By Scott Huff
The awful weather last week led to some unpleasant outcomes on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage for Suburban One League football teams.
The unrelenting precipitation led to numerous turnovers – whether you were playing on the pristine surface at Souderton Area High School or the quagmire at Upper Merion High School.
Turf or mud – it was a mess.
Suburban One League teams will have their final audition for the conference schedule this week. This is the final week of ‘preseason’ football – where unlike the NFL – the games count toward playoff aspirations.
Suburban One Continental Conference
CB West (1-1) experienced the thrill of victory last week with an 8-7 nonleague win over William Tennent (0-2). It was the first win for new head coach Brian Hensel.
“To win this game meant a lot to us,” said Hensel who saw his Bucks lose 58-18 to Bethlehem Freedom in his coaching debut. “We came into this game focused on ourselves – to see what we could do better.
“Our kicking game hurt us the first week of the season,” added Hensel. “We wanted to tighten the screws a little, and we wanted to improve our kicking game.”
Buck punter Andrew Van Eeckelen had a huge part in helping West gain the victory. The change in field position paid considerable dividends for West.
The Bucks trailed 7-0 going into the fourth period, but junior running back Joe DiStefano scored on a one-yard run. The extra point, however, failed, and West still trailed, 7-6.
Van Eeckelen pinned Tennent back on the one-yard line with a gorgeous punt. And that great field position resulted in the game-winning points for the Bucks as the snap from center by the Panthers went through the end zone for a game-winning two-point safety.
“We really came into the game with a simple game plan,” said Hensel. “We wanted to show ball control and execute our running game.”
West out gained Tennent 230 yards to 100 yards of total offense.
Central Bucks West will attempt to extend its winning streak against Wissahickon this week.
“I told the players not to be fooled by that 45-0 score,” said Hensel in reference to the Trojans’ loss last week to Pottsgrove. “Pottsgrove is a team that is going to go deep into the AAA playoffs. Wissahickon is a talented team that won’t shy away from anyone.”
Next: CB West (1-1) @ Wissahickon (1-1)
Last Year: Wissahickon 27 – CB West 20.
Prediction: Wissahickon 24 – CB West 14.
North Penn (2-0) rolled up its sleeves and knocked out cross-town rival Lansdale Catholic (0-2), 28-7. Junior Craig Needhammer rushed for 160 yards and a pair of long-distance scores of 45 and 58 yards. The Knight defense limited LC to just 133 yards of total offense.
Next: North Penn (2-0) vs St Joe Prep (2-0) @ PW
Last Year: North Penn 14 – SJ Prep 7.
Prediction: North Penn 21 – SJ Prep 14.
Quakertown (2-0) remained unbeaten in nonleague action as the Panthers clawed by host Upper Merion (1-1), 28-6. Tyler Burke scored on a 75-yard kickoff return and on a 63-yard TD pass from Ryan Tincknell. Tony Latronica rushed for an even 100 yards on 15 carries.
Next: Cheltenham (1-1) @ Quakertown (2-0)
Last Year: Quakertown 28 – Cheltenham 21
Prediction: Quakertown 31 – Cheltenham 13.
Pennridge (1-1) rebounded from a season-opening loss to Pottsgrove to defeat Bensalem (1-1) 20-0. The running tandem of Jesse Knepp (157 yards) and Ian Walbridge (91 yards) sparked the offense. Knepp also scored on a 26-yard pass from quarterback Kyle Peters.
Next: Plymouth-Whitemarsh (0-2) @ Pennridge (1-1)
Last Year: Pennridge 21 – Plymouth-Whitemarsh 7.
Prediction: Pennridge 35 – Plymouth-Whitemarsh 7
Hatboro-Horsham (1-1) played a terrific game against highly touted Neshaminy (2-0) but suffered a tough 13-6 setback. The Hatters – who have yielded just 13 points in two games – scored on a 12-yard run by Matt Coyle. The scoring run was set up by a pass interception by Andre Turner.
Next: C Rock North (1-1) @ Hatboro-Horsham (1-1)
Last Year: Hatboro-Horsham 16 – Rock North 7.
Prediction: Rock North 17 – Hatboro-Horsham 14
Souderton (0-2) opened its brand new stadium with a 29-7 loss to Downingtown East (2-0). The Indians received a second period touchdown by Andrew Coyle to cut the lead to 10-7 by halftime. The Big Red fumbled the ball eight times.
Next: Roman Catholic (0-2) @ Souderton (0-2)
Last Year: Roman Catholic 32- Souderton 14
Prediction: Roman Catholic 21 – Souderton 13.
Central Bucks East (0-2) had its hands full with host Council Rock South (2-0) in a 31-7 loss. The Patriots were led offensively by running back Justyn White who raced for 153 yards on 22 carries. White scored the lone East touchdown on a one-yard burst in the fourth period.
Next: George Washington (1-1) @ CB East (0-2)
Last Year: CB East 24 – George Washington 13
Prediction: George Washington 20 – CB East 14.
Central Bucks South (0-2) turned the ball over four times in a 17-7 loss to Council Rock North (1-1). The Titan defense played well limiting Rock North to 144 yards of total offense. Jon Eisemann scored the lone TD for South.
Next: Norristown (2-0) @ Central Bucks South (0-2)
Last Year: CB South 35 – Norristown 20
Prediction: Norristown 20 – CB South 17.
Suburban One American Conference
Upper Dublin (0-2) did not lose its second game of the season last year until November 7 when the Flying Cardinals were defeated in the PIAA District One Quad-A playoffs by Conestoga.
This season the Cardinals suffered their second loss of the season in a 34-0 loss to Upper Perkiomen (2-0). UD has been outscored by opponents 55-14 so far this year.
“These kids are definitely not used to losing,” said Upper Dublin coach Bret Stover. “Losing was accepted here in the past, but no one is happy with losing.
“Winning won’t come easy,” added Stover. “We have some young kids who are going to make mistakes. We have to learn how to execute and make some plays.”
Sophomore quarterback Andrew Derr continues to show improvement on the offensive side of the ball, while defensive tackle Frank Yurick and defensive end Anthony Williams have also played well.
“We have given up some points on defense, but we have given teams a short field with turnovers,” said Stover. “Andrew has made some nice throws, but we are going to have to do a better job of catching the football.”
Upper Dublin will attempt to get its first win of the season when they travel to Truman (0-2) to meet the Tigers on Thursday.
“Truman is bigger and more physical than us,” said Stover. “It is a short week, and with them playing a new offense, it will be a tough week for us to prepare.”
Next: Upper Dublin (0-2) @ Harry S Truman (0-2)
Last Year: Upper Dublin 35 – Truman 14
Prediction: Truman 14 – Upper Dublin 7
Norristown (2-0) made it a clean sweep over its Philadelphia Public League nonleague schedule with a 40-0 rout of Ben Franklin (0-2). Senior running back Sheldon Mayer rushed for 175 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Eagles. Shannon Mayer threw a 62-yard scoring pass to Evan Battallio as N-town amassed 460 yards of total offense.
Next: Norristown (2-0) @ Central Bucks South (0-2)
Last Year: CB South 35 – Norristown 20
Prediction: Norristown 20 – CB South 17.
Upper Moreland (1-1) did not permit the weather to short circuit its running attack as the Golden Bears ripped Pottstown (0-2), 47-14. Senior running back Chris Smallwood rushed the ball 23 times for 285 yards and five touchdowns. Greg Adamson scored a 70-yard run and returned a kickoff 75 yards for another score.
Next: Lansdale Catholic (0-2) @ Upper Moreland (1-1)
Last Year: Upper Moreland 28 – LC 15
Prediction: Upper Moreland 31 – LC 14.
Upper Merion (1-1) had a difficult time with the weather conditions as the Vikings were sunk by visiting Quakertown (2-0), 28-6. Naim Cheeseboro ran for a 60-yard TD run and finished with 108 yards, while James Brennan rushed 23 times for 80 yards.
Next: Upper Merion (1-1) @ William Tennent (0-2)
Last Year: Upper Merion 28 – William Tennent 7
Prediction: Upper Merion 14 – William Tennent 8
Wissahickon (1-1) played one of the finest teams in the PIAA Class AAA level when the Trojans were swamped by Pottsgrove (2-0), 45-0. Wissy turned the ball over six times in the setback. Myron Ross and Brandon Gunn accounted for 104 rushing yards.
Next: Central Bucks West (1-1) @ Wissahickon (1-1)
Last Year: Wissahickon 27 – CB West 20.
Prediction: Wissahickon 24 – CB West 14.
Cheltenham (1-1) played cross-town rival Bishop McDevitt (2-0) to a 14-14 halftime standoff, but the Panthers were shutout in the second half and lost a 27-14 verdict. Chris Stephens returned a kickoff 90 yards for a TD, while Amin Elijah scored on a 40-yard run.
Next: Cheltenham (1-1) @ Quakertown (2-0)
Last Year: Quakertown 28 – Cheltenham 21
Prediction: Quakertown 31 – Cheltenham 13
Plymouth-Whitemarsh (0-2) could not compete with host Abington (2-0) as the Colonials dropped a 38-0 contest. The Ghosts led 31-0 at half, and the mercy-rule came into effect in the third period. John Michael Staudenmayer played an outstanding game at linebacker for PW.
Next: Plymouth-Whitemarsh (0-2) @ Pennridge (1-1)
Last Year: Pennridge 21 – Plymouth-Whitemarsh 7
Prediction: Pennridge 35 – Plymouth-Whitemarsh 7
Suburban One National Conference
Abington (2-0) has a rare bye this week.
“We were supposed to play Northeast this week,” said Abington head coach Tim Sorber. “But they got a new coach, and they dropped us from their schedule.
“When we found out about it last spring, there was nobody left that we could schedule on this date,” added Sorber. “We will just have to deal with it.”
Both Central Bucks East and Plymouth Whitemarsh have had to deal with the high octane Ghost offense so far this season. Abington blasted the Patriots 31-7 and whitewashed the Colonials 38-0. The math gives the Ghosts a 69-7 scoring advantage this season.
Senior quarterback Sam Kind and junior running back Julien Ireland have lived up to preseason expectations. Against PW, Kind threw scoring passes to Anthony Hensley and Ireland, while Ireland also scored on a pair of runs. Hensley returned a punt 55 yards for a score.
“We really need some time to get game experience for both our offensive and defensive lines,” said Sorber. “The Northeast game would have helped with that, but there is really nothing that we could do about that.
“We can take the extra week and prepare for Neshaminy,” added Sorber as the Ghosts open the SOL National Conference with the defending league champions. “We can focus on that game alone and hopefully that will get us ready.”
Neshaminy (2-0) received a strong test from Hatboro-Horsham (1-1) and held off the Hatters, 13-6. A key defensive play was turned in by Kryan Kervick who returned an interception 17 yards for a TD. Bryan Dean ran for 100 yards on 28 carries and Charlie Marterella threw a TD pass to Ricky Williams.
Next: Neshaminy (2-0) @ Germantown (0-2)
Last Year: Neshaminy 42 – Germantown 0
Prediction: Neshaminy 49 – Germantown 0
Pennsbury (2-0) scored the first 24 points of the game and flew to a 24-12 win over Frankford (0-2). Dante Devine scored on runs of six and 23 yards for the Falcons, while Corte Rumph kicked a 24-yard field goal. A pair of QBs – Brandon Pepper and Jeff Prine – engineered scoring drives for the winners.
Next: Glen Mills (1-1) @ Pennsbury (2-0)
Last Year: Glen Mills 20 – Pennsbury 6
Prediction: Pennsbury 21 – Glen Mills 7
Council Rock South (2-0) blasted visiting Central Bucks East (0-2), 31-7. Junior quarterback Bill Fleming threw a 24-yard TD pass to Andrew Haviland and also scored on a five-yard run. Greg Welch and Braxton Ambrose also scored rushing touchdowns for the Golden Hawks. Rich Bruno was perfect on four extra points and booted a 25-yard FG.
Next: Conwell Egan (1-1) at Council Rock South (2-0)
Last Year: CR South 17 – Conwell Egan 14.
Prediction: Council Rock South 28 – Egan 13.
Council Rock North (1-1) came up with its first win of the season when the Indians defeated Central Bucks South (0-2), 17-7. Quarterback Tyler Hamilton led the team with 80 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. Ryan Campbell kicked a 28-yard FG for Rock North.
Next: Council Rock North @ Hatboro-Horsham
Last Year: Hatboro-Horsham 16 – Rock North 7
Prediction: CR North 17 – Hatboro-Horsham 14
Bensalem (1-1) – after scoring 30 in its first week against Overbrook – struggled offensively in a 20-0 loss to visiting Pennridge (1-1). The Owls could manage just 130 yards of total offense and were led by Tim Farlow who rushed for 74 yards.
Next: Bensalem (1-1) @ Northeast (0-2)
Last Year: Did Not Play
Prediction: Bensalem 28 – Northeast 13
Truman (0-2) had a tough time both offensively and defensively in a 36-15 loss to defending Philadelphia Public League champion George Washington. Drew Peterson threw a TD pass to Tom Bremme and Lionel Chapman scored on a 6-yard run.
Next: Upper Dublin (0-2) @ Truman (0-2)
Last Year: Upper Dublin 35 – Truman 14
Prediction: Truman 14 – Upper Dublin 7
William Tennent (0-2) led 7-0 in the third period – 7-6 in the fourth period – but lost in the end 8-7 when CB West scored a safety in the waning moments. The Panthers have now lost 16 straight games. The lone score came on a one-yard TD run by quarterback Pat Traczykiewcz.
Next: Upper Merion (1-1) @ William Tennent
Last Year: Upper Merion 28 – William Tennent 7
Prediction: Upper Merion 14 – William Tennent 8
SOS.com Super Seven
1. North Penn Knights (2-0)
2. Pennsbury Falcons (2-0)
3. Neshaminy Redskins (2-0)
4. Abington Ghosts (2-0)
5. Quakertown Panthers (2-0)
6. Council Rock Hawks (2-0)
7. Norristown Eagles (2-0)
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