(PW photos courtesy of Michael Rice Photography & Springfield Twp & CB West, UM
photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography, Pennridge/Neshaminy courtesy of
Tracy Valko)
Football Forecast – Volume 7
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League American Conference championship may well be decided this week as 3-time defending conference champion Plymouth Whitemarsh will host underdog Springfield.
Both the 6A Colonials (5-2, 2-0) & the 4A Spartans (6-1, 2-0) are the only remaining SOL American Conference unbeatens this season.
The game will be played @ Plymouth Whitemarsh under the ‘Thursday Night Lights’.
Plymouth Whitemash ‘Snapshot’
****** The Colonials have scored an average of 34.6 points per game and has allowed 15.7 points per game. ******
****** Plymouth Whitemarsh has defeated Upper Merion (49-14), Interboro (51-6), Penn Wood (42-15), Hatboro Horsham (38-0) & Wissahickon (37-34). The Colonials have lost games to Wilson West Lawn (21-7) & Manheim Township (20-18). ******
Springfield ‘Snapshot’
******The Spartans have scored an average of 37.7 points per game and has allowed an average of 11.3 points per game. ******
****** Springfield has defeated Kensington (41-0), New Hope-Solebury (54-0), Elizabethtown Area (24-21), Lower Moreland (35-0), Upper Moreland (41-17) & Hatboro Horsham (42-7). The Spartans lone loss came in the first game of the season against Pope John Paul II, 34-27.
Plymouth Whitemarsh & Springfield showcase 2 of the most explosive players in all of the Suburban One League in running backs Everett Baker & CJ Johnson.
Below is just a small sample of the eye-popping numbers that Baker & Johnson have registered this 2024 season…
The Colonials feature Baker almost exclusively in the running game. Baker scored 5 rushing touchdowns in a win over Penn Wood and added a 4-touchdown rushing performance against Wissahickon.
Baker has had a stellar 2024 season. He has rushed for 774 yards on 88 carries (8.7 yards per carry) and has found paydirt 15 times. Baker also has 9 receptions for 84 yards (9.3 yards per reception).
The Spartans feature Johnson in both the running game and the passing game. Johnson scored 5 touchdowns against Hatboro Horsham – 2 rushing & 3 touchdown receptions and added a sensational outing against Upper Moreland rushing for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Johnson also has had a stellar 2024 season. He has rushed for 654 yards on 49 carries (13.3 yards per carry) and has found paydirt 13 times. Johnson also has 14 receptions for 282 yards (20.1 yards per catch) and has 5 receiving touchdowns.
Both Baker & Johnson had played critical roles in each of the Colonial and Spartan victories this season.
Baker & Johnson are two true scholastic football superheroes – one dressed in the Scarlet & Blue of PW – and the other dressed in the Blue & Steel of Springfield – and each playing super football.
But the dynamic duo of Baker & Johnson are surely not alone.
Plymouth Whitemarsh & Springfield will also showcase a pair of talented quarterbacks.
Colonial signal caller Caiden Leszczynski has completed 60 percent of his passes for 698 yards & 10 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 101 yards and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.
Spartan signal caller Jack McGuckin has completed 64 percent of his passes for 941 yard and 12 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 301 yards and has scored 5 rushing touchdowns.
The lucky fans inside the stadium at Plymouth Meeting tonight will surely get a terrific visual gridiron treat well in advance of Halloween.
Stay tuned.
The Road to SOL Championships
Central Bucks South (7-0, 4-0) should have the clearest road to a SOL National Conference title.
The conference unbeaten Titans host Abington (1-6, 0-4) this week and close out the season @ Neshaminy (5-2, 2-2) & will host Pennridge (4-3, 2-2).
South has already defeated its closest SOL National Conference competitors – Central Bucks West (5-2, 3-1) & North Penn (6-1, 3-1).
Upper Dublin (5-2, 4-0) is in the driver’s seat as the only unbeaten conference team in the SOL Continental Conference.
The Flying Cardinals defeated Quakertown (3-4, 3-1) last week on the final play of the game to take sole possession of first place in the conference.
Upper Dublin has conference games remaining with a home game against Cheltenham (2-5, 2-2) this week and @ Bensalem (3-4, 2-2) next week.
The Cardinals will then host Souderton (4-3, 3-1) the final week of the regular season in a key conference contest.
That result will determine if Upper Dublin could win the championship outright with a victory – or possibly share it with either Souderton/Quakertown – or both – with a loss.
In order for that scenario to take place, however, Upper Dublin, Souderton & Quakertown would all have to win out.
In addition to Upper Dublin needing to beat both Cheltenham & Bensalem * Souderton would need to beat both CR South (3-4, 2-2) and CR North (1-6, 1-3) * & Quakertown would have to defeat Harry S Truman (1-6, 0-4), CR South & Cheltenham.
Stay tuned.
Playoffs? We’re Still Talkin’ Playoffs???
Another week…and another step for teams to take in hopes of getting an invite to the postseason in District One.
In the 6A classification 16 teams out of the 30 teams in D-1 will qualify for the playoffs. And if the playoffs were to begin today – the following Suburban One League 6A teams would play in the postseason.
- Central Bucks South Titans (7-0) – ranked 1st
- North Penn Knights (6-1) – ranked 3rd
- Central Bucks West Bucks (5-2) – ranked 5th
- Neshaminy Redskins (5-2) – ranked 8th
- Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (5-2) – ranked 10th
- Pennridge Rams (4-3) – ranked 11th
- Souderton Indians (4-3) – ranked 12th
- Pennsbury Falcons (3-4) – ranked 16th
In the 5A classification 16 of the 27 teams in District One will qualify for the postseason. And if the playoffs were to begin this week – the following SOL 5A teams would advance to the playoffs.
- Upper Dublin Cardinals (5-2) – ranked 5th
- Upper Moreland Golden Bears (6-1) – ranked 7th
- Wissahickon Trojans (4-3) – ranked 15th
In the 4A classification 4 of the 8 teams in District One will qualify for the playoffs. And if the playoffs were to begin this week – the following SOL 4A team would advance to the playoffs.
- Springfield Spartans (6-1) – ranked 2nd
There are still three weeks left in the regular SOL season and a lot can still happen – and a lot will happen.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference
Thursday
CB East Patriots (2-3, 1-3) @ Neshaminy Redskins (5-2, 2-2)
Last Year:
Neshaminy 28 * CB East 27
Last Week:
Central Bucks East put an end to a 3-game losing streak with a 36-0 rout of Abington. Mike Price & Logan Simkiss scored rushing touchdowns for the Patriots, while Brady Wojnicki booted a pair of field goals. Joey Craig scored a defensive score with a ‘pick-6’. David Traber blocked a punt in the Ghost end zone and Liam Hoey recovered the ball a touchdown.
Neshaminy routed Pennridge, 38-3. Michael Eckhart scored on the game’s first play on a 70-yard run and fired touchdown passes to Colby Bracey & Jason Gilardi. Nahsir Moore & Jason Wilmont scored rushing touchdowns, while Kaden Nicastro kicked a field goal.
Prediction:
Neshaminy Redskins 28 * CB East Patriots 20
Pennsbury Falcons (3-4, 1-3) @ North Penn Knights (6-1, 3-1)
Last Year:
North Penn 24 * Pennsbury 21
Last Week:
Pennsbury lost for the second week in a row as the Falcons suffered a 27-6 conference loss to Central Bucks West. Pennsbury averted a shutout in the fourth period as Jordan Brensinger scored on a 5-yard touchdown run.
North Penn lost for the first time all season as the Knights fell to unbeaten Central Bucks South, 14-6. North Penn entered the game scoring over 34 points a game but could manage just 120 yards of total offense against a punishing CB South defense. Knight placekicker Ryan Bocklet accounted for all the scoring with a pair of field goals – one from 21 yards and the other from 38 yards.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 21 * Pennsbury Falcons 17
Abington Ghosts (1-6, 0-4) @ CB South Titans (7-0, 4-0)
Last Year:
CB South 42 * Abington 0
Last Week:
Abington continued its downward spiral in a 36-0 loss to Central Bucks East. It was the 5th consecutive setback for the Ghosts. Abington has been outscored 158-6 by four SOL National Conference opponents this season.
Central Bucks South remained unbeaten with a key 14-6 conference victory over previously unbeaten North Penn. The defense stole the show for the Titans, holding an explosive Knight offense to just 10 yards rushing and 120 yards of total offense. Owen Pinkerton scored on a 9-yard run, while Braylen Cape scored on a 5-yard run.
Prediction:
CB South Titans 49 * Abington Ghosts 8
*****Saturday*****
CB West Bucks (5-2, 3-1) @ Pennridge Rams (4-3, 2-2)
Last Year:
Central Bucks West 28 * Pennridge 0
Last Week:
Central Bucks West remained in the contention for a conference title with a convincing 27-6 victory over Pennsbury. Ryan Clemens scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass and kicked a field goal. Noah Miller threw the TD pass to Clemens and fired a scoring pass to Gavin Todd. Miller added a 4-yard touchdown run.
Pennridge lost a key conference game as the Rams were defeated by Neshaminy, 38-3. A Luis Nunez 21-yard field goal closed the early Redskin advantage to 10-3, however, PHS was outscored 28-0 the remainder of the game.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 31 * Pennridge Rams 14
SOLContinental Conference
Thursday
Cheltenham Panthers (2-5, 2-2) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (5-2, 4-0)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Cheltenham put on an impressive offensive and defensive display as the Panthers clawed Council Rock North, 48-0. Jared Higgenbotham, Shamar Barksdale & Pharoah Brooks all scored rushing touchdowns for the winners, while Kendall Jackson threw a touchdown pass to Ahsaiah Upchurch. Sean Alston had a ‘pick-6’ for a score, and the Panthers blocked a punt in the end zone and recovered for a defensive score.
Upper Dublin remained the only unbeaten SOL Continental Conference team as the Flying Cardinals soared to a 37-34 victory over Quakertown by scoring on the final play of the game. Kevin Etkin tossed the game winner to Eric Berman to provide UD with the key win. Berman caught 3 touchdown passes from Etkin, while Ryan O’Sullivan caught a fourth scoring pass from Etkin. Logan Fitzmaurice had a 74-yard ‘pick-6’ to highlight the defense.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 31 * Cheltenham Panthers 20
Council Rock South Hawks (3-4, 2-2) @ Souderton Indians (4-3, 3-1)
Last Year:
Souderton 7 * Council Rock South 0
Last Week:
Council Rock South led 20-0 at halftime and cruised to a 33-8 conference victory over Truman. Gavin Lacey scored 2 touchdowns for the Golden Hawks & Patrick Malone also scored a rushing touchdown for the winners. Jake Maurer had a touchdown catch, while Michael Milewski returned a fumble for a touchdown for Rock South.
Souderton raced out to a 37-0 halftime lead and routed Bensalem, 44-13. Caleb Moyer, Elijah Hampton, Houston Marshall & JoJo Sudi all scored rushing touchdowns for the Indians. Ben Walsh fired a pair of touchdown passes – one to Hampton and the other to Mike McCormick.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 35 * Council Rock South Hawks 13
Harry S Truman Tigers (1-6, 0-4) @ Quakertown Panthers (3-4, 3-1)
Last Year:
Quakertown 49 * Truman 8
Last Week:
Truman lost for the 6th straight week as the Tigers were tamed by Council Rock South, 33-8. Truman had opened the season with a 42-0 non-league victory over Kensington.
Quakertown has played its share of thrillers this year, however, the Panthers were on the losing side of this one as Upper Dublin captured a key 37-34 conference victory in ‘walk-off’ fashion. Q-town had defeated Souderton in ‘walk-off’ fashion two weeks ago. Brady Martin highlighted the offense with 3 touchdown passes – 2 to Aiden Burgy. Martin & Kyle Roesner had rushing touchdowns for the Black Cats.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 49 * Truman Tigers 14
Council Rock North Indians (1-6, 1-3) @ Bensalem Owls (3-4, 1-3)
Last Year:
Council Rock North 20 * Bensalem 14
Last Week:
Council Rock North suffered a ‘mercy-rule’ defeat as the Indians were shutout in a conference game by Cheltenham, 48-0.
Bensalem could not follow its Homecoming Week victory over CR South as the Owls were ‘mercy-ruled’ by Souderton, 44-13. The touchdown makers for Bensalem were Evan Varallo and Aidan Mayfield.
Prediction:
Bensalem Owls 35 * Council Rock North Indians 14
SOL American Conference
Thursday
Springfield Spartans (6-1, 2-0) @ PW Colonials (5-2, 2-0)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 35 * Springfield 0
Last Week:
Springfield remained unbeaten in conference play with a ‘no-doubt-about-it’ 42-7 victory over Hatboro Horsham. CJ Johnson scored 5 touchdowns for the Spartans. Jack McGuckin fired 3 touchdown passes and rushed for a score.
Plymouth Whitemarsh remained unbeaten in conference play with a 37-34 victory over Wissahickon. Everett Baker scored 4 touchdowns for the Colonials. Caiden Leszczynski scored for the Colonials, while Max Peterson booted a field goal for what proved to be the game winner.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 35 * Springfield Spartans 27
Wissahickon Trojans (4-3, 0-2) @ Upper Moreland Bears (6-1, 1-1)
Last Year:
Wissahickon 28 * Upper Moreland 20
Last Week:
Wissahickon lost a conference shootout with Plymouth Whitemarsh, 37-34. Nolan Pounds fueled the Trojan offense with four touchdown passes – 2 to Quentin West – and 2 to Xavier Johnson.
Upper Moreland rebounded big time from its 41-17 loss to Springfield last week with a 42-7 conference victory over William Tennent. Justin Valentin, Aidan Tuffy, Elijah Davis & Danny Lewis all scored rushing touchdowns for the Golden Bears. Alex Foley threw a touchdown pass to Jamir Williams, while Larry Hughes highlighted the defense with a ‘pick-6’ for a score.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 34 * Upper Moreland Bears 31
Hatboro Horsham Hatters (2-5, 0-2) @ William Tennent Panthers (3-4, 1-1)
Last Year:
William Tennent 24 * Hatboro Horsham 6
Last Week:
Hatboro Horsham remained winless in the SOL American Conference as the Hatters were topped by Springfield, 42-7. Hatboro Horsham has been outscored 80-7 in its 2 conference games that also included a 38-0 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh.
William Tennent had its two-game winning streak snapped big time in a 42-7 conference loss to Upper Moreland. The score for the Panthers came in the fourth period on a 25-yard touchdown run by Kyle Flack.
Prediction:
William Tennent Panthers 21 *Hatboro Horsham 17
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