By Scott Huff
There would be no sharing of Suburban One League Conference titles this season as North Penn, Pennsbury, and Norristown as all earned outright titles.
Nobody will play with their trophies.
“We expect ourselves to win,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck as the Knights (10-0, 7-0) was crowned champion of the SOL Continental Conference. “We really don’t care what teams are in our conference, we will play whoever they tell us to play. We put the pressure on ourselves to win every game.
“I would have liked to have some closer games in the conference,” added Beck. “If we played some closer games, we might have had some monster crowds. I like that we play teams like Quakertown and Souderton.”
North Penn will open the PIAA District One Quad-A playoffs with a home date this Friday against Council Rock North (6-4) from the SOL National Conference. The Knights are the # 1 seed while Rock North is the # 16 seed.
“Council Rock North looked very good on film,” said Beck. “They should be a good challenge for our kids.”
“This is a very big moment for our football team,” said Pennsbury head coach Galen Snyder after his Falcons (9-1, 6-1) won the SOL National Conference championship by virtue of its 27-20 overtime victory over Neshaminy. “We had a tough game last week against Abington (27-13 loss), and we worked the players very hard this week in practice.
“This was a really big win for our seniors,” added Snyder as Pennsbury lost to the Skins 16-13 last season and 48-21 in 2007. “This is the type of game that will help us get ready for the playoffs.”
Pennsbury will open the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs as the # 2 seed and will host the # 15 seed, Unionville (7-3).
“This football team really deserved this championship,” said Norristown head coach E.J. Smith after his Eagles (9-1, 5-1) flew by Upper Moreland 27-0 to claim the SOL American Conference title. “They have worked very hard to get there.
“Our reward is to play another game – a playoff game,” continued Smith. “We hope that we can take another step up that ladder.”
The only loss of the season for the Eagles came in an 18-15 loss to Upper Dublin during conference play. Norristown has won its last five games.
The Eagles – as the # 6 seed – will host a playoff game this Friday at Roosevelt Field in Norristown. The Birds will face the # 11 seed – Downingtown East (8-2).
Sol Continental Conference
Souderton (5-5, 5-2) had the District One playoff door wide open last week, but the Indians failed to walk through in a 21-16 SOL Continental Conference loss to Quakertown (8-2, 5-2).
“As things worked out, all we had to do was win the game with Quakertown and we were in the playoffs,” said Souderton head coach Ed Gallagher. “To lose was frustrating, but we are a much better team than we showed against Quakertown.
“We didn’t have a good week of practice, and I was concerned with how we were going to play,” added Gallagher. “We didn’t prepare hard enough to beat Quakertown. They have a very good football team.”
Derek Brown scored both Big Red touchdowns on runs of 1 and 47 yards. Brown rushed for a team-high 155 yards on 20 carries.
Souderton will have its season close this week with a non-league game at Upper Dublin. The Flying Cardinals lost a chance for the SOL American Conference title with a 35-34 loss to Wissahickon last week.
“I was walking through the halls trying to get a pulse for our desire to play Upper Dublin,” said Gallagher. “We need that desire if we want to end the season with a winning record – or a losing one.”
Quakertown (8-2, 5-2) prepped for the postseason with the 21-15 victory over Souderton. Quarterback Ryan Tincknell rushed for all three scores and also completed five passes for 115 yards. Tony Latronica was the leading ball carrier for the Panthers with 175 yards on 24 carries.
North Penn (10-0, 7-0) cruised to a 39-12 SOL Continental Conference victory over Pennridge last week. Knight running back Craig Needhammer rushed for three touchdowns in the second half to ice the win. Needhammer finished with 180 yards on just 11 carries. Quarterback Todd Smolinsky threw touchdown passes to TJ Gill and Ralphie Reeves, while Dominic Tagart scored on a 7-yard run.
Pennridge (4-6, 3-4) was competitive with the Knights for part of the first half in the 39-12 loss. Carson Peters scored on a 10-yard run to close the NP lead to 13-6, while Dan Wolfe scored the second Ram touchdown on a 31-yard run late in the game.
Central Bucks East (3-4, 3-7) used a spectacular performance by Justyn White to upend CB South, 35-21, to become the ‘Best of Bucks’. CB East had beaten CB West earlier in the season. White rushed for a staggering 323 yards and scoredall five Patriot touchdowns.
Central Bucks South (3-4, 3-7) concluded its season with the 35-21 loss to CB East. Theo Davis ran for a score and caught a TD pass from Matt Johns, while Bobby DiPasquale scored on a 30-yard run for the Titans.
Hatboro-Horsham (4-6, 3-4) stopped a four game losing streak with a 31-25 SOL Continental Conference victory over Central Bucks West. Darryl Neville earned the gold star for the Hatters scoring on runs of 49, 69, 1 and 75 yards. Neville rushed for a game-high 255 yards on just 16 carries.
Central Bucks West (1-9, 0-7) failed to win a Continental Conference game and ended its conference schedule with the 31-25 loss to Hatboro-Horsham. Quarterback Ward Udinski scored on a 2-yard run and threw a pair of touchdown passes – one to Max Stella and the other to Jarrett Shugars.
SOL National Conference
Abington (7-2, 5-2) beat conference champion Pennsbury (27-13), but the Ghosts will settle for a tie for second place in the standings with Council Rock South and Neshaminy. Abington closed the regular season with a 35-19 victory over Truman. Dave Hindin scored a pair of Ghost defensive touchdowns – one on a fumble recovery and the other on an interception return. Julien Ireland rushed for a score and led the team with 150 rushing yards.
Truman (2-8, 1-6) played one of its better games of the season in the 35-19 conference loss to visiting Abington. Drew Peterson scored a pair of touchdowns for the Tigers and rushed for 80 yards on 12 carries. James Schmidt scored on a 3-yard run and rushed for a team-high 115 yards.
Pennsbury (9-1, 6-1) captured the SOL National Conference title with its 27-20 overtime win against defending champion Neshaminy. Brandon Pepper scored on three 1-yard touchdown runs – including the game winner in overtime. Dante Devine also scored for the winners. It was the first Falcon title since 1993.
Neshaminy (8-2, 5-2) failed to defend its SOL National Conference title with the 27-20 overtime loss to Pennsbury. The highlight TD of the game was an 85-yard strike from Brian Titus to Ricky Williams that tied the score at 20-20 in the fourth period. Bryan Dean also scored for the Skins on runs of 2 and 5 yards.
Council Rock South (8-2, 5-2) won a 35-28 shootout with rival Council Rock North. Greg Welch sparked the Golden Hawk offensive explosion with four touchdown runs. He rushed for a team-high 156 yards. Braxton Ambrose scored the fifth Rock South TD and rushed for 112 yards.
Council Rock North (6-4, 4-3) racked up 480 yards of total offense, but the Indians could not defeat cross-town rival CR South in a 35-28 loss. Rock North had a superlative game turned in by running back Brandon Cottom who rushed for a game-high 290 yards on 28 carries and four touchdowns. Quarterback Tyler Hamilton completed nine passes for 130 yards.
Bensalem (3-7, 2-5) notched its second conference win of the season as the Owls flew by William Tennent, 20-6. Bensalem running back Tim Farlow raced for 130 yards on 18 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns. Anthony Prisco threw a 50-yard TD pass to Lewis Vincent.
William Tennent (1-9, 0-7) closed its conference season with a win in the 20-6 loss to Bensalem. The lone score for the Panthers was a 3-yard touchdown run by Matt Pirolli. Pirolli led the team in rushing with 50 yards
SOL American Conference
Upper Merion (4-6, 2-4) closed out its season with a 37-6 non-league victory over Kennedy Kenrick last week.
“This gave our seniors a good way to end the season,” said Upper Merion head coach Joe Powel. “We had a very competitive league this year, and we were just six points away from possibly winning a championship.”
Upper Merion lost heart-breaking games to Upper Moreland (7-6), Plymouth Whitemarsh (20-18), and Upper Dublin (23-20).
“This year every team could really beat any other team,” said Powel. “The games were all that close.”
Senior James Brennan ended his brilliant football career with a pair of rushing touchdowns and a 100-yard rushing effort against K-K. He also scored on a pass from Andrew LeGendre.
“James Brennan is our best football player,” said Powel. “He is very determined, plays with discipline, plays hard every play and never looks at the scoreboard.
“He plays on all of our special teams and never leaves the field,” added Powel. “We will miss him. He really can’t be replaced.”
Norristown (9-1, 5-1) needed to beat Upper Moreland to assure itself of a piece of the SOL American Conference championship. It turned out that the Eagles got the whole title pie with a 27-0 win over Upper Moreland – Upper Dublin lost to fall into second place. Sheldon Mayer rushed for 220 yards and scored on runs of 42 and 72 yards. Anthony Robey scored on a 51 yard run, while Shannon Mayer scored on a 1-yard run.
Upper Moreland (5-4, 3-3) trailed powerful Norristown 7-0 at the half, but gave up 20 third period points in the 27-0 loss. Chris Smallwood led the Golden Bear offensive production with 130 yards on 28 carries.
Wissahickon (5-5, 2-4) snuffed out Upper Dublin’s title hopes with a 35-34 SOL American Conference setback. The Trojans’ Myron Ross rushed for 240 yards and scored a touchdown. QB Brandon Gunn crossed the goal line four times for Wissy and added 120 rushing yards for the winners.
Upper Dublin (4-5, 4-2) was the two-time defending SOL American Conference champions, but the Flying Cardinals’ bid for the third straight ended with the 35-34 loss to Wissahickon. Anthony Williams rushed for 120 yards and scored four touchdowns for the Flying Cardinals. Khalil Nash returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-7, 3-3) reached .500 in the conference with a 27-7 win over Cheltenham. Terrell Steele scored on runs of 17 and 45 yards for the Colonials while Yakeem Blythe also scored on a 7-yard run. David O’Neill scored on a 1-yard run.
Cheltenham (3-7, 2-4) led Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-0 in the first period, but could not score again in a 27-7 SOL American Conference loss. Kenneth Cropper threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Justin Ferguson. Damin Finley led the team in rushing with 90 yards.
Predictions
PIAA District One Quad-A Playoffs
Council Rock North (6-4) @ North Penn (10-0)
North Penn 38 – Rock North 20
Unionville (7-3) @ Pennsbury (9-1)
Pennsbury 35 – Unionville 13
Abington (7-2) @ Neshaminy (8-2)
Neshaminy 31 – Abington 21
Council Rock South (8-2) @ Ridley (9-1)
Ridley 38 – Rock South 24
Downingtown East (8-2) @ Norristown (9-1)
Norristown 28 – Downingtown East 27
Quakertown (8-2) @ Avon Grove (9-1)
Avon Grove 28 – Quakertown 24
PIAA District One – Class AAA Playoffs
Upper Moreland (5-4) @ Pottsgrove (10-0)
Pottsgrove 35 – Upper Moreland 7
Non-League
Souderton (5-5) @ Upper Dublin (4-5)
Souderton 38 – Upper Dublin 20
Pennridge (4-6) @ Cheltenham (3-7)
Pennridge 28 – Cheltenham 21
Hatboro-Horsham (4-6) @ Bensalem (3-7)
Hatboro-Horsham 21 – Bensalem 14
Stroudsburg (3-7) @ Truman (2-8)
Truman 21 – Stroudsburg 13
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-7) @ West Chester Henderson (5-5)
Plymouth Whitemarsh 20 – Henderson 14
Archbishop Ryan (0-9) @ CB West (1-9)
CB West 21 – Ryan 14
SUBURBAN ONE SPORTS.COM
SUPER SEVEN
1. North Penn Knights (10-0)
2. Pennsbury Falcons (9-1)
3. Neshaminy Redskins (8-2)
4. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (8-2)
5. Abington Galloping Ghosts (7-2)
6. Norristown Eagles (9-1)
7. Quakertown Panthers (8-2)
- Log in to post comments
0
