Pennridge photo courtesy of Kim Supko, Souderton/CR South photo courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography, Springfield photo courtesy of Richard Owen, North Penn photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography, and Bensalem/CR North photo courtesy of Dave Oakill.
Football Forecast – Volume 6
By Scott Huff
Patriot Pride
Central Bucks East (3-1, 1-0) will host unbeaten Pennridge (4-0, 1-0) in a critical Suburban One League National Conference game under the Friday Night Lights @ Patriot Stadium.
The Patriots are coming off an impressive 35-21 conference victory over Neshaminy (2-2, 0-1) and the crucial contest with the defending SOL National Conference champion Rams will keep the winner unbeaten in the conference and in first place in the standings.
However, high school football is much more than the competition on the football field – and perhaps there is no program in the SOL that exemplifies that more than CB East.
Patriot head football coach John Donnelly and the teams he has coached @ CB East for 17 seasons have showcased a program that promotes an extremely strong pride in community.
Patriot Stadium was opened in 2015 and the athletic playing surface is named 1stLt. Colby Umbrell Field in honor of Umbrell – a 1999 CB East football player – who as a member of the U.S. Army was killed in Iraq in 2007.
On Friday night the program will have a ‘Greene Out’ that honors the legacy of former CB East football coach Larry Greene who died in 2013 from Multiple Myeloma at the age of 59.
Greene coached the Patriots for 16 years and had a record of 100-73-3. He also coached 4 seasons at Pennsbury and was 25-12-1 with the Falcons.
The money given by charitable donors to ‘Team Greene’ goes to the Larry Greene Memorial Scholarship Fund which supports cancer awareness. That scholarship is awarded to a Central Bucks East senior who best demonstrates the spirit of Larry Greene.
In addition to the ‘Greene Out’ on Friday night there will be an official dedication of the Larry Greene Memorial Press Box.
Earlier this season at the Central Bucks East home opener against Bethlehem Liberty on September 4th – the Patriot ‘family’ remembered former football & baseball player Connor Boyle who died of osteosarcoma – a rare bone cancer – in August of 2022.
Boyle was diagnosed in 2019 and graduated from CB East with a 4.0 grade point average and was accepted at Villanova University.
Donations were accepted to The Connor Initiative Precision Therapeutics for Osteosarcoma and Rare Cancers @ CHOP.
Once again, Central Bucks East has shown the scholastic football community what class and character are all about.
And that’s a great thing – an incredibly great thing.
Retribution…
Pennridge & Souderton each suffered a single conference loss last season – and both the Rams & Indians were able to redeem those losses last week.
Pennridge finished the 2025 Suburban One League National Conference season with just a single loss. The Rams were defeated by Central Bucks West, 28-14, at War Memorial Field in Doylestown.
Pennridge, though, would conclude the conference season as SOL National Conference champion with an impressive 6-1 record. CB West, North Penn & Neshaminy would all finish deadlocked in second place with 5-2 records.
Pennridge (4-0, 1-0) would get its retribution last week as the Rams scored early and late in a key 14-7 conference victory over the Bucks (3-1, 0-1) @ Helman Field.
Souderton would conclude the 2025 season with a single loss in the Suburban One League Continental Conference. The Indians were defeated by Council Rock South, 14-7, at Walt Snyder Stadium.
Souderton would finish the SOL Continental Conference season with an impressive 6-1 record, while CR South would finish the conference season with an even more impressive conference record as the conference champion at 7-0.
Souderton (1-3, 1-0) would get its retribution last week as the Indians held off a Rock South comeback to defeat the Golden Hawks (2-2, 0-1), 14-13, at Indian Field.
And you know what they say about paybacks…..they can be a real…..well some of you might know what they say.
Still another 250th Celebration in 2026…
North Penn head coach Dick Beck reached a milestone last week as the Knights ‘mercy-ruled’ Pennsbury, 35-7. Beck began his coaching career at North Penn in 2002.
The soon-to-be legendary (or really already legendary) Knight head coach captured his 250th victory as head coach (250-66) and boasts a stunning 79.1% winning percentage as he enters his 25th season as the North Penn head coach.
The remarkable Beck coaching resume includes * a PIAA state championship in 2003 * a state final appearance in 2011 * 8 District One championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2016 & 2025 – note the Knights won the District One title last year & in 2005 without winning the conference championship) * and 14 conference titles (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2021).
Beck has the undeniable credentials for admission to the prestigious Pennsylvania Scholastic Coaches Hall of Fame once he retires from his brilliant coaching career. The PFCA does not admit active coaches.
Beck is already in the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame (2018) and theCentral Bucks High School West Hall of Fame (1986).
=[[=
The one thing everyone knows about Dick Beck (and I’ve talked with him numerous times) is that he doesn’t look in the rearview mirror. His eyes, at this point in time, are clearly focused on still another conference championship – a title that has surprisingly eluded North Penn the last 4 seasons.
And the one thing Dick Beck doesn’t need is good luck this season – the Knights have a history of making their own good luck.
Stay tuned.
How about those Golden Bears???
Upper Moreland (4-0) is the lone Suburban One League American Conference team that is unbeaten so far this non-league season.
The exceptional Golden Bear 2026 resume includes clear victories over the Frankford Pioneers (36-6) * the Bensalem Owls (20-7) * the Lower Moreland Lions (40-14) & Penn Wood Patriots (21-12).
The Purple & Gold should be tested this week as Upper Moreland will make the trek to Chester County to play at West Chester Henderson (3-1).
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference
North Penn Knights (3-1, 1-0) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (3-1, 0-1)
Last Year:
North Penn 31 * Central Bucks West 13
Last Week:
North Penn showed no mercy in a 35-7 conference victory over Pennsbury. London Evans fired 2 touchdown passes – one to Kai Corgin that covered 46 yards – and one to Wil Rittenhouse that
covered 14 yards. Rylei Gray scored on touchdown runs of 47 & 9 yards. Sal Colella returned a fumble 40-yards for a touchdown. Colella returned a fumble last week against Upper Dublin for 75-yards and a score.
Central Bucks West fell from the ranks of the unbeaten as the Bucks were defeated by unbeaten host Pennridge, 14-7. The Bucks lost in the final minute of the game. CB West scored its only touchdown in the fourth period on a 12-yard run by Louie Cipollo that tied the game @ 7-7.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 35 * Central Bucks West Bucks 20
Pennridge Rams (4-0, 1-0) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (3-1, 1-0)
Last Year:
Pennridge 15 * Central Bucks East 8
Last Week:
Pennridge remained unbeaten as the Rams scored late in the first half and late in the game to defeat Central Bucks West, 14-7. Quarterback Aiden Tetkowski fired a 10-yard touchdown pass to Blake Landherr with 18 seconds left in the first half & fired the game winning 36-yard touchdown pass to Sean Leuthe with 37 seconds left in the game.
Central Bucks East rallied from a 21-14 deficit to defeat host Neshaminy, 35-21. The Patriots scored 5 rushing touchdowns to secure the victory. Liam Hoey scored on runs of 80 & 35 yards * Mike Price scored on runs of 65 & 8 yards & quarterback Hunter Pulford scored on a 1-yard run.
Prediction:
Guest Forecaster: Amelia V. Moyer
Pennridge Rams 28 * Central Bucks East Patriots 10
Central Bucks South Titans (1-3, 1-0) @ Neshaminy Redskins (2-2, 0-1)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South 24 * Neshaminy 21
Last Week:
Central Bucks South captured its first victory of the season with a resounding 37-6 conference win over Abington. The Titans ‘mercy-ruled’ the Ghosts and led 37-0 at the close of the first half. CB South quarterback Trent Haviland threw 2 touchdown passes – one to Andrew Rizzo (16 yards) & the other to Josiah Leight (29 yards). Haviland scored on a 33-yard run * Colin White scored on a 74-yard run * Kai Taylor scored on a 2-yard run * Jake Blum returned a punt 55-yards for a score & Oliver Woodcock booted a 36-yard field goal.
Neshaminy lost its conference opener as the Redskins were defeated by visiting Central Bucks East, 35-21. Neshaminy surrendered a 21-14 lead in the second half. Brock Williams scored on touchdown runs of 7 & 1 yards, while Angel Miranda tossed a 74-yard touchdown screen pass to Colson Hill.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 24 * Neshaminy Redskins 17
Abington Galloping Ghosts (2-2, 0-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (2-2, 0-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury 42 * Abington 6
Last Week:
Pennsbury was ‘mercy-ruled’ by North Penn in its conference opener, 35-7. The Falcons trailed the Knights 35-0 @ the close of the first quarter. Pennsbury averted a shoutout late in the game when Henry Garlits scored on a 1-yard run.
Abington had its 2-game winning streak snapped big time as the Ghosts were defeated by Central Bucks South, 37-6. Abington scored in the final quarter to avert the shutout.
Prediction:
Pennsbury Falcons 17 * Abington Galloping Ghosts 14
SOL Continental Conference
Quakertown Panthers (0-4, 0-1) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (2-2, 0-1)
Last Year:
Council Rock South 28 * Quakertown 27
Last Week:
Council Rock South rallied back from a 14-point deficit, but it wasn’t enough as the Golden Hawks lost their conference opener to Souderton, 14-13. Rock South running back Jerry Rogers scored both Golden Hawks touchdowns on runs of 13 & 4 yards.
Quakertown remained winless on the year as the Panthers were overwhelmed by Plymouth Whitemarsh, 44-8. The lone score for the Black Cats came in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard run by Logan Camacho.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Golden Hawks 20 * Quakertown Panthers 10
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (1-3, 0-0) @ Bensalem Owls (1-3, 1-0)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin 20 * Bensalem 7
Last Week:
Upper Dublin captured its first victory of the year as the Flying Cardinals soared to a 25-7 non-league win over Hatboro Horsham. Lawson Tyler tossed 2 touchdown passes – one to Braeden Skahan (10 yards) & one to Jabriel Epps. Tyler also scored on an 11-yard run, while Duncan Boyd kicked a 26-yard field goal.
Bensalem captured its first victory of the season as the Owls outlasted winless Council Rock North in overtime, 6-0. Bensalem junior running back Brennan Farnsworth had a spectacular statistical night rushing for 263 yards on 32 carries. Farnsworth would finally put the scoreless contest in the victory column for the Owls by scoring the winning touchdown in the overtime.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 21 * Bensalem Owls 14
Council Rock North Indians (0-4, 0-1) @ Souderton Indians (1-3, 1-0)
Last Year:
Souderton 70 * Council Rock North 0 (sadly not a typo)
Last Week:
Souderton snapped a 3-game losing streak with a 14-13 conference victory over Council Rock South. The Indians led 14-0 in the first half and were able to hold on for the win. Caleb Moyer jetted for a 70-yard touchdown run, while Brett Pollock scored on a 1-yard run. The game winning play came after the second Rock South touchdown when Chris Gonce blocked the extra point.
Council Rock North continued winless streak that has now extended to 19 games as the Indians lost a heartbreaking 6-0 overtime loss to Bensalem in their conference opener. Rock North had a field goal blocked late in the 4th quarter that would have presented the Indians with a much sought after win. CR North also missed a field goal in the overtime.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 45 * Council Rock North Indians 6
*****Plymouth Whitemarsh***** made its SOL Continental Conference debut with a crushing 44-8 victory over Quakertown. Mike Giangiulio sparked the offense with touchdown runs of 73 & 1 yards and scored a defensive touchdown with a 37-yard return of a fumble for a score. Cole Reilly fired 2 touchdown passes – one to James Cain & the other to Aiden Orensky. Santino closed out the scoring with a 95-yard touchdown run.
Plymouth Whitemarsh was unable to fill an open date created by the loss of Cheltenham on its schedule. The next PW conference game will be played on October 2nd when the Colonials will play @ Souderton.
SOL American Non-League Games
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (4-0) @ West Chester Henderson Warriors (3-1)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland 21 * West Chester Henderson 14
Last Week
Upper Moreland remained unbeaten as the Golden Bears defeated Penn Wood, 21-12. Santino Rodriguez scored on both sides of the football with a 3-yard run and a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown. Quarterback David Adamski fired a 63-yard touchdown pass to Brody Hughes.
West Chester Henderson defeated Upper Merion 45-16 in a non-league game. The only setback on the season for the Warriors was a 21-7 loss to Pottsgrove.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 20 * West Chester Henderson Warriors 17
Academy Park Knights (3-1) @ Wissahickon Trojans (3-1)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Academy Park captured an exciting 21-20 non-league victory over Haverford. The Knights only loss of the season came in the second week in a 17-8 loss to Unionville.
Wissahickon handed Chichester its first loss of the season as the Trojans edged the Eagles, 14-13. The Trojans were coming off a tough 14-7 loss to Archbishop Carroll. Wissahickon opened the season with non-league wins over both Upper Dublin (35-7) & Upper Merion (47-0).
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 21 * Academy Park Knights 20
Chichester Eagles (3-1) @ Harry S Truman Tigers (2-2)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Chichester suffered its first loss of the season as the Eagles were edged by Wissahickon, 14-13. The Eagles opened the season with victories over Radnor (27-7), Audenried (13-0) & William Tennent (34-21).
Harry S Truman continued its roller coaster ride during its non-league schedule (I wrote the exact words last week!) after the Tigers clawed South Philadelphia, 37-0. HST began the season ‘down’ with a 42-13 loss to Haverford * zoomed ‘up’ in a 42-7 victory over CR North * crashed ‘down’ in a 34-7 loss to West Philly * and now flying back ‘up’ with the victory over South Philly. Koko Johnson sparked the offense rushing for over 200 yards and scoring 4 touchdowns. The Tigers led 27-0 @ halftime.
Prediction:
Chichester Eagles 24 * Harry S Truman Tigers 14
North Schuylkill Spartans (0-4) @ Springfield Spartans (2-2)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
North Schuylkill remained winless on the season as the Spartans were routed by Mount Carmel, 55-7. North Schuylkill also lost to Jersey Shore (49-34), Notre Dame Green-Pond (38-7) & Williams Valley (19-14).
Springfield and Bristol played to a scoreless first half, but the Spartans took control of the game in the second half outscoring the Warriors 27-6 in their non-league game. Mekhi Paschall opened the scoring with a ‘pick-6’ for a touchdown * Tru Ellerbee scored on a 62-yard run & Nathan Torrealba tossed 2 touchdown pass – one to Ellerbee for 65-yards – and the other to Marques Warren for 9-yards.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 31 * North Schuylkill Spartans 14
New Hope Solebury Lions (2-2) @ William Tennent Panthers (1-3)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
New Hope Solebury dropped to .500 for the season as the Lions were defeated by Pine Grove, 21-12. The Class 2A Lions have captured victories over both South Hunterdon (23-14) & Kensington (33-6). New Hope lost a non-league game to Pequea Valley, 42-6.
William Tennent took a 6-0 lead in the third quarter when Tony Canales scored on a 6-yard run, however, Lower Moreland matched the third period touchdown – and added the extra point to claim a 7-6 non-league victory over the Panthers. The loss was the third straight setback after an opening season 20-7 win over Council Rock North.
Prediction:
William Tennent Panthers 24 * New Hope Solebury Lions 14
Lower Merion Aces (0-4) @ Hatboro Horsham Hatters (0-4)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Lower Merion remained winless as the Aces were defeated in a non-league game by Garnet Valley, 41-19. Lower Merion has been outscored 188-35 in its four consecutive losses this season.
Hatboro Horsham remained winless as the Hatters were topped by Upper Dublin, 25-7. Hatboro Horsham ‘was in the game’ @ halftime as the Hatters trailed the Flying Cardinals, 10-0.
Prediction:
Hatboro Horsham Hatters 28 * Lower Merion Aces 13
-30-
About the Author
