This week’s notebook features three teams with their sites set on earning a playoff berth – CB East, PW and Neshaminy – and also highlights some of the week’s top performances.
By Scott Huff
The fifth week of the Suburban High School football season is in the books – and the three conference leaders survived the SOL version of the kid’s game – King of the Mountain.
North Penn (6-2, 5-0) flexed its muscles and remained on top the SOL National Conference hill with a 27-20 victory over Pennsbury (6-2, 4-1). The Knights – though – will have to flex those same muscles again this week as Neshaminy (6-2, 4-1) will attempt to knock North Penn off its first place conference perch.
Quakertown (8-0, 5-0) flexed its muscles and remained on top of the SOL Continental Conference hill with a 35-14 victory over Council Rock South (5-3, 4-1). The Panthers – though – will have to flex those same muscles again this week as Council Rock North (5-3, 4-1) will attempt to knock Q-town off its first place conference perch.
Upper Dublin (8-0, 5-0) flexed its muscles and remained on top of the SOL American Conference hill with a 35-7 victory over Upper Moreland (6-2, 3-2). The Cardinals – though – will have to flex those same muscles again this week as Hatboro-Horsham (4-4, 4-1) will attempt to knock Upper Dublin off its first place conference perch.
And the beat goes on…
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks East Patriots
Central Bucks East (6-2, 3-2) head coach John Donnelly has his Patriots in playoff mode.
“This week is a huge game with Central Bucks West,” said Donnelly. “We can’t look past this one to (unbeaten) Quakertown (final conference game) in two weeks.
“We have a goal to play games in the playoffs,” added Donnelly. “And we can only achieve that goal by winning – and that starts this week against West.”
In addition to playoff implications – it is – after all CB East vs. CB West.
Central Bucks East High School was ‘born’ in 1969 – and the Patriots have never played an East-West game ‘at home’. Every game in the storied rivalry was played in Doylestown at the iconic War Memorial Field – campus home of the Bucks.
“It is going to be a tremendous atmosphere to be able to finally play the game at our place,” said Donnelly in reference to the sparkling new First Lt. Colby Umbrell Field at Patriot Stadium with a 1 pm kickoff. “No bus ride – and we get to play before a packed house.
“You can’t even imagine the rivalry between these two schools,” added Donnelly. “The players play Pop Warner football with each other – and you really can throw the records out for this one.”
And for the record – the Patriots will be playing for a possible berth in the district playoffs – and the Bucks (2-6, 2-3) will be playing to keep East from getting there.
‘Notable Numbers’ in the SOL Continental Conference
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North carried 35 times for 228 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Indians captured a 33-15 victory over Central Bucks West.
Rob Burns of Quakertown carried 21 times and scored four touchdowns as the Panthers collected a 35-14 victory over Council Rock South. Tom Garlick completed 12-of-17 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown for Q-town.
Jack Lamb of Central Bucks East carried 16 times and scored two rushing touchdowns – and also threw a touchdown pass – as the Patriots marched to a 19-7 victory over Truman.
Dan Costello of William Tennent carried 28 times and scored two touchdowns as the Panthers defeated Norristown 17-13.
Brendan Patterson of Council Rock South carried 24 times for 178 yards as the Golden Hawks were defeated by Quakertown 35-14.
Desmond Gorski of Norristown completed 10 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles were defeated by William Tennent 17-13.
Justin Fant of Truman scored the lone touchdown as the Tigers were caged by Central Bucks East 19-7.
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Council Rock North Indians (5-3, 4-1) @ Quakertown Panthers (8-0, 5-0)
Council Rock South Golden Hawks (5-3, 4-1) @ Norristown Eagles (3-5, 1-4)
Central Bucks West Bucks (2-6, 2-3) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (6-2, 3-2)
William Tennent Panthers (4-4, 1-4) @ Truman Tigers (2-6, 0-5)
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Neshaminy Redskins
Neshaminy (6-2, 4-1) head coach Steve Wilmot has his Redskins in playoff mode.
“We have told our players that the playoffs start this week,” said Wilmot. “We are really looking forward to the next two weeks – it will tell us a lot about where we are as a team.”
The SOL schedule makers did not do Neshaminy any favors as the Skins must play powerful North Penn (6-2, 5-0) and equally powerful Pennsbury (6-2, 4-1) the final couple of weeks in the highly regarded SOL National Conference.
“If we are not good enough to beat North Penn – then we’re not good enough to win a championship,” said Wilmot. “And if we can’t beat either North Penn or Pennsbury – then we might not be good enough to get into the playoffs. We really need to win one of those two games to get in.
“Our team has been growing – improving – and has continued to play better,” added Wilmot. “We looked at the film of the North Penn and Pennsbury game and came away impressed with both teams.
“We’re talking playoffs – but we need to focus on one week at a time,” continued Wilmot. “North Penn has one of their best throwing quarterbacks (Reece Udinski) in recent years. It is going to be challenge.”
‘Notable Numbers’ in the SOL National Conference
Reece Udinski of North Penn completed 13-of-19 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown as the Knights marched to a 27-20 victory over Pennsbury. Jake Hubler caught four passes for 101 yards and a score for North Penn.
Devon Balmer of Pennridge carried 14 times for 89 yards and scored two touchdowns – and also completed six passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns – as the Rams captured a 28-17 victory over Central Bucks South.
Blake Gular of Souderton scored three touchdowns – while Jamar White scored two touchdowns – as the Indians defeated Abington 42-41.
Will Dogba of Neshaminy scored two rushing touchdowns and Mason Jones threw two touchdowns as the Redskins defeated Bensalem 41-8.
David Kretscham of Abington completed 20 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown – and also rushed for 2 touchdowns – as the Ghosts were defeated by Souderton 42-41.
Mike Alley of Pennsbury carried 21 times for 83 yards and scored a touchdown as the Falcons were defeated by North Penn 27-20.
Sam Thompson of Central Bucks South passed for 113 yards and a touchdown as the Titans were defeated by Pennridge 28-17.
This Week in the SOL National Conference
Neshaminy Redskins (6-2, 4-1) @ North Penn Knights (6-2, 5-0)
Pennsbury Falcons (6-2, 4-1) @ Central Bucks South Titans (3-5, 2-3)
Pennridge Rams (5-3, 3-2) @ Souderton Indians (4-4, 2-3)
Bensalem Owls (0-8, 0-5) @ Abington Ghosts (0-8, 0-5)
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-2, 3-2) head coach Dan Chang has his Colonials in playoff mode.
“I told our players that the season is really one and done for us right now,” said Chang. “We have to have a playoff mindset each week – we can’t lose another game – and we have to hope that still gets us in.
“We played great in our win over Hatboro-Horsham,” added Chang in reference to the Colonials 31-28 victory over the Hatters (4-4, 4-1). “But we can’t enjoy it for too long. We have to get ready for Cheltenham this week.
“(Branden) Mack is one of the best athletes in the league,” continued Chang in reference to the Cheltenham quarterback and Temple University recruit. “And (Panther head coach) Joe Gro always has his team prepared to play.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh is on the road with Cheltenham (4-4, 3-2) and closes the season at home against Springfield (3-4, 2-3). The Spartans are a Class AA school and a win would generate fewer power points for the Colonials.
“Right now our motivation is to win the last two games,” said Chang. “That’s all we can control at this point – and we’ll just have to wait and see if that is enough to get us to the playoffs.”
‘Notable Numbers’ in the SOL American Conference
Nafeese Nasir of Plymouth Whitemarsh carried 31 times for 350 yards and four touchdowns as the Colonials marched to a 31-28 victory over Hatboro-Horsham.
Branden Mack of Cheltenham rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns – and also threw a TD pass – as the Panthers captured a 30 -14 victory over Wissahickon. Yasin Abdul-Haqq rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown for the Black Cats.
Ben Fisher of Springfield rushed for a game-high 110 yards and three touchdowns as the Spartans marched to a 33-20 victory over Upper Merion.
Kalief Lee of Upper Dublin rushed for a team-high 118 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals soared to a 35-7 win over Upper Moreland. Ryan $tover completed 15-of-18 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns for the winners.
Casey Walsh of Hatboro-Horsham completed 20 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns as the Hatters were topped by Plymouth Whitemarsh 31-28.
Rodney Morgan of Upper Moreland rushed for a game-high 145 yards and scored a touchdown as the Golden Bears were defeated by Upper Dublin 35-7.
Mike Schoenleber of Wissahickon threw a touchdown pass and rushed for a touchdown as the Trojans were defeated by Cheltenham 30-14.
Jarrett Quinn of Upper Merion threw two touchdown passes as the Vikings were sunk by Springfield 33-20.
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (4-4, 4-1) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (8-0, 5-0)
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (6-2, 3-2) @ Cheltenham Panthers (4-4, 3-2)
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (6-2, 3-2) @ Springfield Spartans (3-4, 2-3)
Upper Merion Vikings (2-6, 0-5) @ Wissahickon Trojans (1-7, 0-5)
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1. Upper Dublin Cardinals (8-0, 5-0)
2. North Penn Knights (6-2, 5-0)
3. Quakertown Panthers (8-0, 5-0)
4. Pennsbury Falcons (6-2, 4-1)
5. Pennridge Rams (5-3, 3-2)
6. Neshaminy Redskins (6-2, 4-1)
7. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (5-3, 4-1)
8. Council Rock North Indians (5-3, 4-1)
9. Central Bucks East Patriots (6-2, 3-2)
10. Upper Moreland Bears (6-2, 3-2)
10. + Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (6-2, 3-2)
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