By Scott Huff
The 2009 Suburban One League football season began for all 23 teams in the sweltering heat of preseason camp in August and closed with only North Penn playing PIAA playoff football in the chill of a December 4th night.
The Knights moved to the PIAA Quad-A District One Final unbeaten before being ‘upset’ by a determined Ridley Green Raider team – 19-10.
Neshaminy was the only other SOL team to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs. The Skins, who lost to North Penn in the second round by a 35-22 margin, defeated Abington 24-17 in a first round match up.
In addition to Abington, first round District One Quad-A playoff exits were shown to Pennsbury, Council Rock North, Council Rock South, Quakertown, and Norristown. Upper Moreland participated in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs and lost to Pottsgrove in the first round.
It was an interesting season for the Suburban One League football teams, and below is a thumbnail sketch of the results.
***Note – SuburbanOneSports.com's football beat writer Scott Huff selected an Offensive Player of the Year for each conference and team as well as each team's most impressive win***
Suburban One Continental Conference
Conference Champion – North Penn
Player of the Year – Todd Smolinsky – North Penn
2009 Headlines
As expected, North Penn was unbeaten in the conference. Unexpected was that the Knights were basically unchallenged within conference play the entire season.
The biggest shock of in the SOL Continental Conference had to be the abrupt resignation of Central Bucks East head coach Tim Michael. The Patriots were winless under Michael, but behind the running of Justyn White the Patriots beat both of its sister schools – CB West and CB South.
Souderton - which opened a spanking brand new turf stadium - started the season 0-3. But the Indians had a shot at making the playoffs if it could have beaten Quakertown. They didn’t as the Panthers clawed to a 21-16 win.
North Penn Knights – (13-1 overall, 7-0 conference)
Most impressive win – 42-7 over Avon Grove
Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Smolinsky
Souderton Indians – (6-5 overall, 5-2 conference)
Most impressive win – 32-14 over Hatboro-Horsham
Offensive Player of the Year: Derek Brown
Quakertown Panthers – (8-4 overall, 4-3 conference)
Most impressive win – 21-16 over Souderton
Offensive Player of the Year: Tony Latronica
Pennridge Rams – (6-6 overall, 3-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 31-28 over Quakertown
Offensive player of the Year: Jesse Knepp
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters – (6-6 overall, 3-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 26-21 over Quakertown
Offensive player of the Year: Matt Hollenbeck
Central Bucks South Titans – (3-7 overall, 3-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 42-32 over Pennridge
Offensive Player of the Year: Jon Eiseman
Central Bucks East Patriots – (3-7 overall, 3-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 21-14 over Pennridge
Offensive Player of the Year: Justyn White
Central Bucks West Bucks (1-10 overall, 0-7 conference)
Most impressive win – 8-7 over William Tennent
Offensive Player of the Year: Ward Udinski
Suburban One National Conference
Conference Champion – Pennsbury
Player of the Year – Sam Kind – Abington
2009 Headlines
Pennsbury captured the conference title with a huge overtime win over Neshaminy. However, the Falcons ended their season on a painful note as the Orange and Black lost an opening round playoff game to Unionville 12-7.
Abington had the most curious season in that the Ghosts beat both Pennsbury and Neshaminy in conference action. However, losses to both Rock South and Rock North kept the Ghosts from claiming a title.
Truman had a brand new coach – John Iannucci – and added a win in the 2009 season to its total in 2008. The Tigers finished the season with just 28 players, but the future seems brighter for Truman.
Pennsbury Falcons – (9-2 overall, 6-1 conference)
Most impressive win – 27-20 (OT) over Neshaminy
Offensive Player of the Year – Dante Devine
Neshaminy Redskins (9-3 overall, 5-2 conference)
Most impressive win – 24-17 over Abington
Offensive Player of the Year: Bryan Dean
Abington Ghosts (8-3 overall, 5-2 conference)
Most impressive win – 27-13 over Pennsbury
Offensive player of the Year: Sam Kind
Council Rock South Hawks (8-3 overall, 5-2 conference)
Most impressive win – 35-28 over Rock North
Offensive Player of the Year: Billy Fleming
Council Rock North Indians (6-5 overall, 4-3 conference)
Most impressive win – 34-3 over Abington
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Hamilton
Bensalem Owls (3-8 overall, 2-5 conference)
Most impressive win – 30-6 over Overbrook
Offensive Player of the Year: Tim Farlow
Truman Tigers (3-8 overall, 1-6 conference)
Most impressive win – 35-0 over William Tennent
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Peterson
William Tennent Panthers (1-9 overall, 0-7 conference)
Most impressive win – 39-14 over Upper Merion
Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Hamlet
Suburban One American Conference
Conference Champion – Norristown
Player of the Year – Sheldon Mayer – Norristown
2009 Headlines
Norristown was the overwhelming preseason favorite to win the title – and the Eagles didn’t disappoint. The lone loss of the year within the conference came to defending champion, Upper Dublin, 18-15.
Upper Moreland had a hard time keeping standout runner Chris Smallwood healthy and on the field. The Golden Bear senior once again proved to be one of the finer running backs in the area.
Cheltenham – which played its home games under the lights for the first time in school history – may have struggled in the win and loss column, but the Panthers boasted one of the best backs in the entire SOL in Damin Finley.
Norristown Eagles – (9-2 overall, 5-1 conference)
Most impressive win – 42-14 over CB South
Offensive Player of the Year: Sheldon Mayer
Upper Dublin Cardinals – (4-6 overall, 4-2 conference)
Most impressive win – 18-15 over Norristown
Offensive Player of the Year: Anthony Williams
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials – (3-8 overall, 3-3 conference)
Most impressive win – 27-7 over Cheltenham
Offensive Player of the Year: Terrell Steele
Upper Moreland Bears – (5-6 overall, 3-3 conference)
Most impressive win – 47-14 over Pottstown
Offensive Player of the Year: Chris Smallwood
Wissahickon Trojans – (5-5 overall, 2-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 35-34 over Upper Dublin
Offensive Player of the Year: Brandon Gunn
Upper Merion Vikings – (4-6 overall, 2-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 34-19 over Wissahickon
Offensive Player of the Year: Naim Cheeseboro
Cheltenham Panthers – (3-9 overall, 2-4 conference)
Most impressive win – 32-28 over Upper Dublin
Offensive Player of the Year: Damin Finley
FINAL SUBURBAN ONE SPORTS.COM TOP TEN
1. North Penn Knights (13-1)
2. Neshaminy Redskins (9-3)
3. Pennsbury Falcons (9-2)
4. Abington Galloping Ghosts (8-3)
5. Council Rock South Hawks (8-3)
6. Norristown Eagles (9-2)
7. Quakertown Panthers (8-4)
8. Council Rock North Indians (6-5)
9. Souderton Indians (6-5)
10. Pennridge Rams (6-6)
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