Scott Huff features Hatboro-Horsham’s John O’Malley and PW’s Ryan Bischoff and lists the American Conference’s players to watch.
By Scott Huff
The 2014 Suburban One League American Conference will have a slight change in composition due to the realignment of schools based on the male enrollment of member schools.
The new addition to the conference will be Hatboro-Horsham, which will move from the SOL Continental Conference to its new home in the SOL American Conference. The subtraction from the conference will be Norristown, which will move from the American to the Continental.
“The move puts us in a better position to compete for league championships,” said Hatboro-Horsham head coach Mike Kapusta. “We are playing teams that are very close to us both geographically and in school population.”
“The change really doesn’t affect us too much,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Dan Chang. “We kept our rivalry game with Norristown as a non-league game, and the kids are excited about our entire schedule.”
And the beat goes on…
SOL American Conference Player To Watch
John O’Malley
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
There isn’t one coach in the entire Suburban One League that would not want John O’Malley on his roster.
Not a single one.
“John is a player that is mature beyond his years, and I am extremely fortunate to have him on this football team,” said Hatboro-Horsham head coach John Kapusta. “He is one of those kids that excels at everything that he does whether it is on the football field, in the classroom, or in the community. He is just a pleasure to coach.”
The casual high school football fan would be more than impressed with his eye-popping statistics as a receiver, but don’t let the offensive numbers diminish his important contributions on the defensive side of the football.”
“His offensive numbers are without question very flashy,” said Kapusta. “He has a strength and athleticism as a receiver that gives him the ability to come down with any ball.
“However, John can get down and dirty on the defensive side of the ball,” added Kapusta. “He really excels as a defensive player because of his aggressiveness. Sometimes he is overlooked as a defensive player because of how well he plays on offense.”
The Hatters as both a coaching staff and a team are excited about the shift from the SOL Continental Conference to the SOL American Conference.
“We have very high expectations and expect to do well this season,” said O’Malley. “The move to the new conference will make us competitive with all the teams we will play. We expect to win.”
O’Malley has an impressive list of colleges from which to choose. The straight-A student with the high SAT scores will select from Princeton, Villanova, West Point, Air Force, or the Naval Academy.
“I will choose my college by what fits me the best educationally,” said O’Malley. “All I know is that at some point I want to serve my country in the armed forces.”
And there is not a branch of the United States military would not want John O’Malley in its service.
Not a single one.
SOL American Conference Player To Watch
Ryan Bischoff
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
A big part of the success of a SOL American Conference championship repeat for PW will be the play of senior tackle Ryan Bischoff.
Both literally and figuratively.
Bischoff - who stands an imposing 6-foot, 5-inches and weighs 310 pounds - anchors a veteran Colonial offensive and defensive line that should keep PW in contention for another league title. He joins transfer Joe DeSanto (Archbishop Carroll), Brett Highland, Steve Kovacic, and Anthony Casselli in a blue-chip scholastic line.
“Ryan can move extremely well for a player of his size,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Dan Chang. “He is very smart and is a dominant run and pass blocker.
“Ryan is going to play both ways for us,” added Chang. “And any time he is on the field – which is quite a lot – we feel that we have an edge in that matchup.”
“Our line has a lot of chemistry – I have played with Brett, Steve, and Anthony ever since we were young,” said Bischoff. “We should be a very good offensive line, and we have set high goals for the season.
“Our main goal is to win the league, but we want to also win some playoff games at the end of the season,” added Bischoff. “We feel that there are high expectations for us – and we want to live up to them.”
Bischoff has proven to be an NCAA Division One talent and is already signed and sealed to play the University of Virginia. Delivery will come in the fall of 2015.
“In a way, I’m glad that I have chosen a school for next year,” said Bischoff. “No more recruiting – no more filling out applications. But now I have some pressure to prove myself worthy – I need to go out on the field and achieve.”
And he will – in a big way.
The following is a list of underclass all-conference players from the 2013 SOL season
Cheltenham [5]: Greg Morris (RB) senior; Brandon Mack (WR) junior; Jack Gordon (OL) senior; Gene Han (punter) senior; Jack Applegate (DL) senior.
*Hatboro-Horsham [5]: John O’Malley (WR-DB) senior; Nick Schuck (OL) junior; Jeff Panera (RB) senior; Luke Kwon (DL) senior; Ryan Fitzpartick (LB) senior.
Plymouth Whitemarsh [9]: Ryan Bischoff (OL-DL) senior; Jimmy Rodgers (WR) senior; Steve Kovacic (OL) senior; Brett Highland (OL) senior; Anthony Casselli (OL) senior; Ray Clarkson (WR) senior; Luke Mascio (WR) junior; Nafeese Nasir (LB) junior; and Zach Zygmunt (place kicker) senior.
Springfield [2]: Martin
Worgan (RB) senior; Martin Vido (OL) senior; and Louis Haase (OL) senior.
Upper Dublin [8]: John Lee (RB) senior; Jack Rapine (OL) junior; Kaleif Lee (RB) junior; Matt Thompson (WR) senior; Henry Wineblake (LB) junior; Tamir Bailey (DL) senior; Ryan Stover (DB) junior; and Tim Rassmussen (LB) senior.
Upper Merion [2]: Greg Crowder (DB) senior and Mike Marquez (DL) senior.
Upper Moreland [2]: Tyler Whitmore (RB) senior; and Colton Hooker (DB) senior.
Wissahickon [6]: Jason Caso (OL) senior; Josh Smith (RB) senior; Josh Trunk (RB) senior; Kyle Stein (OL) senior; Colin Williams (LB) senior; and Drew Bright-Bailey (OL) senior.
*Note – Hatboro-Horsham played in the SOL Continental Conference in 2013.
Just the facts for the SOL American Conference
Male Enrollment
Hatboro-Horsham – 617
Cheltenham – 608
Plymouth Whitemarsh – 597
Upper Dublin – 546
Wissahickon – 534
Upper Merion – 467
Upper Moreland – 408
Springfield – 239
2013 Final Standings
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials* 7 0 8 3
Upper Dublin Cardinals* 6 1 9 2
Wissahickon Trojans 5 2 6 4
Cheltenham Panthers 4 3 6 6
Springfield Spartans 3 4 5 5
Upper Moreland Bears 2 5 5 7
Upper Merion Vikings 1 6 3 7
Norristown Eagles 0 7 0 11
*Qualified for PIAA District One Playoffs
**Note – Hatboro-Horsham played in the SOL Continental Conference and finished 1-6 in conference and 4-8 overall.
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