Football Forecast – 6
By Scott Huff
Ouch!!!
There were numerous spankings administered in the Suburban One League last Friday.
In the SOL American Conference Wissahickon spanked William Tennent (35-0), Upper Moreland spanked Springfield (41-7), & Plymouth Whitemarsh spanked Hatboro-Horsham (42-9).
In the SOL Continental Conference, Quakertown spanked Council Rock North (48-7), Upper Dublin spanked Harry S Truman (45-7), & Souderton spanked Cheltenham (35-0).
And in the SOL National Conference Pennridge spanked Abington, 43-8.
Ouch!!!
The average margin of victory in those seven SOL games was a ridiculous 35.9 points – the fans in attendance at those games sure didn’t get their money’s worth.
Unless, maybe, you were a fan of the Trojans, Golden Bears, Colonials, Panthers, Flying Cardinals, Indians, & Rams.
Championships Are Not Always Won at The Finish Line
The calendar tells us it’s the beginning of October, and there are four critical weeks of conference play remaining in the Suburban One League.
There are pivotal games to be played in both the SOL National & American Conferences that might well determine which team crosses that finish line as champions.
Unbeaten Pennridge (6-0, 3-0) will travel to Heartbreak Ridge to meet Neshaminy (5-1, 3-0) – and the winner will emerge as the only conference unbeaten team.
The Pennridge season resume includes victories over Liberty (31-21), Bensalem (36-33), Harry S Truman (41-12), Pennsbury (14-0), North Penn (34-10), & Abington (43-8).
The Rams have scored an average of 33.2 points per game and have allowed an average of 14.0 points per game.
The Neshaminy season resume includes victories over Emmaus (30-0), Council Rock North (41-0), North Penn (18-14), Abington (48-6) & Central Bucks West (28-18). The Redskins inexplicitly lost to one-win Cheltenham (38-29).
Neshaminy has scored an average of 32.3 points per game and has allowed an average of 12.7 points per game.
Both Pennridge quarterback Noah Keating and Neshaminy quarterback Michael Eckart prepped for the showdown with terrific games.
Keating completed 11 of 14 passes for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 43-8 victory over Abington. The senior Marist recruit set the Ram all-time record for passing yards in a career that eclipsed the mark of 3,768 yards.
Eckart completed 12 of 16 passes for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns in a key 28-18 victory over Central Bucks West. Eckart also rushed for 117 yards on 13 carries that included a 72-yard touchdown run.
Unbeaten Wissahickon. (6-0, 1-0) will make the short trip to Plymouth Meeting to square off with 4-time defending SOL American Conference champion Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-3, 1-0), and the winner may well wear the conference championship crown at the end of the season.
The Wissahickon season resume includes victories over Upper Dublin (23-16), Upper Merion (52-28), Archbishop Carroll (38-14), Sun Valley (27-14), Interboro (41-21) & William Tennent (35-0).
The Trojans have scored an average of 36.0 points per game and have allowed an average of 15.5 points per game.
The Plymouth Whitemarsh resume includes victories over Interboro (23-21), Penn Wood (44-0), and Hatboro Horsham (42-9). The Colonials have lost games to West Chester Henderson (40-35), Wilson West Lawn (27-7) and Manheim Township (37-31).
Plymouth Whitemarsh has scored an average of 30.1 points per game and has allowed an average of 22.7 points per game.
Both Wissahickon quarterback Evan Tolmie and Plymouth Whitemarsh quarterback Cole Reilly prepped for the showdown with terrific games.
Tolmie has directed the explosive Trojan offense all season – and last week Tolmie threw for 142 yards and fired 2 key touchdown passes in Wissahickon’s 35-0 victory over William Tennent.
Reilly had a sensational outing in the Colonials 42-9 victory over Hatboro Horsham. Reilly completed 5 of 8 passes for 81 yards and 3 touchdown passes and rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown.
***
Football is the ultimate team game – but almost everyone concedes that the quarterback play is where games are often won or lost.
And so far Pennridge, Neshaminy, Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh have been unquestioned winners in 2025.
Stay tuned.
SOL Continental Conference Snapshot
Souderton (5-1, 3-0) & Council Rock South (5-1, 3-0) remain as the conference unbeatens after the third week of conference play.
The Indians excelled on both sides of the ball in a 35-0 victory over Cheltenham, while the Golden Hawks passed a stern test from Bensalem in a 14-12 win.
Souderton will travel to meet CR South on October 9th at Walt Snyder Stadium in a game that could determine the conference champion.
However, both the Indians and Hawks must win important conference games this week in order for that possible title game to take place.
Souderton could be tested with a home game at Indian Field against Bensalem (3-3, 1-2), while CR South will be on the road against a struggling Harry S Truman (1-5, 0-3).
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
Suburban One League
American Conference
Wissahickon Trojans (6-0, 1-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (3-3, 1-0)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 37 * Wissahickon 34
Last Week:
Wissahickon opened SOL American Conference play with a 35-0 victory over William Tennent. Tyree Johnson fueled the offense with 3 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Evan Tolmie threw touchdown passes to Dom-Harvey Sheppard & Xavier Johnson.
Plymouth Whitemarsh opened SOL American Conference play with a 42-9 victory over Hatboro Horsham. Quarterback Cole Reilly completed 5 passes for 81 yards and 3 touchdowns and scored a rushing touchdown. Mike Giangiulo rushed for 167 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Chase Felgoise caught 2 touchdown passes.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 31 * Wissahickon Trojans 28
Springfield Spartans (3-2, 0-1) @ Hatboro Horsham Hatters (0-6, 0-1)
Last Year:
Springfield 42 * Hatboro Horsham 7
Last Week:
Springfield opened SOL American Conference play with a 41-7 loss to Upper Moreland. The lone score of the game for the Spartans came on a touchdown pass by Mekhi Paschall in the first half.
Hatboro Horsham opened SOL American Conference play with a 42-9 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh. The winless Hatters led 3-0 early in the game.
Prediction:
Hatboro Horsham Hatters 20 * Springfield Spartans 14
Upper Moreland Bears (4-2, 1-0) @ William Tennent Panthers (1-5, 0-1)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland 42 * William Tennent 7
Last Week:
Upper Moreland opened SOL American Conference play with a 41-7 victory over Springfield. Justin Valentin sparked the offense with 3 touchdowns. Kelly Moore, Larry Hughes, and Jerry Zabalou also found paydirt for the Golden Bears.
William Tennent opened SOL American Conference play with a 35-0 loss to Wissahickon. Two weeks ago, the Panthers defeated JP McCaskey (22-6) to win their first game of the season.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 31 * WT Panthers 14
Suburban One League
National Conference
Pennridge Rams (6-0, 3-0) @ Neshaminy Redskins (5-1, 3-0)
Last Year:
Neshaminy 38 * Pennridge 3
Last Week:
Pennridge remained unbeaten with a 43-8 conference victory over Abington. Noah Keating completed 11 passes for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns – one to Nate Derstine – one to Jackson Gregoire & one to Sean Leuthe. Leuthe & Trevor Picciotti scored rushing touchdowns, while Michael Ferguson scored on a ‘pick-6’.
Neshaminy captured a key conference victory as the Redskins defeated Central Bucks West, 28-18. Michael Eckart rushed for 2 touchdowns and fired TD passes to Bobby Lagler and Carter Clee.
Prediction:
Guest Forecaster: Amelia V. Moyer
Pennridge Rams 31 * Neshaminy Redskins 27
Central Bucks South Titans (3-3, 2-1) @ North Penn Knights (4-2, 1-2)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South 14 * North Penn 6
Last Week:
Central Bucks South remained in the conference title hunt with a 17-3 victory over Pennsbury. Cade Crim & Colin White each scored touchdowns, while Adis Formelio kicked a 23-yard field goal for the Titans.
North Penn snapped a rare 2-game conference losing streak as the Knights defeated Central Bucks East, 31-20. North Penn led 21-0 at the half. Matt Pownall scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the Knights, while Rylie Gray scored a rushing touchdown and caught a TD pass from Matt Bucksar.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 27 * Central Bucks South Titans 24
Abington Ghosts (1-5, 0-3) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (4-2, 1-2)
Last Year;
Central Bucks East 36 * Abington 0
Last Week:
Abington remained winless in the conference as the Ghosts were defeated by Pennridge, 43-8. In the 3 conference losses, Abington has been outscored 134-29. In addition to the loss to Pennridge, the Ghosts lost to Neshaminy (48-6) & Central Bucks West (43-15). A Miles Yockus TD pass averted a shutout against Pennridge.
Central Bucks East trailed 21-0 in the first half against North Penn but rallied back in the second half in a 31-20 conference loss. Hunter Pulford scored all 3 touchdowns in the game for the Patriots.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 35 * Abington Ghosts 8
Pennsbury Falcons (0-6, 0-3) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (4-2, 2-1)
Last Year:
Central Bucks West 27 * Pennsbury 6
Last Week:
Pennsbury continued its offensive struggles in a 17-3 loss to Central Bucks South. The winless Falcons tied the game against the Titans in the first half as Angelo Pereira connected on a 28-yard field goal. Pennsbury has scored just 30 points in its six losses combined.
Central Bucks West lost its first conference game as the Bucks lost to Neshaminy, 28-18. Louie Cipollo rushed 13 times for 104 yards and scored 2 touchdowns for CBW, while Mason Darrows kicked a 36-yard field goal.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 20 * Pennsbury Falcons 7
Suburban One League
Continental Conference
Bensalem Owls (3-3, 1-2) @ Souderton Indians (5-1, 3-0)
Last Year:
Souderton 44 * Bensalem 13
Last Week:
Bensalem pushed unbeaten (SOL Continental Conference) Council Rock South to the limit in a 14-12 loss to the Golden Hawks. The Owls led 6-0 early – fell behind 14-6 – and closed to 14-12 at halftime. The second half was scoreless.
Souderton remained unbeaten in conference play as the Indians defeated Cheltenham, 35-0. Michael McCormick led the scoring for the Big Red with 2 rushing touchdowns, while JoJo Sudi, Jared Higginbotham, & Nate Rusike each scored rushing touchdowns for the winners.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 34 * Bensalem Owls 28
Quakertown Panthers (3-3, 2-1) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (2-4, 2-1)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin 37 * Quakertown 34
Last Week:
Quakertown captured a conference victory as the Panthers routed winless Council Rock North, 48-7. Brady Martin fired 3 touchdown passes – one to James Wehrheim – one to Carter Tucholski – & one to Kyle Rosener, Jackson Connelly rushed for 2 touchdowns, while Dominic Ferrugio scored a defensive touchdown.
Upper Dublin played its most complete game of the season as the Flying Cardinals soared to a 45-7 conference victory over Harry S Truman. Sonny Watlington returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Ron Sheppard scored 2 rushing touchdowns for UD, while Lawson Tyler & George Stein added rushing scores. Tyler fired a TD pass to Braeden Skahan, while Gavin Lapa booted a field goal for the winners.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 27 * Upper Dublin Cardinals 21
Council Rock South Hawks (5-1, 3-0) @ Harry S Truman Tigers (1-5, 1-2)
Last Year:
Council Rock South 33 * Harry S Truman 8
Last Week:
Council Rock South remained unbeaten in conference play with a close 14-12 victory over Bensalem. Gavin Lacey scored a rushing touchdown for the Golden Hawks, while Marley Emerson fired a touchdown pass to Nate Szydlik.
Harry S Truman was routed by Upper Dublin, 45-7. The lone score for the Tigers came in the 4th quarter. Harry S Truman ended its 8-game losing streak 2 weeks ago with a 20-7 victory over Council Rock North.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Hawks 35 * Truman Tigers 13
Cheltenham Panthers (1-5, 0-3) @ Council Rock North Indians (0-6, 0-3)
Last Year:
Cheltenham 48 * Council Rock North 0
Last Week:
Cheltenham was shut out by Souderton, 35-0. The Panthers are winless in the conference and have lost 3 games in a row since their 38-29 upset win over Neshaminy.
Council Rock North was routed by Quakertown, 48-7. The winless Indians have been outscored 205-41 so far this season.
Prediction:
Cheltenham Panthers 42 * Council Rock North Indians 7
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