By Scott Huff
Championship Week in the SOL American Conference?
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-1, 2-0) and Cheltenham (3-3, 2-0) are the two remaining teams that are unbeaten in SOL American Conference play. And the host Colonials and visiting Panthers will collide this week under the Friday Night Lights in Plymouth Meeting.
The Plymouth Whitemarsh 2021 resume to date has earned the Colonials a current No. 7 ranking in the PIAA District One 5A playoffs.
The Cheltenham 2021 resume to date has earned the Panthers a current No. 13 ranking in the same PIAA District One 5A playoffs.
Plymouth Whitemarsh opened the season with a 35-27 loss to the current No. 12 ranked 6A team – Central Bucks South.
The Colonials have won four straight games with impressive victories over Methacton (42-14), Norristown (49-8), New Hope-Solebury (55-0), and Springfield (35-14). PW had a bye last week.
Cheltenham opened the season with a challenging non-league schedule. The Panthers lost the first three games of the season against Abington (19-7), Springside Chestnut Hill (38-14), and Archbishop Wood (49-0).
The Black Cats have won the last three games with impressive wins over Norristown (33-0), Upper Moreland (32-21), and William Tennent (36-24).
Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Springfield (Montco) to hand the No. 4 ranked District One 4A Spartans their only loss of the season.
Cheltenham defeated Upper Moreland to hand the No. 2 ranked District One 4A Golden Bears their only loss of the season.
The winner of this game is surely not guaranteed a conference championship.
But a victory in this game surely makes them a favorite to win at least a piece of the title.
Stay tuned.
Central Bucks Sweep……..
The Central Bucks school district must be proud of the performances of all three Central Bucks schools this season as CB West, CB East, and CB South all continued to play winning football.
CB West (5-1, 4-0) cleared a tough hurdle with a 28-24 SOL National Conference win over No. 14 ranked Pennridge (3-3, 2-2). The Bucks are currently the No. 8 ranked 6A team in District One.
The lone CBW loss came on opening night against No. 4 ranked Coatesville (5-1), by a margin of 35-14.
CB East (5-1, 4-0) exploded for a huge SOL National Conference win over winless Pennsbury (0-6, 0-4), 56-21. The Patriots are currently ranked tied for No. 6 in District One.
The lone East loss of the season came against Ridley (34-29) – the Green Raiders (5-1) are tied with CBE as the No. 6 ranked team in District One.
CB South (4-2, 2-2) exploded for a huge SOL National Conference win over Abington (1-5, 0-4), 42-14. The Titans are currently in the 16-team District One playoff field as the No. 12 ranked team.
The only losses for South this year came against district rivals – No. 8 ranked CB West (28-20) – and No. 6 ranked CB East (24-19).
The victories should keep right on coming this week as all three Central Bucks schools are on the road, but all three teams are prohibitive favorites to capture wins.
Central Bucks West won by forfeit over Hatboro-Horsham (due to a depleted roster) forfeited - Central Bucks East travels to Council Rock North (2-4) - and Central Bucks South travels to Council Rock South (1-5).
The good times should keep right on rolling along for the Bucks, Patriots, and Titans – at least for another week.
Stay tuned.
Bedesem Milestone
It has been an arduous climb to the 100-win total for Council Rock South head coach Vince Bedesem. Rock South (1-5) won its first game of the season – and Bedesem’s 100th for his fine head coaching career – in a 48-13 SOL Continental Conference victory over Hatboro Horsham.
Bedesem has been the head coach of the Golden Hawks since the program began back in 2002. And there was the 2010 CR South title to celebrate when the Hawks soared to a SOL National Conference championship and an overall record of 12-2.
However, the climb to the 100-win mountain has been a difficult one for Bedesem and the Golden Hawks the last few seasons.
In addition to the challenging 1-5 start this 2021 season – Rock South went 2-5 during the 2020 pandemic season – and the Hawks were 2-8 in 2019.
The last winning season for Bedesem and Rock South came in 2018 (6-5). The Golden Hawks had rattled off three successive winning seasons in 2013 (7-4), 2014 (6-4), and 2015 (6-4).
Bedesem – who played his scholastic football for Council Rock – had been an assistant coach at Council Rock before getting the head coaching job at CR South.
Good things eventually happen to good head coaches.
Congratulations to Council Rock South head coach Vince Bedesem and the CR South football program for his 100th victory.
Suburban One League PIAA District One
Playoff Snapshot
If the District One playoffs were to begin today…….
District One 6A Playoff Rankings
16 teams qualify
|
2. North Penn Knights |
6-0 |
940 |
156.667 |
|
3. Quakertown Panthers |
6-0 |
910 |
151.667 |
|
6. Central Bucks East Patriots |
5-1 |
850 |
141.667 |
|
8. Central Bucks West Bucks |
5-1 |
840 |
140.000 |
|
12. Central Bucks South Titans |
4-2 |
680 |
113.333 |
|
13. Bensalem Owls |
4-2 |
670 |
111.667 |
|
14. Pennridge Rams |
3-3 |
610 |
101.667 |
|
15 Souderton Big Red |
3-3 |
600 |
100.000 |
District One 5A Playoff Rankings
16 teams qualify
|
5. Upper Dublin Cardinals |
4-2 |
820 |
136.667 |
|
7. Plymouth Whitemarsh |
4-1 |
670 |
134.000 |
|
13 Cheltenham Panthers |
3-3 |
560 |
93.333 |
District One 4A Rankings
4 teams qualify
|
2. Upper Moreland Bears |
5-1 |
850 |
141.667 |
|
4. Springfield Spartans |
4-1 |
620 |
124.000 |
And the beat goes on…
SOL National/Continental Conference
Crossover Games
Thursday – 7 pm
Central Bucks South Titans (4-2, 2-2) @ Council Rock South Hawks (1-3)
Last Week:
Central Bucks South exploded for 42 points as the Titans defeated Abington 42-14. Brett Szarko completed 11 passes for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cole Maholtz rushed for a game-high 91 yards and scored 2 touchdowns for CB South, while Matt Joyce and Zak Fischer also scored rushing touchdowns for the Titans.
Council Rock South won its first game of the season with a 48-13 SOL Continental Conference game against winless Hatboro Horsham. Damon Culver carries 12 times for 114 yards and scored on TD runs of 2, 13, & 25 yards. John Fortunato (3 yds) and Daniel Eradi (13) also scored rushing touchdowns for the Hawks. Jake Zarnowsky scored on an 80-yard kickoff return.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 42 – Council Rock South Golden Hawks 13
Friday – 7pm
Neshaminy Redskins (1-5, 0-4) @ Quakertown Panthers (6-0, 4-0)
Last Week:
Neshaminy was competitive in the first half in its 42-21 SOL National Conference loss to unbeaten North Penn. The Skins trailed the Knights 21-14 at the close of the first half. Nunzio Zydzik fired 3 touchdown passes for Neshaminy. Colin Schuckert (30 yds). Dayvon Tinsley(27), and Nick Buchys (52) each caught TD passes. Nunzio completed 6 passes for 170 yards.
Quakertown won a critical SOL Conference game as the Panthers broke open a 14-14 tie in the third quarter to score 22 unanswered points in the fourth period in a 36-14 victory over Souderton. Will Steich completed 10 passes for 259 yards and fired 2 touchdown passes to Zach Fondl of 61 and 32 yards. Steich also scored 2 rushing touchdowns. Fondl caught 8 passes for 190 yards. Tyler Woodman carried 21 times for 141 yards and scored on a 9-yard touchdown run.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 21 – Neshaminy Redskins 17
Pennridge Rams (3-3, 2-2) @ Bensalem Owls (4-2, 3-1)
Last Week:
Pennridge lost a 28-24 heartbreaker to visiting Central Bucks West in a key SOL National Conference game. The Rams had 2 ballcarriers score touchdowns as Nate Mossbrook scored on a 77-yard run, while Brayden Landherr scored on a 3-yard run. Adam Mossbrook scored on a 15-yard pass from Xavier Dantzler. Sean Curry booted a 28-yard field goal.
Bensalem scored 47 points the week before against Truman in a win, but 6 points were all the Owls would need to defeat Council Rock North, 6-0. The lone score of the game for the Blue & White came on a 23-yard TD run by Josiah Leonard. Leonard would finish with 104 yards on 17 carries.
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 24 – Bensalem Owls 14
Abington Ghosts (1-5, 0-4) @ Souderton Big Red (3-3, 3-1)
Last Week:
Abington lost for the fifth straight week as the Ghosts were defeated by Central Bucks South, 42-14. Quarterback Johnny Dzielawa fired a pair of touchdown passes for Abington – one to Jonah Dalton and the other to Danny Moyihan.
Souderton lost its SOL Continental Conference showdown game with Quakertown, 36-14. The game was tied 14-14 at the of the third period before the Panthers took control of the game. Elijah Goods figured in both Big Red touchdowns. Goods fired a 19-yard TD pass to Daniel Dyches and also scored on a 2-yard run.
Prediction:
Souderton Big Red 20 – Abington Ghosts 14
North Penn Knights (6-0, 4-0) @ Harry S Truman Tigers (2-4, 1-3)
Last Week:
North Penn remained unbeaten as the Knights marched by Neshaminy by a score of 42-21. Ryan Zeltt had a terrific night completing 14 passes for 228 yards and 3 touchdowns. Zeltt fired TD passes to Levi Carroll (24 yds), Luke Cody (22), and Khalani Eaton (14). Easton rushed for a game-high 117 yards on 20 carries and scored on runs of 29 & 5 yards.
Harry S Truman lost for the second straight week as the Tigers were caged by Upper Dublin, 38-0. Truman was competitive in the first quarter and only trailed the defending PIAA 5A District One champions by a score of 7-0.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 49 – Harry S Truman Tigers 14
Central Bucks East Patriots (5-1, 4-0) @ CR North Indians (2-4, 1-3)
Last Week:
Central Bucks East exploded for 56 points as the Patriots remained unbeaten in the SOL National Conference with a 56-21 victory over winless Pennsbury. Pat Keller fired 4 touchdown passes for CBE as Jack Connelly, Matt Labouliere, Justin James, and Quinn Moody all caught TD passes. Moody, Ethan Shine, Tommy Day, and Declan Kelly all scored rushing touchdowns for the Patriots.
CR North played a great game defensively but could not generate any scoring offense in a 6-0 SOL Continental Conference loss to Bensalem. The game was tied 0-0 after three quarters. Gavin Papp was the leading ballcarrier for the Indians gaining a team-high 108 yards on 24 carries.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 38 – CR North Indians 14
SOL American Conference
Friday – 7 pm
Cheltenham Panthers (3-3, 2-0) @ PW Colonials (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week:
Cheltenham remained unbeaten in the Suburban One League American Conference as the Panthers rallied to defeat William Tennent, 36-24. Kam Wyatt caught 2 touchdown passes from quarterback TJ Taylor. Taylor, who also scored a rushing touchdown, fired 3 touchdown passes in the win.
Plymouth Whitemarsh had a bye. Two weeks ago, the Colonials remained unbeaten in the SOL American Conference as they defeated Springfield, 35-14.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 27 – Cheltenham Panthers 24
Upper Moreland Bears (5-1, 2-1) @ William Tennent Panthers (0-5, 0-2)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland rebounded from its first loss of the season to defeat New Hope-Solebury, 41-14, in a SOL American Conference contest.
William Tennent led 14-7 early in the first quarter and trailed by just 21-16 going into the final period, but the Panthers could get no closer in a 36-24 SOL American Conference contest against Cheltenham. Liam Gibson scored on a 16-yard pass from Tim Larson to highlight the offense.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 28 – William Tennent 20
Springfield Spartans(4-1, 2-1) @ New Hope-Solebury Lions (1-5, 0-3)
Last Week:
Springfield scored all of its points in the fourth period as the Spartans captured a 14-6 SOL American Conference victory over Wissahickon. Ben Cooney scored on a 1-yard run for the winners, while Dylan McKenzie scored on a 7-yard touchdown scamper.
New Hope-Solebury remained winless in the SOL American Conference as the Lions were defeated 41-14 by Upper Moreland.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 42 – New Hope-Solebury Lions 14
Non-League Game
Friday – 7 pm
Lower Moreland Lions (3-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (1-5)
Last Week:
Lower Moreland captured a 41-12 non-league victory over Vaux.
Wissahickon was tied 0-0 going into the fourth quarter in its game with Springfield. However, the Trojans were outscored 14-6 in the final period to absorb the SOL American Conference loss. The lone score for Wissahickon came on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Aiden DeFeo to Braheem Thomas.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 27 – Lower Moreland Lions 21
SOL American Conference
Saturday – 12 noon
Pennsbury Falcons (0-6, 0-4) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (4-2, 3-1)
Last Week:
Pennsbury remained winless for the season as the Falcons were defeated 56-21 in a SOL National Conference contest. The Falcons scored a pair of first half touchdowns and trailed 35-14 at the close of the first half.
Upper Dublin rebounded from a 2-game losing streak to whitewash Harry S Truman, 38-0, in a SOL Continental Conference game. Colin O’Sullivan fired 2 touchdown passes – one to Chris Kohlbrenner of 55 yards – and another to Noah Lee of 10 yards. O’Sullivan also scored on a 10-yard run. Nyfise McIntyre scored 2 touchdowns for the Cardinals on runs of 1 & 35 yards. Owen Carl kicked a field goal for the winners.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 42 – Pennsbury Falcons 13
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