Check out all of last week’s SOL action, and vote for the team you think will win the District One AAAA title in the poll below the scoreboard on the home page.
By Scott Huff
Sometimes the hype of the PIAA District One playoffs dims the accomplishments of the respective Suburban One League Conference championships. But – fortunately – the glow of those titles is not diminished to either the coaches or players of those championship teams.
North Penn (7-0 conference) captured the SOL Continental Conference title with a 27-0 win over Pennridge (4-2). Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-0) earned the SOL American Conference championship with a 32-0 victory over Norristown (3-3). Both Council Rock South (6-1) and Abington (6-1) earned a share of the SOL National title. The Golden Hawks defeated Council Rock North (4-3) – 17-0, while the Ghosts defeated William Tennent (2-5) - 28-0.
“Like my coaching staff likes to remind me, we won another championship jacket for the players,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck. “To win championships is still big for the players, it isn’t at all watered down. We still celebrate our accomplishment.
“We set the bar so high at North Penn,” added Beck. “There is always talk of winning district championships, and winning state championships. Sometimes we are a victim of our own success.”
“The players were ecstatic after we beat Norristown to win the league championship,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Dan Chang. “The seniors on this team did not win a game as freshmen, won just three games as sophomores, and six games as juniors. Winning a league championship means a great deal to them.
“I’m very happy with the way that we ended the season,” continued Chang. “To us, the playoffs are the something extra to get excited about. We want to make some noise in the playoffs.”
The SOL conference titles are behind North Penn, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Council Rock South, and Abington. That fearsome foursome – along with SOL colleagues Central Bucks South, Neshaminy, Pennsbury, and Upper Dublin – will now compete in the field of 16 for the PIAA District One championship.
PIAA District One Playoffs
# 16 Upper Dublin Cardinals @ # 1 Council Rock South Hawks
# 9 Downingtown East Cougars @ # 8 West Chester Henderson Warriors
# 13 Central Bucks South Titans @ # 4 Plymouth Whitemarh Colonials
# 12 Ridley Raiders @ # 5 Garnet Valley Jaguars
# 15 Pennsbury Falcons @ # 2 Abington Ghosts
# 10 Coatesville Raiders @ # 7 Spring-Ford Rams
# 14 Neshaminy Redskins @ # 3 Unionville Indians
# 11 North Penn Knights @ # 6 West Chester Rustin Golden Knights
This Was ‘The Week That Was’ in the Suburban One League
SOL National Conference
Neshaminy (7-3, 4-3) captured a HUGE conference victory as the Redskins collected a 24-7 victory over rival Pennsbury (7-3, 5-2). The win jettisoned the Skins into the PIAA District One playoffs as the # 14 seed, while the win also snatched a share of the conference title from the Falcons. Neshaminy led 17-0 at the half as quarterback Joe Bianchino fired a pair of touchdown passes to Tadas Karusevicius – one of eight yards and the other of five yards. Nicholas Tucci booted a 28-yard field goal. The game sealing score for the Skins came in the fourth period on a 32-yard TD aerial from Bianchino to Justin Andrews. Bianchino completed nine passes for an even 100 yards and the three touchdowns. Sean Ulmer led all rushers with 86 yards, while Andrews caught four passes for 59 yards and his score.
Pennsbury (7-3, 5-2) will attempt to rebound from the loss as the Falcons held on to a # 15 seed in the playoffs. Pennsbury was held to just 170 yards of total offense against Neshaminy – 150 of those yards coming on the ground. DaQuan Mack led the Falcons with a team-high 71 yards on 11 carries.
Next: Neshaminy Redskins (7-3) @ Unionville Indians (9-1) – Friday – 7 pm - 1st Round PIAA District One Playoffs
Next: Pennsbury Falcons (7-3) @ Abington Galloping Ghosts (9-1) – Friday – 7 pm – 1st Round PIAA District One Playoffs
Abington (9-1, 6-1) captured its share of the conference title as the Ghosts gathered a 28-0 victory over William Tennent (3-7, 2-5). Abington pounded the Panthers for 450 yards of total offense. Running back Ray Schreiner raced for 173 yards and scored on TD bursts of 14 and 76 yards. Quarterback Ken Cropper threw a pair of touchdown passes – one of 22 yards to tight end Chris Ruhl – and the other of seven yards to wide receiver Josh Lee.
William Tennent (3-7, 2-5) closed outs it conference season with a total of three wins. The Panthers were able to collect 12 first downs and 176 yards of total offense – but could not cross the goal line. Joey Lutz competed 11 passes for 75 yards to highlight the William Tennent offense.
Next: Pennsbury Falcons (7-3) @ Abington Galloping Ghosts (9-1) – Friday 7 pm – 1st Round PIAA District One Playoffs
Next: William Tennent Panthers (3-7) @ Pottstown Trojans (3-7) – Friday 7 pm
Council Rock South (9-1, 6-1) captured its share of the conference title as the Golden Hawks flew to a 17-0 victory over Council Rock North (5-5, 4-3). The victory locked up the # 1 seed for Rock South in the PIAA District One playoffs. South took a 7-0 first half lead on a 52-yard touchdown run by Anthony Alimenti. Brian Donnelly scored a second half touchdown on a 39-yard run, while place kicker Benjamin Solis booted a 39-yard field goal. The Hawks rushed for 282 yards and were led by Donnelly with a team-high 135 yards rushing.
Council Rock North (5-5, 4-3) rebounded from a one win 2010 season despite the loss to the Hawks. Quarterback Trevor Guzy completed 16 passes for 145 yards. Billy McAlister was the # 1 target for Guzy as he caught seven aerials for 78 yards.
Next: Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (7-2) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (9-1) – Friday 7 pm – 1st Round District One Playoffs
Bensalem (3-7, 1-6) snapped a seven game losing streak as the Owls caged winless Harry S Truman (0-7, 0-10) – 20-6. Davonte Newkirk sparked the Bensalem offense with 112 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Newkirk also caught a pair of Kevin Hopkins passes for 25 additional yards. Bryant Mitchell also scored a touchdown for the winners.
Truman (0-7, 0-10) scored its lone touchdown in the second quarter when Jake Zolna scored on a seven-yard run. Larry Winton was a workhorse for the Tigers as he rushed for a game-high 125 yards on 24 carries.
Next: Conwell-Egan Eagles (0-9) @ Truman Tigers (0-10) – Thanksgiving Day
SOL Continental Conference
North Penn (8-2, 7-0) captured the conference title with a 27-0 victory over host Pennridge (5-5, 4-2). The win made the Knights the # 11 seed in the district playoffs. The Knights lost QB Corey Ernst with a shoulder injury and utilized a punishing ground game to secure the win. Kyle Mayfield – who scored on a 1-yard TD run – led North Penn with 116 yards. Dan Gervitz scored on a 36-yard scamper, while Ralphie Reeves scored on a five-yard burst. Brandon Mandes booted a pair of field goals – the first of 48 yards – and the second of 40 yards.
Pennridge (5-5, 4-2) has now lost two in a row after a five-game winning streak put the Rams in contention for a conference title. Pennridge was held to just 108 yards of total offense and did not have a passing yard. Sophomore Mike Class was ‘held’ to 85 yards on 19 carries for the Rams.
Next: North Penn Knights (8-2) @ West Chester Rustin Golden Knights (9-1) – Saturday 1 pm - 1st Round District One Playoffs
Next: Quakertown Panthers (4-6, 1-5) @ Pennridge Rams (5-5, 4-2) – Thanksgiving Morning – 10:15 am
Central Bucks South (7-3, 5-2) earned its ticket to the playoffs as the Titans won an eye-popping 61-40 victory over Central Bucks East (1-9, 1-6). Dan Brown bulled his way for 251 yards and scored four touchdowns for the winners. Brown scored a fifth touchdown on a pass reception from Matt Johns. Johns was on target with 291 passing yards on just nine completions. Chris Veal snared five passes for 153 yards and a pair of TD catches.
Central Bucks East (1-9, 1-6) had its biggest offensive outing of the season, but the Patriots lost by three touchdowns. Brandon Sparks rushed for 135 yards and a pair of scores and also caught three passes that included a scoring strike from quarterback Josh Bernard. Bernard threw for 199 yards and completed 10 passes – three of those passes were to Vince Careghini for 85 yards – one for 72 yards and a score.
Next: Central Bucks South Titans (7-3) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-1) – Friday 7 pm - 1st Round District One Playoffs
Souderton (6-4, 5-2) finished with a winning season as the Big Red punished rival Quakertown (4-6, 1-5) – 41-17. Souderton exploded for 20 points in the third period to put the game away. Javon White rushed for 188 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns – one of 65 yards and the other of 52 yards. Anthony Williams scored on touchdown bursts of 25 and 37 yards. Jarrett Reinhold and Jeremy Allen also scored for the Big Red.
Quakertown (4-6, 1-5) closed to within 14-10 in the third period, but the Panthers could get no closer. Erik Jones completed nine passes for 112 yards and a pair of scores. Mike Sawyer – who caught three passes for 124 yards – snared a 74-yard touchdown pass from Jones. Justin Wieder caught a fourth period 30-yard scoring pass from Jones.
Next: Quakertown Panthers (4-6, 1-5) @ Pennridge Rams (5-5, 4-2) – Thanksgiving Morning – 10:15 am
Central Bucks West (5-5, 3-4) evened its season record with a 23-12 conference victory over Hatboro-Horsham (3-7, 1-6). Sherrod Higginbothan rushed for a game-high 133 yards and scored on a five-yard touchdown run. Kevin Duggan and John Fitz also scored touchdown runs for the Bucks. Nick Danilo kicked a 37-yard field goal for CB West.
Hatboro-Horsham (3-7, 1-6) led 12-7 early in the game, but the Hatters could not hold on in their conference finale. It was the first game played on the new Hatboro-Horsham turf. Chris Ejimonyeugwo scored on a 47-yard dash, while Travis Young also scored for the Hatters on an 18-yard burst. It was the sixth straight loss for the Hatters.
Next: Archbishop Ryan (3-6) @ Central Bucks West (5-5) – Friday 7 pm
Next: Cheltenham (5-5) @ Hatboro-Horsham (3-7) – Friday 7 pm
SOL American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-1, 6-0) captured the conference crown with a 32-0 victory over Norristown (5-4, 3-3). The Colonials bolted to a 22-0 first half lead on TD runs by Corey Kelly, Xavier Ellington, and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Russhon Phillips to Alton Custis. Second half scores came on a 22-yard field goal by Tyler Haney and a 16-yard run by Ellington. Ellington finished with a game-high 127 yards.
Norristown (5-4, 3-3) fell to .500 in the conference with the loss. The Eagles lost starting quarterback Shannon Mayer to injury in the first half and could not score. Norristown will attempt to hold on to its winning season as the Eagles play a non-conference game this week.
Next: Central Bucks South Titans (7-3) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-1) – Friday 7 pm – 1st Round District One Playoffs
Next: Norristown Eagles (5-5) @ Phoenixville Phantoms (7-3) – Friday 7 pm
Wissahickon (7-3, 4-2) completed its turnaround season as the Trojans routed Cheltenham (5-5, 2-4) – 35-7. Wissahickon – which won just a single game last season – had another solid game turned in by Ricky O’Donnell. O’Donnell – who rushed for a game-high 147 yards – scored on touchdown runs of 26 and 35 yards. Dan Murphy and Anthony DeLegall scored rushing touchdowns, while J.T. Crits threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Jared Reed.
Cheltenham (5-5, 2-4) could muster just 150 yards of total offense as the Panthers lost by 28 points. The lone score of the game for the Panthers came on a 1-yard touchdown run by Aquil Reed. Hyneef Dockery led Cheltenham in rushing with 59 yards on 13 carries.
Next: Cheltenham Panthers (5-5) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (3-7) – Friday 7 pm
Upper Moreland (1-9, 1-5) claimed its first win of the seasonas the Golden Bears sunk Upper Merion (0-6, 0-9) – 21-7. Robert Knox scored on a 33-yard pass from Charlie Hooker and also scored on a four-yard run. Knox finished with a game-high 181 yards. Hooker completed six passes for 119 yards. The Bears also scored a defensive touchdown as Torin Grumm recovered a fumble in the end zone.
Upper Merion (0-6, 0-9) remained winless with the loss to Upper Moreland. The Vikings led 7-0 in the first period on a three-yard touchdown run by JeQuan Mitchell. Hassan Gardner led Upper Merion in rushing with a team-high 109 yards on 19 carries.
Next: Upper Moreland Golden Bears (1-9) @ Owen J Roberts Indians (1-9) – Friday 7 pm
Next: Upper Merion Vikings (0-9) @ Upper Perkiomen Indians (4-6)
SuburbanOneSports.com***Top Ten***
1. North Penn Knights (8-2)
2. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (9-1)
3. Abington Ghosts (9-1)
4. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-1)
5. Central Bucks South Titans (7-3)
6. Pennsbury Falcons (7-3)
7. Neshaminy Redskins (7-3)
8. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (7-2)
9. Wissahickon Trojans (7-3)
10. Souderton Big Red (6-4)
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