SOL Football Forecast (10-5-22)

(Photo provided courtesy of David Tucker. For a gallery of the Springfield Twp/Wissahickon game, click on the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p479781354

Football Forecast – 6

By Scott Huff

High school football reports should only be read about on the sports page.

Not on the front page.

High school football highlights should only be seen on WFMZ TV 69-Sports - The Big Ticket.

Not shown as a featured news story on Philadelphia TV stations like 6abc’s - Action News.

The Plymouth Whitemarsh-Cheltenham football game was postponed Friday night when the Plymouth Whitemarsh School District received disturbing information about a potential problem at the stadium.

Contained in a press release was the following on why the game was postponed:

• “in an abundance of caution”
• “a potential threat of harm”
• “the safety and wellness of our students and staff are of paramount importance”

Really????

At a high school football game – at a Suburban One League high school football game – this is flat out crazy. 

High school kids only get to experience this cherished time in their life for a short while.  The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat should be the only concern of both the players on the field along with the parents and fans in the stands.

The thought of being physically harmed and being safe at a high school football stadium should never cross anyone’s mind.

But unfortunately, these are the insane times we live in.

Let’s not get used to it.

P.S. Plymouth Whitemarsh and Cheltenham did get to play its SOL American Conference game which was played on a bitterly cold, blustery, and rainy Sunday afternoon.

There were no Friday night lights, but the Colonials still enjoyed (?) the day as PW routed Cheltenham, 37-6.

Close Only Counts in Horseshoes
Wissahickon is the only Suburban One League football team that is winless after the first six weeks of the season.

The Trojans (0-6) came close last week in a 21-14 loss in the SOL American Conference opener against Springfield-Montco (4-1).  And Wissahickon was competitive in a non-conference loss to Council Rock North, 21-14, and in a non-league loss to Methacton (18-8).

The Blue & Gold is playing its football these days under new head coach Rory Graver.  And the Graver resume is an exceptional one, and if things follow form, the Trojan football program is surely going to move in the right direction.

Graver came to Wissahickon after eight seasons as head coach of Pope John Paul II. 

• The first two season under Graver the Golden Panthers were a dismal 1-20.
• In 2017 & 2018 Pope John Paul II made the district playoffs.
• In 2019 the Golden Panthers were crowned Class AAA District champions.
• In his final year as head coach of PJP II in 2021 the Golden Panthers went 7-3.
• In his eight-year stint as head coach @ PJP II – even after that dreadful 1-20 start - Graver left the program with a record of 40-40 going 39-20 the final six years.
• P.S. – And Graver surely did not leave the cupboard bare at Pope John Paul II as the Golden Panthers are an unbeaten 6-0 in 2022.

The road to victory is going to be a treacherous one for Wissahickon this season as the Trojans must play SOL American Conference contenders Upper Moreland, Plymouth Whitemarsh, and Cheltenham in three of the final four weeks.

The best shot at victory may come on October 14, 2022, when Wissahickon will play host to William Tennent.  The Panthers (1-4) have just a single win this season defeating Hatboro Horsham, 30-18.

Stay tuned.

Wissahickon Football Trivia- Prior to the hiring of Rory Graver, Wissahickon was a combined 16-58 over the last 7 seasons - under four different coaches – and with a dismal winning percentage of .216.  The Trojans, though, had three consecutive winning seasons in 2011, 2012, & 2013 – who was the coach and what was his record over those three seasons?

Souderton Duo Getting Their Kicks

Souderton has a wealth of talent in the kicking game, and head coach Ed Gallagher has used his two talented kickers to perfection this 2022 season.

Ty Quintos and Rylan Zuk are both excellent in the kicking game and has given the Indians a major leg up on SOL opponents.

Quintos – by my possibly inaccurate account – has already booted eight field goals in the first six Big Red games.  The dynamic duo of Zuk and Quintos has been a perfect 21 of 21 on extra points.

Quintos handles the kickoff duties and the long-range field goals.  Zuk tackles all the punting duties for the Big Red and has been a huge asset at changing field position.

The kicking game has gained tremendously in importance at the high school level in recent years, and Souderton has an embarrassment of riches with a pair of elite kickers to depend on.

As the Indians make their run through the SOL Continental Conference, both Quintos and Zuk could provide the difference between the Big Red being pretenders or contenders for a conference championship.

Count on the latter.

Stay tuned.

Answer to the Wissahickon Football Trivia – The Trojan coach over that three-year winning time span was Jeff Cappa.  Cappa was 7-3 (2011), 8-4 (2012), and 6-4 (2013) for a combined record of 21-11 and a winning percentage of .656!

Sneak Peek @ District One Playoff Rankings

AAAAAA

16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs

16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs

4 Teams Qualify for Playoffs

 Suburban One League
National Conference
Friday/October 7, 2022

North Penn Knights (3-3, 2-1) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (5-1, 2-1)
Last Week:
North Penn evened its overall record with a 35-21 conference victory over Central Bucks South.  Dave Dawes paced the rushing attack scoring on 3 touchdown runs, while Yazeed Haynes caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Zeltt.  Haynes scored on a 93-yard kickoff return.
Central Bucks East suffered its first loss of the season as the Patriots were defeated by Pennsbury, 37-22.  Declan Kelly fired a 57-yard touchdown pass to Matt Labouliere, while Jack Donnelly fired a 29-yard scoring pass to Ethan Shine. Shine scored a rushing touchdown to close out the scoring.
Prediction: North Penn Knights 35 – Central Bucks East Patriots 31

Neshaminy Redskins (4-2, 2-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (3-3, 2-1)
Last Week:
Neshaminy scored the game winning touchdown in the final quarter to eke out a 7-6 conference victory over Pennridge.  The winning score came on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Colin Baker to Travis Lavelah.  Nicastro Kaden split the uprights on the PAT to provide the margin of victory.
Central Bucks West evened its overall record with a 27-0 conference victory over Abington.  Eli Boehm scored a pair of rushing touchdowns for the Bucks, while Ganz Cooper threw a touchdown pass to Connor McFadden and scored a rushing touchdown.
Prediction: Central Bucks West Bucks 20 - Neshaminy Redskins 14

Central Bucks South Titans (3-3, 0-3) @ Abington Ghosts (2-4, 0-3)
Last Week:
Central Bucks South lost for the third straight week as the Titans were defeated by North Penn, 35-21.  CB South led 7-0 early on the first of two touchdown runs by Corey Moore.  Quarterback Brett Szarko fired a 49-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Donnelly.
Abington lost for the third straight week as the Ghosts were shut out by Central Bucks West, 27-0.  Abington has been outscored 87-0 in the 3-game SOL National Conference losing streak.
Prediction: Central Bucks South Titans 27 – Abington Ghosts 13

Saturday/October 8, 2022

@ Harry S Truman

Pennridge Rams (2-4, 1-2) vs. Pennsbury Falcons (5-1, 3-0)
Last Week:
Pennridge failed to score any points on offense as the Rams fell to visiting Neshaminy, 7-6.  The lone score of the game for Pennridge came on a 60-yard return of an interception for a touchdown by Chase Marshall.  The missed PAT would in the end cost the Rams the ballgame.
Pennsbury won for the fifth straight week as the Falcons soared to a 37-22 conference victory over previously unbeaten Central Bucks East.  Galamama Mulbah once again registered impressive numbers as he rushed for 203 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.  Nate Beighley and Shane McGurrin scored rushing touchdowns for the winners.
Prediction: Pennsbury Falcons 24 – Pennridge Rams 7

Suburban One League

Continental Conference

Friday/October 7, 2022

Quakertown Panthers (2-4, 1-1) @ Bensalem Owls (2-4, 1-2)
Last Week:
Quakertown lost its first conference game of the season as the Panthers lost the 309 Bowl to Souderton, 34-20.  Vince Micucci fired a pair of touchdown passes – one to Max Morris of 28 yards – and the other to John Eatherton of 21 yards.  Eatherton also scored a rushing touchdown and scored on a 2-point conversion.
Bensalem led 7-0 going into the fourth period but failed to hold the lead as the Owls dropped a tough 8-7 conference loss to Harry S Truman.  Sanders Hollis fired a 28-yard touchdown pass to Zyan Green to account for the Bensalem points.
Prediction: Quakertown Panthers 24 – Bensalem Owls 14

Council Rock South Golden Hawks (3-3, 1-1) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (6-0, 2-0)
Last Week:
Council Rock South evened its overall record for the season with a 46-0 non-league victory over Hatboro Horsham.  The Golden Hawks led 24-0 at the close of the first half and collected the shutout and the mercy-rule victory in the second half.
Upper Dublin remained unbeaten for the season with a 41-13 conference victory over Council Rock North.  Dominick Paone scored 2 touchdowns for the Flying Cardinals, while Nyfise McIntyre also scored 2 touchdowns for the winners.  Colin O’Sullivan threw a touchdown pass to DJ Cerisier.
Prediction: Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 38 – Council Rock South Hawks 14

Council Rock North Indians (1-5, 0-3) @ Harry S Truman Tigers (2-4, 1-2)
Last Week:
Council Rock North lost for the fifth consecutive week as the Indians suffered a 41-13 conference loss to Upper Dublin.  Julian Matera fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to William Scibona, while Jackson Farley scored on a 16-yard run.
Harry S Truman rallied in the fourth quarter to collect an 8-7 conference victory over Bensalem.  The winning score came on a 13-yard run by quarterback Rondell Bradley and Bradley found Jayden Sangmeister for the game winning 2-point conversion.
Prediction: Harry S Truman Tigers 21 – Council Rock North Indians 13

Suburban One League
American Conference
Friday/October 7, 2022

Springfield Spartans (4-1, 1-0) @ Cheltenham Panthers (3-3, 0-1)
Last Week:
Springfield opened the SOL American Conference season with a 21-14 victory over Wissahickon.  Dylan McKenzie rushed for 134 yards and scored 2 touchdowns for the Spartans, while Max Sanchez scored a rushing touchdown.
Cheltenham opened the SOL American Conference season with a 37-6 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh.  The game was played through a driving rainstorm.  The Panthers were tied 0-0 at the end of the first period, trailed by just 9-0 at halftime, but could not handle the Colonials in the second half.
Prediction: Cheltenham Panthers 27 – Springfield Spartans 13

Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (4-2, 1-0) @ William Tennent Panthers (1-4, 0-1)
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh opened the SOL American Conference season with a resounding 37-6 victory over Cheltenham.  The game was played through a driving rainstorm.  The Colonials blew open a competitive game in the second half outscoring the Panthers 28-0 in the final two periods.
William Tennent played Upper Moreland to a 14-14 deadlock in the second half, but the Panthers were outscored 28-0 in the first half in a 42-14 loss to the Golden Bears.  It was the conference opener for both teams.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 45 – William Tennent Panthers 7

Upper Moreland Golden Bears (5-1, 1-0) @ Wissahickon Trojans (0-6, 0-1)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland captured its third straight victory as the Golden Bears opened conference play with a 42-14 victory over William Tennent.  Paul Myers and Haleem Muhammad scored touchdowns on fumble returns.  Stephen Broderick, Isaiah Lyles, and Hasson Johnson also scored for the winners.
Wissahickon remained winless for the season as the Trojans were competitive in a 21-14 conference loss to Springfield.  Julian Perkins and Ronnie Weldon scored touchdowns for the Trojans.
Prediction: Upper Moreland Golden Bears 38 – Wissahickon Trojans 14

Suburban One League

Non-League Game
Friday/October 7, 2022

Warwick Warriors (2-4) @ Souderton Indians (5-1)
Last Week:
Warwick lost big last week to Exeter, 47-7.  The Warriors lost big to Manheim Central two weeks ago, 47-13.
Souderton collected the 309 Bowl trophy as the Indians defeated Quakertown, 34-20.  Jared Zimmerman passed for 174 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for a score.  Danny Dyches, Chris Kerns, and Logan Wrubel scored rushing touchdowns for the Indians.  Ty Qunitos booted field goals of 36 & 33 yards for the winners.
Prediction: Souderton Indians 31 – Warwick Warriors 17

Suburban One Sports
Super Seven
Last Week in [xxxxx]
1. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (6-0) --- [1]
2. Pennsbury Falcons (5-1) --- [3]
3. Central Bucks East Patriots (5-1) --- [2]
4. Souderton Indians (5-1) --- [4]
5. Neshaminy Redskins (4-2) --- [6]
6. Central Bucks West Bucks (3-3) --- [NR]
7. North Penn Knights (3-3) --- [NR]
Others under consideration:  Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-2), Upper Moreland (5-1), & Central Bucks South (3-3).

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