(Photo courtesy of Tracy Valko: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1050704496
Football Forecast – 14
By Scott Huff
As legendary broadcaster Al Michaels has famously asked …” Do you believe in miracles?”
Central Bucks South football fans…hang in there…major upsets in sports do happen!
Consider:
- In 1980, the United States Olympic ice hockey team made up of college players went on to win the gold medal after defeating the 4-time defending Olympic gold medal champion Soviet Union team comprised of professional players, 4-3.
- In 2007, Appalachian State was a tremendous underdog to Michigan and shocked the 5thranked Wolverines, 34-32. The Mountaineers were such a huge longshot that Las Vegas did not post a betting line on the game.
- In 1969, the New York Jets were an 18-point dark horse against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Quarterback Joe Namath led the Jets to a stunning 16-7 victory.
- In 1985, Villanova University was an enormous underdog to Georgetown University in the NCAA basketball finals. The Wildcats shocked the college basketball world with a 66-64 win over the Hoyas.
- In 1965, Cassius Clay (later Muhamad Ali) was a colossal 7-1 longshot and shocked the entire world when he knocked out Sonny Liston.
And then there was always Rocky Balboa knocking out Apollo Creed in the movie Rocky II. I don’t really know what the betting line was in that one.
The District One Champion CB South Titans (13-1)have the almost impossible task of defeating District 12 powerhouse St. Joe Prep (11-1)in the PIAA 6A state semifinals.
In fact, if homegrown CB South were to defeat the nationally ranked handpicked Hawks – adjectives like inconceivable, unimaginable, unthinkable, implausible, incredible, and/or fantastic would surely be in all media headlines.
St. Joseph Prep is ranked No. 9 in the entire nation & overwhelmingly ranked No. 1 in the state of Pennsylvania, while Central Bucks South is unranked nationally & with its District One title moved to No. 10 in the state.
St. Joseph Prep is a private school that has no restrictions of the recruitment of players – and SJP does a tremendous job of recruiting in Philadelphia County & Montgomery County &Bucks County &Chester County &Delaware County & Lehigh County & Berks County & Lancaster County & really any of the other 67 counties in Pennsylvania.
And the Hawks recruit both in and out of state of Pennsylvania for elite high school football talent.
No boundaries – no restrictions.
Central Bucks South is a public school with strictly enforced regulations against the recruitment of any players outside the school district geographical boundaries – CB South draws its roster only from the 18976-zip code for the Warrington area.
Sound fair???
Don’t get me started!
And the beat goes on…
PIAA 6A State Semifinal Game
Central Bucks South Titans (13-1) vs. St. Joe Prep Hawks (11-1)
@ North Penn High School
Saturday @ 1 p.m.
Playoff Resume:
Central Bucks South won the District One title for the first time in school history as the Titans marched to a 27-7 victory over Downingtown West. The South defense forced five turnovers to secure the win that included a pair of interceptions by Danny Geis. Anthony Leonardi rushed for 164 yards on 16 carries and scored on runs of 79 & 16 yards to spark the offense. Corey Moore scored on a 1-yard run, while Owen Pinkerton scored on a 3-yard run. The Titans rushed for 286 yards on 49 attempts and completed the only pass it threw for 11 yards.CB South opened the District One playoffs with a 21-20 win over Coatesville - defeated Spring-Ford 35-19 in the district quarterfinal round – and defeated CB West 42-14 in the district semifinal round.
St. Joseph Prep advanced to the PIAA 6A state semifinals with a resounding 59-21 victory over District 11 champion Nazareth. The Hawks soared to a 45-14 halftime lead and led 59-14 at the close of the third period. Samaj Jones completed 8 of 11 passes for 267 yards – and SJP passed for a team total of 356 yards against the Blue Eagles. The Prep rushed for 134 yards and had four different ballcarriers score touchdowns. St. Joe Prep opened its defense of the state title with a 35-7 victory over Philadelphia Catholic League rival La Salle and followed with a 35-0 victory over Philadelphia Public League champion Abraham Lincoln.
Regular Season Resume:
Central Bucks South has captured wins over Father Judge (13-10), Truman (42-7), CR North (47-0), CB East (13-6), Pennsbury (24-13), North Penn (50-28), Abington (42-0), Neshaminy (42-0) & Pennridge (42-14). The Titans lost to SOL National Conference champion Central Bucks West, 40-29.
St. Joseph Prep has captured victories over St. Peter’s Prep – NJ (42-0), Lakeland-Fla (45-24). Don Bosco-NJ (28-7), Archbishop Wood (61-0), La Salle (42-6), Father Judge (55-19), Archbishop Spalding-Md (24-6) & Roman Catholic (45-7). The Hawks lost the season opener to IMG Academy (Bradenton Florida), 17-14. IMG is currently rank No.4 nationally.
Common Opponent:
Central Bucks South & St. Joe Prep have one common opponent. CB South defeated Father Judge 13-10 in its season opener, while SJP shellacked the Crusaders, 55-19.
Scoring Summary:
Central Bucks South has scored an average of 33.5 points per game and has allowed an average of 12.7 points per game. A winning margin of 20.8 points per game.
St. Joseph Prep has scored an average of 40.4 points per game and has allowed an average of 8.9 points per game. A winning margin of 31.5 points per game.
The Winner Gets:
The winner of the CB South (13-1) & St. Joe Prep (11-1) game will play the winner of the game between North Allegheny (12-1) & Harrisburg (12-1) for the 6A state championship.
Prediction:
***St. Joe Prep will win – and win big – and the Hawk coaching staff will determine the final score. *** My guess? *** SJP – 56** CBS – 21***
How did MaxPreps.com rank the Suburban One League?
There are 567 high school football teams in the state of Pennsylvania that are evaluated by MaxPreps – and here are the final numbers as to how the SOL were ranked this season.
- No. 10 * Central Bucks South Titans (13-1) *National Conference*
- No. 28 * Central Bucks West Bucks (12-1) *National Conference*
- No. 55 * Souderton Indians (11-1) *Continental Conference*
- No. 97 * North Penn Knights (6-5) *National Conference*
- No. 98 * Quakertown Panthers (7-5) *Continental Conference*
- No. 102 * Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (9-2) *American Conference*
- No. 112 * Pennsbury Falcons (5-6) *National Conference*
- No. 115 * Council Rock South Golden Hawks (7-4) *Continental Conference*
- No. 125 * Central Bucks East Patriots (4-6) *National Conference*
- No. 136 * Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (7-5) *Continental Conference*
- No. 137 * Cheltenham Panthers (5-6) *American Conference*
- No. 143 * Neshaminy Redskins (4-6) *National Conference*
- No. 147 * Pennridge Rams (3-8) *National Conference*
- No. 216 * Wissahickon Trojans (6-5) *American Conference*
- No. 294 * Upper Moreland Golden Bears (4-7) *American Conference*
- No. 306 * Abington Ghosts (1-9) *National Conference*
- No. 309 * William Tennent Panthers (3-7) *American Conference*
- No. 320 * Bensalem Owls (2-8) *Continental Conference*
- No. 329 * Council Rock North Indians (2-8) *Continental Conference*
- No. 334 * Springfield Spartans (3-6) *American Conference*
- No. 356 * Harry S Truman Tigers (1-9) *Continental Conference*
And this why I love Thanksgiving Day games…
Quakertown will end its 2023 season with a victory as a result of the Panthers 22-7 win over rival Pennridge on Thanksgiving morning.
Unless Central Bucks South wins a state championship (unlikely at best) every single Suburban One League football team – except for Quakertown & William Tennent - will end the season with a loss.
SOL playoff teams that have had successful seasons and advanced to the District One postseason will have ended their season with a disappointing loss.
That 6A playoff team list includes Central Bucks West, Souderton, North Penn, Pennsbury, Council Rock South, Wissahickon & Cheltenham. The 5A playoff team list includes Upper Dublin, Plymouth Whitemarsh & Upper Moreland.
And each of the remaining SOL teams that did not make the playoffs – except for William Tennent which defeated Springfield (28-14) in the regular season finale - ended the regular season with a loss.
Quakertown & William Tennent are the lone SOL football teams that can prepare for the 2024 season coming off a victory in 2023 – and that to me – is sad.
We need less playoff games and more Thanksgiving Day games.
Just sayin’.
Amen.
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