Football Forecast – 8
By Scott Huff
Too many calories aren’t a good thing – there’s always that weight gain thing and a laundry list of other health problems.
Too many teams in the PIAA District One football playoffs also aren’t a good thing – not for the health and the integrity of the football playoff system.
The football playoffs should be a reward for an excellent season – a season that has reached a high level of accomplishment.
A quick look at the rankings for the D-1 playoffs, though, tells a much different story.
Just the facts…
- In Class 6A there are 33 teams in District One – and 16 make the playoffs – 48.5% of eligible teams.
- In Class 5A there are 24 teams in District One – and 16 make the playoffs – 66.7% of eligible teams.
- In Class 4A there are 8 teams in District One – and 4 make the playoffs – 50% of eligible teams.
- In 6A, 5A, & 4A there are a combined 65 teams – and 36 make the playoffs – 55.4%.
It is harder NOT to make the PIAA District One football playoffs than it is to play in the postseason.
A closer look at the current D-1 6A playoffs tell a not so flattering story for a pair of Suburban One League teams that right now would compete in the postseason.
North Penn is currently tied for 15th in the D-1 rankings (along with Owen J Roberts & Upper Darby) despite having a losing record at 3-5 and featuring a defense that has allowed an average of 30.8 points per game this season. In the last two games, the Knights have yielded over 40 points in losses to CB East (42-35) and Pennsbury (44-34).
Doesn’t look like playoff material – but it is what it is – and right now the Knights are a possible playoff team as NPHS closes the season with games against Pennridge (2-6) and Abington (2-6).
Quakertown is ranked 14th in the D-1 rankings with a 4-4 mark. The record isn’t a losing one - but three of the Panther defeats came in crushing losses to North Penn (49-7), Central Bucks West (56-14), and Plymouth Whitemarsh (49-0). Outscored in those 3 losses by a staggering 154-21 – yikes.
Doesn’t look like playoff material – but it is what it is – and right now the Panthers are a possible playoff team as Q-town closes the season with Harry S Truman (2-6) and Upper Dublin (8-0).
A betting man would say that the Knights and the Panthers will finish the regular season at 5-5. But is that really playoff caliber football?
If I had my say – which I obviously don’t – you would have to finish in the top eight of the rankings in both 6A and 5A to get into the postseason. And the top four teams would host home games.
At this moment, #2 Pennsbury (7-1), #3 Central Bucks East (7-1), and #6 Souderton (7-1) would all ‘make the cut’. And #9 Central Bucks West (5-3) and #13 Central Bucks South (5-3) would both be ‘bubble’ teams that would have a lot to play for the last two weeks of the season.
A closer look at the current D-1 5A playoffs is even more disturbing. Right now, there would be 3 teams with losing records making the 16-team playoff field.
At this moment, #13 Oxford (3-5), #15 Upper Merion (3-5), and #16 Radnor (2-5) are all in the playoff field. The three teams have a combined 8-15 record – and those are playoff teams?
Currently, #1 Upper Dublin (8-0), #5 Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-2), and #6 Upper Moreland (7-1) have all represented the Suburban One League extremely well on the 5A level. All have proven that they are indeed quality playoff teams.
The current D-1 4A playoffs has #3 Springfield (4-3) in the field with the #4 team - Bishop Shanahan (3-4) - owning a losing record. The Spartans close out the SOL American Conference season with games against Upper Moreland (7-1) and William Tennent (1-6).
If I had my say – which I obviously don’t – you would have to finish in the top 2 in class 4A to get into the postseason - with the top team hosting the championship game
Again, it is what it is.
And in my humble opinion - it isn’t very good.
“G” Wiz
Pennsbury senior Galamama ‘G’ Mulbah has been the showcased running back in the resurgent Falcon rushing attack – and he has been putting on quite a spectacular show this season.
Pennsbury had suffered miserably the prior two seasons losing 16 straight games. And the proud Falcon program decided to go back ‘to the thrilling days of yesteryear’ and brought back – no, not the Lone Ranger (google him) – but the very successful former head coach, Galen Snyder, to lead the Black & Orange.
Snyder is ‘old-school,’ and the Ground & Pound is back at Pennsbury – and so are the victories.
After an opening season loss to currently unbeaten Coatesville (28-6) - its 17th successive loss – the Falcons have soared to seven straight victories with wins over William Tennent (35-0), Council Rock South (41-6), Central Bucks West (26-21), Central Bucks South (28-6), Central Bucks East (37-22), Pennridge (27-24), and North Penn (44-34).
And that Pennsbury victory over North Penn last week was historic as it stopped a brutal 21-game losing streak to the Knights.
The formula that Snyder utilizes to create wins is simple – run the football – and run the football some more. You know, only three things can happen when you pass the ball – and two (interceptions & incompletions) are bad.
Enter # 24 – the explosive Mulbah – and the numbers that he collected against North Penn under the Friday night lights last week pops your eyes right out of their sockets.
‘G’ rushed the ball 49 times – not a typo, 49 times – for 364 yards and four touchdowns. The Falcons as a team punished the Knight defense as it ran the ball 57 times for 450 yards.
Oh yeah, Pennsbury threw one pass – incomplete.
Pennsbury will close out the SOL National Conference season against struggling Abington (2-6) this week and will finish the season versus archrival Neshaminy (4-4) in the regular season finale.
Chances are extremely favorable that the Falcons will enter the PIAA District One playoffs with both a nine-game winning streak and a SOL National Conference championship.
And that success in 2022 has come with the return of head coach Snyder calling the plays and with and the exceptional talents of Mulbah running the football.
And the ‘G’ at this point stands for ‘Game-Breaker’.
Stay tuned.
1996 Trivia: The last time Pennsbury defeated North Penn was in 1996 when the Falcons ‘soared’ to a 28-27 victory over the Knights. Who were the head coaches for the Philadelphia Eagles, Sixers, & Flyers in 1996 – and who was the Phillies manager in 1996?
Championship Week in the SOL Continental Conference?
Upper Dublin (8-0) & Souderton (7-1) will battle it out for the top of the conference standings this week. Both the Flying Cardinals and the Indians are unbeaten in conference play with unbeaten 4-0 records.
Upper Dublin Resume
- Victories over Kennett (37-13); CB West (35-7); North Penn (32-28); Bensalem (33-7); Wissahickon (47-0); Council Rock North (41-13); Council Rock South (16-0); & Harry S Truman (44-14).
- The Cardinal offense averages 35.6 points per game and allows 10.3 points per game.
- Upper Dublin offensive players to watch include quarterback Colin O’Sullivan (77-119, 1193yds, 7 TDs), wide receiver Griffin Pensabene (24 receptions, 455yds, 6 TDs), running back Nyfise McIntyre (77 carries, 551yds, 7 TDs), Dominick Paone, & Austin Pendleton.
- The Cardinals are a 5A football program with a male enrollment of 490 students at UDHS. Upper Dublin has the smallest male enrollment of the SOL Continental Conference schools.
Souderton Resume
- Victories over Haverford (27-17); Pennridge (24-21); Council Rock North (35-14); Harry S Truman (38-0); Quakertown (34-20), Warwick (45-24); & Council Rock South (23-0). The Big Red lost to Central Bucks East (30-13).
- The Indian offense averages 23.9 points per game and allows 14.5 points per game.
- Souderton offensive players to watch include quarterback Jared Zimmerman (75-120, 882yds, 72, 66 carries 366yds, 5 TDs), running back Chris Kerns (102 carries 638yrds, 7 TDs), Shaun Purvey, Danny Dyche, & Ty Quintos.
- The Indians are a 6A program with a male enrollment of 821 students at SAHS. Souderton has the largest male enrollment of the SOL Continental Conference schools.
Last year Upper Dublin defeated Souderton 10-7, and in 2020 Souderton captured a 28-7 victory over the Cardinals as both schools competed in the same SOL Continental Conference.
However, in 2019 Upper Dublin and Souderton did not compete in the same Suburban One League Conference.
Upper Dublin (490 male students in 2022) competed in the SOL American Conference with schools of similar male enrollment and geographical rivalries such as Cheltenham (559), Plymouth Whitemarsh (555), Quakertown (663), Upper Moreland (383), Wissahickon (561) and Hatboro Horsham (518).
Souderton (821 male students in 2022) competed in the SOL Continental Conference with schools of similar male enrollment and geographical rivalries such as Central Bucks West (758), Central Bucks East (765), Central Bucks South (746), North Penn (1577), Pennridge (767), and William Tennent (573).
And for whatever reason, those conference alignments no longer exist.
Go figure?
The winner of this Upper Dublin/Souderton game could dethrone Quakertown as the champion of the SOL Continental Conference.
The Panthers (3-1 conference) still have that mathematical shot to repeat. The only conference loss of the season came against Souderton, 34-20.
Quakertown should beat Truman (2-6) this week and has a key game at Upper Dublin next week.
Souderton, in addition to the Upper Dublin game this week, will close out the conference season with Bensalem (2-6) and should get that victory.
Upper Dublin has the most difficult remaining conference schedule with Souderton this week, and Quakertown in the season finale.
Who goes undefeated? Who shares the title?
The dominoes are lined up – how do they fall?
Stay tuned.
Answer to the 1996 trivia: The head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996 was Ray Rhodes – the head coach of the Sixers was John Lucas – the head coach of the Flyers was Terry Murray – and the Phillies manager was Jim Fregosi.
Trojans don’t Horse Around
Wissahickon entered the eighth week of the season as the only Suburban One League team without a victory.
And the Trojans opened its SOL American Conference game with William Tennent last week trailing 3-0. However, the Blue & Gold scored 28 unanswered points to lock up its first win of the season defeating the Panthers (1-7), 28-3.
It was the first win of the season, and in his Trojan career, for head coach Rory Graver. Graver had a very successful stint as head coach of Pope John II – winning a PIAA Class AAA District One title in 2019.
The Trojans close the season with difficult road games at Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-2) and Cheltenham (4-4).
But for Graver and his Trojans it will be one small winning step at a time.
Stay tuned.
Sneak Peek at the PIAA District One Playoffs
Class AAAAAA
16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs
|
2. |
Pennsbury Falcons |
7-1 |
163.750 |
|
3. |
Central Bucks East Patriots |
7-1 |
161.250 |
|
6. |
Souderton Indians |
7-1 |
152.500 |
|
9. |
Central Bucks West Bucks |
5-3 |
135.000 |
|
13. |
Central Bucks South Titans |
5-3 |
126.250 |
|
14. |
Quakertown Panthers |
4-4 |
111.250 |
|
15t. |
North Penn Knights |
3-5 |
106.250 |
Class AAAAA
16 Teams Qualify
|
1. |
Upper Dublin Cardinals |
8-0 |
186.250 |
|
5. |
Plymouth Whitemarsh |
6-2 |
147.500 |
|
6. |
Upper Moreland Bears |
7-1 |
132.50 |
Class AAAA
4 Teams Qualify
|
3. |
Springfield Spartans |
4-3 |
125.71 |
And the beat goes on…
Suburban One League
National Conference
Friday/October 21, 2022
Central Bucks West Bucks (5-3, 4-1) @ Central Bucks South (5-3, 2-3)
Last Week:
Central Bucks West won its fifth game in six weeks as the Bucks rolled to a 27-8 conference victory over Pennridge. Eli Boehm rushed for a team-high 142 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Ganz Cooper scored on a pair of 1-yard runs.
Central Bucks South won for the second straight week as the Titans captured a 21-7 conference victory over Neshaminy. Jack Carver, Anthony Leonardi, and Corey Moore all scored rushing touchdowns for CB South.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 24 – Central Bucks South Titans 17
Central Bucks East Patriots (7-1, 4-1) @ Neshaminy Redskins (4-4, 2-3)
Last Week:
Central Bucks East cruised to a 31-6 conference victory over Abington. Pat Keller fired a 71-yard touchdown pass to Luke Wilson. Ethan Shine, Declan Kelly scored rushing touchdowns for the Patriots. Jack Corrigan kicked a field goal for CBE.
Neshaminy lost for the second week in a row as the Redskins fell to Central Bucks South, 21-7. The lone scoring play for Neshaminy came on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Colin Baker to Travis Lavelah.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 28 – Neshaminy Redskins 13
North Penn Knights (3-5, 2-3) @ Pennridge Rams (2-6, 1-4)
Last Week:
North Penn played the ‘same old song’ as the Knights were defeated by Pennsbury, 44-34, in a conference game. A lot of offense – and little defense. North Penn quarterback Ryan Zeltt completed 22 passes for 314 yards and threw 4 touchdown passes. Yazeed Haynes scored on TD catches of 5 & 53 yards, while Rashad McNeil and James Mangine also scored on touchdown passes.
Pennridge lost its fourth straight conference game as the Rams were defeated by Central Bucks West, 28-7. Brennan Fisher rushed for a game-high 140 yards on 18 carries. Fisher scored on a 57-yard touchdown run to highlight the offense.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 31 – Pennridge Rams 20
Abington Ghosts (2-6, 0-5) @ Pennsbury Falcons (7-1, 4-0)
Last Week:
Abington remained winless in the conference as the Ghosts fell to Central Bucks East, 31-6. Abington trailed the Patriots 24-0 at the half but played a competitive second half being outscored 7-6.
Pennsbury remained unbeaten in the conference as the Falcons soared to a 44-34 victory over North Penn. Galamama Mulbah raced for 364 yards on 49 carries and scored 4 touchdowns. Nathan Beighley scored on a 52-yard run, while Shane McGurin scored on a 1-yard run for the winners.
Prediction:
Pennsbury Falcons 42 – Abington Ghosts 14
Suburban One League
Continental Conference
Thursday/October 20, 2022
Bensalem Owls (2-6, 1-3) @ Council Rock South (3-5, 1-3)
Last Week:
Bensalem lost a non-league game to Upper Darby, 14-7.
Council Rock South was defeated in a conference game by Souderton, 23-0. The Golden Hawks have been shut out offensively in 3 of their last 4 games.
Prediction:
Council Rock South 17 – Bensalem Owls 7
Friday/October 21, 2022
Souderton Indians (7-1, 4-0) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (8-0, 4-0)
Last Week:
Souderton defeated Council Rock South, 23-0, to prep for the conference showdown with Upper Dublin. Placekicker Ty Quintois continued to showcase his talents by kicking 3 field goals in the win. Jared Zimmerman sparked the offense with 2 touchdown runs – one of 70 yards – and the other of 15 yards.
Upper Dublin defeated Harry S Truman, 44-14, to prep for the conference showdown with Souderton. Colin O’Sullivan fired 2 touchdown passes, while Nyfise McIntyre scored 2 rushing touchdowns. Nyles Bunn-McNeil and Qunicy Pauling scored their first career touchdowns for the Cardinals. Austin Pendelton booted a 41-yard field goal.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 28 – Souderton Indians 20
Harry S Truman Tigers (2-6, 1-4) @ Quakertown Panthers (4-4, 3-1)
Harry S Truman was defeated by Upper Dublin, 44-14. It was the second game under new head coach James Freeman.
Quakertown broke open a tight game as the Panthers rolled to a 46-19 conference victory over Council Rock North. John Eatherton and Brett Hileman each scored 3 touchdowns for the Black Cats, while Vince Micucci passed for 100 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 42 – Harry S Truman 14
Suburban One League
American Conference
Friday/October 21, 2022
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (7-1, 3-0) @ Springfield Spartans (4-3, 1-2)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland defeated Cheltenham 14-10 in a key conference game. Shawn Herbert scored both touchdowns for the Golden Bears, while Stephen Broderick once again rushed for over 100 yards. UM trailed Cheltenham by a 10-7 score in the first half.
Springfield is a 4A school that more than had its hands full in a 42-13 lost to 5A Plymouth Whitemarsh. The Spartans trailed the high-powered Colonials by a 21-6 score at the close of the first half.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 35 – Springfield Spartans 14
Wissahickon Trojans (1-7, 1-2) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (6-2, 3-0)
Last Week:
Wissahickon won for the first time this season with a 28-3 conference victory over William Tennent. Four Trojans scored rushing touchdowns as Gavin Myers (18), Jarret Federer (3), Julian Perkins (10), and Jaden McLean (23) all found paydirt.
Plymouth Whitemarsh remained unbeaten in the conference with a 42-13 victory over Springfield. The Colonials led 21-6 at the half and outscored the Spartans 21-0 in the second half to secure the win.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 38 – Wissahickon Trojans 14
William Tennent Panthers (1-6, 0-3) @ Cheltenham Panthers (4-4, 1-2)
Last Week:
William Tennent led 3-0 early in the game on a 32-yard field goal by Kyle Flack, but the Panthers were outscored 28-0 the remainder of the game in a 28-3 conference loss to Wissahickon.
Cheltenham led 10-7 early in the game, but the Panthers yielded a second half touchdown to lose a key conference game to Upper Moreland – 14-10. The offensive highlight of the game was a 57-yard touchdown run by Donovan Agyare.
Prediction:
Cheltenham Panthers 35 – William Tennent 10
Suburban One Sports.com
Super Seven
Last Week [XXXX]
1. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (8-0) --- [1]
2. Pennsbury Falcons (7-1) --- [2]
3. Central Bucks East Patriots (7-1) --- [3]
4. Souderton Indians (7-1) --- [4]
5. Central Bucks West Bucks (5-3) --- [5]
6. Central Bucks South Titans (5-3) --- [7]
7. Upper Moreland Golden Bears (7-1) --- [NR]
Other under consideration – Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (6-2); North Penn Knights (3-5) & Neshaminy Redskins (4-4).
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