(Photo provided courtesy of Jesse Garber: https://jsgarber.zenfolio.com/p201900406)
By Scott Huff
The PIAA football season begins in the blazing heat of August and doesn’t end until the bitter cold of December – and the season has begun for the Suburban One League teams before schools have gone back to class from summer vacation.
The non-league SOL schedule began last week with some eye-catching games.
North Penn flexed its muscle and scored 55 points in a victory against Neshaminy – while highly regarded Pennsbury scored 0 points in a loss to Academy Park.
The Suburban One League begins its second week of non-league games this week. And the journey toward a hopeful state title continues with a full slate of important games.
And the beat goes on…
SOL Football Forecast
Week 2
LA SALLE EXPLORERS (1-0) @ NORTH PENN KNIGHTS (1-0) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
La Salle opened its season with a 15-12 victory over Imhotep Charter. The Explorers trailed 12-3 at the half but rallied for the victory. La Salle limited Imhotep to just 124 yards of total offense.
North Penn blasted Neshaminy 55-34 in its season opener. Sophomore Khalani Eaton stole the spotlight for the Knights gaining 283 yards rushing with 2 touchdowns. Senior Kolby Barrow passed for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction:
North Penn 34 – La Salle 28
PENNRIDGE RAMS (1-0) @ NESHAMINY REDSKINS (0-1) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Pennridge opened the season with a sensational defensive effort in a 13-0 win over District 2 power Delaware Valley. Taj Utsey rushed for a score, while Bobby Croyle threw a TD pass to Connor Pleibel for the Green & White.
Neshaminy opened the season with a 55-34 loss to North Penn. The offense was effective as Brody McAndrew passed for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Ian Sheenan caught two touchdown passes for the Skins.
Prediction:
Neshaminy 20 – Pennridge 17
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST PATRIOTS (1-0) @ HATBORO-HORSHAM HATTERS (0-1) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Central Bucks East began the 2019 season with an impressive 27-13 victory over Quakertown. Junior quarterback Anthony Giordano fired three touchdown passes for the winners -all to junior Will Silverman. The win was the 100th in the career for Patriot head coach John Donnelly.
Hatboro-Horsham was tied with CB West 10-10 at the half, but the Hatters were topped by the Bucks in the second half and lost 31-17. Colin O’Sullivan tossed two touchdown passes in the loss. It was the HH coaching debut of veteran Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East 34 – Hatboro-Horsham 20
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST BUCKS (1-0) @ COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH GOLDEN HAWKS (0-1) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Central Bucks West opened the season with a convincing 31-17 victory over Hatboro-Horsham. Jack Fallon had 16 carries for 128 yards and one TD, while Nick Tumolo scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bucks.
Council Rock South outgained Cheltenham 247-203, but the Hawks were handled on the scoreboard in a 36-13 loss to the Panthers. Sal Mastromarco caught a pair of touchdown passes for the CRS.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West 27 – Council Rock South 20
SOUDERTON INDIANS (1-0) @ QUAKERTOWN PANTHERS (0-1) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Souderton began the 2019 season with an impressive 31-18 victory over Pottsgrove. DeAndre Wakefield scored a pair of rushing touchdowns while Andrew Vince fired a pair of touchdown passes. Nick Guthre returned an interception for a TD and also scored a touchdown on offense. The Big Red led 17-0 at the half and cruised to the win.
Quakertown opened the season with a 27-13 loss to Central Bucks East. Quarterback Tyler Merwarth rushed for a team-high 67 yards and a score and also passed for 53 yards. The Panthers trailed by only 10-6 at the half.
Prediction:
Souderton 35 – Quakertown 13
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH INDIANS (0-1) @ WISSAHICKON TROJANS (0-1) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Council Rock North struggled offensively and defensively in its season opener in a 41-7 loss to West Chester East.
Wissahickon struggled offensively in its season opener in a 16-10 loss to Penncrest. Jalen Smith scored the lone touchdown for the Trojans.
Prediction:
Council Rock North 21 – Wissahickon 14
Downingtown West Whippets (1-0) @ CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH TITANS (1-0)
Last Week:
Downingtown West overcame injuries to key players in its season opener to rout Garnet Valley 42-19.
Central Bucks South rallied from a 24-20 fourth quarter deficit to defeat Spring-Ford 34-24. Josh Consoletti passed for 268 yards and threw five touchdown passes, four to Sean Smith.
Prediction:
Downingtown West 35 – Central Bucks South 24
PENN WOOD PATRIOTS (1-0) @ PENNSBURY FALCONS (0-1) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Penn Wood routed Springfield (Delco) 42-8. Viking quarterback Desman Johnson had a spectacular night, passing for 260 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for three more scores.
Pennsbury was surprisingly shut out by Academy Park by a 13-0 score. The best the Falcons could offer came from quarterback Drew Hensor who completed 10 passes for 90 yards while also leading the Falcons in rushing with 53 yards.
Prediction:
Penn Wood 28 – Pennsbury 13.
MASTBAUM PANTHERS (0-0) @ BENSALEM OWLS (1-0) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Mastbaum did not play
Bensalem scored on the first play of the game and with 20 seconds left in the game to defeat Frankford – 16-13. Sophomore Cotrell Gilyard scored the game winner in the fourth period, while senior Richard Bardone scored on the initial play of the contest.
Prediction:
Bensalem 20 – Mastbaum 13
SPRING-FORD RAMS (0-1) @ TRUMAN TIGERS (1-0) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Spring-Ford dropped its season opener by a 34-24 margin to Central Bucks South. Dante Bonnani set a Rams school record for career receptions with 102.
Truman head coach Ben Johnson III earned his first career win as the Tigers clawed to a 29-8 victory over Olney Charter. Terrence Rogers led the way for HST by scoring three touchdowns.
Prediction:
Spring-Ford 27 – Truman 20
METHACTON WARRIORS (1-0) @ PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH COLONIALS (1-0) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Methacton was impressive with a 34-6 victory over Harriton. Mike Merola fired three touchdown passes for the Warriorsmwhile Michael Torani rushed for 100 yards for the winners.
Plymouth Whitemarsh showcased a high-powered offense in its season opener with a 42-20 victory over William Tennent. Brian Dreslin rushed for a game-high 192 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns, while Larry McLaughlin fired a pair of scoring passes to Christian Pierce.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 27 – Methacton 20
UPPER MORELAND (1-0) @ Pottstown Trojans (1-0) – Friday 7 pm
Last Week:
Upper Moreland opened its season with a fine defensive effort in a 21-0 victory over New Hope Solebury. Bryon Hopkins threw 3 touchdown passes in the win – two to Jahire Johnson and one to TJ Troxell.
Pottstown opened its 2019 season with a thrilling 14-13 victory over Octorara.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland 21 – Pottstown 20.
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