(Qtown photo provided courtesy of Kim Supko, Pennridge/CB West photo courtesy of Tracy Valko, PW photo courtesy of Michael Rice Photography & NP/Pennsbury photo courtesy of Darryl Rule. To view galleries, please visit the Photo Gallery. https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f129542182
Football Forecast – Volume 8
By Scott Huff
Mercy…mercy…mercy..
PIAA football ‘Mercy-Rule’…
******* Upon completion of the first half or anytime during the second half when a team gains a 35-point differential over an opponent, the clock shall be stopped only when an official time-out is taken, a charged time-out is granted, a period ends, or a score occurs.*******
The 2024 Suburban One League football season has been littered with far too many ‘mercy-rule’ games – my unofficial total accounting for non-league games and conference games is that there have been a staggering 42 mercy-rule games played by SOL teams the first 8 weeks of the season.
Just last week in the SOL there were 5 mercy-rule games – the week before 7 mercy-rule games – and the week before that 6 mercy-rule games.
And the fact is that in recent weeks there have been some teams that have been on both sides of the mercy-rule.
Last week Bensalem captured a 41-6 mercy-rule win over Council Rock North. The week before, the Owls were mercy-ruled by Souderton, 44-13.
Last week Springfield was mercy-ruled by Plymouth Whitemarsh, 42-0. The week before, Springfield captured a 42-7 mercy-rule victory over Hatboro Horsham.
Two weeks ago, Cheltenham collected a 48-0 mercy-rule win over CR North. Three weeks ago, the Panthers suffered a 49-13 mercy-rule loss to Souderton.
And how about Pennridge? Two weeks ago, the Rams were mercy-ruled by Neshaminy, 38-3. Three weeks ago, Pennridge mercy-ruled Abington, 47-0.
And for those FanDuel fans, I put the over/under @ 5 mercy-rule games this week.
Stay tuned.
Games of the Week in the Suburban One League
Despite the number of non-competitive games played this season there are key Games of The Week in the SOL National, Continental & American Conferences this week.
In the SOL National Conference, Central Bucks West (6-2, 4-1) will host North Penn (7-1, 4-1).
The loser falls out of contention for a conference title behind currently unbeaten Central Bucks South (8-0, 5-0) and the game also has a huge 6A PIAA District One playoff implication.
In the SOL Continental Conference, Bensalem (4-4, 2-3) hosts conference unbeaten Upper Dublin (6-2, 5-0).
An Owl victory could thrust Bensalem into the 6A playoff picture, while Upper Dublin needs the win to maintain a conference lead over both Souderton (5-3, 4-1) & Quakertown (4-4, 4-1).
In the SOL American Conference, Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-2, 3-0) hosts Upper Moreland (7-1, 2-1).
A Colonial victory would make Plymouth Whitemarsh the overwhelming odds-on-favorite to capture a 4th consecutive conference championship, while a Golden Bear win would create a tie with PW for first place in the conference.
Stay tuned.
Playoffs?... We’re Still Talkin’ Playoffs!
The PIAA District One playoffs, with two weeks remaining in the regular season, are slowly taking shape.
If the D-1 playoffs were to begin this week, the following SOL teams would be in the 6A playoffs.
- Central Bucks South Titans (8-0) – ranked 1st
- North Penn Knights (7-1) – 2nd
- Central Bucks West Bucks (6-2) – 5th
- Neshaminy Redskins (6-2) – 8th
- Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (6-2) – 9th
- Souderton Indians (5-3) – 10th
- Quakertown Panthers (4-4) – tie 14th
- Pennridge Rams (4-4) – tie 14
If the playoffs were to begin this week the following SOL teams would be in the 5A playoffs.
- Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (6-2) – 5th
- Upper Moreland Golden Bears (7-1) – 7th
- Hatboro Horsham Hatters – (3-5) – 16
If the playoffs were to begin this week the following SOL team would be in the 4A playoffs.
- Springfield Spartans (6-2) – 3rd
Stay tuned
Celebration Time…Come On…Let’s Celebrate
Upper Moreland head coach Adam Beach had a lot to celebrate after his Golden Bears improved to 7-1 overall with a thrilling overtime 28-27 SOL American Conference win over Wissahickon.
The victory was the 100th career victory for Beach as the caretaker of the Bears.
The historic journey for Beach – a history teacher himself at Upper Moreland High School - to the century victory mark has been unlike most successful coaches.
Beach has had three separate stints as head coach for the Purple & Gold, coaching from 2006-2010 * then 2 years away from the program * coaching again from 2013-2017 * then 4 more years away from the program * and finally returning to coaching @ UM in 2022.
Upper Moreland has had 10 winning seasons out of the 14 seasons Beach has overseen the Golden Bears den.
Upper Moreland has had 3 impressive ten-win seasons (10-2 in 2006 * 11-2 in 2008 * & 10-2 in 2017) and UM has an outside shot at still another 10-win season this year.
Upper Moreland (7-1, 2-1) will face a huge test this week as the Golden Bears will travel to Plymouth Meeting to play SOL American Conference unbeaten Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-2, 3-0).
Upper Moreland will close out the regular season against neighborhood rival Hatboro Horsham (3-5, 1-2).
The Golden Bears will possibly host a home playoff game in the 5A PIAA District One playoffs.
Stay tuned.
Does Abington have a ‘Ghost of a Chance’ in the SOL National Conference?
The Suburban One League National Conference was realigned to its current configuration back in the Covid year of 2020.
The current teams in the SOL National Conference are Central Bucks South, Central Bucks West, Central Bucks East, North Penn, Neshaminy, Pennsbury, Pennridge & Abington.
Abington is winless this season in the conference -in fact – the Ghosts have lost 20 straight conference games.
The last SOL National Conference win was a 36-35 victory over Pennsbury on October 22, 2021.
Abington has had 3 head coaches the last 3 seasons and all 3 had one thing in common - no wins in the conference victory column.
This year current Ghost head coach Bruce Fleming has taken over the struggling program – and to say that things have not gone well in 2024 is a huge understatement.
In the conference, Abington has been outscored by a staggering 221-6 (no typo) in five games. The Ghosts have lost conference games to CB West (38-6), Neshaminy (37-0), Pennridge (47-0), CB East (36-0) & last week to CB South (63-0).
Fleming took over the program from Terence Tolbert (0-7 conference in 2023), and Tolbert took over the program from Kevin Conlin (0-7 conference in 2022).
Abington also lost the final conference game of the 2021 season to make the math * 1+7+7+5=20.
The last championship season for the Maroon & White was not all that long ago and it came under Conlin back in 2019.
The SOL National Conference champion Ghosts were 8-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 in conference.
However, the SOL National Conference in 2019 featured Bensalem, Council Rock South, Council Rock North, Neshaminy, Pennsbury & Harry S Truman.
Abington does have non-league victory this 2024 season. The Ghosts defeated Harry S Truman (1-7), 7-6, in the second game of the season.
Abington has conference games remaining against Pennsbury (3-5, 1-4) & North Penn (7-1, 4-1).
Do you believe in miracles?
Abington might just need one.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference
Friday
North Penn Knights (7-1, 4-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (6-2, 4-1)
Last Year:
Central Bucks West 28 * North Penn 0
Last Week:
North Penn remained in contention for a conference championship as the Knights defeated Pennsbury, 22-14. Matt Bucksar fired a pair of touchdown passes for the winners – one a 60-yard strike to Jackson Schurmann – and the other to Justin Long. Placekicker Ryan Bocklet booted 3 field goals that proved to be the difference for NP.
Central Bucks West broke open a 14-7 halftime lead with a 24-0 second half to defeat Pennridge, 38-7. Ryan Clemens was sensational as he scored on touchdowns on runs of 90, 6, 11 & 52 yards. Clemens had an interception on defense and also kicked a 22-yard field goal. Noah Miller scored the ‘other’ touchdown for the Bucks on a 50-yard run.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 24 * North Penn Knights 17
Central Bucks South Titans (8-0, 5-0) @ Neshaminy Redskins (6-2, 3-2)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South 42 * Neshaminy 0
Last Week:
Central Bucks South routed Abington, 63-0. The Titans led early on the strength of a pair of touchdown runs by Braylen Cape & a touchdown run by Owen Pinkerton. The remainder of the ‘mercy-rule’ game was played by the South reserves.
Neshaminy won key conference game as the Redskins defeated Central Bucks East, 24-13. Neshaminy trailed 6-0 early – scored 24 straight points – and gave up a late score to create the final score. Michael Eckart threw a touchdown pass to Lucas Stewart – Nick Sassano had a 50-yard ‘pick-6’ – Carter Clee had a touchdown run & Kaden Nicastro kicked a 29-yard field goal to account for the Redskin scoring.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 20 * Neshaminy Redskins 10
Pennridge Rams(4-4, 2-3) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (3-5, 1-4)
Last Year:
Central Bucks East 18 * Pennridge 17
Last Week:
Pennridge tied Central Bucks West 7-7 early in the game on a touchdown pass from Noah Keating to Chase Marshall. That was the good news as the Bucks scored the next 31 points and defeated the Rams, 38-7.
Central Bucks East scored the first touchdown and the last touchdown but gave up 24 points in between in a 24-13 conference loss to Neshaminy. Sophomore Mike Price got the Patriots on the board in the first quarter with a touchdown run.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 28 * Pennridge Rams 14
Abington Ghosts (1-7, 0-5) @ Pennsbury Falcons (3-5, 1-4)
Last Year:
Pennsbury 41 * Abington 12
Last Week:
Abington continued its downward spiral as the Ghosts were shut out by conference leading Central Bucks South, 63-0. It was the 6th straight loss for Abington and kept the Ghosts winless in the conference.
Pennsbury closed to within 19-14 in the fourth quarter but could not seal the deal as the Falcons fell to North Penn, 22-14. Kaiden Brown scored the fourth period TD to draw Pennsbury close in that final period.
Prediction:
Pennsbury Falcons 38 * Abington Ghosts 0
SOL Continental Conference
Friday
Upper Dublin Cardinals (6-2, 5-0) @ Bensalem Owls (4-4, 2-3)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin 31 * Bensalem 7
Last Week:
Upper Dublin held off a Cheltenham rally to defeat the Panthers, 20-17. The Cardinals lost a 17-0 lead and needed a game winning field goal by Matt Miller in the final minute to secure the win. Miller also kicked a field goal in the first half. Kevin Etkin scored on a touchdown run and fired a touchdown pass to Colin Atherholt.
Bensalem soared to a 41-6 conference victory over Council Rock North. Thomas Bailey had 2 rushing touchdowns for the Owls, while Aiden Mayfield had three touchdowns– once on a run, once on a punt return and the other on a TD pass reception. Benjamin Williams also added a rushing score.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 31 * Bensalem Owls 21
Quakertown Panthers (4-4, 4-1) @ CR South Hawks (3-5, 2-3)
Last Year:
Council Rock South 20 * Quakertown 17
Last Week:
Quakertown remained in the conference race with a 54-14 rout of Harry S Truman. Aiden Burgy caught 2 touchdown passes from Brady Martin to fuel the offense. Gavin Carroll, Matt Thomas, Gavin Mushrush, Aiden Whiteley, Brendon Gartland & Tyler Scheibenhofer all scored touchdowns for the Panthers.
Council Rock South scored a fourth period touchdown by Brody Walker, but it was far from enough at the Golden Hawks were defeated by Souderton, 35-6.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 35 * Council Rock South Hawks 17
Cheltenham Panthers (2-6, 2-3) @ Truman Tigers (1-7, 0-5)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Cheltenham trailed conference unbeaten Upper Dublin 17-0 – rallied to tie the score @ 17-17 – but lost in the final minute, 20-17.
Truman lost for the 7th straight week as the Tigers were tamed by Quakertown, 54-14. Truman scored 2 fourth period touchdowns to avert the shutout.
Prediction:
Cheltenham Panthers 37 * Truman Tigers 6
*******Saturday*******
Souderton Indians (5-3, 3-1) @ CR North Indians (1-7, 1-4)
Last Year:
Souderton 42 * Council Rock North 0
Last Week:
Souderton rolled to a 35-6 conference victory over Council Rock South. Ben Walsh threw for over 300 yards and fired 4 touchdown passes. Hunter Smeltz caught 2 passes for scores, while Jack Potson and Caleb Moyer also caught TD passes. Houston Marshall added a rushing touchdown for the Big Red.
Council Rock North was competitive in the first half and trailed Bensalem 14-6 at the close of the first half. But the Indians were not competitive in the second half as the Owls soared to a 41-6 conference victory.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 45 * Council Rock North Indians 7
SOL American Conference
Friday
Upper Moreland Bears (7-1, 2-1) @ PW Colonials (6-2, 3-0)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 35 * Upper Moreland 7
Last Week:
Upper Moreland won a conference thriller last week as the Golden Bears edged Wissahickon, 28-27. Aiden Tuffy scored the game tying touchdown in OT – and Luke Sword added the extra point to secure the victory. Alex Foley fired 3 touchdown passes and threw for 150 yards in the win.
Plymouth Whitemarsh proved to be the ‘King of the Hill’ in the conference as they routed Springfield, 42-0. Caiden Leszczynski fired 4 touchdown passes to fuel the offense. Chase Rarrick, Chase Smith, Marcus Laffredo & Christian DiCiurico all caught TD passes. Michael Bongard had a ‘pick-6’ for a score, while Amir Butler returned a fumble for a score.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 38 * Upper Moreland Bears 17
William Tennent Panthers (3-5, 1-2) @ Springfield Spartans (6-2, 2-1)
Last Year:
William Tennent 28 * Springfield 14
Last Week:
William Tennent lost for the second week in a row as the Panthers lost to Hatboro Horsham, 21-7. William Tennent led 7-0 early in the game.
Springfield played for the conference lead last week against Plymouth Whitemarsh, however, things did not go well as the Spartans were defeated 42-0.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 21 * William Tennent Panthers 14
Hatboro Horsham Hatters (3-5, 1-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (4-4, 0-3)
Last Year:
Wissahickon 41 * Hatboro Horsham 40
Last Week:
Hatboro Horsham snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 21-7 conference victory over William Tennent. Ty Teasley turned in a spectacular performance for the winners rushing for 210 yards and scoring all 3 touchdowns. It was the first conference win of the season for the Hatters.
Wissahickon remained winless in the conference losing a 28-27 heartbreaker to Upper Moreland. The Trojans lost a 37-34 heartbreaker to conference unbeaten Plymouth Whitemarsh last week & were upset by William Tennent, 21-14.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 35 * Hatboro Horsham Hatters 20
-30-
- Log in to post comments