This week’s notebook features CR North, Pennridge and Upper Dublin and highlights some of the SOL’s top offensive efforts.
By Scott Huff
The final week of the PIAA Quad-A District One regular football season dotted all the I’s and crossed all the T’s for the prestigious 16-team field that will participate in the district playoffs, which begin this Friday. The last to be invited was 16-seed Council Rock North (7-3 overall, 1180 points) from the Suburban One League National Conference. The Indians earned their 16th seed with a 31-21 win over rival Council Rock South last Friday, and the first one not to be invited was Pennridge (7-3, 1120) from the SOL Continental Conference. The Rams finished with the 17th highest point total in the district.
There will be four SOL teams hosting first round games this week – three from the Suburban One League National Conference and one from the SOL Continental Conference.
Pennsbury (9-1, 1410)is the #3 seed from the SOL National and will host #14 Upper Darby (8-2) from the Central League; Neshaminy (9-1, 1370) is the #4 seed from the SOL National and will host #13 Unionville (8-2) from the Ches-Mont American; and Abington (8-2, 1290) from the SOL National is the #8 seed and will host #9 Upper Dublin (9-1, 1270) from the SOL American Conference. Central Bucks West (8-2, 1300) is the #7 seed from the SOL Continental will host #10 Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-2, 1270) from the SOL American Conference.
North Penn (7-3, 1270) is the #11 seed and will travel to #6 Coatesville (9-1) from the Ches-Mont American, while Council Rock North (7-3, 1180) is the 16th seed and will make the trek to Garnet Valley to meet the #1 seed from the Central League.
In the two games not involving Suburban One League teams - West Chester Rustin (10-0) is the #2 seed from the Ches-Mont American and will host #15 Perkiomen Valley (8-2) from the Pioneer Athletic League, while Downingtown West (8-2) the #5 seed from the Ches-Mont National will host #12 seed Spring-Ford (8-2) from the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
In addition to Pennridge, there were two other SOL Quad-A teams that finished the season with winning records but did not qualify for the postseason. Wissahickon (6-4, 1010) from the SOL American Conference, and Quakertown (6-4, 980) from the SOL Continental Conference. The Trojans ranked 24th in the district while the Panthers finished with the 27th overall point total.
The final week of the regular season also closed the books for the four-team PIAA Class AA field that will open this Friday. Springfield (5-4) from the SOL American Conference earned an invitation to the exclusive dance as the #4 seed and the Spartans will have the unenviable task of playing powerful Imhotep Charter (9-1) which is the #1 seed and heavy favorite to win the title.
And the beat goes on …
Suburban One League American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover had a bitter pill to swallow as his 9-1 Cardinals were not able to secure a home game in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs. Upper Dublin was awarded a #9 seed and will make the short trip to Abington (8-2) to meet the #8 seeded Ghosts.
“I really don’t know what to say, we play in a league that has a Class AA school (Springfield) and two Class AAA schools (Upper Moreland and Upper Merion),” said Stover. “We have to play the teams in our league, and we played all Quad-A schools in the non-conference schedule.
“We just seem to be penalized for playing in a league that doesn’t have all Quad-A teams,” added Stover. “The PAC-10 is in the same boat we’re in. It just seems like if you would have a 9-1 record you could earn yourself a home game in the playoffs.”
For the record, Central Bucks West (8-2) earned a #7 seed and a home game in the tournament - but the Bucks lost to Upper Dublin 45-21 in the first game of the season.
Suburban One League American Conference ‘Honor Roll’ Last Week
John Derr of Upper Dublin passed for 2 touchdowns and rushed for 2 touchdowns as the Cardinals soared to a 34-14 victory over Upper Merion.
Jose Mora-Vega of Plymouth Whitemarsh rushed for 4 touchdowns as the Colonials marched to a 27-12 victory over Springfield.
Jared Reed of Wissahickon caught 7 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown as the Trojans marched to a 27-20 win over Upper Moreland.
Marcus Heimann of Cheltenham rushed for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Panthers clawed Norristown 35-14.
Graham-Mobley of Upper Merion threw for a score and rushed for a touchdown as the Vikings were sunk by Upper Dublin 35-14.
Brendon Doyle of Springfield rushed for 2 touchdowns as the Spartans were defeated by Plymouth Whitemarsh 27-12.
Tyler Whitmore of Upper Moreland rushed for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Golden Bears were defeated by Wissahickon 27-20.
Kip Patten of Norristown scored a touchdown as the Eagles were beaten by Cheltenham 35-14.
Final 2013 SOL American Conference Standings
1. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-0 conference, 8-2 overall)
2. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (6-1, 9-1)
3. Wissahickon Trojans (5-2, 6-4)
4. Cheltenham Panthers (4-3, 5-5)
5. Springfield Spartans (3-3, 5-4)
6. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (2-5, 3-7)
7. Upper Merion Vikings (1-6, 3-7)
8. Norristown Eagles (0-7, 0-10)
Suburban One League Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Pennridge Rams
Pennridge head coach Jeff Hollenbach will not have the challenge of a District One playoff game, but that doesn’t mean that the 2013 Rams will not have some top-notch competition to close out the season. Pennridge will host Archbishop Ryan (5-3) this Friday in a non-conference game at Poppy Yoder Field at 7:30 and will end the season against rival Quakertown (6-4) on Thanksgiving morning – also at Poppy Yoder Field.
“Right now we are playing with a lot of confidence, and it is a shame that we won’t be able to play in the playoffs,” said Hollenbach. “I think that this is a playoff team, and we would have made a statement or two in the playoffs. But we had some tough losses earlier in the year, and 7-3 doesn’t get us in the playoffs.
“The players wanted a challenge, and Ryan sure is a challenge,” added Hollenbach in reference to Ryan’s latest wins over Philadelphia Catholic League powers Archbishop Wood (22-7) and St. Joe Prep (27-14). “This might not be a playoff game for either one of us, but it is a game between two very good football teams.
“We needed some help the last week of the season to get into the playoffs, and it didn’t happen,” continued Hollenbach. “Now we have to focus on the two very good games ahead of us.”
Suburban One League Continental Conference ‘Honor Roll’ Last Week
Marvin Todd of Central Bucks West scored 3 touchdowns and rushed for 165 yards as the Bucks rolled to a 45-7 win over Central Bucks South.
Alec Vera of Quakertown passed for 2 touchdowns and rushed for a third score as the Panthers clawed Central Bucks East 34-28.
Michael Class of Pennridge rushed for 195 yards and scored 2 touchdowns as the Rams captured a 35-7 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
Matt Ammendola of North Penn set a school record with a 56-yard field goal as the Knights marched to a 44-14 victory over Souderton.
Matt Radwanski of Central Bucks South threw for 100 yards and a touchdown as the Titans were defeated by Central Bucks West 45-7.
Alex Gibson of Central Bucks East rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots were beaten by Quakertown 34-28.
Kingsley Nwora of Hatboro-Horsham rushed for a team-high 80 yards as the Hatters were topped by Pennridge 35-7.
Manny Nieves of Souderton caught 7 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown as the Indians were defeated by North Penn 44-14.
2013 SOL Continental Conference Standings
*Note* conference standings will not be complete until after the Pennridge-Quakertown game on Thanksgiving*1. North Penn Knights (7-0 conference, 7-3 overall)
2. Central Bucks West Bucks (6-1, 8-2)
3. Pennridge Rams (3-3, 7-3)
4. Quakertown Panthers (3-3, 6-4)
5. Central Bucks East Patriots (3-4, 4-6)
6. Central Bucks South Titans (2-5, 4-6)
7. Souderton Indians (2-5, 2-8)
8. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (1-6, 3-7)
Suburban One League National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Council Rock North Indians
Council Rock North head coach Adam Collachi saw his team reach a pair of goals for the 2013 season after the Indians defeated Council Rock South 31-21 at Walt Snyder Stadium last Friday.
“Beating South was the culmination of two of our three goals,” said Collachi. “We always want to be able to beat South for our seniors, and this year we knew if we did that we would accomplish our second goal of making the district playoffs.
“Council Rock North has never won a playoff game as North, and that’s our next goal,” added Collachi as the Indians will travel to #1 seed Garnet Valley to open the playoffs. “To play in a quality conference with Pennsbury, Neshaminy, and Abington has gotten us ready for the next level. We will be prepared for the quality of football that we will see from Garnet Valley.”
Suburban One League National Conference ‘Honor Roll’ Last Week
Craig Reynolds of Abington rushed for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Ghosts defeated William Tennent 33-12.
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North completed 12 passes for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Indians defeated CR South 31-21.
Jake Zolna of Harry S Truman rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown as the Tigers clawed Bensalem 20-13.
Charles Snorweah of Pennsbury rushed for a team-high 80 yards and a touchdown as the Falcons soared to a 31-3 win over Neshaminy.
Nik Banks of William Tennent threw for a touchdown and ran for a touchdown as the Panthers were beaten by Abington 33-12.
Vincent Alimenti of Council Rock South rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown as the Golden Hawks were grounded by CR North 31-21.
Ian Pisarchuk of Bensalem rushed for 100 yards and scored a touchdown as the Owls were beaten by Truman 20-13.
D’Andre Pollard of Neshaminy rushed for a game-high 140 yards as the Redskins were beaten by Pennsbury 31-3.
Final 2013 SOL National Conference Standings
1. Pennsbury Falcons (7-0 conference, 9-1 overall)
2. Neshaminy Redskins (6-1, 9-1)
3. Abington Ghosts (5-2, 8-2)
4. Council Rock North Indians (4-3, 7-3)
5. Harry S Truman Tigers (2-5, 4-6)
6. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (2-5, 2-8)
7. William Tennent Panthers (1-6, 2-8)
8. Bensalem Owls (1-6, 1-9)
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1. Pennsbury Falcons (9-1)
2. Neshaminy Redskins (9-1)
3. North Penn Knights (7-3)
4. Abington Ghosts (8-2)
5. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-2)
6. Upper Dublin Cardinals (9-1)
7. Central Bucks West Bucks (8-2)
8. Pennridge Rams (7-3)
9. Council Rock North Indians (7-3)
10. Quakertown Panthers (6-4)
10. + Wissahickon Trojans (6-4)
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