SOL Football Forecast (10-28-21)

Join Jeff Nolan and Kevin Cooney for the premier of the WPHT High School Football Scoreboard Show as they recap the night of high school football on Friday 10 p.m. to midnight on 1210AM/WPHT and the Audacy app.

By Scott Huff

 

We are the champions…….
North Penn (SOL National Conference), Quakertown (SOL Continental Conference), & Plymouth Whitemarsh (SOL American Conference) all claimed at least a share of their respective conferences with key victories.

 

The Knights (9-0, 6-0) had to battle back to defeat a stubborn Central Bucks East team (7-2, 4-2), 28-21.  The Panthers (9-0, 6-0) had an easy time with Bensalem (5-4, 4-2), 42-7.  And the Colonials (7-1, 5-0) needed fourth quarter heroics to edge Upper Moreland (7-2, 3-2), 31-28.

 

North Penn will attempt to close out the conference season unbeaten and outright champion as the Knights travel to Central Bucks South (6-3, 3-3).  Quakertown will attempt to close out the conference season unbeaten and outright champion as the Panthers host Truman (3-6, 2-4).  And PW will attempt to close out the conference season unbeaten and outright champions as the Colonials host Wissahickon (3-6, 2-3).

 

Knights/Titans
Panthers/Tigers
Colonials/Trojans

 

Stay tuned. 

 

And the Winner of the CB Cup is ………?

Central Bucks East will host Central Bucks West on Saturday with the winner capturing the prestigious CB Cup for the 2021 football season.

 

The CB Cup is presented to the Central Bucks team that has claimed victories over both district rival schools over the course of a season. 

 

The trio of Central Bucks high schools are Central Bucks West, Central Bucks East, and Central Bucks South.

 

The host Patriots and visiting Bucks enter the winner-take-all game (maybe not all but at the very least the CB Cup) with victories over rival Central Bucks South earlier this year.  CB East defeated the Titans 24-19, while CB West defeated CB South, 28-20.

 

CB East and CB West have a storied rivalry from back in a day prior to the creation of CB South. Both East (6-3) and West (7-2) - and South (6-3) for that matter - have had very good seasons to date and are assured District One 6A playoff berths this season.  

 

The East-West game is a huge game for the rivalry - a huge game for seeding in the district playoffs - and perhaps most of all - a huge game for capturing the CB Cup.

 

CB West has won the CB Cup the last two seasons.

 

The Bucks defeated South 31-24 and East 40-20 last season - and in the 2019 season West defeated the Titans 42-28 and the Patriots 45-10.

 

CB East last won the CB Cup in the 2018 football season.  The Patriots defeated CB West 27-20 and defeated CB South 23-18.

 

CB South last won the CB Cup in the 2017 football season.  The Titans defeated CB West 21-20 and CB East 37-28.

 

The presentation of the CB Cup began back in 2011.

 

The current standings have CB South at the top of the pack winning 5 Cups (2017, 2016, 2014, 2012, & 2011) - CB West has won 3 Cups (2020, 2019, & 2013) - and CB East has won 2 Cups (2018 & 2015).

 

Bucks/Patriots

Stay tuned

 

District One 6A Playoff Bubble Bowl
Souderton (5-4) will host Bensalem (5-4) in a key SOL Continental Conference game that has major implications in the District One 6A playoffs for both the No. 15 ranked Big Red and the No. 16 ranked Owls.

 

The winner of this game will have reached that ‘magic number’ of six wins for the season and will make the 16-team 6A District One playoff field.  The loser will still have a shot at making the playoffs with five wins - depending on the outcomes and the math involved with three other district one teams.

 

Currently - Haverford [Central League], Downingtown West [Ches-Mont National], and Upper Darby [Central League] all have 4-5 records.

 

No. 17 Haverford will play Class 5A Academy of Palumbo (4-1) in a non-conference game.  No. 18 Downingtown West will play Class 6A Avon Grove (3-6).  And No. 19 Upper Darby will play Class 5A Upper Moreland (7-2).

 

There are far too many variables to consider which five-win team will make the playoffs.

 

Souderton and Bensalem share SOL Continental Conference wins over Truman, CR South and CR North.  The Big Red and Owls share conference losses to Quakertown and Upper Dublin.

 

Souderton lost to Q-town (9-0) by a score of 36-14, while Bensalem fell to the Panthers 42-7.

 

The Big Red lost to Upper Dublin (7-2) by a score of 10-7, while the Owls fell to the Cardinals 23-12.

 

There is no SOL Continental Conference championship on the line in this one - but both desperately want a ‘win to get in’ in the district playoff.

 

Big Red/Owls

 

Stay tuned.

 

You can throw out the records …….thank goodness
The 2021 football season will close this week as four teams want to conclude disappointing seasons with a victory over an arch-rival.

 

Council Rock South (2-7) will play Council Rock North (2-7) for the Unity Cup as the two district rivals clash.

 

The Golden Hawks have collected a pair of SOL Continental Conference victories this season over Harry S Truman (20-13) and Hatboro Horsham (48-13).

 

The Indians have collected a pair of wins this season against Hatboro Horsham (2-0 forfeit) and New Hope-Solebury (30-0) in the season opener.

 

Council Rock North secured a 23-7 victory over Council Rock South during the pandemic 2020 season.

 

Neshaminy (1-8) will be on the road to play winless Pennsbury (0-9) in the season finale for both teams.

 

The Redskins captured their only victory of the season against Souderton, 17-6, in a non-conference game.

 

Neshaminy blasted Pennsbury 34-0 during the pandemic 2020 season. 

 

No championships on the line - no playoff spots on the line - only community pride on the line.  

 

And that’s always a great thing for the fans at Rock South, Rock North, Neshaminy, & Pennsbury.

 

I guess you really can really throw out the records.

 

Golden Hawks/Indians
Redskins/Falcons


Stay Tuned.

 

New Lion’s Den for New Hope-Solebury

New Hope-Solebury will hopefully have a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate its new track and multi-purpose turf field on Friday.

 

The Lions - under first year head coach Mike Pacitti - did not play a football game last week.  A lack of numbers due to injuries kept NH-S from playing its game against Cheltenham.

 

New Hope-Solebury will (hopefully) host William Tennent under its new Friday Night Lights.  Both the Class 3A Lions and visiting Class 6A Panthers are winless in the SOL American Conference this year.  

 

Overall, NH-S is 1-6 during this 2021 season with a 9-8 victory over Academy of the New Church.  WT (0-8) is still winless overall for the 2021 season.

 

Lions/Panthers

 

Stay tuned.

 

Not to brag (part 3).......but
Last week I was 11-1 in my picks with the lone blemish coming when Council Rock South defeated Harry S Truman.  Not bad...but not perfect.

 

But then nobody is perfect (except for me two weeks ago).

 

Not to brag…….but

 

PIAA District One Rankings
If the District One playoffs began today…….


6A Rankings

16 Teams Qualify

2.   North Penn Knights

9-0

1620

180.000

5.   Quakertown Panthers

9-0

1480

164.444

9.   Central Bucks West

7-2

1310

145.556

10. Pennridge Rams

6-3

1280

142.222

11. Central Bucks East

6-3

1240

137.778

14. Central Bucks South

6-3

1120

124.444

15. Souderton Indians

5-4

1080

120.000

16. Bensalem Owls

5-4

1040

115.566

 

5A Rankings

16 Teams Qualify

4.   Upper Dublin Cardinals

7-2

1480

164.444

5.   Plymouth Whitemarsh

7-1

1250

156.250

15  Cheltenham Panthers

4-5

  920

102.222

 

4A Rankings

4 Teams Qualify

2.   Upper Moreland Bears

7-2

1400

155.556

 

How does maxpreps.com rank the best SOL teams with the rest of the top teams in Pennsylvania?
Top 100 in the state according to maxpreps.com

19.  Quakertown Panthers (9-0)
26.  North Penn Knights (9-0)
60.  Pennridge Rams (6-3)
62.  Central Bucks West Bucks (7-2)
87.  Upper Dublin Cardinals (7-2)
96.  Central Bucks East Patriots (6-3)

 

And the beat goes on…….

 

SOL National Conference
Friday - 7 pm

North Penn Knights (9-0, 6-0) @ Central Bucks South Titans (6-3, 3-3)
Last Week:
North Penn
remained unbeaten with a 28-21 conference victory over Central Bucks East.  The Knights saw a 21-0 lead evaporate in the fourth period as East knotted the score at 21-21.  Ryan Zeltt fired a 59-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Edwards for the winning score.  Zeltt - who completed 12 passes for 230 yards - also threw a 33-yard scoring pass to Rashad McNeil.  Khlani Easton carried 19 times for 124 yards and scored on a 64-yard run.
Central Bucks South lost a key conference game when the Titans were defeated by Pennridge, 35-10.  The setback broke a 5-game South winning streak.  Cole Maholtz scored on a 4-yard run, while Kevin Carrigan booted a 34-yard field goal.  Quarterback Brett Szarko completed 10 passes for 102 yards.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 42 - Central Bucks South Titans 20

Pennridge Rams (6-3, 4-2) @ Abington Ghosts (3-6, 2-4)
Last Week:
Pennridge
secured a District One playoff slot as the Rams captured a 35-10 conference victory over Central Bucks South.  Brennan Fisher had a terrific night rushing for 210 yards on 13 carries and scored on runs of 62 & 74 yards.  Brayden Landherr carried 15 times for 97 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 3 yards.  Logan McGowan also scored on a 1-yard run.
Abington won for the second straight week as the Ghosts held off winless Pennsbury, 36-35, in a conference win.  Abington scored late in the game on a Johnny Dzielawa 10-yard TD run, while a 2-pt conversion run by Dzielawa sealed the win for the Ghosts.  Abington trailed 7-0 at the quarter - 14-7 at the half - and 28-20 entering the fourth quarter.  A 16-point fourth period earned the win for the Maroon & White.
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 28 - Abington Ghosts 14

Neshaminy Redskins (1-8, 0-6) @ Pennsbury Falcons (0-9, 0-6)
Last Week:
Neshaminy
lost its fifth straight game as the Redskins lost to Central Bucks West, 27-3.
Pennsbury lost its ninth straight game as the Falcons lost a heartbreaking 36-35 conference game to Abington.  Pennsbury led until the final minute of the game before suffering the loss.  Galamama Mulbah scored on long-distance runs of 68 & 72 yards for the Falcons.
Prediction:
Pennsbury Falcons 24 - Neshaminy Redskins 21

 

Saturday

Central Bucks West (7-2, 5-1) @ Central Bucks East (6-3, 4-2)
Last Week:
Central Bucks West
took a huge step toward earning a home game in the upcoming District One 6A playoffs as the Bucks defeated Neshaminy, 27-3, in a conference contest.  CB West rebounded from a 28-14 conference loss to North Penn the week before.
Central Bucks East trailed unbeaten North Penn 21-0 in the second half but rallied to knot the score at 21-21 in the fourth period.  However, the Patriots failed to complete the comeback in a 28-21 conference loss to the Knights.  Tommy Day (21 carries/86 yards) scored on a 3-yard run, while Dan Rheinhart scored on a 1-yard run.  The game-tying score came on a 2-yard TD run by quarterback Pat Keller.  Keller completed 10 passes for 156 yards.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East 28 - Central Bucks West 24

 

SOL Continental Conference
Friday - 7 pm

Bensalem Owls (5-4, 4-2) @ Souderton Indians (5-4, 3-2)
Last Week:
Bensalem
lost its conference showdown with Quakertown, 42-7.  The lone score for the Owls came on a 5-yard touchdown run by Josiah Leonard.  Leonard carried 17 times for 109 yards.  Quarterback Matthew Saunders completed 10 passes for 90 yards.
Souderton backup quarterback Jared Zimmerman was spectacular as the Indians captured a 42-27 non-conference victory over host Cheltenham.  Zimmerman threw 2 touchdown passes - one to Aiden Scott for 37 yards - and the other Elijah Goods for 28 yards.  Zimmerman also scored on touchdown runs of 19 & 6 yards.  Brayden Porter scored on a 10-yard run, while Javier Torres opened the scoring for the Big Red with a 9-yard TD run.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 31 - Bensalem Owls 17

Harry S Truman Tigers (3-6, 2-4) @ Quakertown Panthers (9-0, 6-0)
Last Week:
Harry S Truman
led 13-6 at the close of the first half but failed to hold that lead in a 20-13 conference loss to Council Rock South.  The Tigers were tied 13-13 going into the final period but lost the deadlock and the game in the fourth period.
Quakertown captured a key conference victory with a convincing 42-7 win over host Bensalem.  Tyler Woodman - who carried 15 times for 126 yards - scored 4 touchdowns for the Panthers.  Woodman scored on runs of 5 & 3 yards and also returned a kickoff 85-yards for a touchdown.  Woodman caught one of three TD passes from Will Steich.  Woodman caught a 10-yard TD pass, while Zach Fondl caught 2 touchdown passes - one of 11 yards - and the other of 13 yards.
Prediction:

Quakertown Panthers 42 - Harry S Truman Tigers 14

Council Rock South Hawks (2-7, 2-4) @ Council Rock North Indians (2-7, 1-5)
Last Week:
Council Rock South
trailed Harry S Truman 13-7 at the half - tied the score 13-13 going into the fourth quarter - and scored the game winning touchdown in the fourth period to secure a 20-13 victory.  Damon Culver scored the game winner for the Golden Hawks on an 8-yard run.
Council Rock North trailed 40-0 at the close of the first half in its 40-0 loss to Upper Dublin.  It was the seventh straight on the field loss for the Indians.  Gavin Papp carried 16 times for a team-high 91 yards.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Hawks 28 - Council Rock North Indians 13

Upper Dublin (7-2) will be awarded a 2-0 forfeit victory over Hatboro Horsham (0-8).
Last Week:
Upper Dublin
led Council Rock North 40-0 at the half and that score held up a final.  Colin O’Sullivan completed 15 passes for 113 yards and fired TD passes to Griffin Pensabene (10 yards) and Chris Kohlbrenner (3 yards).  Nyfise McIntyre carried 8 times for 125 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 35, 16, & 60 yards.

 

SOL American Conference
Friday - 7 pm

Cheltenham Panthers (4-5, 3-1) @ Springfield Spartans (6-2, 3-2)
Last Week:
Cheltenham
was scheduled to play a conference game against New Hope-Solebury.  The Lions had intended to forfeit - and the Panthers went out and scheduled a non-conference game with Souderton.  Cheltenham lost that game to the Indians - 42-27.  Kamden Wyatt scored 3 touchdowns for the Panthers - 2 on TD runs of 5 & 67 yards - and another on a 68-yard pass from TJ Taylor.  Tyzeem Kinney scored on a 25-yard run.
Springfield ventured out of the Suburban One League and played a game against George School.  The Spartans led 38-0 at the close of the first half and scored a 38-6 mercy-rule victory over the Cougars.
Prediction:
Cheltenham Panthers 31 - Springfield Spartans 21


Wissahickon Trojans (3-6, 2-3) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-1, 5-0)
Last Week:
Wissahickon
captured its third win of the season with a 36-22 conference victory over William Tennent.  A 20-0 outburst in the second period fueled the Trojan victory.
Plymouth Whitemarsh won a key conference game as the Colonials marched to a 31-28 victory over Upper Moreland.  The game-winning touchdown came late in the fourth period on a 6-yard run by Aiden O’Brien.  O’Brien carried 18 times for 120 yards and also scored on runs of 10 & 9 yards.  Nate Kern scored on a touchdown run of 1-yard, while Steve Spruil kicked a 34-yard field goal for the winners.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 38 - Wissahickon Trojans 20

William Tennent Panthers (0-8, 0-5) @ New Hope-Solebury Lions (1-6, 0-4)
Last Week:
William Tennent
remained winless for the season as the Panthers were handed a 36-22 conference loss against Wissahickon.  Tennent trailed by just 6-0 at the close of the first period and outscored the Trojans 22-10 in the second half.
New Hope-Solebury did not play.
Prediction:
William Tennent Panthers 27 - New Hope-Solebury Lions 20


 

Non-League
Friday - 7 pm

Upper Darby Royals (4-5) @ Upper Moreland Bears (7-2)
Last Week:
Upper Darby
remained in contention for a District One 6A playoff berth with a 34-0 conference victory over Harriton.
Upper Moreland received a spectacular outing from Camryn Jackson, but it wasn’t enough as the Golden Bears were not golden enough in a 31-28 conference loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh.  Jackson carried 13 times for 183 yards and scored 4, yes 4, touchdowns.  Jackson scored on runs of 51, 26, 27, and 64 yards.  His 64-yard score gave UM a 28-24 lead, but the Bears failed to close out the victory.
Prediction:
Upper Darby Royals 27 - Upper Moreland Bears 24

 

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