Photo courtesy of William David Tucker: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p752281458
Football Forecast – Volume 2
By Scott Huff
The second and third week of the Suburban One League football season features cross-over games between the SOL National Conference and the SOL Continental Conference.
In the second week of the season, the SOL National Conference was a perfect 8-0 against the SOL Continental Conference with only one game being “competitive”.
Abington edged Harry S Truman 7-6, however, the remaining games were not one-score games.
Central Bucks East defeated Cheltenham (42-26), Pennridge defeated Bensalem (38-27), Central Bucks West defeated Upper Dublin (35-14), Neshaminy defeated Council Rock North (34-13), North Penn defeated Council Rock South (34-6), Central Bucks South defeated Souderton (21-6) & Pennsbury defeated Quakertown (17-7).
The third week of the season once again features the SOL National as strong favorites over the SOL Continental – with only the Abington-Bensalem game in question.
Stay tuned.
Souderton football fans…..DO NOT READ THIS
Souderton was impressive and cruised to an 11-0 record in 2023 – and captured a Suburban One League Continental Conference championship.
The 11 victories were a Big Red football school record for the most wins in a season.
Souderton lost its only game of the 2023 season in the PIAA District One second round playoffs, 34-17, against Downingtown West.
The Souderton has opened the 2024 season with a pair of losses. The Indians dropped its season opener to defending Pioneer Athletic Conference champion Spring-Ford, 31-14, and followed with a 21-6 loss last week to defending PIAA District One champion Central Bucks South.
The question this week is – can Souderton avoid a fourth straight loss when the Indians travel on Friday to iconic War Memorial Field in Doylestown to take on unbeaten and defending SOL National Conference champion Central Bucks West?
The scoring comparisons for the early 2024 season sure do not favor the Indians.
The hard, cold facts are these: Souderton lost to Spring-Ford 31-14 – Spring-Ford lost to Easton 49-7 (not a typo) & Easton lost to CB West 21-12.
But all you really know….is that you don’t know!!
Stay tuned.
Not to brag………but
Last week there were 14 non-league Suburban One League games played, and I was an impressive 13-1 in my predictions.
Take that Drew Markol!
The only game that I did not pick correctly was the Plymouth Whitemarsh-Wilson West Lawn game. The Colonials lost to WWL by a 21-7 score and ruined my perfect forecast.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National & Continental Conference
Cross-Over Games
Friday 7 – pm
Souderton Indians (0-2) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (2-0)
Last Week:
Souderton lost for the second straight week as the Indians fell to defending PIAA District One 6A champion Central Bucks South, 21-6. The Big Red could only manage a pair of field goals by Tannor Wiszneski.
Central Bucks West remained unbeaten with a convincing 35-14 victory over Upper Dublin. Ryan Clemens rushed for 148 yards and totaled 108 yards receiving – kicked 5 extra points -and scored 3 touchdowns in the win. Vance Morelli scored on a 75-yard pass from Noah Miller and registered a ‘pick-six’ to spark the defense.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 35 – Souderton Indians 13
Upper Dublin Cardinals (1-1) @ Central Bucks South Titans (2-0)
Last Week:
Upper Dublin lost for the first time this season as the Cardinals were defeated by Central Bucks West, 35-14. Ryan O’Sullivan scored on a touchdown pass from Kevin Elkin.
Central Bucks South remained unbeaten with a 21-6 non-league victory over host Souderton. Owen Pinkerton, Gavin Graham & Kaden Kube all scored rushing touchdowns for the Titans. The CBS defense limited Souderton to just a pair of field goals and have not allowed a touchdown so far this season.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 24 * Upper Dublin Cardinals 13
Council Rock South Hawks (1-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (1-1)
Last Week:
Council Rock South lost for the first time this season as the Golden Hawks were defeated by North Penn, 34-6. The lone score for Rock South came in the final moments as Brody Walker scored on a touchdown pass.
Pennsbury bounced back from an opening season loss to Northampton to defeat Quakertown, 17-7. Jayden Bright and Jordan Brensinger scored touchdowns for the Falcons, while Angelo Pereira kicked a field goal.
Prediction:
Pennsbury Falcons 21 * Council Rock South Golden Hawks 7.
Harry S Truman Tigers (1-1) @ Pennridge Rams (1-1)
Last Week:
Harry S Truman lost a heartbreaker to Abington, 7-6. The Tigers had a potential game winning field goal blocked in the final seconds. HST also had an extra point blocked after scoring its lone touchdown.
Pennridge captured its first win of the season as the Rams outscored Bensalem, 38-27. Noah Keating had an outstanding night completing 9 passes for 177 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ryan Rowe rushed for 122 yards and scored 3 touchdowns for the winners.
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 28 * Harry S Truman Tigers 20
Quakertown Panthers (0-2) @ North Penn Knights (2-0)
Last Week:
Quakertown dropped their second game of the young season as the Panthers were defeated by Pennsbury, 17-7. The lone score for the Black Cats came in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run by Aiden Whiteley.
North Penn remained unbeaten as the Knights marched to a 34-6 victory over Council Rock South. Matt Bucksar fired a pair of touchdown passes – one to Matt Pownall and the other to Mason Franek. Aiden Eves & Josiah Coleman scored rushing touchdowns for the winners, while Ryan Bocklet booted a pair of field goals.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 34 * Quakertown Panthers 14
Abington Ghosts (1-1) @ Bensalem Owls (1-1)
Last Week:
Abington captured its first win of the season with a slim 7-6 victory over Harry S Truman. The Ghosts lone score came on their first drive of the game when Damian Mager scored a touchdown. Brayden Davis added what proved to be the game-winning extra point. Ayden Turner blocked a Tiger extra point, and Saadir Wimbush blocked a fourth quarter field goal attempt to seal the win.
Bensalem chased Pennridge on the scoreboard the entire night but could not catch the host Rams in a 38-27 non-league loss. The final Owl score came on a touchdown reception by Myles Annan.
Prediction:
Bensalem Owls 20 * Abington Ghosts 14
Central Bucks East Patriots (1-1) @ Council Rock North Indians (0-2)
Last Week:
Central Bucks East rebounded from an opening season to outscore Cheltenham, 42-26, in a non-league game. Sophomore Mike Price stole the spotlight as he rushed for five touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass.
Council Rock North remained winless as the Indians were defeated by Neshaminy, 34-13.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 45 * Council Rock North 14
SOL American Conference
Non-League Games
Friday – 7 pm
Interboro Bucs (0-2) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-1)
Last Week:
Interboro remained winless this season as the Bucs were shut out by West Chester Rustin, 43-0.
Plymouth Whitemarsh lost for the first time this season as the Colonials were defeated by Wilson West Lawn, 21-7.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 42 * Interboro Bucs 7
Lincoln Rail Splitters (1-1) @ Hatboro Horsham Hatters (0-2)
Last Week:
Lincoln collected its first win of the season with a 30-27 victory over Ocean City (NJ), 30-27.
Hatboro Horsham remained winless for the season as the Hatters were topped by West Chester Henderson, 42-28.
Prediction:
Hatboro Horsham Hatters 20 * Lincoln Rail Splitters 14
Springfield Spartans (1-1) @ New Hope-Solebury Lions (0-2)
Last Week:
Springfield scored 35 points in the first period in a 41-0 victory over Kensington. CJ Johnson sparked the offense with a two touchdown performance.
New Hope-Solebury remained winless in a 42-7 loss to Bristol.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 45 * New Hope-Solebury Lions 6
William Tennent Panthers (1-1) @ Radnor Raptors (2-0)
Last Week:
Radnor remained unbeaten with a 37-0 victory over (4A) Harriton.
William Tennent captured its first win of the season as the Panther defeated Methacton, 21-13. Sophomore quarterback Gavin Mensch fired a pair of touchdown passes to Joey Hebling, while Justin Frederic rushed for 105 yards and scored a touchdown.
Prediction:
Radnor Raptors 21 * William Tennent Panthers 14
*Thursday*
Bartram Maroon Wave (0-2) @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears (2-0)
Last Week:
Bartram remained winless as the Maroon Wave (love the name) lost to George Washington, 43-13.
Upper Moreland remained unbeaten with a 21-14 victory over West Chester Henderson. Aidan Tuffy, Frankie McDermott & Larry Hughes all scored rushing touchdowns for the Golden Bears.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 35 * Bartram Wave 13
*Saturday*
Neshaminy Redskins (2-0) vs Cheltenham Panthers (0-2) at Wissahickon HS
Last Week:
Neshaminy remained unbeaten with a 34-13 victory over Council Rock North. Brock Williams scored a pair of touchdowns for the Redskins, while Jason Wilmont and Nahsir Moore also scored rushing touchdowns. Michael Eckart fired a touchdown pass to Cole Tarapchak.
Cheltenham remained winless for the season as the Panthers lost to Central Bucks East, 42-26.
Prediction:
Neshaminy Redskins 28 * Cheltenham Panthers 21
Wissahickon Trojans (1-1) @ Lower Merion Aces (0-2)
Last Week:
Wissahickon captured its first victory of the season as the Trojans routed Archbishop Carroll, 56-21. Quasir Sampson turned in a spectacular performance as he rushed for 185 yards and scored 4 touchdowns.
Lower Merion remained winless as the Aces were dealt a 51-0 loss to Ridley.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 45 * Lower Merion Aces 7
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