Scott Huff recaps the district playoffs and highlights Truman, Abington & Hatboro – teams that switched conferences and will be part of Thanksgiving Day games.
By Scott Huff
Upper Dublin and Pennsbury advanced to the PIAA Quad-A District One semifinals with stunning victories in the quarterfinal round. Pennsbury will host the semifinal game this Friday (7 pm) against the Cardinals at Falcon Field – the winner will play the winner of # 1 Coatesville versus # 5 Downingtown East at a neutral site.
The Upper Dublin (SOL American Conference) victory would have to be considered the more stunning as the # 6 seeded Cardinals (11-1) soared to a 41-23 win over # 3 seeded West Chester Rustin (10-2). Junior quarterback Ryan Stover stole the limelight, completing 21 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Matt Thompson caught 10 passes for 146 yards and three scores, while John Lee rushed for 99 yards and a score on just nine carries.
The Pennsbury (SOL National Conference) victory was much less stunning as the # 2 Falcons (11-1) soared to a 45-14 win over # 7 Garnet Valley (9-2). Charles Snorweah carried the ball 19 times for 187 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Mike Alley rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries.
Springfield (SOL American Conference) advanced in the PIAA Class AA playoffs by winning the District One championship with a stunning (there’s that word again) 15-14 victory over favored # 1 Bristol (8-4). The # 2 Spartans (6-6) had a fine game turned in by running back Martin Worgan, who rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Chris Stone contributed as both a runner and a passer for the winners.
Springfield will meet Neumann-Goretti (8-4) on Saturday (1 pm) at the South Philadelphia Super Site in the next round of the Class AA playoffs. Goretti advanced with a 12-6 win over Prep Charter.
And the beat goes on…
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
The journey for the Hatboro-Horsham Hatters into the SOL American Conference – after years in the SOL Continental Conference - has not been as successful as head coach Mike Kapusta had hoped for this 2014 season.
“There is no question that our conference plays good football - just look at what Upper Dublin has done this year,” said Kapusta as Hatboro-Horsham finished the conference season with a 3-4 record. “And Plymouth Whitemarsh went 7-3 and really should have had a chance at going to the playoffs.
“The drawback to our league is that the AAAA teams play games against the two AAA teams and the AA team,” added Kapusta. “The way the point system is set up it makes it tough. But look – Upper Moreland made the playoffs at AAA and Springfield won the AA district championship. Those are good teams.
“The only difference that I have seen this year coaching in the American Conference is that I really don’t know the coaches or their systems – but they don’t know us either,” continued Kapusta. “The number of kids on the sidelines during the games might be less, but it is still the 11 on 11 on the field that determine the outcome.”
Hatboro-Horsham (3-8) will end its season on the field on Thanksgiving morning when the Hatters make the short trek to Willow Grove to meet rival Upper Moreland (7-4). The Golden Bears had beaten Hatboro-Horsham 42-6 earlier in the season.
“We have a chance to redeem ourselves,” said Kapusta. “It would be great to win that game and get some strong momentum going into the 2015 season.”
SOL American Conference Records/Schedule
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals * (11-1) * @ Pennsbury on Friday (7 pm) – Quad A playoff game
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials * (7-3) * – Season Over
Upper Moreland Golden Bears * (7-4) * – Host Hatboro-Horsham on Thanksgiving
Chelteham Panthers * (6-5) * @ Abington on Thanksgiving
Springfield Spartans * (6-6) * @ South Philadelphia Super Site on Saturday (1pm) – Class AA playoff game
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters * (3-8) * @ Upper Moreland on Thanksgiving
Wissahickon Trojans * (2-8) * Season Over
Upper Merion Vikings * (2-9) * Season Over
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Abington Ghosts
The journey for the Abington Ghosts began in the blistering heat of mid-August at summer camp and will end in the numbing cold of late November with its Thanksgiving morning game against Cheltenham.
“It has been a really long season,” admitted Abington head coach Tim Sorber. “Labor Day was as early as it could be on the calendar (September 1), and Thanksgiving is the latest that it could be on the calendar (November 27). It will be a long time from our first game to our last game.”
How about 91 days from the Ghosts 35-34 win over Northeast on August 29to the Turkey Day meeting with the Panthers.
Abington – along with Pennsbury, Neshaminy, and Bensalem – welcomed North Penn, Central Bucks South, Pennridge, and Souderton into the SOL National Conference this year.
“I know the realignment was made for competitive purposes,” said Sorber as his Ghosts finished 5-5 and out the playoffs. “It was a great league, but it is going to be very tough to get into the playoffs.”
Abington was the only team that has defeated Upper Dublin (11-1) this season as the Ghosts collected a 27-20 victory over the Cardinals in the second week of the season in a non-league game. Abington lost to Pennsbury 34-7 two weeks later, and Upper Dublin will face Pennsbury (11-1) in the PIAA District One Quad-A semifinals this Friday at Falcon Field.
“It is going to be game to see which defense can stop which offense,” said Sorber. “It would be great if it came down to the team with the last possession wins.”
SOL National Conference Records/Schedule
Pennsbury Falcons * (11-1) * Home against Upper Dublin in Quad-A playoff game
Pennridge Rams * (7-4) * @ Quakertown on Thanksgiving
North Penn Knights * (7-4) * Season Over
Central Bucks South Titans * (7-4) * Season Over
Abington Ghosts * (5-5) * Home against Cheltenham on Thanksgiving
Neshaminy Redskins * (4-6) * Season Over
Souderton Indians * (4-6) * Season Over
Bensalem Owls * (0-11) * Season Over
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Truman Tigers
The journey for Truman from the SOL National Conference to the SOL Continental Conference has been a successful one for first year head coach Jon Craig and his Tigers. Not as successful as HST might have hoped, however, but successful all the same.
“We were really disappointed that we didn’t get our chance to make the district playoffs,” said Craig as Truman finished 4-3 in the conference and was on the fringe of playoff participation. “We had our chances, but that loss to Norristown at the end of the season was really tough.
“The move to the new conference was great for competition,” added Craig. “There really wasn’t a game on anyone’s schedule that was a guaranteed win or loss. Everyone could beat everyone else – and except for Quakertown until the last game of the season – that happened.
“The move away from the National Conference was really good for Truman football,” continued Craig. “We lost some of the old rivalries with Neshaminy and Pennsbury – but we will start new rivalries in this league.”
One rivalry that has yet to be played is the Truman Thanksgiving Day contest with Conwell-Egan.
“The players are really excited about playing the game,” said Craig. “We lost our last two games by a point (18-17 to Norristown & 28-27 to Cheltenham) and a win on Thanksgiving would be a great springboard for our off season workouts.”
SOL Continental Conference Records/Schedule
Quakertown Panthers * (10-2) * Home against Pennridge on Thanksgiving
Council Rock South Hawks * (6-4) * Season Over
Council Rock North Indians * (6-5) * Season Over
Harry S Truman Tigers * (6-5) * Host Conwell-Egan on Thanksgiving
Central Bucks East Patriots * (5-5) * Season Over
William Tennent Panthers * (5-6) * Season Over
Norristown Eagles * (4-7) * Season Over
Central Buck West Bucks * (2-8) * Season Over
Suburban One Sports.com
Top Ten
1. Pennsbury Falcons (11-1)
2. Upper Dublin Cardinals (11-1)
3. Quakertown Panthers (10-2)
4. North Penn Knights (7-4)
5. Pennridge Rams (7-4)
6. Central Bucks South Titans (7-4)
7. Council Rock North Indians (6-5)
8. Abington Ghosts (5-5)
9. Council Rock South Hawks (6-4)
10. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (7-3)
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