Join Jeff Nolan and Kevin Cooney for the premier of the WPHT High School Football Scoreboard Show as they recap the night of high school football on Friday 10 p.m. to midnight on 1210AM/WPHT and the Audacy app.
By Scott Huff
We are the champions…….(part 2)
North Penn (10-0), Quakertown (10-0), and Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-1) all entered the final week of the regular season with at least a share of their respective Suburban One League conference championships.
And the Knights, Panthers, and Colonials all decided not to play nice and share those titles as each team came up with impressive victories to close out the books unbeaten in conference play.
North Penn closed the SOL National Conference season with an impressive 35-7 victory over Central Bucks South. Quakertown closed the SOL Continental Conference season with an even more impressive 50-6 victory over Harry S Truman. Plymouth Whitemarsh closed the SOL American Conference season with the most impressive 54-7 victory over Wissahickon.
The regular SOL season that began in the scorching heat of August in the preseason and ended in a deluge of a cold and windswept rain under the Friday Night Lights in late October is finally over.
And now the North Penn Knights, Quakertown Panthers, and Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials have all earned the title of unbeaten SOL conference champions.
And now those champions can order those 2021 football championship banners to be hung high in the gymnasium rafters.
Playoffs…...we’re talking playoffs
The 10-week regular season is in the history books and now the focus of Suburban One League football fans turns to the upcoming PIAA District One playoffs.
All the math has been calculated concerning the who, what, and where District One teams were finally ranked. And when the brackets were constructed, it presented six SOL teams in Class 6A with three conference rematches.
No. 2 ranked North Penn (10-0) will host No. 15 ranked Central Bucks South (6-4) in a SOL National Conference rematch. No. 5 ranked Quakertown (10-0) will host defending 6A District One champion and No. 12 ranked Souderton (6-4) in a SOL Continental Conference rematch. And No. 8 ranked Central Bucks West (8-2) will host No. 9 ranked Pennridge (7-3) in another SOL National Conference rematch.
The only SOL team that qualified for the playoffs in Class 6A not to play another SOL conference team in the first round is Central Bucks East (6-4). The No. 11 ranked Patriots will be on the road to play No. 6 ranked Perkiomen Valley (8-2) of the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
The PIAA District One 5A 16-team bracket will also feature a rematch of SOL teams as No. 5 ranked Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-1) will host No. 12 ranked Cheltenham (5-5) in a SOL American Conference rematch.
No. 4 Upper Dublin (8-2) is the defending 5A District One champion and will open the playoffs hosting No. 13 ranked West Chester Henderson (4-6) of the Ches-Mont League.
The PIAA District One 4A bracket will feature one SOL team in the 4-team field.
No. 3 Upper Moreland (7-3) is the defending 4A District One champion and will open the playoffs on the road against No. 2 ranked Pottsgrove (7-2) of the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Stay tuned.
Na, Na, Na, Na ….. Na, Na, Na, Na ….. Hey, Hey-y…..Goodbye
The 2021 football season came to a close for 12 Suburban One League teams.
In the SOL National Conference - Abington (3-7, 2-5), Neshaminy (2-8, 1-6), and Pennsbury (0-10, 0-7) did not qualify for the 16-team 6A PIAA District One playoffs.
Abington ended the season with a 27-0 conference loss to Pennridge (7-3, 5-2). Quarterback Johnny Dzielawa carried 17 times for a team-high 91 yards.
Neshaminy concluded its 2021 season with a thrilling 17-16 conference victory over arch-rival - and winless - Pennsbury. The game was tied at 3-3 at halftime - the Redskins built a 17-3 lead going into the fourth quarter - and stopped a 2-point conversion in the final minute of the game to capture the victory over the host Falcons.
In the SOL Continental Conference - Bensalem (5-5, 4-3), Harry S Truman (3-7, 2-5), Council Rock North (3-7, 2-5), Council Rock South (2-7, 2-5), and Hatboro Horsham (0-5, 0-7) did not qualify for the postseason.
Rock North was the lone SOL Continental Conference school in that group that finished the season with a victory. The Indians defeated district rival CR South 7-3 when Brandon Boyd fell on a Hawk fumble in the endzone for the game winning touchdown in the fourth period.
Bensalem lost its season finale, and a shot at the postseason, in a 34-12 conference loss to Souderton. Josiah Leonard rushed for a game-high 184 yards and scored on a 16-yard touchdown run. Ashton Barnes scored on a 30-yard run for the Owls.
Truman lost its season finale in a 50-6 conference loss to Quakertown. The lone score of the game for the Tigers came on an 80-yard kickoff return by Kayden Rossi.
Council Rock South lost its season finale as the Golden Hawks were defeated by CR North 7-3 in the annual Rock Cup contest. Rock South led 3-0 in the first period when Gavin Hagen kicked a 33-yard field goal.
Hatboro Horsham remained winless for the season. The Hatters awarded Upper Dublin a 2-0 forfeit conference victory.
In the SOL American Conference - 4A Springfield (6-3, 3-3), 5A Wissahickon (3-7, 2-4), and 6A William Tennent (1-8, 1-5) did not qualify for the postseason.
Springfield was the lone team in the SOL that ended the season with a winning record - but yet failed to make the PIAA District One playoffs. The No. 6 ranked 4A Spartans lost their conference season finale to Cheltenham, 27-12.
Wissahickon was the No. 17 ranked team in 5A and was the first team out of the 16-team playoff field. The Trojans, though, had a rough season finale in a 54-7 loss to conference champion Plymouth Whitemarsh.
William Tennent concluded its season on a winning note as the Panthers clawed New Hope-Solebury 55-20 in the SOL American Conference finale for both teams. The win avoided a winless season for the Black Cats.
New Hope-Solebury is the lone Class 3A team in District One. The Lions (1-7), however, opted not to enter the district playoff tournament.
Na, Na, Na, Na…..Na, Na, Na, Na…..Hey, Hey-y…..Goodbye
And the beat goes on…….
PIAA District One Playoff Snapshots
Class 6A
No. 13 Central Bucks South Titans (6-4) @ No. 2 North Penn Knights (10-0)
Season Resume:
Central Bucks South has victories over Plymouth Whitemarsh (35-27), Hatboro Horsham (50-8), Neshaminy (28-27), Abington (42-14), Council Rock South (38-14), and Pennsbury (28-14). The Titans have lost games to CB West (28-20), CB East (24-19), Pennridge (35-10), and North Penn (35-7).
North Penn has captured victories over Souderton (42-27), Abington (58-8), Pennsbury (35-0), Upper Dublin (35-20), Pennridge (21-14), Neshaminy (42-21), Truman (48-20), CB West (28-14), CB East (28-21), and CB South (35-7).
1st 2021 Meeting:
North Penn defeated CB South 35-7 last week in the SOL National Conference finale.
Knight running back Khalani Eaton rushed for 198 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 64 & 15 yards. The senior standout, who surpassed the 4,000-yard career milestone, is the area’s leading ground gainer with 1,672 yards and 23 touchdowns. Michai Cuffie scored on a 47-yard run, while Ethan Spahn scored on a 5-yard run. Tyler Beam returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown.
The Titans led 7-0 in the first period when freshman quarterback Brett Szarko, who has thrown for over a thousand yards this season, scored on a 4-yard run. Zak Fischer gained 79 yards on 6 carries, while Tyler Robinson gained 71 yards on just 3 carries.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the CB South-North Penn game will play the winner of the game between No. 7 Ridley (8-1) and No. 10 Conestoga (7-3).
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 38 - Central Bucks South Titans 17
No. 12 Souderton Big Red (6-4) @ No. 5 Quakertown Panthers (10-0)
Season Resume:
Souderton has victories over Truman (41-0), Council Rock North (42-16), Council Rock South (35-7), Abington (28-14), Cheltenham (42-27), and Bensalem (34-12). The Big Red has lost games to North Penn (42-27), Neshaminy (17-6), Quakertown (36-14), and Upper Dublin (10-7).
Quakertown has captured victories over Southern Lehigh (42-7), Council Rock North (42-7), Council Rock South (41-13), Abington (36-20), Upper Dublin (31-0), Souderton (36-14), Neshaminy (35-10), Hatboro Horsham (2-0 forfeit), Bensalem (42-7), and Truman (50-6).
1st 2021 Meeting:
Quakertown defeated Souderton 36-14 back on October 1, 2021. The game was tied 14-14 after three periods, however, the Panthers outscored the Big Red 22-0 in the final period to cruise to the SOL Continental Conference victory.
Panther running back Tyler Woodman, who leads the Panthers ground game with 1,157 yards, rushed for 141 yards and scored on a 9-yard run. Will Steich completed 10 passes for 259 yards and threw a pair of touchdown passes. The senior quarterback has thrown for over a thousand yards this season. Zach Fondl caught 8 passes and scored on TD receptions of 61 & 32 yards. Steich scored on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs.
Big Red running back Elijah Goods scored on a 2-yard run and also threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Dyches. Brayden Porter, who surpassed the 1,000-yard plateau this season, ran for 99 yards.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Souderton-Quakertown game will play the winner of the game between No. 4 Downingtown East (8-2) and No. 13 Spring-Ford (6-4).
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 31 - Souderton Big Red 17
No. 9 Pennridge Rams (7-3) @ No. 8 Central Bucks West Bucks (8-2)
Season Resume:
Pennridge has captured victories over Pennsbury (35-0), Neshaminy (28-14), Council Rock North (35-0), Bensalem (45-0), CB East (24-7), CB South (35-10), and Abington (27-0). The Rams have lost games to Downingtown East (14-7), North Penn (21-14), and CB West (28-24).
Central Bucks West has captured victories over CB South (28-20), Abington (21-0), Council Rock South (27-3), Pennsbury (42-14), Pennridge (28-24), Hatboro Horsham (2-0 forfeit), Neshaminy (27-3), and CB East (35-15). The Bucks have lost games to Coatesville (35-14) and North Penn (28-14).
1st 2021 Meeting:
In perhaps the best game of the regular SOL National Conference season, Central Bucks West defeated Pennridge, 28-24.
The Bucks trailed 24-17 after 3 periods and scored what proved to be the winning touchdown on a 2-yard run by sophomore quarterback Ganz Cooper. CBW held off the Rams in the final series of the game inside the red zone. Eli Boehm rushed for 120 yards and scored on a 50-yard run, while Donte Mancini scored on runs of 1 & 2 yards.
The Rams received an excellent game from Nate Mossbrook who rushed for 103 yards and scored on a 77-yard run. Brayden Landherr scored on a 3-yard run, while Adam Mossbrook scored on a 15-yard pass from Xavier Dantzler. Sean Curry kicked a 28-yard field goal.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Pennridge-Central Bucks West game will play the winner of the game between No. 1 Garnet Valley (10-0) and No. 16 Haverford (5-5).
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 24 - Central Bucks West Bucks 20
No. 11 Central Bucks East Patriots (6-4) @ No. 6 Perkiomen Valley Vikings (8-2).
Season Resume:
Central Bucks East has victories over Neshaminy (28-14), CB South (24-19), Bensalem (35-24), Abington (3-0), Pennsbury (56-21), and Council Rock North (35-7). The Patriots have lost games to Ridley (34-29), Pennridge (24-7), North Penn (28-21), and CB West (35-15).
Perkiomen Valley has victories over Springfield [Delco] (37-15), Downingtown West (55-20), Spring-Ford (28-22), Norristown (55-12), Owen J Roberts (49-7), Boyertown (38-0), Methacton (41-0), and Pope John Paul (30-0). The Vikings have lost games to Coatesville (35-27) and Manheim Central (43-40).
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Central Bucks East-Perkiomen Valley game will play the winner of the game between No. 3 Coatesville (9-1) and No. 14 Owen J Roberts (6-4).
Prediction:
Perkiomen Valley Vikings 28 - Central Bucks East Patriots 17
Class 5A
No. 12 Cheltenham Panthers (5-5) @ No. 5 Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-1)
Season Resume:
Cheltenham has victories over Norristown (33-0), Upper Moreland (32-21), William Tennent (36-24), Wissahickon (35-20), and Springfield [Montco] (27-12). The Panthers have lost games to Abington (19-7), Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (38-14), Archbishop Wood (46-0), Plymouth Whitemarsh (21-13), and Souderton (42-27).
Plymouth Whitemarsh has victories Methacton (42-14), Norristown (49-8), New Hope-Solebury (55-0), Springfield [Montco] (35-14), Cheltenham (21-13), William Tennent (35-14), Upper Moreland (31-28), and Wissahickon (54-7). The Colonials lone loss of the season came in the season opener against CB South, 35-27.
1st 2021 Meeting:
Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Cheltenham 21-13 in a game that was played on October 8, 2021.
Colonial quarterback Aiden O’Brien scored a pair of touchdowns on runs of 10 & 5 yards. Taji Howard scored on a 20-yard interception return, while an interception by Jimmy Foy sealed the win late in the game.
Panther running back Zaheim Welton-Salahuddin rushed for 131 yards and scored on an 85-yard touchdown run. Quarterback TJ Taylor threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Kam Wyatt.
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Cheltenham-Plymouth Whitemarsh game will play the winner of the game between No. 4 Upper Dublin (8-2) and No. 13 West Chester Henderson (4-6).
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 31 - Cheltenham Panthers 24
No. 13 West Chester Henderson Warriors (4-6) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (8-2)
Season Resume:
West Chester Henderson has victories over Fleetwood (27-14), Great Valley (38-14), Sun Valley (21-14), and West Chester East (41-20). The Warriors have lost games to Kennett (26-20), West Chester Rustin (41-12), Coatesville (48-0), Chester (42-27), Unionville (35-20), and Oxford (18-0).
Upper Dublin has victories over Wissahickon (43-0), Council Rock South (38-7), Bensalem (23-12), Truman (38-0), Pennsbury (28-9), Souderton (10-7), Council Rock North (40-0), and Hatboro Horsham (2-0 forfeit). The Cardinals have lost games to North Penn (35-20) and Quakertown (31-0).
Winner Gets:
The winner of the WC Henderson-Upper Dublin game will play the winner of the game between No. 5 Plymouth Whitemarsh and No. 12 Cheltenham.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 38 - West Chester Henderson Warriors 17
Class 4 A
No. 3 Upper Moreland Golden Bears (7-3) @ No. 2 Pottsgrove Falcons (7-2)
Season Resume:
Upper Moreland has victories over Council Rock South (21-7), Archbishop Ryan (34-29), Phoenixville (21-19), Wissahickon (35-31), New Hope-Solebury (41-14), William Tennent (49-21), and Springfield [Montco] (28-21). The Golden Bears have lost games to Cheltenham (32-21), Plymouth Whitemarsh (31-28), and Upper Darby (36-6).
Pottsgrove has victories over Lansdale Catholic (39-7), Schuylkill Valley (35-0), Phoenixville (31-0), Upper Merion (36-20), Pottstown (35-0), Upper Perkiomen (42-14), and Spring-Ford (14-13). The Falcons have lost games to Boyertown (42-35) and Pope John Paul (42-6).
Winner Gets:
The winner of the Upper Moreland-Pottsgrove game will play the winner of the game between No. 1 Bishop Shanahan (7-3) and No. 4 Chichester (5-3) for the District One 4A championship.
Prediction:
Pottsgrove Falcons 28 - Upper Moreland Bears 20
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