By Scott Huff
Suburban One League eye openers in Lower Bucks County….
Bensalem has opened more than a few eyes with the start the Owls have had this 2021 football season.
The often disrespected Blue & White football program from Lower Bucks County has opened the season with two impressive wins. The victories included a thrilling overtime non-league victory over Norristown (28-20) and a dominating SOL Continental Conference victory over Hatboro Horsham (39-0).
Playing winning football under first year head coach Alexander Houston – a 1997 Bensalem graduate who played professional football in the Arena Football League – the Owls are flying high.
Superlative senior running back Josiah Leonard has had the eye of the tiger early on with two eye-popping games this season.
Leonard opened the season rushing for 171 yards on just 9 carries and scored on long distance touchdown runs of 53 and 43 yards against Norristown. Leonard followed with a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 16-yard TD run in the victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
Bensalem was winless at 0-6 during the 2020 pandemic shortened season. The Owl resume from 2015-2019 was a dismal 6 wins and 25 losses for a winning percentage of just 19%.
The wonderful turnaround this 2021 season has been a huge boost for Coach Houston and his program.
Another drastic turnaround has not been a boost for either the Pennsbury and Neshaminy football programs.
Both the Falcons and the Redskins have had impressive resumes in recent years, or decades, for that matter.
The two schools have been among the elite programs in all of the Suburban One League – and all of District One – for many years.
However, this Lower Bucks County duo is winless this season with a combined 0-4 record. And the setbacks have been hard to watch for the Falcon and Redskin faithful.
Pennsbury (0-2) has been outscored by a staggering 77-0 to date this season with losses to Academy Park (42-0) and Pennridge (35-0).
Neshaminy (0-2) has been outscored 65-14 in setbacks to Archbishop Wood (37-0) and Central Bucks East (28-14).
Recent history shows that the Falcons were an impressive 22-9 from 2015 to 2019 (71% winning percentage), but Pennsbury was winless last season in five games.
Recent history shows that the Redskins were an even more impressive 25-6 from 2015-2019 (81% winning percentage), and last season Neshaminy was a 4-1 team that just missed the PIAA District One playoffs.
Bensalem, Pennsbury, and Neshaminy all will face challenging tests this week.
Bensalem will see if its winning ways will continue as the Owls travel to face unbeaten Upper Dublin in a key Suburban One League Continental Conference game.
Bensalem, under head coach Houston, is trying to build a winning culture. Upper Dublin, under head coach Bret Stover, has had that winning culture for some time.
And for Pennsbury and Neshaminy the road to victory is equally treacherous .
Pennsbury will host North Penn this week in a SOLN contest. The powerful Knights are unbeaten, defeating defending PIAA District One champion Souderton (42-27) and routing Abington (58-8).
Neshaminy is on the road against Pennridge in another SOLN contest. The Rams, who played in the PIAA District One title game last year, are coming off the 35-0 win over Pennsbury. Pennridge handed the Skins their only loss of the season last year with a surprisingly easy 30-0 victory.
One thing that is for certain for all the Owl, Falcon, and Redskin fans this week as they take in the action – every area scholastic football fan will also be watching.
Central Bucks Cup
The Central Bucks Cup is contested every year between the three Central Bucks high schools – CB West, CB East, and CB South.
The first game between this trio of teams took place last week when Central Bucks West began its defense of the CB Cup with a 28-20 SOLN victory over Central Bucks South.
Last year CB West captured the CB Cup with wins over both CB South (31-24) and CB East (40-20). CB South defeated CB East (41-21) in the other game.
This week CB East will host CB South in attempt to avenge last year’s loss and position itself to win the Cup with a win over CB West on Saturday, October 30th.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference
Friday
Central Bucks East Patriots (1-1, 1-0) @ CB South Titans (1-1, 0-1)
Last Week:
Central Bucks South opened the SOLN conference season with a 28-20 loss to Central Bucks West. Patrick Maerz had a pair of 1-yard touchdown runs and completed 5 passes for 77 yards. Ryan Smith scored on a 31-yard interception return for the Titans.
Central Bucks East opened the SOLN conference season with a 28-14 victory over Neshaminy. Ethan Shine was the workhorse for the Patriots with 22 rushes for 70 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pat Keller completed 5 passes for 126 yards and fired a 31-yard scoring strike to Quinn Moody.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 31 – Central Bucks South Titans 27
Abington Ghosts (1-1, 0-1) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (1-1, 1-0)
Last Week:
Abington opened the SOLN conference season with a 58-8 loss to North Penn. The lone touchdown for the Ghosts came on a 49-yard scoring pass from Johnny Dzielawa to Saud Sarhuddin. Abington trailed the Knights 31-2 at the half.
Central Bucks West opened the SOLN conference season with a 28-20 victory over Central Bucks South. The Bucks rushed for a staggering 333 yards in the win. Donte Mancini rushed 27 times for 128 yards and scored on an 8-yard run. Vinny Cherubini rushed 11 times for 81 yards and scored on a 15-yard run. Eli Boehm rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries, while quarterback Ganz Cooper scored on a pair of 1-yard runs.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 24 – Abington Ghosts 17
North Penn Knights (2-0, 1-0) @ Pennsbury Falcons (0-2, 0-1)
Last Week:
North Penn opened the SOLN conference season with a 58-8 victory over Abington. Khalani Eaton rushed 13 times for 135 yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Ryan Zellt completed 9 passes for 126 yard and TD passes to Tyler Beam and James Mangine. Ryan Bockett booted a 25-yard field goal, while Levi Carroll returned a kickoff 83-yards for a score.
Pennsbury opened the SOLN conference season with a 35-0 loss to Pennridge. Nathan Beighley was the leading ballcarrier with 77 yards on 6 carries. The Falcons managed 192 yards of total offense against the Rams.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 45 – Pennsbury Falcons 7
Neshaminy Redskins (0-2, 0-1) @ Pennridge Rams (1-1, 1-0)
Last Week:
Neshaminy opened the SOLN conference season with a 28-14 loss to Central Bucks East. Jaydon Wilson rushed 13 times for 197 yards and scored on a 2-yard run. The Skins scored a special teams touchdown with a blocked punt in the fourth period.
Pennridge opened the SOLN conference season with a 35-0 victory over Pennsbury. The Green & White led 21-0 at the half. Quarterback Xavier Dantzler scored 4 touchdowns – all on 1-yard runs. Phil Picciotti scored on a 13-yard run. Tyler Wetzel led the Rams in rushing with 153 yards on 11 carries.
Prediction:
Pennridge Rams 20 – Neshaminy Redskins 14
SOL Continental Conference
Friday
Bensalem Owls (2-0, 1-0) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (2-0, 1-0)
Last Week:
Bensalem opened the SOLC conference season with a 39-0 victory over Hatboro-Horsham. Josiah Leonard rushed for a game-high 70 yards and scored on a 16-yard run. Leonard also scored on a 71-yard punt return. Tommy Hurst kicked a 45-yard field goal for the Owls. Both Jalen Soberal and Terrel Roane scored defensive touchdowns on fumble recoveries.
Upper Dublin opened the SOLC conference season with a 38-7 victory over Council Rock South. Colin O’Sullivan completed 16 passes and fired a pair of touchdown passes to Noah Lee – one of 39 yards and one of 8 yards. Owen Carl booted a 36-yard field goal for the Cardinals. Chris Kohlbrenner scored on a 30-yard interception return.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 24 – Bensalem Owls 14
Quakertown Panthers (2-0, 1-0) @ CR South Golden Hawks (0-2, 0-1)
Last Week:
Quakertown opened the SOLC conference season with a 42-7 victory over Council Rock North. Tyler Woodman was a touchdown maker scoring 4 touchdowns on runs of 13, 33, 3, & 1 yards. Zach Fondl scored on a 27-yard pass from Will Steich, while Lex Williams concluded the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown run.
Council Rock South opened the SOLC conference season with a 38-7 loss to Upper Dublin. The Golden Hawks lone touchdown came on a 3-yard run by Thomas Woloshyn. Woloshyn carried 8 times of a team-high 51 yards.
Prediction:
Quakertown Panthers 42 – Council Rock South Golden Hawks 7
CR North Indians (1-1, 0-1) @ Souderton Big Red (1-1, 1-0)
Last Week:
Council Rock North opened the SOLC conference season with a 42-7 loss to Quakertown. The Indians lone touchdown came in a 2-yard run by Gavin Papp.
Souderton opened the SOLC conference season with a 41-0 victory over Harry S Truman. Brayden Porter scored 2 touchdowns for the Big Red – one on 12-yard run and the other on a 5-yard run. Elijah Goods scored on a 1-yard run, while Javier Torres scored on a 3-yard run. Nate Hageman fired a 35-yard scoring strike to brother Caleb Hageman.
Prediction:
Souderton Big Red 49 – Council Rock North Indians 7
Harry S Truman Tigers (0-2, 0-1) @ Hatboro Horsham Hatters (0-1, 0-1)
Last Week:
Harry S Truman opened the SOLC conference season with a 41-0 loss to Souderton. The Tigers trailed 35-0 at the close of the first half and played the second half under the mercy-rule.
Hatboro Horsham opened the SOLC conference season with a 39-0 loss to Bensalem. The Hatters played the second half under the mercy-rule. Hunter Long was the leading ballcarrier for Hatboro Horsham.
Prediction:
Harry S Truman Tigers 21 – Hatboro Horsham Hatters 14
SOL American Conference
Archbishop Wood Vikings (2-0) @ Cheltenham Panthers (0-2)
Last Week:
Archbishop Wood defeated Neumann-Goretti 28-6.
Cheltenham lost a non-league game to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 38-14. The Panthers were scheduled to play Frankford, but that game was cancelled. New head coach Troy Gore is searching for his first win as the head coach of the Black Cats.
Prediction:
Archbishop Wood Vikings 49 – Cheltenham Panthers 6
Phoenixville Phantoms (0-1) @ Upper Moreland Golden Bears (2-0)
Last Week:
Phoenixville lost to Bishop Shanahan 34-6.
Upper Moreland captured a thrilling 34-29 non-league victory over Archbishop Ryan. The winning score came late in the game on a 74-yard scoring pass from Byron Hopkins to Cam Jackson. Hassan Johnson scored earlier in the game on a touchdown run, while Hopkins connected with Ryan Olexa on a TD pass.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 38 – Phoenixville Phantoms 14
New Hope Solebury Lions (0-2) @ Academy of the New Church (0-2)
Last Week:
New Hope had its second tough week in a row as the Lions were tamed by Pope John Paul II by a 51-0 score. NH-S was limited to just 1 first down and was a minus 30 yards of total offense.
Academy of the New Church lost to Springfield 31-7.
Prediction:
Academy of the New Church 20 - New Hope Solebury Lions 14
William Tennent Panthers (0-2) @ Palumbo Griffins (0-0)
Last Week:
William Tennent had its second tough week in a row as the Panthers were tamed by Academy Park by a 42-7 score.
Palumbo did not play.
Prediction:
William Tennent Panthers 14 – Palumbo Griffins 10
Norristown Eagles (0-2) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (2-0)
Last Week:
Norristown lost to Upper Merion 23-7.
Plymouth Whitemarsh routed neighborhood rival Methacton by a 42-14 margin. Quarterback Aiden O’Brien rushed 14 times for 103 yards and scored a pair of rushing touchdowns. O’Brien also fired TD passes to Zion East (60 yards) and Dominic Konieczka (34 yards). East rushed for 102 yards and scored on an 81-yard touchdown run.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 42 – Norristown Eagles 14
Methacton Warriors (1-1) @ Wissahickon Trojans (0-2)
Last Week:
Methacton lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 42-14.
Wissahickon lost a non-league game to Owen J Roberts by a 34-24 score. Aidan DeFeo generated 300 yards of total offense for the Trojans as he passed for 228 yards and rushed for 72 yards. Kyle Lehman was the leading rusher with 148 rushing yards.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 21 – Methacton Warriors 20
Springfield Spartans (2-0) have a bye
Last Week:
Springfield defeated Academy of the New Church 31-7. Ben Cooney scored a rushing touchdown and also threw a 20-yard TD pass to Dylan McKensie. Ryan Gibbons scored on an 8-yard run, while Jack Hyland booted a 36-yard field goal.
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