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By Scott Huff
Football Forecast
Week – 6
Playoffs?????
We’re Talkin’ playoffs?????
The first days of fall have just begun (ignore the 90-degree weather), and we’re already talking PIAA District One playoffs.
Quiz # 1 – What percent of 6 A District One teams make the playoffs?
- (a) 28%
- (b) 37%
- (c) 41%
- (d) 48%
After five weeks of the 2019 season, there are seven Suburban One League teams that are in the top 16 that qualify for the playoffs.
If the season ended today – the following programs would make the 6 A tournament bracket.
Team Seed Record Ranking
Central Bucks West 2 5-0 152
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4 5-0 144
Souderton 4 5-0 144
North Penn 6 4-1 136
Abington 7 4-1 126
Central Bucks South 13 3-2 114
Harry S Truman 16 3-2 108
Notice – two elite programs from the SOL that are not on the current playoff list includes Pennbury [# 20 (2-3) – 86] and Neshaminy [#21 (2-3) – 84].
Stay tuned!
Answer to Quiz # 1 – (d) 48%. There are 33 schools in District 1 that are 6 A – and 16 make the playoffs.
Quiz # 2 – What percent of District One 5A teams make the playoffs?
- (a) 44%
- (b) 48%
- (c) 58%
- (d) 64%
After five weeks of the 2019 season, there are two 5 A SOL teams that would make the 16-team playoff field in District One.
Team Seed Record Ranking
Cheltenham 4 4-1 136
Upper Dublin 8 3-1 130
Stay tuned!
Answer to Quiz # 2 – (d) 64%. There are 25 schools in District One that are 5 A – and 16 make the playoffs.
Quiz # 3 – What percent of District One 4 A teams make the playoffs?
- (a) 37%
- (b) 47%
- ©57%
- (d) 67%
After five weeks of the 2019 season, there is one SOL team and one Independent team from the Suburban One Sports.com coverage area that would make the 4-team field in District One.
Team Seed. Record Ranking
Springfield (I) 1 3-1 110
Upper Moreland (SOL) 4 3-2 106
Stay tuned!
Answer to Quiz #3 – (d) 67%. There are only six schools in District One that are 4 A and four make the playoffs.
Old Business
Don’t Get me started!! (again)
Upper Dublin was the latest casualty from the Suburban One League as the Flying Cardinals ventured out of the public school domain to play a private school. Upper Dublin, for whatever reason, has had trouble the last few years in filling their schedule.
So, the Cardinals chose to ‘challenge itself’ and compete with a private school in Inter-Ac power Penn Charter – a school that has no restrictions on who can attend the school.
Give Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover credit for attempting to step ‘up’ – but as it turned out the Cardinals were stepped ‘on’ in a 56-0 loss to the Quakers.
Go figure!! (again)
Souderton defeated Pennridge 24-21 last week in one of the very best SOL games this season.
The Indians and the Rams showcased all three of the criteria that the SOL wanted when it realigned the conferences for next season.
Competitive balance – The game came down to a field goal and Pennridge had the ball at the end of the game with a chance to win. Last year Souderton won 38-33 in still another thriller. The school enrollments of the two schools are nearly identical – Pennridge with 2326 students and Souderton with 2254 students.
Traditional Rivalry – This game has always been circled in blood red by on the schedule by both communities – by both team coaches – and by both teams’ players. Heck – Pennridge head coach Cody Muller played for Souderton head coach Ed Gallagher. And Gallagher was an assistant coach at Pennridge under head coach Jeff Hollenbach. Crowds are always huge and fans are always fanatic.
Travel Efficiency – Souderton and Pennridge are bordering school districts - bordering school districts! Cross over County Line Road and depending on which direction you are going – you are in the Big Red Country in Montgomery County or Ram Country in Bucks County.
So - it is only logical that arch-rivals Souderton and Pennridge will be in the same football conference next season.
Not so fast!
Souderton will be in the SOL Continental Conference and Pennridge will be in the SOL National Conference. This intense rivalry would have to continue on a non-league basis with no conference championships at stake.
And the beat goes on…
This Week in the Suburban One League
American Conference
Friday = 7 pm
CHELTENHAM PANTHERS (4-1, 1-0) @ UPPER DUBLIN CARDINALS (3-1, 1-0)
Last Week:
Cheltenham gave notice that they are conference contenders as the Panthers clawed Quakertown 30-12. Jamir Barnes raced for 159 yards and a touchdown, while Adonis Hunter passed for 115 yards and a score. Nate Edwards scored on a 37-yard interception.
Upper Dublin suffered its first defeat of the year – and suffer really doesn’t explain it. The Cardinals were shutout 56-0 by Penn Charter (see above) and also lost standout quarterback Mike Slivka during the game to a knee injury. His return is questionable.
Prediction:
Cheltenham 27 – Upper Dublin 17
UPPER MORELAND BEARS (3-2, 0-2) @ HATBORO-HORSHAM HATTERS (0-5, 0-2)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland remained winless in the conference – and undefeated out of conference – in a 28-6 loss to Plymouth Whitemarsh. The lone score of the Golden Bears was a scoring pass from Casey Aidain to Cameryn Jackson on the final play of the game.
Hatboro-Horsham remained winless for the season as the Hatters lost 21-18 to Wissahickon. Hatboro-Horsham led twice – (12-7 & 18-14) – but lost the lead in the fourth quarter. Colin O’Sullivan completed 11 passes and tossed a TD pass.
Prediction: (Upset Special)
Hatboro-Horsham 24 – Upper Moreland 21
WISSAHICKON TROJANS (1-4, 1-1) @ QUAKERTOWN PANTHERS (1-4, 1-1)
Last Week:
Wissahickon won its first game of the season as the Trojans rallied for a 21-18 victory over Hatboro-Horsham. Aiden DeFeo fired 3 touchdown aerials for the winners – connecting twice with EJ Schreiner for scores. Kicker Nathan DeVincent was a perfect 3-3 on placements to provide the margin of victory.
Quakertown was humbled by Cheltenham 30-12 last week. The Black Cats received touchdown runs by Tyler Merwarth and Will Steich. Steich also completed 22 passes for 234 yards.
Prediction:
Quakertown 35 – Wissahickon 13
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (5-0, 2-0) HAS A BYE
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh remained unbeaten as the Colonials marched to a 28-6 victory over Upper Moreland. Brian Dreslin rushed for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Michael Paciello rushed for 104 yards and a score.
Continental Conference
Friday – 7 pm
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST PATRIOTS (3-2, 0-1) @ SOUDERTON INDIANS (5-0, 2-0)
Last Week:
Central Bucks East lost for the second week in a row as the Patriots were defeated by North Penn 49-25. CB East quarterback Anthony Giordano passed for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns – both TD throws were to Will Silverman who caught 8 passes for 142 yards.
Souderton defeated rival Pennridge 24-21. Andrew Vince completed 8 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. Will Leyland booted what proved to be the game-winning field goal in the final moments of the first half to give the Big Red 17-14 lead.
Prediction:
Souderton 27 – CB East 24
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST BUCKS (5-0, 2-0) @ PENNRIDGE RAMS (1-4, 0-2)
Last Week:
Central Bucks West remained unbeaten with a 28-0 victory over William Tennent. Jack Fallon once again posted good numbers as he rushed for 117 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Jack Neri passed for a TD and also rushed for a score.
Pennridge lost for the fourth straight week, but the Rams posted some good offensive numbers. Bobby Croyle scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the Green & White and also passed for 165 yards and a score that included a 76-yard TD pass to Elias Dantzer.
Prediction:
CB West 28 - Pennridge 21
WILLIAM TENNENT (2-3, 0-2) 2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH (3-2, 0-1)
Last Week:
William Tennent had a rough offensive outing as the Panthers were shut out by a 28-0 score against unbeaten Central Bucks West. Tommy Santiago accounted for 103 of the 215 total yards for the Black Cats.
Central Bucks South has three wins this season, but the Titans are still in search of their first conference win. CBS routed Bensalem 40-13 in a game that marked the return of quarterback Josh Consoletti. Consoletti completed 7 of 8 passes for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sean Smith caught 5 passes for 145 yards and 2 scores, while Matt Cohen scored 2 rushing touchdowns.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South 35 – William Tennent 17
National Conference
Friday – 7 pm
NESHAMINY REDSKINS (2-3, 1-1) @ ABINGTON GHOSTS (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week:
Neshaminy continued to impress on offense – but not so much on defense – as the Skins fell to Truman 55-41. Quarterback Brody McAndrew rang up some impressive stats throwing for 313 yards and 5 touchdowns. Ian Sheehan caught 12 passes for 235 yards and a score, while Chris James rushed for 2 scores.
Abington collected a 38-8 victory over winless Council Rock South. The Ghosts had still another terrific day turned in by quarterback Tamir Berthau who completed 10 passes – 1 for a touchdown.
Prediction: (Upset Special – 2)
Neshaminy 38 – Abington 35
PENNSBURY FALCONS (2-3, 1-0) @ BENSAELM OWLS (2-3, 0-1)
Last Week:
Pennsbury won for the second straight week as the Falcons soared to a 38-7 victory over Council Rock North. Quarterback turned running back Drew Hensor was terrific, rushing for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns, while new starting quarterback CJ Kohler threw 2 touchdowns passes.
Bensalem lost for the third straight week as the Owls were shot down by Central Bucks South in a non-league game, 40-13. Henry Hill and Josiah Leonard scored touchdowns for the Blue & White.
Prediction:
Pennsbury 45 – Bensalem 14
HARRY S TRUMAN TIGERS (3-2, 2-0) @ COUNCIL ROCK NORTH INDIANS (1-4, 0-2)
Last Week:
Truman exploded offensively and defeated Neshaminy by a 55-41 final. Dajuan Harris had a superlative outing with 243 yards and 5 touchdowns. Quarterback David Wilson passed for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Council Rock North lost for the third straight week as the Indians were defeated by Pennsbury 38-7.
Prediction:
Harry S Truman 45 – Council Rock North 7
Non-League Games
Friday – 7 pm
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH HAWKS (0-5) @ NORTH PENN KNIGHTS (4-1)
Last Week:
Council Rock South continued its painful season in a 38-8 loss to Abington. The lone score for the Golden Hawks came on a touchdown run by Brady Brees. Rock South has been outscored 184-35 this season.
North Penn won for the fourth straight time as the Knights marched to an easy 49-25 victory over Central Bucks East. Sophomore Khalani Eaton was terrific with 32 carries for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns. RJ Macnamara also rushed for 108 yards, while freshman quarterback Ryan Zeltt completed 8 passes for 105 yards.
Prediction:
North Penn 49 – Council Rock South 7
BRISTOL WARRIORS (1-3) @ SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) SPARTANS (3-2)
Last Week:
Bristol lost for the third straight week as the Warriors lost a tough 22-20 contest to the George School.
Springfield suffered its second loss of the season as the Spartans fell to Academy of the New Church 29-13. Gabe Franczk threw a pair of touchdown passes – one to Brennan Fluehr and the other to Cam Dennis.
Prediction:
Springfield 28 – Bristol 14
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