yards of total offense.  The Cardinals were defeated 2 weeks ago by Council Rock South, 42-7.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 31 * Upper Dublin Cardinals 14

Bensalem Owls. (2-6, 1-3) @ Souderton Indians (2-6, 2-2)
Last Year:
Souderton 56 – Bensalem 13
Last Week:
Bensalem could do little either offensively or defensively in a 42-7 conference loss to Council Rock South.  The Fighting Owls avoided a shutout with a 4^th quarter touchdown.
Souderton did not enjoy its 1 ½ hour drive to Appoquinimink Delaware as the Indians lost still another heartbreaker with a 28-27 loss to the host Jaguars.  The weather was bad (an hour delay during the game) and the result was even worse as Souderton continued its painful streak of losing close games.  The Indians scored twice on offense as Levi Lopez (68-yard run) & Chris Oremeno (8-yard run) found paydirt.  Souderton scored twice on defense as Brandon Alderfer scored on a 40-yard ‘pick-6’ & Chase Hart scored on a 95-yard fumble return.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 42 * Bensalem Owls 14

SOL American Conference
Harry S Truman Tigers (4-4, 2-1) @ Wissahickon Trojans (6-2, 2-1)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Harry S Truman moved back into Class 6A District One playoff consideration (see above) as the Tigers clawed Hatboro Horsham, 35-19.  Truman has continued its roller coaster ride (I know I write about this every week) as Tigers resume began with a loss (Haverford) * continued with a win (Council Rock North) * continued with a loss (West Philadelphia) * continued with a win (South Philadelphia) * continued with a loss (Chichester) * continued with a win (Springfield-Montco) * continued with a loss (Upper Moreland) & finished last week with the win against Hatboro Horsham.  Jasir Mitchell rushed for 265 yards to highlight the win over the Hatters.
Wissahickon moved up in the PIAA District One Class 5A rankings with a 28-7 conference victory over William Tennent.  Quasir Sampson rushed for a game-high 140 yards and scored 2 touchdowns * Avery Godoy had a 68-yard ‘pick-6’ & Ben Hinchcliffe kicked 2 field goals.  The Trojans are the #8 ranked team in District One and could host a playoff game it they could hold onto that spot in the rankings.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 24 * Harry S Truman Tigers 13

Hatboro Horsham Hatters (2-6, 1-2) @ Springfield Spartans (3-5, 1-2)
Last Year:
Hatboro Horsham 34 * Springfield 14
Last Week:
Hatboro Horsham lost for the 2^nd week in a row as the Hatters were topped by Harry S Truman, 35-19.  The good news for the Hatters was an early 13-13 deadlock in the first half & the bad news was that HH was outscored 22-6 for the remainder of the game.
Springfield was defeated by Upper Moreland, 24-7.  The Spartans trailed 18-0 but rallied back to close to 18-7 as Michael Eder scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 24 * Hatboro Horsham Hatters 17

William Tennent Panthers (2-6, 0-3) @ Upper Moreland Bears (7-1, 3-0)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland 44 * William Tennent 7
Last Week:
William Tennent remained winless in the conference as the Panthers were defeated by Wissahickon, 28-7. William Tennent avoided a shutout with a 4^th quarter touchdown.  It was the 3^rd loss in a row for the Panthers.
Upper Moreland remained unbeaten in the conference with a 24-7 victory over Springfield-Montco.  Santino Rodriguez scored on runs of 6 & 4 yards, while Kyle Moore scored on a 4-yard run.  The lone loss of the season for the #5 ranked 5A District One team was a surprising 33-6 loss to West Chester Henderson.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 42 * William Tennent Panthers 7

Non-League Game
Council Rock North Indians (0-8) @ Morrisville Bulldogs (6-1)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Council Rock North sadly continued its losing streak both in the conference & overall in a 36-7 loss to Quakertown.  CR North has been outscored 307 to 34 this season.  The Indians have now lost 23 straight games.
Morrisville rallied back in the second half to secure a 22-14 victory over Lower Moreland.  The Bulldogs are the #1 ranked Class A team in District One.
Prediction:
Council Rock North Indians 21 * Morrisville Bulldogs 17

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