By Scott Huff
The one point that any head football coach will make is that success of a program does not come without the aid of a superior assistant coaching staff.
The three teams that entered the PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs from the Suburban One National Conference all boast marvelous assistant coaches.
And all three programs – Council Rock South, Abington, and Neshaminy – advanced to the second round.
“Most people do not realize the long hours that an assistant coach puts in during the week,” said Council Rock South head coach Vince Bedesem. “During the season, coaching really consumes you. Your family really has to support what you are doing.”
Family is a theme with the CR South coaching staff. Bedesem has 40-plus years of association with the families of both Johnny Donohoe (offensive coordinator) and Andy Cimochowski (linebackers), and his connection with Dave Nolter (defensive coordinator) is equally sound.
“Andy and Johnny came over with me when we started here at South nine years ago,” added Bedesem. “And Dave has been doing a great job of running the defense for the last five years.
“We just don’t coach together, our families go back years and years,” said Bedesem. “These are some of my best friends.”
Abington head coach Tim Sorber has also benefited from some superb assistant coaching during his 11-year tenure with the Ghosts.
“Kevin Conlin has been here all 11 years, and I have a tremendous amount of trust in him,” said Sorber of his defensive coordinator. “I think that we watch more film than almost anyone, and we go into games very well prepared.
“Kevin also does a great job of making adjustments during the game,” added Sorber. “When the game is being played, the defense is Kevin’s responsibility.”
Sorber runs the explosive offense for the Ghosts. And recently the former all-SOL tackle has someone new in his ear in the press box during game days – former head coach Doug Moister.
“Doug knows the game as well as anyone,” said Sorber – who played for Moister on the last Abington championship team in 1989. “He has seen it all, and his experience will only help us as a team.”
“It is hard not to be successful with the coaching staff that I have,” said Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt. “The key to our success has been the assistant coaches – all of them.
“The coaches care about our players, and the players in turn care about our coaches,” added Schmidt. “They are the people that hold things together.”
The assistant coaches with the longest tenure at Heartbreak Ridge include Steve Wilmot (offensive line – assistant head coach) and Jay Weidenbaugh (co-defensive coordinator) who have coached with Schmidt the entire 16 years.
Neil French (co-defensive coordinator) and Roger Grove (former head coach at Norristown) have coached for the last decade with Coach Schmidt.
“We have just a great staff,” said Schmidt. “Our program has had a decent amount of success, and it is all because of them.”
This Was The Week That Was In the Suburban One League
PIAA District One Quad-A Playoffs
Council Rock South (10-1) won its first playoff game in school history as the second seeded Golden Hawk edged 15th seeded Souderton (7-4) – 24-17.
CR South will now host the number 10 seed Central Bucks West (9-2) this Friday. The Bucks ‘upset’ No. 7 Coatesville – 42-28.
Quarterback Billy Fleming was once again outstanding for the Hawks and found the end zone three times on runs of one, 25, and one yards. Rock South rushed for 230 yards in the win.
Souderton ended its season with the loss to the Hawks. The four losses for the Big Red this year came against four teams still alive in the playoffs – Rock South (24-17), Abington (16-15), Neshaminy (21-19), and North Penn (40-22).
Javon White led the Indians in the loss to CR South with 90 yards that included a 68-yard touchdown run. Tanner Allem completed 12 passes for 125 yards, which included a TD pass to Clint Passerella.
Neshaminy (10-1) played an excellent second half as the Redskins cruised to a 41-13 victory over Upper Dublin (7-3). The Skins were the No. 4 seed, while the Cardinals were the No. 13 seed.
Neshaminy will now host Abington this week in the second round. The Redskins handled the Ghosts 28-10 in a SOL National Conference in the fourth week of the season.
Neshaminy quarterback Charlie Marterella was terrific as he fired four touchdown passes. He completed 10 passes for 210 yards on the night. Dwight Williams caught a pair of TD passes for the Skins, while Sean Ulmer rushed for a game-high 160 yards and scored a touchdown.
Upper Dublin closed the gap to 14-13 in the first half. Cardinal quarterback Andrew Derr tossed a pair of TD passes – one to Anthony Williams and the other to John Gibbons. Derr completed 17 pass for 195 yards – six of those completions were thrown to Jeff Buchanan.
The season is now over for the Flying Cardinals. Upper Dublin shared the SOL American Conference crown with Cheltenham.
Abington (9-2) advanced in the District One playoffs with a convincing 47-7 win over Cheltenham (9-2). The Ghosts are the No. 5 seed, while the Panthers were the No. 12 seed.
Abington will now travel to Neshaminy to meet the host Redskins at Heartbreak Ridge. Neshaminy is the No. 4 seed and defeated the Ghosts 28-10 earlier in the season.
Ghost senior quarterback Julien Ireland was no less than spectacular in the win over Cheltenham. Ireland completed four passes – all for touchdowns. Two were snared by the dangerous senior wide receiver – DJ McFadden. Ray Schreiner rushed for a game-high 127 yards, while Ireland added 124 yards for Abington.
Cheltenham will have to enjoy its 2010 SOL American Conference title after the setback to the rival Ghosts. The Panthers – who had not won a title in 34 years – had their hands full with an explosive Abington offense.
The lone score of the game for CHS came in the third quarter when senior Dan Rouse broke free and scored on a 70-yard kickoff return.
Central Bucks West (9-2) advanced to the second round with a stunning 42-28 victory over Coatesville (8-3). The victorious Bucks were the No. 10 seed, while the Red Raiders were the No. 7 seed.
CB West will continue to travel on the playoff road with a contest against the second-seeded Council Rock South Golden Hawks (10-1) on Friday. The Hawks advanced to their second round game with a win over Souderton (7-4) – 24-17.
West senior running back Rashaad Williams was beyond incredible as he rushed for 427 yards and five touchdowns. The TD runs were for 75, 39, three, 53, and 48 yards.
North Penn (10-1) advanced to the second round with a 20-6 win over Penn Wood (9-2). The winning Knights were the No. 3 seed, while the Patriots were the No. 14 seed.
North Penn will host Downingtown East (9-2) on Friday. The Cougars clawed Owen J Roberts 42-7 in their opening round contest.
North Penn senior running back Craig Needhammer scored three touchdowns. Needhammer – who rushed for a game-high 185 yards on 19 carries – scored on runs of 21, five, and 42 yards.
Dominic Taggart accounted for 158 yards of total offense while quarterback Corey Ernst completed 11 passes for 215 yards.
PIAA District One-Class AAA Playoffs
Upper Moreland (8-3) was shown the Triple-A playoff exit door as the Golden Bears dropped a 7-6 verdict to Interboro (6-5). Upper Moreland was the No. 2 seed, while the Bucs were the No. 7 seed.
Upper Moreland will play Hatboro-Horsham (2-9) on Thanksgiving Day in the final game of the season for both teams.
Upper Moreland had beaten Interboro 28-20 earlier in the season but could not move the ball against the Bucs this time around. In the first game, the Bears racked up 336 yards of total offense – but in the second meeting UM was held to only 170 yards of total offense.
The lone score for the Bears was a four-yard TD run by Greg Adamson.
Non-Playoff Games
Suburban One National Conference
Bensalem (4-7) concluded its season with a victory as the Owls flew by Hatboro-Horsham – 36-34.
Bensalem featured the running attack of Christian Fernandez who rushed for a game-high 215 yards and scored on a four-yard TD burst. Lamier Dodson scored for the Owls on a 33-yard interception return. Senior quarterback Anthony Prisco threw a TD pass to Davonte Newkirk and caught a TD pass from Newkirk.
William Tennent (4-7) concluded its season with a loss as the Panthers dropped a heart-breaking 31-30 double overtime loss to Pottstown (3-8). It was the sixth straight loss for WT after opening the season at 4-1.
Shakat Kofa scored on a pair of 10-yard runs in each of the overtimes. Connor Geiger scored on runs of four and one yards for the Panthers. Zach Miller rushed for a team-high 75 yards on 22 carries.
Harry S Truman (2-9) still has hopes on ending the season on a winning note when the Tigers host Conwell Egan (0-9) on Thanksgiving Day.
The Tigers lost last week to Stroudsburg (4-7) by a 31-21 score. Derron Thompson threw for 130 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a pair of scores for Truman.
Suburban One Continental Conference
Pennridge (6-5) prepped for its Turkey Day showdown against Quakertown (4-7) with a 28-7 victory over Archbishop Ryan (2-9).
Kyle Peters threw a pair of TD passes to Rocky Ferrier to showcase the Ram passing game, while Jesse Knepp rushed for a game-high 105 yards and scored a touchdown.
Quakertown (4-7) prepped for its Turkey Day showdown against Pennridge (6-5) with a 34-11 victory over Penncrest (2-9).
Zac Gravelle threw a pair of TD passes to Nate Perrine to showcase the Panther passing game, while John Keller scored a pair of rushing touchdowns for the winners.
Hatboro-Horsham (2-9) prepped for its Turkey Day showdown against Upper Moreland (8-3) with a 36-34 loss to Bensalem (4-7).
Matt Hollenbeck threw a pair of touchdown passes in the setback, and also scored on a pair of rushing touchdowns. Nick Dovidio rushed for a team-high 70 yards and also scored a pair of touchdowns for the Hatters.
Suburban One American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-5) ended its season with a winning record as the Colonials defeated Lansdale Catholic (3-7) – 49-27.
Wakeem Blythe scored three touchdowns for Plymouth Whitemarsh to spearhead the offense. Quarterback Russhon Phillips completed just six passes but racked up 195 yard threw the air.
Norristown (4-6) ended its season on a winning note as the Eagles flew by Phoenixville (3-8) – 38-12.
Quarterback Shannon Mayer fired three touchdowns for the Eagles – two to outstanding senior wide receiver Anthony DiNolfi – and one to Tyreese White. Mayer passed for a game-high 295 yards.
Suburban One Sports.Com Top Ten
1. North Penn Knights (10-1)
2. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (10-1)
3. Neshaminy Redskins (10-1)
4. Abington Galloping Ghosts (9-2)
5. Central Bucks West Bucks (9-2)
6. Souderton Indians (7-4)
7. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (7-3)
8. Cheltenham Panthers (9-2)
9. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (8-3)
10. Pennsbury Falcons (5-5)
- Log in to post comments
0
