Football Forecast – Volume 1
By Scott Huff
The curtain rose on opening night in the Suburban One League and for the four new SOL head coaches the reviews ranged from downright dangerous to downright awful.
Abington head coach Terence Tolbert made his scholastic head coaching debut against rival Cheltenham. The game was stopped abruptly in the third quarter with the Panthers holding a 14-7 lead due to “an abundance of caution.”
A Cheltenham student had brought a loaded weapon to Abington’s Schwarzman Stadium and the fans, and the players quickly exited the stadium. The game will be finished at a later date.
Certainly not a debut that creates a wonderful memory for the Abington head coach.
Pennridge head coach Kyle Beller – who was previously a head coach at Dieruff High School - made his head coaching debut with the Rams against Ches-Mont power Downingtown East. And the stark numbers tell an awful truth.
Pennridge had one first down – two yards rushing – and 19 yards of total offense in the 43-0 mercy-rule loss to the Whippets. And the Ram defense permitted a staggering 381 yards of total offense in the loss.
Certainly not a debut that creates a wonderful memory for the Pennridge head coach.
Harry S Truman head coach Cordero Newkirk and William Tennent head coach Colin Leach also made SOL head coaching debuts.
Newkirk’s Tigers were tamed by powerful Central Bucs East by a 42-0 score, while Leach’s Panthers struggled in a 27-3 loss to Council Rock South.
Again, certainly not a debut for either coach that creates a wonderful memory.
Hopefully there will be much more pleasant memories ahead for Tolbert, Beller, Newkirk, and Leach as the Ghosts, Rams, Tigers, and Panthers return to action this week.
Stay tuned.
How ‘bout Those Hatters?
One head coach that had a victorious scholastic head coaching debut was Hatboro-Horsham head coach Tom Butts.
The Hatters – once again playing an independent football schedule to rebuild their football program – shocked neighborhood rival Upper Moreland, 16-7, in the season opener for both teams.
Congratulations to both Butts and those unbeaten Hatters.
How ‘bout those Bucks?
Central Bucks West surely did not order a couple of cupcakes to compete against in its 2023 non-league season.
The Bucks opened the season with a magnificent 17-13 non-conference win over defending PIAA District One 6A champion Garnet Valley. It took CBW just a day short of 9 months to avenge a 35-7 loss to those same Jaguars in the 6A championship game.
CB West will move on from that huge win over GV will play defending PIAA District One 5A champion Upper Dublin this week. It will be one day short of nine months that the Bucks lost to those same Cardinals 35-7 in the second game of the 2022 preseason.
Will the Black & Gold get to avenge its loss to Upper Dublin?
Stay tuned.
How ‘bout those Trojans and Lions?
Wissahickon had not won a season opener since 2017, but the Trojans took care of business with a resounding 48-28 non-conference victory over Council Rock North.
Welcome to the ranks of the undefeated!
New-Hope Solebury won just two ballgames a season ago, but the Lions took care of business on opening day with a 16-0 shutout victory over Morrisville.
Welcome to the ranks of the undefeated!
Wissahickon and New-Hope Solebury are both on the road this week as the Trojans travel to Horsham to meet the Hatters and the Lions will travel to George School
My crystal ball has both Wissahickon and New-Hope Solebury winning their respective games and remaining undefeated.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…….
THIS WEEK IN THE SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE
ALL GAMES ARE NON-LEAGUE GAMES
Council Rock North Indians (0-1) @ Abington Ghosts (0-0)
Last Year:
Abington 45 – CR North 13
Last Week:
CR North lost to Wissahickon 48-28 in a nonconference game. The touchdown makers for the Indians were Logan Atkinson and Giovanni Cozza with rushing scores, while Will Scibona caught a pair of touchdown passes.
Abington had its game against Cheltenham suspended in the third quarter as the Ghosts trailed 14-7. The game will be made up at that point at a time and date to be determined.
Prediction:
Abington Ghosts 24 – CR North Indians 14
Harry S Truman Tigers (0-1) @ Central Bucks South Titans (1-0)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South 35 – HS Truman 8
Last Week:
Harry S Truman lost to Central Bucks East 42-0. The Tigers struggled on both sides of the ball in the loss to the Patriots.
Central Bucks South rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Father Judge, 13-10. Anthony Leonardi scored the game winner in the fourth quarter with an 82-yard touchdown burst. Corey Moore scored on a 7-yard touchdown run in the first half.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 35 – Truman Tigers 7.
Bensalem Owls (0-1) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (1-0)
Last Year:
Central Bucks East 42 – Bensalem 0
Last Week:
Bensalem opened its 2023 season in a competitive fashion in a 6-0 non-conference loss to Lower Merion. Lower Merion scored in the final seconds of the game on a gimmick play to secure the win. Aiden Mayfield rushed for a team-high 90 yards for the Owls.
Central Bucks East shut out Harry S Truman 42-0. Dean Blackwell scored 3 rushing touchdowns to fuel the offense. Quarterback Dan Voglesong fired a 17-yard TD pass to Jack Donnelly and scored a rushing touchdown. The Patriots led 28-0 at halftime.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 38 – Bensalem Owls 7
Souderton Indians (1-0) @ Pennridge Rams (0-1)
Last Year:
Souderton 24 – Pennridge 21
Last Week:
Souderton battled Haverford all night to capture a hard-fought 21-17 non-league victory over the Fords. Ryan Sadowski scored all 3 Indian touchdowns. Sadowski – who scored on a 35-yard run – caught a pair of touchdown passes from Ben Walsh – one of 15-yards and the other from 58 yards.
Pennridge had about as horrible a night as any football team could endure in a 43-0 loss to Downingtown East. The Rams trailed 37-0 at the close of the first half. The Cougars showed mercy in the second half outscoring the Green & White 6-0 in the final two periods.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 45 – Pennridge Rams 7
Quakertown Panthers (0-1) @ North Penn Knights (0-1)
Last Year:
North Penn 49 – Quakertown 7
Last Week:
Quakertown lost its season opener as the Panthers fell to Southern Lehigh, 28-21. Quarterback Vince Miccuci scored on a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs, while Gavin Carroll scored late in the fourth quarter. Southern Lehigh outscored the Black Cats 21-0 in the third period.
North Penn had a less than successful start to its 2023 season as the Knights were dominated in a 34-3 loss to District 12 power La Salle. The lone score of the game for North Penn came in the fourth period when Ryan Docklet drilled an impressive 44-yard field goal.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 38 – Quakertown Panthers 14
Upper Dublin Cardinals (1-0) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (1-0)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin 35 – CB West 7
Last Week:
Upper Dublin opened its 2023 season with a solid 21-0 non-conference victory over Kennett. Sophomore Ronald Shepherd scored a pair of touchdowns for the Cardinals on runs of 68 and 6 yards. Senior Shyne Roberts scored on a 1-yard run. The UD defense excelled in recording the shutout.
Central Bucks West captured an impressive non-league victory as the Bucks defeated defending the 6A District One champion Garnet Valley Jaguars, 17-13. Matt Cleland scored on a 3-yard run, while Cooper Taylor rambled 62 yards to paydirt for the first CBW score. Taylor finished with 177 yards rushing, while Ryan Clemens rushed for 111 yards for the winners.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 24 – Upper Dublin Cardinals 21
William Tennent Panthers (0-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (0-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury 35 – William Tennent 0
Last Week:
William Tennent opened its 2023 season with a 27-3 non-conference loss to Council Rock South. The only score of the game for the Panthers came on a 35-yard field goal by Kyle Flack.
Pennsbury refused to order a cupcake off its non-league schedule as the Falcons suffered a 29-7 loss to Ches-Mont powerhouse Coatesville. The Orange & Black managed its only score of the game in the fourth period when Noah Rice returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown.
Prediction:
Pennsbury Falcons 38 – William Tennent Panthers 6
Council Rock South Hawks (1-0) @ Neshaminy Redskins (1-0)
Last Year:
Neshaminy 21 – CR South 7
Last Week:
Council Rock South opened its season with a 27-3 non-conference win over William Tennent. QB Chase Ennis completed 12 of 14 passes for 133 yards and fired touchdown passes to Nick Haurin and Jake Hemple. Chase Myers rushed for 150 yards and scored a touchdown, while Shane Myers also scored for the Golden Hawks,
Neshaminy did order a cupcake off its non-league schedule as the Redskins crushed visiting Kensington, 44-0. Rushing touchdowns were scored by Carter Clee, Cole Tarapchak, and Travis Lavelah. Touchdown passes were thrown by Colin Baker – to Anthony Goss – and Nick Sassano. Tristin Rivera scored on an interception return, while Kaden Nicastro kicked a field goal. The defense forced 3 fumbles and an interception.
Prediction:
Neshaminy Redskins 27 – Council Rock South 10
Wissahickon Trojans (1-0) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (1-0)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Wissahickon opened its 2023 season with a huge 48-28 non-conference victory over Council Rock North. Jaden Mclean and Dom Harvey-Sheppard each rushed for 2 scores, while Quasir Sampson and Jason Murray also scored rushing touchdowns. Nolan Pound threw a touchdown pass to Aiden Westcott.
Hatboro-Horsham opened its 2023 season with a 16-7 non-conference win over Upper Moreland. Jaxson Bumpus and Kayden Collazo each scored a touchdown.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 27 – Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 14
Boys Latin Charter Warriors (0-1) @ Upper Moreland Bears (0-1)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Boys Latin Charter opened its season with a 50-20 non-conference loss to Marple Newtown.
Upper Moreland opened its season with a 16-7 non-conference loss to neighborhood rival Hatboro-Horsham.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Bears 14 – Boys Latin Charter Warriors 13
Chester Clippers (0-1) @ Cheltenham Panthers (0-0)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Chester struggled on both offense and defense in a 31-0 non-conference loss to Perkiomen Valley.
Cheltenham had its game with Abington suspended with the Panthers leading 14-7 late in the third quarter. The game will be finished at a later time and date.
Prediction:
Cheltenham Panthers 21 – Chester Clippers 8
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-0) @ Methacton Warriors (1-0)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 34 – Methacton 0
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh captured a 21-19 non-conference victory over Upper Merion in its 2023 season opener. The Colonials had three different rushers scored touchdowns in the win. Nazye Boggs scored on a 46-yard run, while Luke Winterbottom and Anthony Iannozzi each scored on 1-yard runs.
Methacton opened its 2023 season with a 16-13 non-conference victory over Pottsgrove.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 28 – Methacton Warriors 14
Springfield Spartans (1-0) @ Harriton Rams (1-0)
Last Year:
Springfield 41 – Harriton 7
Last Week:
Springfield captured a 22-6 non-conference victory over Archbishop Carroll in its season opener. The Spartans led 7-6 at the half but controlled the game in the second half to secure the win. Ryan Gibbons scored 2 touchdowns for the Spartans, while CJ Johnson also found paydirt for the winners.
Harriton captured a 17-14 non-conference victory over Mahony Area in its season opener.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 27 – Harriton Rams 13
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