Scott Huff previews Saturday’s CB East/CB West contest and predicts the outcomes of games featuring SOL teams.
By Scott Huff
And the beat goes on….
The fierce rivalry between Central Bucks East and Central Bucks Westis one of the storied rivalries in all of the Suburban One League.
That intense competition will renew for the 49thtime on Saturday afternoon when the Patriots host the Bucks.
The clash between East and West began in 1970 when the Central Bucks School District decided to split the existing Central Bucks school into a pair of high schools – East and West. Since, the district has split again as CB South has become the newest high school in the district.
“We play for the Central Bucks Cup these days,” said CB East head coach John Donnelly in reference to the games between the three schools. “The game with West might not have the parades, the bonfires, and the Thanksgiving morning date that it has in the past – but it still is a very big game for both schools.
“The crowd will be rocking – it might be the loudest crowd we play in front of all year,” added Donnelly. “Both teams will be playing with a lot of energy.”
“There is no question that this game is special to the players and the coaching staff,” said Central Bucks West head coach Rob Rowan. “We have a ton of respect for that team.
“We have to do a great job in preparation for East,” added Rowan. “They have a lot more talent on that team than what their record shows.”
CB East and CB West enter the game with identical 2-4 records – but both the Patriots and the Bucks have suffered more than one heartbreaking loss this season. East had lost games by 7, 1, 10, and 7 points – while West has lost games by 3, 2, 6, and 11 points.
“I am proud of the way we have played this season,” said Donnelly. “We have led in every game, but we have to learn how to finish those games with wins.
“The morale on this team is very high,” added Donnelly. “We still have a lot to play for this season.”
“As a coaching staff, and myself being a first-year coach – we are trying hard to establish a standard of how we want to get things done,” said Rowan. “We really just try to focus on the game in front of us.”
Both CB East and CB West are on the outside looking in on the postseason. There will be 16 teams in the 6A playoff field at the conclusion of the season.
The Patriots rank 22ndwith an average of 80.000 quality points, while the Bucks rank 23rdwith an average of 78.333 quality points. However, there are seven teams currently above them with 3-3 records – four that qualify for the playoffs at this point.
“If we work toward that established standard, the wins and losses will take care of themselves,” said Rowan. “We have to continue to improve and execute.”
“We remember the heartbreak of losing to West last year,” said Donnelly in reference to a 14-13 West victory. “We remember their fans rushing the field with excitement after beating us, and now we want to make some good memories of our own this year.”
East-West games have a way of making those special memories.
CB East-CB West 2018 Resume
Quakertown – 20 CB East – 13
CB East – 29 Hatboro-Horsham – 14
CB East – 41 Bensalem – 12
Pennsbury – 35 CB East – 34
North Penn – 31 CB East – 21
Souderton – 21 CB East – 14
CB West – 21 Hatboro-Horsham – 0
CR South – 10 CB West – 7
Quakertown – 21 CB West – 19
CB South – 27 CB West – 21
CB West – 35 William Tennent – 14
Pennridge – 21 CB West – 10
CB East-CB West Snapshot
Team Rush Yds Pass Yds Total Yds Scoring
CB East (Off) 169.7 131.3 301.0 25.3
CB West (Def) 111.0 90.8 201.8 15.0
CB West (Off) 129.5 96.5 226.0 18.8
CB East (Def) 176.3 128.2 304.5 22.2
Passing C-Att Yds TD INT
Evan O’Donnell (CBE) 63-95 779 9 2
Gavin Grondahl (CBW) 29-56 404 5 2
Receiving Rec Yds Ave TD
Chris Lochetta (CBE) 13 211 16.2 3
Anthony Giordano (CBE) 13 186 14.3 3
Peyton Pflug (CBE) 10 111 11.1 0
Jake Ventresca (CBE) 12 87 7.3 1
Luke Benson (CBW) 12 192 16.0 4
Erik Ojert (CBW) 8 114 14.3 0
Jack Fallon (CBW) 9 74 8.2 2
Rushing Att Yds Ave TD
Jake Ventresca (CBE) 115 704 6.1 7
Evan O’Donnell (CBE) 62 194 3.1 4
Jack Fallon (CBW) 44 268 6.1 1
Garrett Hitchens (CBW) 59 223 3.8 3
Joseph Fay (CBW) 31 142 4.6 1
Jack Neri (CBW) 35 90 2.6 2
‘Sneak Peak @District One Rankings’
6 A
Top 16 Teams Qualify for D-1 Playoffs
Rank Team Record Average
1. North Penn Knights 6-0 165.000
6. Truman Tigers 5-1 140.000
9. CR South Hawks 4-2 131.667
10. Quakertown Panthers. 5-1 128.333
14. Neshaminy Redskins 3-3 108.333
15. Pennsbury Falcons 3-3 101.667
16. CB South Titans 3-3 101.667
17. Souderton Indians 3-3 101.667
5 A
Top 16 Teams Qualify for D-1 Playoffs
4. Upper Dublin Cardinals. 4-1 148.000
6. Cheltenham Panthers 4-2 130.000
4 A
Top 4 Teams Qualify for Playoffs
4. Springfield Spartans 4-1 106.000
This Week in the Suburban One League
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks West Bucks (2-4, 1-2) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (2-4, 0-2)
Last Week:
Central Bucks West lost to Pennridge 21-10
Central Bucks East lost to Souderton 21-14
Last Year: Central Bucks West defeated CB East 14-13
Prediction: Central Bucks East 31 – CB West 21
Pennridge Rams (2-4, 1-2) @ Central Bucks South Titans (3-3, 2-0)
Last Week:
Pennridge defeated CB West 21-10
CB South defeated William Tennent 38-6
Last Year: Pennridge defeated CB South 21-7
Prediction: CB South 24 – Pennridge 20
North Penn Knights (6-0, 2-0) @ Souderton Indians (3-3, 3-0)
Last Week:
North Penn defeated CR South 27-24 (2OT)
Souderton defeated CB East 21-14
Last Year: North Penn defeated Souderton 47-20
Prediction: North Penn 31 – Souderton 17
SOL National Conference
Truman Tigers (5-1, 2-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (3-3, 2-0)
Last Week:
Truman defeated CR North 35-14
Pennsbury defeated Bensalem 49-13
Last Year: Pennsbury defeated Truman 47-32
Prediction: Truman 27 – Pennsbury 24
Abington Ghosts (3-3, 1-2) @ CR North Indians (1-5, 0-3)
Last Week:
Abington lost to Neshaminy 27-7
CR North lost to Truman 35-14
Last Year: Abington defeated CR North 35-14
Prediction: Abington 34 – CR North 14
Bensalem Owls (0-6, 0-2) @ CR South Hawks (4-2, 2-0)
Last Week:
Bensalem lost to Pennsbury 49-13
CR South lost to North Penn 27-24 (2OT)
Last Year: CR South defeated Bensalem 35-14
Prediction: CR South 28 – Bensalem 13
SOL American Conference
Quakertown Panthers (5-1, 2-1) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (4-1, 2-0)
Last Week:
Quakertown defeated Wissahickon 42-12
Upper Dublin defeated Cheltenham 20-7
Last Year: Quakertown defeated Upper Dublin 34-28
Prediction: Upper Dublin 20 – Quakertown 17
Upper Moreland Bears (2-4, 1-2) @ Wissahickon Trojans (0-6, 0-3)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland lost to Hatboro-Horsham 14-8
Wissahickon lost to Quakertown 42-12
Last Year: Upper Moreland defeated Wissahickon 46-26
Prediction: Upper Moreland 28 – Wissahickon 13
Cheltenham Panthers (4-2, 1-1) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-4, 1-1)
Last Week:
Cheltenham lost to Upper Dublin 20-7
PW Did Not Play
Last Year: Cheltenham defeated PW 23-20
Prediction: Cheltenham 28 – PW 14
Non-League Games
Neshaminy Redskins (3-3, 2-1) @ William Tennent Panthers (2-4, 0-3)
Last Week:
Neshaminy defeated Abington 27-7
William Tennent lost to CB South 38-6
Last Year: Did Not Play
Prediction: Neshaminy 38 – William Tennent 14
Chestnut Hill Academy (4-1) @ Springfield Spartans (4-1)
Last Week:
Chestnut Hill defeated Hill School 58-27
Springfield defeated Bristol 37-14
Last Year: Did Not Play
Prediction: Springfield 38 – Chestnut Hill 21
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
Rank Team Record Ranking Last Week
1. North Penn Knights 6-0 1
2. Truman Tigers 5-1 3
3. CR South Hawks 4-2 2
4. Neshaminy Redskins 3-3 4
5. Upper Dublin Cardinals 4-1 7
6. Cheltenham Panthers 4-2 5
7. Quakertown Panthers 5-1 6
8. Pennsbury Falcons 3-3 NR
9. CB South Titans 3-3 NR
10. Souderton Indians 3-3 NR
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