Football Forecast – Volume 3
By Scott Huff
One brick at a time
First year Suburban One League head coaches Colin Leach (William Tennent), Cordero Newkirk (Harry S Truman), and Kyle Beller (Pennridge) all saw that initial winning brick placed last week to either build or rebuild their respective football programs.
William Tennent captured its first win of the season last week with a 21-20 thriller over Upper Merion. Truman captured its first win of the season last week with a 13-6 squeaker over Abington. Pennridge captured its first win of the season last week with a 33-0 rout over Bensalem.
Coach Leach has the biggest construction project in building the Panther program. WT was 1-8 last season and 2-16 over the last two seasons. And in 2017 and 2018 the Panthers were a collective 0-20. Before the victory over Upper Merion last week, the Black Cats had lost 7 straight games. That last win came against Hatboro-Horsham on 9/22/22 when the Panthers claimed a 30-18 victory.
Coach Newkirk also has his hard hat on to build the Truman program. The Tigers were 2-8 last season and 5-15 over the last two seasons. The last winning season for HST came in 2018 when the Tigers finished 10-2 under head coach Mike LaPalombara. Before the win over Abington, the Tigers had lost 6 straight games. The last win came against Bensalem on 9/16/22 when Truman defeated Bensalem, 8-7.
Coach Beller – who was a head coach at Dieruff High School – is ‘rebuilding’ a proud Pennridge program. The Rams were a dismal 2-9 last season. However, in 2021 the Green & White was 7-5, and in 2020, Pennridge played in the PIAA 6A District One final against Souderton. The Rams lost that district final to the Indians, 35-17. Before the win over Bensalem, Pennridge had lost 9 straight games. The last win for PHS came against Abington on 9/16/22 when the Rams beat Abington, 34-0.
Coach Leach, Coach Newkirk, and Coach Beller will all attempt to place that second winning brick in the 2023 season this week.
William Tennent (1-2) will host Hatboro-Horsham (2-1), Harry S Truman (1-2) will be on the road @ Council Rock South (2-1), and Pennridge (1-2) will host Abington (1-1).
Stay tuned.
Shine Those New Night Lights @ Falcon Field
The Pennsbury football team will unveil its impressive new facility when the Falcons host Central Bucks West in what should prove to be a critical SOL National Conference contest.
The gorgeous Falcon Field will showcase all new features such as….
- New LED stadium lights
- New Artificial turf
- New bleachers
- New press box
- 8-lane synthetic track
- 5,000 seat stadium capacity
The fans in attendance should not only enjoy the wonderful amenities @ Falcon Field but should also be entertained by a pair of quality scholastic football teams.
Pennsbury (2-1) is coming off an impressive 28-19 win over previously unbeaten Council Rock South, while CB West (3-0) remained unbeaten as the Bucks routed Quakertown, 40-20. Q-town was coming off an impressive 38-17 win over North Penn.
The winner of this game in SOL National Conference opener could jettison them to a conference championship at the end of the regular season.
Stay tuned.
Close … And a Cigar
Souderton has remained unbeaten, and the Indians have done so by winning the close ones.
Souderton has trailed in all three of its victories. The Indians trailed Haverford early but rallied to win by four points – 21-17. Souderton trailed Pennridge 14-0 midway through the game but rallied to win by five points – 19-14. The Indians trailed Central Bucks East late in the game but rallied to win by two points – 23-21
Souderton has won three non-conference games – by a total of just 11 points.
There will be no nails to bite this week as the Indians travel to Newtown to play winless Council Rock North. Rock North has been outscored 139-35 this season.
Stay Tuned.
How ‘bout those Trojans…again…again…and again?
Wissahickon is now on a three-game winning streak to start the 2023 season. Rory Graver and his Trojans finished the 2022 season with a painful 1-9 record but have rattled off victories over CR North (48-28), Hatboro-Horsham (41-40), and last week over Lower Merion (35-18).
Who would have thunk that Wissahickon could be 4-0 to begin this season?
Those surging Trojans will host Simon Gratz (1-2) this week in an attempt to continue its unbeaten season.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference
Central Bucks West Bucks (3-0) @ Pennsbury Falcons (2-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury 26 – CB West 21
Last Week:
CB West remained unbeaten with a 40-20 non-conference victory over Quakertown. Ryan Clemens rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown, while Cooper Taylor added 175 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Taylor also threw a touchdown pass for the Bucks.
Pennsbury captured a non-conference victory as the Falcons defeated previously unbeaten Council Rock South, 28-19. Nathan Beighley scored on touchdown runs of 6 and 8 yards for the Orange & Black, while Jordan Czerniak scored on a 40-yard touchdown run. Darius Simmons stole the spotlight on defense with a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 27 – Pennsbury Falcons 21
Central Bucks South Titans (3-0) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (2-1)
Last Year:
Central Bucks East 21 – Central Bucks South 7
Last Week:
CB South remained unbeaten for the season with a 47-0 non-conference rout of Council Rock North. Quarterback Owen Pinkerton threw a pair of 35-yard touchdown passes – one to Jack Mauz – and the other to Dylan Fischer. Rushing touchdowns were scored by Corey Moore, Sebastian Pacchione, Jim Wade, and Michael Chilberti. Adam Oscar scored on a 15-yard scoop and score on defense.
CB East suffered a tough 23-21 non-conference loss to unbeaten Souderton. Dean Blackwell scored on both offense and defense for the Patriots. Blackwell scored on a 2-yard run and scored on a 60-yard fumble scoop and score. Jack Donnelly scored on a 30-yard scoring pass from Dan Voglesong.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 24 – Central Bucks South Titans 20
North Penn Knights (1-2) @ Neshaminy Redskins (1-2)
Last Year:
North Penn 35 – Neshaminy 28
Last Week:
North Penn avenged a 2022 loss to Upper Dublin with a convincing 42-7 non-conference victory over the Cardinals. Amir Major scored 3 touchdowns on runs of 16, 2 & 1 yards. Matt Bucksar threw 3 touchdowns – 2 to Aiden Eves of 48 & 13 yards – and one to Marc Cobbs of 31 yards.
Neshaminy led in the game three times but failed to seal the deal in a 42-17 non-conference loss to Downingtown West. Colin Baker scored on a 64-yard run, Kaiden Nicastro booted a 36-yard field goal, and Carter Clee scored on a 2-yard run.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 34 – Neshaminy Redskins 28
Abington Ghosts (1-1) @ Pennridge Rams (1-2)
Last Year:
Pennridge 34 – Abington 0
Last Week:
Abington was defeated for the first time this season as the Ghosts lost a 13-6 non-conference game to Harry S Truman. Damian Mager scored on a 4-yard run for the lone Abington score.
Pennridge won its first game of the season as the Rams defeated Bensalem, 33-0, in a non-conference game. Noah Keating fired a pair of touchdown passes for the winners – one of 75 yards to Chase Marshall – and the other of 35 yards to Joe Gregoire. Jacob Artega and Joe Hamburger scored rushing touchdowns, while Trevor Fuhs scored on a pick-6 to highlight the defense.
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 14 – Abington Ghosts 13
SOL Continental Conference
Souderton Indians (3-0) @ Council Rock North Indians (0-3)
Last Year:
Souderton 35 – CR North 14
Last Week:
Souderton remained unbeaten for the 2023 season as the Indians defeated Central Bucks East, 23-21, in a key non-conference game. Ryan Sadowski found paydirt on a pair of touchdown runs -one of 8 yards -and the other of 7 yards. Rylan Zuk booted 3 field goals for the winners to provide the margin of victory.
CR North remained winless for the 2023 season as the Indians were routed by Central Bucks South, 47-0. Rock North has now been outscored 139-35 in its 3 non-conference losses this season.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 42 – Council Rock North Indians 7
Harry S Truman Tigers (1-2) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (2-1)
Last Year:
CR South 14 – HS Truman 6
Last Week:
HS Truman captured its first victory of the season as the Tigers defeated Abington in a non-conference game, 13-6. Aqual Chapman scored the game winner in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run. Chapman opened the game with a magnificent 90-yard kickoff return for a score.
CR South was very competive in a 29-19 non-conference loss to SOL National Conference power Pennsbury. Quarterback Chase Ennis threw 2 touchdown passes for the Golden Hawks – one to Daniel Voss – and the other to Nick Haurin. Chase Myers scored on a 7-yard run for Rock South.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Golden Hawks 28 – Harry S Truman Tigers 14
Bensalem Owls (0-3) @ Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (1-2)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin 33 – Bensalem 7
Last Week:
Bensalem remained in search of both its first win – and its first points of the season as the Owls lost a non-conference contest to Pennridge, 33-0. Bensalem has been outscored 72-0 in the first three games of the season.
Upper Dublin lost for the second week in a row as the young Cardinals were defeated by North Penn, 42-7. UDHS has been uncharacteristically outscored 79-14 in the losses to SOL National Conference powers North Penn and CB West (37-7). The lone Cardinal score came on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Etkin to Chris Kohlbrenner.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 31 – Bensalem Owls 7
SOL American Conference
All Games are non-conference games
Quakertown Panthers (1-2) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (2-0)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 49 – Quakertown 0
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Did Not Play. The Colonials defeated Methacton 35-0 in a non-conference game played two weeks ago.
Quakertown had its hands full against SOL National Conference power Central Bucks West and lost to the Bucks, 40-20. Vince Miccui scored 2 rushing touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass for the Black Cats.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 28 – Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 24
Simon Gratz Bulldogs (1-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (3-0)
Last Year:
Simon Gratz 33 – Wissahickon 6
Last Week:
Simon Gratz lost a non-league game against Archbishop Carroll, 18-8
Wissahickon remained unbeaten with a 35-18 non-conference win over Lower Merion. Quasir Sampson scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the Trojans, while Jalen Randall also scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the winners. Wissahickon registered 461 yards of total offense.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 28 – Simon Gratz Bulldogs 14
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (2-1) @ William Tennent Panthers (1-2)
Last Year:
William Tennent 30 – Hatboro-Horsham 18
Last Week:
Hatboro-Horsham defeated Springfield 27-0 in a non-conference game.
William Tennent won a 21-20 non-conference thriller over Upper Merion. Sophomore running back Lorenzo Hurley scored 2 touchdowns – including the game winner in the fourth period. Sophomore quarterback Derrick Guenther also scored a rushing touchdown for the Panthers.
Prediction:
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 28 – William Tennent Panthers 20
Cheltenham Panthers (0-1) @ Perkiomen Valley Vikings (2-1)
Last Year:
Perkiomen Valley 35 – Cheltenham 25
Last Week:
Cheltenham fell to Wilson 26-0 in a non-league contest.
Perkiomen Valley defeated Smyrna, 46-38.
Prediction:
Perkiomen Valley Vikings 45 – Cheltenham Panthers 21
Radnor Raptors (0-3) @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears (1-2)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Radnor lost a non-league game to Methacton, 22-19.
Upper Moreland won for the first time this season as the Golden Bears were impressive in a 25-0 non-conference victory over Interboro. Elijah Davis scored 2 touchdowns, while Zion Akinbo scored on an interception return.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 21 – Radnor Raptors 17
West Philadelphia Speedboys (1-2) @ Springfield Spartans (2-1)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
West Philadelphia lost a non-conference game to Boys Latin Charter, 16-14.
Springfield lost for the first time this season as the Spartans suffered a 27-0 non-conference loss to Hatboro-Horsham.
Prediction:
West Philadelphia Speedboys 20 – Springfield Spartans 14
SUPER SEVEN
1. Central Bucks West Bucks (3-0)
2. Souderton Indians (3-0)
3. Central Bucks South Titans (3-0)
4. Pennsbury Falcons (2-1)
5. Central Bucks East Patriots (2-1)
6. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (2-1)
7. Wissahickon Trojans (3-0)
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