SOL Football Notebook (10-24-18)

Scott Huff features a Wissahickon squad that – under first-year coach Bruce Fleming – won its first game last week. He also makes his weekly predictions.

By Scott Huff

And the beat goes on…

Some victories for football head coaches are much greater than others, whether it is Eagles head coach Doug Pederson winning the Super Bowl, or a coach winning a huge game over an archrival, or a coach winning an important game to advance to the playoffs – or a coach adding to his resume by winning a big playoff game.

Wissahickon first-year head coach Bruce Fleming experienced that ‘thrill of victory’ for the very first time as a scholastic head coach last Friday as his Trojans (1-8) came back three times from deficits in the second half to defeat non-league host Eastern York by an astonishing 58-43 score.

“It was a very long trip to make, but we came back with our first win,” said Fleming.  “And for a young team to face that adversity and come back to win that game was a great feeling.

“No question, it has been a rough season and morale can get low at times,” added Fleming.  “But we are hoping that we take that win over Eastern York, and use that momentum going into our Senior Night game with Cheltenham (6-3) this week.

“It would be great to finish the season with two wins in a row,” continued Fleming.  “We haven’t beaten a Suburban One League team for a while, and it would be nice to prepare for the off-season with a couple of wins.

“We are trying hard to build a culture here at Wissahickon,” added Fleming.  “My goal is that when you see a member of the football team they are representing their family, school, and community with respect and leadership.”

In the win over Eastern York, senior running back Chris Smalls and sophomore quarterback Nick Santo had outstanding games.  Smalls rushed for 250 yards on 24 carries and scored four touchdowns, while Santo completed 12 passes for 200 yards and a pair of scores.

“Chris Small came to us as a transfer from Father Judge,” said Fleming.  “He has been a tremendous asset to the program and has given the younger backs a great role model to learn from in regard to work ethic.

“Nick started six games as a freshman and continues to get better each and every week,” added Fleming.  “He continues to grow into his position and will be nice to build around for the next two years.”

The Fleming resume may show that he is a first-year head coach, but Fleming has more than paid his dues with 14 years of coaching at both the high school and college level.

“I’ve coached the game on both sides of the ball,” said Fleming.  “I coached defense at Ursinus, and I have coached offense in high school.  Right now, I call the plays on offense.

“I always knew that I wanted to strive to move up to become a head coach someday,” continued Fleming.  “To be able to make an imprint on a player’s life is a unique and amazing thing.”

Winners aren’t always evaluated in the win-loss column – and Wissahickon looks like it has a real winner in head coach Bruce Fleming.

Suburban One Sports.com PIAA District One ‘Big School’ Football Quiz
In the last 25 years, North Penn has won the most district championships with seven.  Which school is second on the title list with five District One championships?  (A) Neshaminy, (B) Pennsbury, (C) Coatesville, or (D) Central Bucks West.

‘Sneak Peak’ @ PIAA District One Playoffs

Class 6A – 16 Teams Qualify

 Class 5 A – 16 Teams Qualify

Class 4-A – 4 Teams Qualify  

Suburban One Sports.com PIAA District One ‘Big School’ Football Answer.
(D) Central Bucks West.  The Bucks won the district title five times (four in a row) in the last 25 years.  CB West won the district championship in 1993, 1997 (state champions), 1998 (state champions), 1999 (state champions), and 2000.  Neshaminy has won three district titles (2001-state champions), 2004, and 2013), Pennsbury has won two district titles (2006 & 2014), and Coatesville has won two district titles (2012 & 2017).

This Week in the Suburban One League

National Conference
Pennsbury Falcons (5-4, 4-1) @ Neshaminy Redskins (6-3, 4-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury defeated Neshaminy 36-17
Last Week:
Pennsbury defeated Abington 35-28
Neshaminy defeated CR South 9-0
Prediction: Neshaminy 35 – Pennsbury 31

CR South Golden Hawks (5-4, 3-2) @ CR North Indians (1-8, 0-5)
Last Year:
CR South defeated CR North 38-14
Last Week:
CR South lost to Neshaminy 9-0
CR North lost to Bensalem 20-19
Prediction: CR South 42 – CR North 14

Bensalem Owls (1-8, 1-4) @ Truman Tigers (8-1, 4-1)
Last Year:
Truman defeated Bensalem 49-20
Last Week:
Bensalem defeated CR North 20-19
Truman defeated Pennridge 42-20
Prediction: Truman 56 – Bensalem 14

Continental Conference
Pennridge Rams (4-5, 3-2) @ CB East Patriots (5-4, 3-2)
Last Year:
Pennridge defeated CB East 28-12
Last Week:
Pennridge lost to Truman 42-20
CB East defeated William Tennent 45-21
Prediction: Pennridge 28 – CB East 24

Souderton Indians (4-5, 3-2) @ CB South Titans (3-6, 2-3)
Last Year:
CB South defeated Souderton 20-0
Last Week:
Souderton lost to CB West 28-21
CB South lost to North Penn 21-10
Prediction: Souderton 28 – CB South 21

North Penn Knights (9-0, 5-0) @ William Tennent (2-7, 0-5)
Last Year:
North Penn defeated WT 56-7
Last Week:
North Penn defeated CB South 21-10
William Tennent lost to CB East 45-21
Prediction: North Penn 49 – William Tennent 7

American Conference
Upper Moreland Bears (3-5, 2-3) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (7-1, 5-0)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland defeated Upper Dublin 21-20
Last Week:
Upper Moreland lost to Cheltenham 19-14
Upper Dublin defeated PW 31-17
Prediction: Upper Dublin 34 – Upper Moreland 17

Cheltenham Panthers (6-3, 3-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (1-8, 0-5)
Last Year:
Cheltenham defeated Wissahickon 20-13
Last Week:
Cheltenham defeated Upper Moreland 19-14
Wissahickon defeated Eastern York 58-43
Prediction: Cheltenham 28 – Wissahickon 13

Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-7, 1-4) @ Hatboro-Horsham (4-4, 3-2)
Last Year:
Hatboro-Horsham defeated PW 49-28
Last Week:
Hatboro-Horsham lost to Quakertown 29-16
PW lost to Upper Dublin 31-17
Prediction: Hatboro-Horsham 27 – Plymouth Whitemarsh 20

Non-League Games
CB West Bucks (3-6, 2-4) @ Abington Ghosts (4-5, 2-4)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
CB West defeated Souderton 28-21
Abington lost Pennsbury 35-28
Prediction: CB West 21 – Abington 20

Springfield Spartans (5-3) @ Thomas Edison (2-5)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Springfield defeated George School 41-20
Thomas Edison lost to HS of the Future 52-12
Prediction: Springfield 48 – Edison 13

Kennett Blue Demons (4-5) @ Quakertown Panthers (7-2)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Kennett defeated Oxford 45-0
Quakertown defeated Hatboro-Horsham 29-16
Prediction: Quakertown 28 – Kennett 20

Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten

Seed                            Team                                       Record                         Ranking Last Week
   1.                              North Penn Knights                    9-0                                            1.
   2.                              Truman Tigers                             8-1                                            2.
   3.                              Neshaminy Redskins                  6-3                                            3.
   4.                              Upper Dublin Cardinals              7-1                                            5.
   5.                              Pennsbury Falcons                      5-4                                            6.
   6.                              Council Rock South Hawks        5-4                                            4.
   7.                              Quakertown Panthers                7-2                                            7.
   8.                              Central Bucks East Patriots       5-4                                           NR
   9.                              Cheltenham Panthers                6-3                                           10.
  10.                             Pennridge Rams                         4-5                                           NR

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