SOL Football Forecast (9-28-23)

(Photo courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.)

Football Forecast – 5

By Scott Huff

Remember the Titans!

No – I ain’t talking about that 2000 award winning movie by the same name.

I’m talking about those 2012 Central Bucks South Titans that finished the season with a wonderful 10-2 record under head coach Dave Rackovan.

Or how about those 2007 Central Bucks South Titans that finished the season with a near perfect 11-1 record under head coach Bart Szarko?

Or how about these 2023 Central Bucks South Titans that are currently perfect at 5-0 under head coach Tom Hetrick?

Central Bucks South has flown a bit under the radar the last five seasons despite making the PIAA District One 6A playoffs three of those five seasons.

The Titans were 7-4 in 2022 but lost to Souderton 10-0 in the first round of the playoffs.  South was 6-5 in 2021 but lost to North Penn 49-21 in the first round of the playoffs.  The Titans were 7-4 in 2019 but lost to North Penn, again, 35-7 in the first round of the playoffs.

And over that five year span the Titans have compiled a mediocre overall record of 26-24 and never came out of the gates as strong as they have this season. 

CB South was 3-2 in 2022; 3-2 in 2021; 2-3 in 2020; 3-2 in 2019; & 2-3 in 2018 during the first five games of the season.

However, 2023 has put the unbeaten Titans on that SOL National Conference championship – and that PIAA District One 6A playoff – clearly on that radar screen.

CB South swept through the non-conference schedule with victories over Father Judge (13-10), Harry S Truman (42-7), and Council Rock North (47-0).  Nice wins, sure, but the collective record of those three teams at this point of the season is a meager 4-11.

The Titans, however, has been very impressive with SOL National Conference wins over Central Bucks East (13-6) and Pennsbury (24-13).  Both the Patriots and the Falcons were considered contenders for a conference title at the outset of the season.

The cornerstone of the success of South this year is its suffocating defense.  The Titans have allowed just 36 points all season – 7.2 points per game.

Hetrick has praised the efforts of defensive coordinator John Cataldo in preparing South for the challenges of the SOL National Conference.

Senior Adam Oscar, senior Sean Moskowitz, junior Jim Wade, junior Eddie Bowen, and junior Matt Harman…among others…have led the charge on the defensive side of the football.

The offensive side of the football showcases an effective running game.

Senior Anthony Leonardi (524 yds – 9.2 average –3 touchdowns), Senior Corey Moore (327 – 6.2 – 6), and junior quarterback Owen Pinkerton (255 – 6.4 – 1) have been the primary ballcarriers for the Titans.

Pinkerton has been efficient behind center as he has completed 18 of just 27 passes for 193 yards and 4 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 111.6.  Pinkerton’s favorite receiver is senior Jack Mauz who has caught 7 passes for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The Titan SOL National Conference schedule for the five remaining conference games features the following: 

CB South will be @ North Penn (2-3) this week – will host Abington (1-3) on October 6^th – will host Neshaminy (2-3) on October 13^th – and will end the regular season at home against Pennridge (2-3) on October 27^th.

Oh yea – the other game will be played @ Central Bucks West (5-0) on October 20^th.

That Titans-Bucks game could determine both the SOL National Conference championship and who wins the Central Bucks Cup in 2023.

But there is a lot of hard work and heavy lifting to be done by both CB South and CB West before that October meeting at iconic War Memorial Field.

Stay tuned.

Suburban One League American Conference opening acts this week
The long non-conference season is now over for the teams that compete in the SOL American Conference.

Plymouth Whitemarsh is the two-time defending conference champion.  The Colonials swept through the 2022 unbeaten with a 5-0 record, while PW was a perfect 6-0 in 2021.

Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-1) should face a more challenging road to the title this season as both Wissahickon (4-1) & William Tennent (2-3) have resurrected failing programs.

Upper Moreland (2-3), Springfield (2-2), and Cheltenham (0-4) round out the conference and all have featured talented and winning programs in the recent past.

Stay tuned.

He is One 1-derful Player
Shyne Roberts proudly wears #1 on his jersey for Upper Dublin and the number is emblematic of his talents. The electrifying senior torched Wissahickon in the Cardinals 53-42 win in the neighborhood rivalry shootout.

In a non-conference game that featured some eye-popping numbers that included 95 combined total points and 1138 combined yards of total offense – it was the numbers that Roberts generated that made him the #1 featured individual player in the contest.

Roberts rushed for a staggering 334 yards and scored 7 touchdowns against the Trojans.  He scored on game-breaking runs of 75, 66, 49, 45, 17, 12, & 1 yards. 

Roberts was without question that #1 individual performance last week in the entire Suburban One League – and he will take his 1-derful talents to Newtown this week as the defending SOL Continental Conference champion Cardinals (3-2) will travel to meet Council Rock North (1-4).

Stay tuned.

I Spy With My Little Eye
Central Bucks South (5-0, 2-0) will attempt to remain unbeaten this week as the Titans will travel to meet nemesis North Penn (2-3, 1-1) in a critical SOL National Conference game. 

CB South will try to avenge a 35-21 loss to the Knights last season.  The Titans have lost four straight games – including playoff games - to North Penn with the last win coming in 2019 when CBS captured a 36-35 thriller in a regular season contest.

Souderton (5-0, 2-0) will attempt to remain unbeaten this week as the Indians will host Quakertown (2-3, 0-1) in a key SOL Continental Conference game. 

Last season Souderton defeated the Black Cats and won the coveted 309 Bowl, 34-20.  Quakertown captured the trophy in 2021 with a 36-14 victory over the Indians.

Stay tuned.

District One snapshot
If the PIAA District One Playoffs were to begin after the first five weeks of the season the following Suburban One League teams would be in those playoffs.  The top 16 ranked teams in the district earn playoff berths in both the 6A and 5A classifications.

PIAA District One 6A teams:

PIAA District One 5A teams:

And the beat goes on…

SOL National Conference

Central Bucks South Titans (5-0, 2-0) @ North Penn Knights (2-3, 1-1)
Last Year:
North Penn Knights 35 – CB South Titans 21
Last Week:
Central Bucks South remained unbeaten as the Titans captured a 24-13 SOL National Conference victory over Pennsbury.  Anthony Leonardi led the Titans’ ground game with 176 yards. Corey Moore scored a pair of touchdowns for CBS on runs of 3 & 1 yards.  Owen Pinkerton scored on a 45-yard run, while Brendan Hazell kicked a 22-yard field goal.
North Penn failed to put points on the scoreboard as the Knights suffered a rare 28-0 SOL National Conference shutout loss to unbeaten Central Bucks West.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 21 * North Penn Knights 13

Pennsbury Falcons (2-3, 0-2) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (3-2, 1-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury Falcons 37 – CB East Patriots 22
Last Week:
Pennsbury lost its SOL National Conference contest to unbeaten Central Bucks South, 24-13.  Nathan Beighley scored on a 38-yard run for the Falcons, while Jordan Czneriak scored on a 1-yard run for the Black & Orange.
Central Bucks East escaped with an 18-17 double overtime SOL National Conference victory at Pennridge.  The game winning touchdown came on a TD pass from Dan Voglesong to Jack Donnelly.  Jack Corrigan kicked a pair of field goals for the Patriots – one of 32 yards – and the other of 35 yards.  The CBE defense recorded a safety to give the winners an odd 5-3 lead at halftime.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 20 * Pennsbury Falcons 14

Pennridge Rams (2-3, 1-1) @ Neshaminy Redskins (2-3, 1-1)
Last Year:
Neshaminy Redskins 7 – Pennridge Rams 6
Last Week:
Pennridge lost a heartbreaker in double overtime as the Rams lost to SOL National Conference rival Central Bucks East.  Noah Keating completed 19 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns – both to Joe Gregoire.
Neshaminy exploded for 38 points as the Redskins routed Abington, 38-22.  Colin Baker completed 13 of 16 passes for 175 yards and fired touchdown passes to Connor Frederick and Lewis Stewart.  Carter Clee carried 31 times for 140 yards and scored on TD runs of 5 and 3 yards.  Travis Lavelah carried 13 times for 104 yards and scored on a 2-yard run.  Kaiden Nicastro kicked a 34-yard field goal for the winners.
Prediction:
Neshaminy Redskins 24 * Pennridge Rams 20

Abington Ghosts (1-3, 0-2) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (5-0, 2-0)
Last Year:
Central Bucks West Bucks 27 – Abington Ghosts 0
Last Week:
Abington lost for the third straight week as the Ghosts suffered a 38-22 SOL National Conference loss to Neshaminy.  Quarterback Anthony Posati kept Abington in the game early with a rushing and passing touchdown.
CB West remained unbeaten as the Bucks gouged North Penn 28-0 in a SOL National Conference contest.  Connor McFadden scored on a 27-yard run and also returned a fumble for a score.  Ryan Clemens scored on a 39-yard touchdown run, while quarterback Cooper Taylor scored on a 59-yard touchdown run.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 42 * Abington Galloping Ghosts 7

SOL Continental Conference

Quakertown Panthers (2-3, 0-1) @ Souderton Indians (5-0, 2-0)
Last Year:
Souderton Indians 34 – Quakertown 20
Last Week:
Quakertown lost its SOL Continental Conference opener to Council Rock South, 20-17.  The Black Cats led 17-7 at one point of the game but failed to hold the lead.  Aiden Whiteley scored on a 1-yard run, while Vince Mucucci fired a 90-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Burgy.  Logan Jeffrey booted a 40-yard field goal for Q-town.
Souderton remained unbeaten as the Indians captured a 49-21 SOL Continental Conference victory over Harry S Truman.  Ryan Sadowski scored 3 rushing touchdowns for the winners, while Michael McCormick and Houston Marshall also rushed for scores.  Joey Nase had a pick-6 for the Indians.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 20 * Quakertown Panthers 17

Upper Dublin Cardinals (3-2, 1-0) @ Council Rock North Indians (1-4, 1-1)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 41 – CR North Indians 13
Last Week:
Upper Dublin exploded for 53 points in a non-conference game against Wissahickon and posted a 53-42 victory over the previously unbeaten Trojans.  In addition to the 95 points scored in the game, both teams totaled a staggering 1138 yards of total offense. Shyne Roberts scored 7 touchdowns for the winners, while Ronald Shepherd surpassed the 100-yard mark and also scored for the Cardinals.
CR North won its first game of the season as the Indians rallied for a 20-14 SOL Continental Conference victory over Bensalem.  Will Scibona caught a pair of touchdown passes for Rock North – one from Gio Cozza – and the other from  Logan Atkinson.  Drew Hendricks scored a rushing touchdown for the winners.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 45 * Council Rock North Indians 14

Bensalem Owls (0-5, 0-2) @ Harry S Truman Tigers (1-4, 0-2)
Last Year:
Truman Tigers 8 – Bensalem Owls 7
Last Week:
Truman lost its SOL Continental Conference game to Souderton, 49-21.  The good news for the Tigers was that they led 14-13 at halftime.  However, HST was outscored 29-0 in the third period.
Bensalem remained winless for the season as the Owls lost to Council Rock North, 20-14.  The good news for Bensalem came when the Owls held a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.  Bensalem has now lost 10 straight game dating back to the 2022 season.
Prediction:
Harry S Truman Tigers 21 * Bensalem Owls 13

SOL American Conference

Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (3-1) @ Cheltenham Panthers (0-4)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 37 – Cheltenham 6
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh rebounded from its 21-0 loss to Quakertown to rout JP McCaskey, 48-14.  Caiden Leszczyski fired touchdown passes to Nazye Boggs and Luke Winterbottom.  Boggs scored 2 rushing touchdowns, while Lesczcyski, Winterbottom, and Mike Bongard each scored single touchdowns.
Cheltenham remained winless as the Panthers fell to Roman Catholic in a non-conference game, 32-12.  The combined records of the four teams Cheltenham have played – Chester, Wilson, Perkiomen Valley, & Roman Catholic is 14-5.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 28 * Cheltenham Panthers 14

Springfield Spartans (2-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (4-1)
Last Year:
Springfield Spartans 21 – Wissahickon 14
Last Week:
Springfield had a bye last week.  Two weeks ago, the Spartans fell to West Philadelphia, 36-20, in a non-conference game.
Wissahickon lost in spectacular fashion in a 53-42 non-conference loss to Upper Dublin.  Nolan Pounds threw 3 touchdown passes in the setback – one of 54 yards to Aiden Westcott – another of 20 yards to Amari Walsh – and still another of 25 yards to Rahmel Brooks.  Quasir Sampson scored on a 1-yard run, while Jaden McLean also scored on a 1-yard run.  McLean scored a defensive touchdown on a 33-yard interception return.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 45 * Springfield Spartans 28

William Tennent Panthers (2-3) @ Upper Moreland Bears (2-3)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 42 – William Tennent Panthers 14
Last Week:
William Tennent had its two-game winning streak snapped in a 35-13 non-conference loss to Father Judge.  Derrick Guenther and Isaiah Rosario each threw touchdown passes for the Panthers.
Upper Moreland defeated New-Hope Solebury in a non-conference contest, 41-9.
Prediction:
William Tennent Panthers 21 * Upper Moreland Golden Bears 17

SOL Non-Conference

Council Rock South Hawks (4-1) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (3-2)
Last Year:
Council Rock South 46 – Hatboro-Horsham 0
Last Week:
Council Rock South defeated Quakertown 20-17 in a key SOL Continental Conference game.  Chase Ennis threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Christian and scored on a 1-yard run.  Chase Myers scored on a 12-yard run for the Golden Hawks.
Hatboro-Horsham defeated Lower Moreland, 43-13.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Golden Hawks 28 * Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 20

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