Photo courtesy of Geanine Jamison Photography: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p631779329
Football Forecast – 12B
By Scott Huff
And now there are two.
The Suburban One League began its PIAA District One playoff odyssey with 11 teams.
And now with both Upper Dublin and Central Bucks West advancing to the 5-A & 6-A district finals - the SOL is left with a pair of elite teams competing for that coveted district championship.
Fly Cardinals Fly …on the road to Victory
No. 1 Upper Dublin registered a dominating defensive performance as the Flying Cardinals soared to an impressive 30-0 PIAA District One 5-A semifinal victory over No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh.
PW had entered the game with a prolific offense that had scored an average of 39 points per game. But that potent Colonial offense was stymied all night by a swarming Cardinal defense.
The Upper Dublin defense held the PW offense to just 27 total yards of offense – 23 rushing yards and only 4 yards passing. Plus, the frustrated Colonial offense could generate just 3 first downs and punted 8 times.
The mighty Cardinal defense not only created 3 costly PW turnovers, but 2 of those Colonial turnovers resulted directly in UD touchdowns in the fourth period.
In that final period, Griffin Pensabene scored on a 36-yard interception return for a score, while Chris Kohlbrenner scored on a 10-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
In the three 2022 PIAA District One 5-A playoff games to date, the stingy Flying Cardinal defense has three shutouts in wins over no. 16 Academy Park (35-0), No. 8 Great Valley (35-), & No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh (30-0).
The Upper Dublin offense did its fair share to contribute to the win as Shyne Roberts scored on a 39-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, and DJ Cerisier scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Colin O’Sullivan in the fourth period.
O’Sullivan completed 13 passes for 98 yards and that score while Nyfise McIntyre rushed for a game-high 76 yards on 18 carries.
Cardinal placekicker Austin Pendleton booted a 28-yard field goal and added 3 extra points.
The victory sends Upper Dublin to the PIAA District One 5-A championship game against No. 3 West Chester Rustin. The Golden Knights advanced to the title game with a thrilling 28-27 semifinal overtime win over No. 2 Strath Haven.
Will those Flying Cardinals continue to fly to a district championship?
Count on it!
District One Trivia: When was the last time that a double-digit seed played for a PIAA District One 6-A championship?
Do the Bucks stop here?
No. 11 Central Bucks West continued its amazing run through the PIAA District One 6-A playoffs with a gutsy 14-13 semifinal victory over No. 2 Perkiomen Valley.
The Bucks opened the scoring as defensive lineman Jack Williams lived a lineman’s dream as he intercepted a pass and rambled 27-yards for the game’s first touchdown. Ryan Clemens added the first of two critical extra points.
CB West fell behind 13-7 at the close of the first half – and much like the Bucks quarterfinal victory over North Penn – CB West rallied in the second half to secure the victory.
A third period scoring drive – fueled by the running of Vinny Cherubini & Eli Boehm – culminated on a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Ganz Cooper. Clemens again converted on the PAT to account for the margin of victory.
It was the Bucks’ defense – however – that proved to be the real difference in the game.
CB West limited the strong Perkiomen Valley offense to a meager 129 yards of total offense. The Bucks forced 8 Viking punts on a brutally cold and snowy night in Graterford.
The victory propels the Bucks into a PIAA District One 6-A title game against No. 1 seed – and unbeaten – Garnet Valley. The Jaguars defeated No.12 Downingtown East 28-17 to advance to the championship game.
Do the Bucks stop here??
Central Bucks West opened the season with a more-than-competitive 14-7 non-league loss to Garnet Valley. The Bucks actually led 7-6 going into the fourth period but failed to secure the victory.
The Jaguars eliminated the Black & Gold 41-13 last season in the 6-A quarterfinals. Garnet Valley went on to win the 6-A championship with a 54-15 victory over Coatesville.
Do the Bucks stop here???
Don’t count on it!
Answer to District One Trivia: Garnet Valley was a No. 10 seed in 2016 and played in the district final against top seeded North Penn. The Jags lost that game to the Knights, 48-38.
Exit Door
No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-3) was shown the exit door in the PIAA District One 5-A semifinal loss to No. 1 Upper Dublin. The Colonials entered that semifinal contest with an impressive 9-game winning streak.
Plymouth Whitemarsh won the Suburban One League American Conference championship as the Colonials marched through the conference with an unbeaten record.
Plymouth Whitemarsh cruised to SOL American Conference wins over Cheltenham (37-6), William Tennent (57-7), Springfield-Montco (42-13), Wissahickon (56-6), and Upper Moreland (56-20).
All the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed – and a very successful Plymouth Whitemarsh football season is in the history books.
And the beat goes on…
PIAA District One 5-A Finals
Friday November 25, 2022
No. 3 WC Rustin Golden Knights (11-1) @ No. 1 Upper Dublin Cardinals (13-0)
Regular Season Resume:
West Chester Rustin has defeated WC Henderson (34-0), WC East (35-12), Chichester (28-7), Coatesville (2-0 forfeit), Oxford (35-27), Sun Valley. (42-14), Great Valley (32-0). & Unionville (42-7). The Golden Knights lost its only regular season game to Kennett (24-14).
Playoff Resume:
West Chester Rustin defeated No. 14 Radnor 41-14 in the opening round of the playoffs and followed with 31-7 quarterfinal victory over No. 6 Kennett. The Golden Knights defeated No. 2 Strath Haven 28-27 in overtime in the semifinals.
Season Resume:
Upper Dublin has defeated Kennett (37-13), Central Bucks West (35-7), North Penn (32-28), Bensalem (33-7), Wissahickon (47-0), Council Rock North (41-13), Council Rock South (16-0), Harry S Truman (44-14), Souderton (34-3) & Quakertown (38-8).
Playoff Resume:
Upper Dublin defeated No. 16 Academy Park 35-0 in the opening round of the playoffs and followed with a 35-0 victory over No. 8 Great Valley in the quarterfinals. The Flying Cardinals defeated No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh 30-0 in the district semifinals.
Offensive/Defensive Scoring:
West Chester Rustin has scored an average of 30.2 points per game and has allowed an average of 11.6 points per game. A winning margin of 18.6 points per game.
Upper Dublin has scored an average of 34.8 points per game and has allowed an average of 7.2 points per game. A winning margin of 27.6 points per game.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the game between Upper Dublin & West Chester Rustin will play the winner of the game between Imhotep (8-2) and Whitehall (8-5). Imhotep defeated Roman Catholic (8-3) 14-6 last week, while Whitehall defeated Del-Val (7-6), 34-13.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 31 – West Chester Rustin Golden Knights 13
PIAA District One 6-A Finals
Friday/November 25, 2022
No. 11 Central Bucks West Bucks (9-4) @ No. 1 Garnet Valley Jaguars (12-0)
Regular Season Resume:
Central Bucks West has defeated Quakertown (56-14), North Penn (35-14), Abington (27-0), Neshaminy (22-0), Pennridge (27-8), & Central Bucks East (21-14). The Bucks have lost to Garnet Valley (14-7), Upper Dublin (35-7), Pennsbury (26-21) & Central Bucks South (21-14).
Playoff Resume:
Central Bucks West defeated No. 6 Central Bucks East 42-26 in the opening round of the playoffs and followed with a 44-35 win over No. 14 North Penn in the district quarterfinals. The Bucks defeated No. 2 Perkiomen Valley 14-13 in the district semifinals.
Season Resume:
Garnet Valley has defeated Central Bucks West (14-7), Upper Darby (55-20), Radnor (49-0), Ridley (35-7), Springfield-Delco (20-7), Haverford (25-7), Penncrest (47-7), Lower Merion (35-7) & Conestoga (49-3).
Playoff Resume:
Garnet Valley defeated No.16 Quakertown 63-14 in the opening round of the playoffs and followed with a 30-27 overtime victory over No. 8 Spring-Ford in the quarterfinals. The Jaguars defeated No. 12 Downingtown East in the semifinals, 28-17.
Offensive/Defensive Scoring:
Central Bucks West has scored an average of 25.9points per game and has allowed an average of 17.3 points per game. A winning margin of 12.6 points per game.
Garnet Valley has scored an average of 37.5 points per game and has allowed an average of 12.5 points per game. A winning margin of 25.0 points per game.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the game between Central Bucks West & Garnet Valley will play the winner of the game between St. Joe Prep (9-1) & Parkland (9-4). St. Joe Prep defeated Northeast (8-3), 49-6 - while Parkland defeated Bethlehem Freedom (10-3), 35-10.
Prediction:
***Upset Special***
Central Bucks West Bucks 20 – Garnet Valley Jaguars 14
*****Happy Thanksgiving*****
Pennridge Rams (2-8) @ Quakertown Panthers (5-6)
Thanksgiving Morning * 10:15 a.m.
Pennridge & Quakertown will renew its rivalry for the 93rd time as the Rams travel to iconic Alumni Field to challenge to Panthers.
- Pennridge/Sell Perk holds a commanding 58-29-5 advantage over Q-town in the series.
- Quakertown won the contest last season @ Helman Field with a 21-0 victory over the Rams.
- Pennridge had won the previous 5 games prior to the loss a year ago.
- Q-town head coach George Banas is 3-9 against the Rams on Thanksgiving morning. This will be the first Turkey Day game for Pennridge head coach Chuck Burgy.
- Pennridge enters the game on a 6-game losing streak with its last win coming way back on September 16th. Q-town enters the game on a 2-game losing streak with its last win coming on October 21st.
- Interesting fact – MaxPreps ranks [ 2-8 * Pennridge] ahead of [5-6 * Quakertown] as the Rams are ranked 152nd in the state and the Panthers are ranked 153rd in the state. The MaxPreps data base ranks teams according to the number of wins and quality of schedule – no coaches poll – no sportswriters poll.
Pennridge/Quakertown Trivia: What was the highest scoring game in Ram/Panther Thanksgiving history? What was the lowest scoring game in the Turkey Day series?
Season Resume:
Pennridge has defeated Bensalem (35-0) & Abington (34-0). The Rams have lost games to Downingtown East (30-6), Souderton (24-21), Central Bucks East (16-13 in double overtime), Neshaminy (7-6), Pennsbury (27-24), Central Bucks West (27-8), North Penn (42-6), & Central Bucks South (32-23).
Quakertown has defeated Southern Lehigh (42-28), Council Rock South (16-0), Bensalem (37-0), Council Rock North (49-19), & Harry S Truman (35-18). The Panthers have lost games to North Penn (49-7), Central Bucks West (56-14), Plymouth Whitemarsh (49-0), Souderton (34-20), Upper Dublin (38-8), & Garnet Valley (63-14).
Common Opponents:
Pennridge and Quakertown have played four common opponents. The Rams and Panthers have both defeated Bensalem easily, while both the Rams and Panthers have both lost games to North Penn, Central Bucks West, and Souderton.
See above for scores.
Offensive/Defensive Scoring:
Pennridge has scored an average of 17.6 points per game and has allowed an average of 20.5 points per game. A losing margin of 2.9 points per game.
Quakertown has scored an average of 22.0 points per game and has allowed an average of 32.2 points per game. A losing average of 10.2 points per game.
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 20 – Quakertown Panthers 17
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
Answer to Pennridge/Q-town Trivia: Quakertown defeated Pennridge 52-45 in six overtimes in 2000 for a total of 97 points. A close second came when Quakertown defeated Pennridge 66-28 in 1970 for a total of 94 points. There were 3 games in the series that were tied 0-0 – 1942, 1945, & 1946.
Suburban One Sports.com
Great Eight
Last Week in [XXXX]
1. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (13-0) --- [1]
2. Central Bucks West Bucks (9-4) --- [2]
3. Pennsbury Falcons (9-2) --- [3]
4. Central Bucks East Patriots (8-3) --- [4]
5. Souderton Indians (9-3) --- [5]
6. North Penn Knights (6-6) --- [6]
7. Central Bucks South Titans (7-4) --- [7]
8. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (10-3) --- [8]
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