Scott Huff recaps last week’s SOL football games and picks this week’s winners.
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League conference championship determinations will not have high drama that the final week of the season often provides.
The SOL National Conference outright champion is Abington as the Ghosts closed out the conference season unbeaten with a 6-0 record. The Maroon & White earned the outright title with a 49-28 victory last week against Pennsbury. Abington will play a non-league game with CB West this week that has huge implications on PIAA District One seeding.
The SOL Continental Conference championship could be shared – or won outright by Central Bucks West. The Bucks closed out its conference season at 5-1 and would share the title with Souderton, if, the Big Red (4-1) could defeat CB South (3-2) in the final conference game.
The SOL American Conference outright champion should be Cheltenham. The Panthers should close the season unbeaten at 6-0 with a game against Wissahickon. A very unlikely loss by Cheltenham, and a win by Plymouth Whitemarsh over Hatboro-Horsham, would result in a shared title between Cheltenham and PW.
Analytics – systematic computational analysis of data and statistics
In this era of analytics in sports, it seems reasonable that you can figure out the rankings of the SOL teams in regard to the upcoming District One playoffs.
Not really.
Pennsbury and Central Bucks East both have identical 5-4 overall records and are in a battle for one of the 16 berths in the playoffs. On September 14th, Pennsbury defeated CB East 21-14 in a head-to-head contest. However, the rankings for D-1 has the Falcons in 17th place with a ranking of 122.22, while CB East is ranked 16th with a 124.44 ranking.
Central Bucks South and North Penn both have identical 6-3 overall records. On October 18th, CB South defeated the Knights 36-35 in a head-to-head contest. However, the D-1 rankings have the Titans rated as a No. 12 team with a ranking of 140.00, while North Penn is rated as a No. 10 team with a ranking of 144.44.
Souderton knocked Central Bucks West out of the unbeaten ranks with a double overtime victory and have identical 8-1 records. However, the Indians are the No. 4 rated team in District 1 with a 158.89 ranking, while the Bucks remained the No. 2 team in the district with a 163.33 ranking.
Go figure.
You play the game to have fun… but it’s no fun losing.
Hatboro-Horsham, Pennridge, and Council Rock North haven’t had a whole lot of fun the 2019 season. But there were smiles all around last week for this trio of SOL teams as each collected rare victories.
The Hatters were winless until last week when H-H routed Quakertown 49-24. The Black & Red ended a losing streak that began from the outset of the season in the oppressive heat of August and lasted until last week.
The Rams last won a football in that same heat of August when Pennridge opened the season with a 13-0 non-league victory over Delaware Valley on August 23. Seven straight painful losses followed – but the Green & White stopped the agony of defeat last week with a 21-14 win over Harry S Truman.
The Indians last won a football game in the blistering heat of August when Rock North defeated Wissahickon on August 30 – 27-6. Six consecutive losses followed until last week when CR North defeated Bensalem 43-8.
Dream Team?
Central Bucks West, Central Bucks South, and Central Bucks East all look to make the PIAA District One playoffs this season.
Can you imagine how powerful a Central Bucks football team would have been if the Central Bucks School District had not decided to divide its enrollment into three high schools?
If you combined the enrollments of South (1800), East (1582) and West (1439) there would be 4,821 students in those three schools.
What a talent pool!!
Right now, the five largest high schools in the SOL are North Penn (3158), Pennsbury (3173), Neshaminy (2519), Pennridge (2326), and Souderton (2254).
And the beat goes on…
SOL District One Playoff Snapshot
If the Playoffs began Today
6A
16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs
Seed Team Record Ranking
2 Abington Ghosts 8-1 163.33
3 Central Bucks West 8-1 163.33
4 Souderton Indians 8-1 158.89
9 Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-1 148.75
10 North Penn Knights 6-3 144.44
12 Central Bucks South 6-3 140.00
16 Central Bucks East 5-4 124.44
17 Pennsbury Falcons 5-4 122.22
18 Neshaminy Redskins 5-4 117.79
5A
16 Teams Qualify For Playoffs
1 Cheltenham Panthers 8-1 171.11
12 Upper Dublin Cardinals 4-4 111.25
4A
4 teams Qualify for Playoffs
2 Springfield Spartans 7-2 134.44
3 Upper Moreland Bears 5-4 120.00
THIS WEEK IN THE SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE
SOL National Conference
Friday – 7 pm
NESHAMINY REDSKINS (5-4, 3-2) @ PENNSBURY FALCONS (5-4, 4-1)
Last Week:
Neshaminy kept its playoff hopes alive with a 31-6 victory over Council Rock South. Brody McAndrew completed 9 passes for 172 yards, while Chris James scored a rushing touchdown. Greg Orleski and John Hutchinson each scored rushing scores for the Skins.
Pennsbury put itself in a must-win situation as the Falcons were defeated 49-28 by now SOL National Conference champion Abington. Brad Mickles rushed for a game-high 141 yards and scored 3 touchdowns, while JayVon McNeil rushed for an even 100 yards and a score.
Prediction:
Pennsbury 31 – Neshaminy 28
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH INDIANS (2-7, 1-4) @ COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (1-8, 1-4)
Last Week:
Council Rock North snapped a six-game losing streak with a 43-8 SOL National Conference win over Bensalem. The Indians trailed 8-0 early in the game but scored 43 unanswered points to cruise to the win. Dylan Sheehy sparked the offense with 2 touchdowns.
Council Rock South had a difficult time against Neshaminy in a 31-6 loss. Noah Caldani rushed for a team-high 104 yards and scored the lone touchdown for the Golden Hawks.
Prediction:
Council Rock North 21 – Council Rock South 14
HARRY S TRUMAN TIGERS (4-5, 3-2) @ BENSALEM OWLS (2-7, 0-5)
Last Week:
Truman lost for the third straight week as the Tigers were caged 21-14 in a non-league game against Pennridge. Truman led at the half by a 14-6 score but was outscored 15-0 in the second half.
Bensalem is still in search of its first SOL National Conference game. The Owls scored 8 points at the outset of the game but surrendered 43 straight points in a 43-8 loss to Council Rock North.
Prediction:
Truman 28 – Bensalem 14
SOL Continental Conference
Friday – 7pm
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH TITANS (6-3, 3-2) @ SOUDERTON INDIANS (8-1, 4-1)
Last Week:
Central Bucks South stunned North Penn 36-35. It was the Sean Smith show for the Titans as he rushed for 2 touchdowns, caught a TD pass, and scored on the winning 2-point conversion in the fourth period. Josh Consoletti fired 3 touchdown passes for the winners.
Souderton stunned previously unbeaten Central Bucks West 28-27 in double overtime. Jalen White scored 2 touchdowns that included the game-winning score in double overtime. DeAndre Wakefield rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown for the Big Red.
Prediction: (upset special)
Central Bucks South 28 – Souderton 24
WILLIAM TENNENT PANTHERS (3-6, 1-4) @ NORTH PENN KNIGHTS (6-3, 3-2)
Last Week:
William Tennent lost its SOL Continental Conference game to Central Bucks East by a 31-14 score. Thomas Santiago rushed for a team-high 79 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Matt Miller completed 10 passes for 94 yards.
North Penn suffered a stunning 36-35 loss to Central Bucks South. Sophomore Khalani Eaton rushed for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Knights, while Nate Brown scored 2 touchdowns for the Blue & White.
Prediction:
North Penn 45 – William Tennent 14
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST PATRIOTS (5-4, 2-3) @ PENNRIDGE RAMS (2-7, 0-5)
Last Week:
Central Bucks East moved into the PIAA District 1 playoff conversation with a 31-14 victory over William Tennent. Patrick Volko rushed for a team-high 81 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Placekicker/Receiver Michael Smigley booted a 38-yard field goal and caught 3 passes for 93 yards.
Pennridge stopped a 7-game losing skid as the Rams defeated Harry S Truman 21-14. Quarterback Bobby Croyle threw a 2 touchdown passes – 1 to Connor Pleibel and 1 to Adam Mossbrook.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East 27 – Pennridge 20
SOL American Conference
Friday – 7 pm
UPPER DUBLIN CARDINALS (4-4, 2-3) @ UPPER MORELAND BEARS (5-4, 2-3)
Last Week:
Upper Dublin lost its fourth game in the last five weeks as the Flying Cardinals lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 38-7. The lone touchdown came on an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Nadir Johnson.
Upper Moreland kept its hold on the No. 3 seed in the upcoming PIAA District One 4A playoffs despite a 34-6 loss to first place Cheltenham.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland 20 – Upper Dublin 14
WISSAHICKON TROJANS (2-7, 1-4) @ CHELTENHAM PANTHERS (8-1, 5-0)
Last Week:
Wissahickon captured its second win of the season as the Trojans marched to a 34-28 victory over Eastern York.
Cheltenham kept a firm grasp on first place in the SOL American Conference with a 34-6 victory over Upper Moreland. The victory guaranteed at least a share of the SOL American Conference title – a title the Panthers last held 9 years ago.
Prediction:
Cheltenham 42 – Wissahickon 13
HATBORO-HORSHAM HATTERS (1-7, 1-4) @ PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (7-1, 4-1)
Last Week:
Hatboro-Horsham won its first game of the year in a big way with a 49-24 win over Quakertown. Colin O’Sullivan completed 8 passes for 160 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Jordan Collazo rushed 13 times for 153 yards and a score.
Plymouth Whitemarsh captured another conference win as the Colonials marched to a 38-7 victory over Upper Dublin. Larry McLaughlin completed 6 passes for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns and also rushed 12 times for 118 yards and a score. Michael Paciello scored on both a TD reception and a TD run.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 35 -Hatboro-Horsham 20
Non-League Games
Friday – 7 pm
ABINGTON GHOSTS (8-1) @ CENTRAL BUCKS WEST BUCKS (8-1)
Last Week:
Abington captured the SOL National Conference championship with a 49-28 victory over Pennsbury. Tamir Berthau rushed for 141 yards and scored 3 touchdowns and also threw a TD pass. Andrick Wesh had a terrific outing with a game-high 183 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.
Central Bucks West lost for the first time all season as the Bucks fell to Souderton 28-27 in double overtime. CBW standout running back Jack Fallon was ‘held’ to 85 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. Nick Tumolo rushed for a game-high 89 yards for the Bucks.
Prediction:
Abington 28 – CB West 21
ACADEMY PARK KNIGHTS (7-2) @ QUAKERTOWN PANTHERS (3-6)
Last Week:
Academy Park had a 3-game winning streak snapped in an 18-14 loss to Chester.
Quakertown lost for the second straight week as the Panthers were defeated by Hatboro-Horsham 49-24.
Prediction:
Academy Park 35 – Quakertown 14
PENNINGTON RED RAIDERS (4-3) @ SPRINGFIELD SPARTANS (7-2)
Last Week:
Pennington lost a 42-14 contest to Academy of the New Church.
Springfield defeated Academy of Palumbo 31-6. The Spartans held on to its 2nd place ranking in the PIAA District One 4A standings.
Prediction:
Springfield 35 – Pennington 14
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