By Scott Huff
There is one old tired cliché that certainly cannot be used this 2010 PIAA District One Quad-A Playoff season.
Defense wins championships.
The four remaining District One teams have marched through play to the semifinal round on the strength of the respective offensive proficiency.
The cumulative offensive scoring for the four remaining teams last week – Council Rock South (52), North Penn (49), Neshaminy (35), and West Chester Rustin (35) – add up to an impressive 170 points. A gaudy 42.5 points per game offensive average.
The cumulative defensive numbers for the four remaining teams last week – CB West (41) vs CR South, Downingtown East (33) vs North Penn, Abington (21) vs Neshaminy, and West Chester Henderson (20) vs WC Rustin – add up to an unimpressive 115 points. That math reveals a less than mediocre 28.5 points per game defensive average.
“High school football has almost become similar to college football,” said Abington head coach Tim Sorber. “It is almost common place to see scores in the 40’s, and that almost never happened.
“I think the complexity of the different offenses make to very difficult for teams to defend with a week’s preparation,” added Sorber. “One week you see a Wing-T, the next week a Wishbone, the next week a Spread Offense, and so on.”
One factor that never changes, though, is that the team with the most points wins that game.
Offense can win championships, too.
PIAA DISTRICT ONE QUAD-A PLAYOFFS – SEMIFINAL ROUND
North Penn Knights vs. Council Rock South Golden Hawks
When: Friday at 7 pm
Where: Walt Snyder Stadium – Newtown
Records:
North Penn (11-1)
Council Rock South (11-1)
Last Week:
North Penn was outrageous in its PIAA District One Quad-A quarterfinal game against Downingtown East (9-3) as the Knights gouged the Cougars – 49-33.
North Penn scored on all but one possession against the Ches-Mont National Division champions – and led by a ridiculous 35-3 at one point. Craig Needhammer rushed for a game-high 203 yards and scored two touchdowns. Dominic Taggart added 169 yards and scored three times – two rushing scores and one on a TD pass from Corey Ernst. Ernst was five-of-seven for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Council Rock South was equally outrageous on the offensive side of the ball as the Golden Hawks flew to a 52-41 PIAA District One Quad-A quarterfinal game against Central Bucks West (9-3).
CR South amassed an astounding 551 yards of total offense – 512 of those yards coming on the ground. Mark Damirgian rushed for 234 yards and two touchdowns; Brian Donnelly added 119 yards on just five carries; and Billy Fleming added 55 yards and scored a pair of TDs. Fleming completed just three passes – two for touchdowns. Both PJ Gallo and Donnelly latched on to touchdown passes.
Players & Stats:
North Penn senior running back Craig Needhammer leads the Knights with a season total of 1202 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. Dominic Taggart has rushed for 827 yards and 13 scores, while Brandon Mercer has added 309 yards and three scores. Senior quarterback Corey Ernst has completed 102 passes for 1605 yards ad 18 touchdowns.
Council Rock South senior running back Mark Damirgian leads the Golden Hawks with a season total of 1175 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. Quarterback Billy Fleming has rushed for 926 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Brian Donnelly has added 526 yards and two scores. Fleming has completed 36 passes on 69 attempts for 523 yards and five touchdowns.
North Penn head coach Dick Beck says –
“The quarterback on that team is ‘The Man’,” said Beck in reference to CR South senior Billy Fleming. “He runs that offense about as good as it can be run. Every game I’ve been to the refs have blown a whistle and stopped a play because he fakes the ball to the fullback so well.
“CR Rock runs that wishbone offense, and we are going to have our hands full to stop it,” added Beck. “If that means bring more people to the ball at the line of scrimmage, that’s what we have to do.
“The strength of their team defensively is that defensive line,” continued Beck. “They have a great combination of both speed and strength.
“I’m really happy that we get to play the game on the turf field at Council Rock,” added Beck. “Our home field really has never been an advantage to us with the mud. The players need to decide who wins this game, not the playing conditions.”
Council Rock South head coach Vince Bedesem says:
“North Penn is a team of great tradition, not only on the district level but on the state level,” said Bedesem. “Fundamentals, technique, and consistency are what make North Penn one of the best teams in the state.
“The key to winning will be field position, ball security, and defense,” added Bedesem. “We must make them drive the length of the field to beat us. We can’t give them anything cheap.
“It is always great playing at home,” continued Bedesem. “The turf is great, but the atmosphere is greater. We really appreciate our student body, our friends and family, and the community for their support.”
Notes:
North Penn has not lost a game since its opening season loss to La Salle, 27-14… The Knights are ranked anywhere from three to five depending on which poll you look at that ranks Pennsylvania High School football teams… NP has defeated Penn Wood (20-6) and Downingtown East (49-33) in its playoff run … North Penn averages 36.2 points per game and allows 14.2 points per game.
Council Rock South has lost only one game this season – 45-35 – to Abington…The Golden Hawks (what is a ‘golden’ hawk?) have four defensive shutouts this season … Rock South has beaten both Souderton (24-17) and Central Bucks West (52-41) in its playoff run…Council Rock South averages 32.6 points per game and allows 14.2 points per game.
[Prediction: North Penn Knights 38 – CR South Golden Hawks 28]
West Chester Rustin Golden Knights vs. Neshaminy Redskins
When – Friday @ 7 pm
Where – Heartbreak Ridge – Neshaminy
Records:
West Chester Rustin 11-1
Neshaminy 11-1
Last week:
West Chester Rustin trailed cross-town rival West Chester Henderson (9-3), 20-14, going into the fourth period. But the Golden Knights rallied for 21 unanswered points to knock off WC Henderson – 35-20.
Rustin featured a punishing running attack that racked by 216 rushing yards. Frankie O’Donnell scored a touchdown and rushed for a team-high 106 yards. The passing combination of quarterback Andrew Fithia to Anthony Nash continued to be effective. Fithian completed seven passes for 106 yards and a pair of scores – one of 12 yards to Nash. Nash caught five balls for 60 yards.
Neshaminy showcased a balanced offense and a resilient defense to defeat Suburban One League National Conference foe Abington – 35-21.
Anthony Woodroffe scored on a 30-yard run and a six-yard run and rushed for a team-high 105 yards in the win. Redskin quarterback Charlie Marterella was on target as he completed seven-of-13 passes for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tight end Shane Quinn caught a 40-yard TD pass, while Sean Ulmer scored on a six-yard TD strike.
Players & Stats:
West Chester Rustin features a balanced attack andis led in rushing by Frankie O’Donnell. O’Donnell leads the Golden Knights with 806 yards on 106 carries and has scored 15 touchdowns. DeVante Dixon had added 799 yards this season for Rustin and has scored four touchdowns. Quarterback Andrew Fithian has completed 73 passes for 1535 yards and 25 touchdowns. Anthony Nash has caught 48 passes for 1078 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Neshaminy also features a balanced attack. The Skins have three fine runners in seniors Sean Ulmer, Anthony Woodroffe, and Corey Majors. Ulmer has rushed for 1019 yards and 10 scores; Woodroffe has added 929 yards and 13 scores; and Majors has 468 yards and eight touchdowns. Quarterback Charlie Marterella has completed 108 passes for 1671 yards and 18 touchdowns. His favorite receivers are Dwight Williams (36 catches for 670 yards and seven TD) and Justin Andrews (35 catches for 511 yards and three scores).
West Chester Rustin head coach Mike St. Clair says:
“Neshaminy has the whole offensive package,” said St. Clair. “They have a terrific offensive line and good running backs. And the quarterback can throw the football to some athletic receivers.
“They will be without question the biggest team that we play this year,” added St. Clair. “And playing at their place is going to be a tough environment, but we have to handle that.
“Neshaminy has a lot of players, and we are going to have to try and keep up with them,” continued St. Clair. “If we want to have a chance to win the football game, we are going to have to play mistake-free football.”
Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt says:
“Rustin is a team that reminds you a lot like North Penn and Council Rock South,” said Schmidt. “They have tremendous size – the biggest team we have played this year – and they are very athletic.
“To be able to win that league (Ches-Mont) you have to have an excellent football team,” added Schmidt. “Rustin runs that Wing-T very well and can hurt you with both the run and the pass.
“We are coming into the game with an excellent attitude,” continued Schmidt. “The seniors especially are very excited about playing this game. They don’t want their season to end, and if we don’t win – it’s over.”
Notes:
West Chester Rustin finished the season as the champions of the Ches-Mont American Division… The Golden Knights suffered their only loss of the season in the second game of the year when WC Rustin lost to Bishop Shanahan (7-4) – 40-37… The Golden Knights (what is a ‘golden’ knight?) have the smallest enrollment of the three West Chester high schools behind both West Chester East and West Chester Henderson … Rustin has beaten both Boyertown (21-13) and WC Henderson (35-20) in its playoff run… Rustin has averaged 33.3 points per game this season and has allowed 9.0 points per game.
Neshaminy finished the season as tri-champions of the Suburban One League National Conference along with Abington and Council Rock South … The Redskins suffered their only loss of the season to Council Rock South when the Skins dropped a 28-21verdict… NHS has beaten both Upper Dublin (41-13) and Abington (35-21) in its playoff run … Neshaminy averages 32.0 points per game this season and allows 14.8 points per game.
[Prediction: Neshaminy Redskins 31 – West Chester Rustin Golden Knights 21]
Fair or Foul?????
La Salle (District 12) has already secured a berth in the PIAA Eastern semifinals in the ‘bottom’ half of the PIAA Quad-A playoffs.
The Explorers have a bye this week and await the winner of the District 11 playoffs next week.
The 16 teams selected from District One make up the ‘top’ half of the bracket.
La Salle (11-1) opened with a 35-16 victory over Roman Catholic of the Philadelphia Catholic League in the playoff opener, and followed with a 35-0 win over Northeast – the Philadelphia Public League champion.
Now the talented Explorers have the week off this week.
Easton (11-1) will have to face Whitehall (10-2) in the District 11 finals this week and the winner will advance to the Eastern PIAA Quad-A semifinal against La Salle.
Easton opened the District 11 playoffs with a 39-7 win over Delaware Valley and pummeled East Stroudsburg – 68-20.
The Red Rovers, in addition to the Saturday afternoon game with Whitehall, will face Phillipsburg (NJ) on Thanksgiving morning at Lafayette College.
Whitehall opened the District 11 playoffs with a 41-27 victory over Wyoming Valley West. The Zephyrs followed with a 21-6 win over Nazareth last week.
[Prediction: Easton 34 – Whitehall 20]
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