Football Forecast – 5
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League season has reached its midpoint and now my midterm grades are in.
In the SOL National Conference, the honor roll grades go to Central Bucks East, Pennsbury, Neshaminy, and Central Bucks South.
Central Bucks East (5-0) ranks # 1 in the class with a midterm grade of an A+. The unbeaten Patriots have beaten Chambersburg (38-21), Bensalem (42-0), Souderton (30-13), Central Bucks South (21-7), and Pennridge (16-13 in double overtime).
Pennsbury (4-1) earned well deserved B+ capturing wins over William Tennent (35-0), Council Rock South (41-6), Central Bucks West (26-21), and Central Bucks South (28-6). The only loss of the year came against unbeaten Ches-Mont power Coatesville (5-0), 28-6.
Neshaminy (3-2) has earned a B with victories over Ocean City [NJ] (21-0), Council Rock South (21-7), and Abington (26-0). The Redskins have lost games to North Penn (2-3), 35-28 in overtime & Ches-Mont power Downingtown West (4-1), 30-7.
Central Bucks South (3-2) has earned a B despite losing the last two games. The Titans have captured victories over Plymouth Whitemarsh (21-6), Harry S Truman (35-8), and Council Rock North (56-7). Setbacks came against unbeaten CB East (21-7) and Pennsbury (28-6).
In the SOL Continental Conference, the honor roll grades go to Upper Dublin & Souderton.
Upper Dublin (5-0) ranks # 1 in the class with a midterm grade of an A+. The unbeaten Flying Cardinals have defeated Kennett (37-13), Central Bucks West (35-7), North Penn (32-28), Bensalem (33-7), and Wissahickon (47-0).
Souderton (4-1) has earned a B+ capturing wins over Haverford (27-7), Pennridge (24-21), Council Rock North (35-14), and Harry S Truman (38-0). The lone loss for the Indians came against unbeaten Central Bucks East (5-0), 30-13.
In the SOL American Conference, the honor roll goes to Upper Moreland, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Cheltenham, and Springfield.
Upper Moreland (4-1) ranks tied for # 1 in the class with a midterm grade of B+. The Golden Bears have captured victories over Hatboro Horsham (41-0), Archbishop Carroll (41-13), Executive Education Academy (42-19), and New Hope-Solebury (35-13). The lone loss of the season came against Interboro (3-2), 37-7.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-2) has earned a midterm grade of B+ to tie for first in the class. The Colonials have marched to wins over Methacton (34-0), Quakertown (49-0), and Lancaster McCaskey (46-0). PW suffered losses to Central Bucks South (3-2), 21-6 & to Ridley (3-2), 35-13.
Cheltenham (3-2) is also tied for #1 with a midterm grade of B+. The Panthers have captured wins over Abington (26-8), Chestnut Hill Academy (7-6), and Upper Darby (34-0). Cheltenham lost to Northeast (3-1), 24-20 & to Perkiomen Valley (4-1), 35-25.
Springfield (3-1) earned a midterm grade of B. The Spartans have victories over Lower Moreland (45-6), Harriton (41-7), and Hatboro Horsham (21-6). The lone loss of the season came against Phoenixville (3-2), 42-21.
But as well all know – it isn’t the midterm grade that counts.
Final grades – and PIAA District One playoff selections – are coming up.
Stay tuned.
309 Bowl Trivia - Souderton and Quakertown will meet this week in hopes of capturing the 309 Bowl trophy. Quakertown - which also beat Souderton in the District One playoffs last year - won the trophy last season, 36-14. The Indians defeated the Panthers in the 309 Bowl, 28-23, in 2020. In the last 10 years, which school has kept the trophy in its possession the most times?
Truth, Justice & the American Way
The SOL American Conference is finally getting underway after an extended non-conference preseason.
Cheltenham, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Upper Moreland, Springfield, William Tennent, and Wissahickon will close out the season in conference play.
New Hope-Solebury and Lower Moreland – at some point in the future – will give up playing an independent schedule and join the SOL American Conference.
If I was a betting man, and my family is glad I am not, I would predict a three-team race for the SOL American Conference championship with Plymouth Whitemarsh, Upper Moreland, & Cheltenham as the favorites.
Springfield is a dark horse at this point, while William Tennent and Wissahickon are long shots at best.
One of the biggest games of the year will take place on Friday as Cheltenham will board a bus to Plymouth Meeting to play Plymouth Whitemarsh in a critical SOL American Conference game.
Stay tuned.
Answer to 309 Bowl Trivia – Souderton has won 6 of the last 10 meetings with wins in 2020, 2019 (24-10), 2016 (26-20), 2013 (28-7), 2012 (23-7), & 2011 (41-17). Q-town has won 4 of the last 10 meetings with victories in 2021, 2018 (28-14), 2017 (16-13), and 2014 (24-21 in double overtime). Note: there was no game played in 2015.
An Unexpected ‘Knight’mare
North Penn has been one of the most elite programs in the Suburban One League, all of District One, and in all the state of Pennsylvania for that matter.
But the 2022 season has been a challenging one to say the very least for head coach Dick Beck and his Knights.
North Penn (2-3) opened the season with a 37-28 loss to perennial private school power La Salle. The Knight defense could not contain an explosive Explorer offense on that evening, but then La Salle has also been a traditionally elite program.
Not so fast.
This is not your typical La Salle team. Since the victory over the Knights, the Explorers (1-3 record) were destroyed by Malvern Prep (35-0) and Bishop McDevitt – Harrisburg (56-7). La Salle lost last week to Haverford School, 21-7.
However, after a dominating 49-7 non-conference victory over defending SOL Continental Conference champion Quakertown (2-3) in Week Two it looked like all was well again with North Penn.
Not so fast.
Upper Dublin (5-0) – an elite 5A program – shocked the 6A Knights, 32-28 in Week Three. The North Penn defense allowed the Cardinals to score a pair of touchdowns in the final minute of the game.
Once again, it looked like the Knights were about to right the ship with a thrilling 35-28 Week Four overtime victory over Neshaminy (3-2). But again, the questions about the NP defense continued, but a win is a win, and the Knights were determined to defend its SOL National Conference title.
Not so fast.
Central Bucks West (2-3) had its way with the North Penn defense in a convincing 35-14 Week Five conference victory. The Bucks punished the Knight defense running the ball 60 times for 344 yards (5.7 average) and 25 first downs.
It is hard to imagine that a North Penn football program could have a losing record after five games this season – or any season. But the Knights two victories this year came after stunning losses, and you can look for North Penn to rebound once again this week when they travel to meet a very good team in the Central Bucks South (3-2) Titans.
Stay tuned.
A Sneak Peek into the current District One Playoff Rankings
AAAAAA
16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs
(1) Central Bucks East Patriots --- 166 points
(5) Pennsbury Falcons --- 138 points
(7) Souderton Indians --- 134 points
(10) Central Bucks South --- 108 points
(11) Neshaminy Redskins --- 104 points
(15) Cheltenham Panthers --- 98 points
(16) Central Bucks West Bucks --- 92 points
AAAAA
16 Teams Qualify for Playoffs
(1) Upper Dublin Cardinals --- 174 point
(6) Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials --- 116 points
(11) Upper Moreland Golden Bears --- 98
AAAA
4 Teams Qualify for Playoffs
(2) Springfield Spartans --- 132 points
And the beat goes on…
Suburban One League
National Conference
Friday/September 30, 2022
Central Bucks East Patriots (5-0, 2-0) @ Pennsbury Falcons (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week:
Central Bucks East captured a thrilling 16-13 double overtime conference victory over visiting Pennridge. Jack Corrigan split the uprights on a 30-yard field to give the Patriots the walk-off victory. Ethan Shine rushed for 248 yards on 37 carries and scored a touchdown. CBE rushed for a game-high 320 yards.
Pennsbury captured its fourth straight win as the Falcons soared to a 28-6 conference victory over Central Bucks South. Galamama Mulbah rushed for 208 yards and scored 2 touchdowns for PHS – one of the TD runs covered 91-yards. Chamar Wade scored on a 14-yard interception return.
Prediction: Central Bucks East Patriots 24 – Pennsbury Falcons 21
North Penn Knights (2-3, 1-1) @ Central Bucks South Titans (3-2, 0-2)
Last Week:
North Penn lost for the first time in conference play as the Knights were defeated by Central Bucks West, 35-14. Ryan Zeltt completed 15 passes for 200 yards. Yazeed Haynes caught 7 passes for 106 yards. The Knights scores came on touchdown runs by Michai Cuffie and Amir Major.
Central Bucks South lost for the second straight week in conference play as the Titans lost to Pennsbury, 28-6. CB South led 6-0 early on a 6-yard touchdown run by Will Ratcliffe. The Titans, however, were outscored 28-0 for the remainder of the game.
Prediction: North Penn Knights 38 – Central Bucks South Titans 35
Neshaminy Redskins (3-2, 1-1) @ Pennridge Rams (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week:
Neshaminy captured its first conference victory as the Redskins shut out Abington, 26-0. Once again, Markus Barnett was the featured running back for Neshaminy as he rushed for 96 yards and scored 3 touchdowns. Quarterback Colin Baker also scored a rushing TD for the winners. Travis Lavelah and Collin Giambrone intercepted pass to spark the defense.
Pennridge lost a conference heartbreaker in double overtime as the Rams fell to host Central Bucks East, 16-13. Brennan Fisher ran the ball 32 times for a team-high 175 yards. Fisher also found the endzone on a 90-yard kickoff return.
Prediction: Neshaminy Redskins 21 – Pennridge Rams 14
Abington Ghosts (2-3, 0-2) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week:
Abington remained winless – and scoreless – in conference play as the Ghosts were defeated by Neshaminy, 26-0. Last week Abington was shut out by Pennridge, 34-0. The Ghosts scored over 40 points twice in non-league games with a 45-13 win over CR North and a 49-7 win over Harry S Truman.
Central Bucks West gave notice that it was to be a contender in the conference with a 35-14 victory over North Penn. Eli Boehm rushed 37 times for 223 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 21, 52, and 6 yards. Vinny Cherubini scored on a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs.
Prediction: Central Bucks West Bucks 38 – Abington Ghosts 14
Suburban One League
Continental Conference
Friday/September 30, 2022
Souderton Indians (4-1, 2-0) @ Quakertown Panthers (2-3, 1-0)
Last Week:
Souderton remained unbeaten in conference play as the Indians defeated Harry S Truman, 38-0. Caleb Hageman rushed for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Big Red, while Chris Kerns and Ryan Sadowski also scored rushing touchdowns. Grayson Largent caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jared Zimmerman.
Quakertown remained unbeaten in conference play as the Panthers defeated Council Rock South, 16-0. John Eatherton – back from injury – scored on a 1-yard run and scored on a 76-yard touchdown pass from Vince Micucci. The Black Cats took an early 2-0 lead on a safety.
Prediction: Souderton Indians 35 – Quakertown Panthers 14
Harry S Truman Tigers (1-4, 0-2) @ Bensalem Owls (2-3, 1-1)
Last Week:
Harry S Truman lost for the fourth week in a row as the Tigers were tamed by Souderton, 38-0. Truman – which defeated Chichester 19-2 in the season opener - has been outscored 138-22 during the four-game losing streak.
Bensalem captured its first conference victory with a 22-14 victory over Council Rock North. Freshman Thomas Bailey made the most of his first varsity start scoring a pair of rushing touchdowns and scoring on a ‘pick six’. Rymeer Newkirk rushed for 108 yards and scored on a 9-yard run. The win snapped a three-game Owl losing streak.
Prediction: Bensalem Owls 20 – Harry S Truman Tigers 13
Council Rock North Indians (1-5, 0-2) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (5-0, 1-0)
Last Week:
Council Rock North lost a competitive 22-14 conference game to Bensalem. The Indians – after defeating Norristown in the opening game of the season – have now lost four games in a row.
Upper Dublin remained unbeaten in the 2022 season with a commanding 47-0 non-league victory over Wissahickon. Dominick Paone intercepted 3 passes to highlight the defensive effort, while quarterback Colin O’Sullivan fired a pair of touchdown passes to DJ Cerisier to showcase the offense.
Prediction: Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 48 – CR North Indians 13
Suburban One League
American Conference
Friday/September 30, 2022
Cheltenham Panthers (3-2) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (3-2)
Last Week:
Cheltenham won for the second consecutive week as the Panthers mauled Upper Darby, 34-0. Jonathan Ingram threw a pair of touchdown passes – one to Jules Arthur – and the other to Marcel Pagbaya. Tre McLeod scored on a rushing touchdown and returned a fumble of another score.
Plymouth Whitemarsh went on the road to Lancaster and came back with a stunning 46-0 non-league victory over McCaskey. Aiden O’Brien threw a touchdown pass and rushed for a TD. Luke Winterbottom and Greg Feinberg scored rushing touchdowns. The Colonials intercepted three passes – one each by Chase Smith, Cam Williams, and Taeshaun Johnson.
Prediction: Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 21 – Cheltenham Panthers 20
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (4-1) @ William Tennent Panthers (1-3)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland captured a 35-13 non-conference victory over New Hope Solebury. Stephen Broderick sparked the offensive side of the ball, while Hassan Johnson highlighted the defense with a ‘pick six’.
William Tennent had its game with Central cancelled. The Panthers defeated Hatboro Horsham 30-18 two weeks ago to capture their first victory of the season.
Prediction: Upper Moreland Golden Bears 28 – William Tennent Panthers 17
Wissahickon Trojans (0-5) @ Springfield Spartans (3-1)
Last Week:
Wissahickon remained winless for the 2022 season as the Trojans dropped a 47-0 non-conference contest to Upper Dublin.
Springfield had a bye last week. After winning their first three games, the Spartans suffered a 42-21 loss to Phoenixville two weeks ago.
Prediction: Springfield Spartans 21 – Wissahickon Trojans 17
Suburban One League
Non-League Game
Friday/September 30, 2022
Hatboro Horsham Hatters (1-3) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (2-3)
Last Week:
Hatboro Horsham won its first game of the season as the Hatters topped Lower Moreland, 35-7.
Council Rock South lost a conference game to Quakertown, 16-0. Chase Ennis passed for 143 yards in the setback.
Prediction: Council Rock South Golden Hawks 17 – Hatboro Horsham Hatters 8
Suburban One Sports.com
Super Seven
Last Week in [XXXX]
1. Upper Dublin Cardinals (5-0) --- [1]
2. Central Bucks East Patriots (5-0) --- [2]
3. Pennsbury Falcons (4-1) --- [5]
4. Souderton Indians (4-1) --- [6]
5. Central Bucks South Titans (3-2) --- [3]
6. Neshaminy Redskins (3-2) --- [7]
7. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (3-2) --- [NR]
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