This week’s notebook features the three SOL conference champions and highlights some of the weekend’s top performances.
By Scott Huff
The final week of the Suburban One League season determined both outright conference champions – North Penn (SOL National), Council Rock North (SOL Continental), and Upper Dublin (SOL American) – and also determined the teams that will compete in the PIAA District One playoffs that begin this weekend.
In the SOL National Conference, three teams made the 16-team Quad-A field. North Penn (8-2) is a # 9 seed and will travel to Chester County to play # 8 seed Unionville. Neshaminy (7-3) is the # 13 seed and will be on the road to play # 4 seed – and unbeaten – Spring-Ford (10-0). Pennsbury (7-3) is the # 15 seed and will also be on the road to battle # 2 seed Downingtown West (9-1).
In the SOL Continental Conference, three teams were invited to compete in the Quad-A field. Central Bucks East (8-2) will have a home game as it competes against conference rival # 12 seed Quakertown (8-2). Council Rock North (7-3) will be on the road to play # 6 seed Upper Darby (9-1).
In the SOL American Conference, two teams will compete in the Quad-A field – one team that will compete in the Class AAA field – and one team in the Class AA field. Upper Dublin (10-0) is the # 3 Quad-A seed and will host # 14 Garnet Valley (7-3). Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-2) is the # 16 Quad-A seed and will travel to play # 1 seed Downingtown East (10-0). Upper Moreland (8-2) is the # 2 Class AAA seed and will host # 7 seed Pottstown (7-3). Springfield (3-6) is the # 2 Class AA seed and will host # 3 seed Bristol (5-5).
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Champion – North Penn Knights
The North Penn senior class has celebrated a conference championship for the third year in a row.
“The senior class has worked very hard and has been through a lot with the three league championships,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck. “We’re very excited to be league champs – and with all the talk about playoffs we never want to take that away from the players. Winning a championship is a very special accomplishment that can’t ever be taken away from them.
“Sometimes it seems to be all about the playoffs,” added Beck. “And now that we have won a championship – we can put that in the background and get ready to play a very good Unionville in the first round of the playoffs.”
The North Penn journey to the conference championship came after a 1-2 non-league record. The Knights opened the year with a 24-12 loss to La Salle – a 40-24 win over West Catholic – and a 28-24 loss to Downingtown East.
The North Penn conference schedule began with a 31-7 victory over Pennridge (Nick Isabella two touchdowns); followed by a 46-26 win over CB South (Justin Ostopowicz and Isabella two touchdowns each); followed by a 39-14 victory over Souderton (Reece Udinski five touchdown passes); followed by a 55-20 win over Bensalem (Ricky Johns two touchdown catches); followed by a 27-20 victory over Pennsbury (Udinski 260 passing yards); followed by a 22-17 win over Neshaminy (Nyfease West three touchdowns); and followed by a 63-21 victory over Abington (Isabella four touchdowns).
Congratulations to the SOL National Conference champion Knights – and good luck in the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs.
‘Notable Numbers’ Last Week in the SOL National Conference
Nick Isabella of North Pennrushed for 92 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Knights marched to a 63-21 victory over Abington. Reece Udinski completed nine passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while Nyfease West rushed for a game-high 96 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Sam Thompson of Central Bucks South rushed for four touchdowns and fired a touchdown pass as the Titans defeated Souderton 33-7.
Will Dogba of Neshaminy rushed for 197 yards on 31 carries as the Redskins earned a playoff berth with a 16-14 victory over Pennsbury.
Nick Hirsch and Juden Desrosiers of Pennridge each scored two rushing touchdowns as the Rams captured a 51-26 victory over Bensalem.
David Kretscham of Abington completed 16 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns as the Ghosts fell to North Penn 63-21. George Reid caught eight passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns for AHS.
Kenny O’Connell of Bensalem completed eight passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns as the Owls were defeated by Pennridge 51-26.
Mike Alley of Pennsbury rushed 14 times for 70 yards and completed seven passes for 98 yards and a touchdown as the Falcons fell to Neshaminy 16-14.
Camerin Carroll of Souderton returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown as the Big Red ended its season with a 33-7 loss to Central Bucks South.
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Champion – Council Rock North Indians
The Council Rock Northsenior class had never been called champions.
“The last time we won an outright championship was 2006 when I was an assistant coach here,” said Council Rock North head coach Adam Collachi. “Sometimes winning a championship takes a back seat to getting into the playoffs – but that certainly is not the feeling we have here.
“The last couple of weeks have been a lot of fun trying to compete for that championship,” added Collachi. “Sure it’s fun to be involved in Selection Sunday to be one of the last 16 teams playing – but sometimes everyone really gets too fixed on getting into the playoffs.”
The CR North journey to conference championship came after a 1-2 non-league record. The Indians opened the season with a 56-36 loss to Perkiomen Valley – defeated Central Bucks South 36-29 – and lost to Pennsbury 41-19.
The Rock North conference season began with a 26-21 victory over CB East (Brandon McIlwain 308 yards total offense – four TD runs and two TD passes); followed with a 53-0 win over William Tennent (McIlwain four touchdown runs); followed with a 44-43 loss to Norristown (McIlwain four rushing touchdowns and a TD pass); followed with a 34-15 victory over Truman (McIlwain four touchdown runs); followed with a 33-15 win over CB West (McIlwain four touchdown runs); followed with a 41-31 victory over Quakertown (McIlwain five touchdown runs and TD pass); and followed with a 35-14 win over Council Rock South (McIlwain four touchdown runs and a TD pass).
Congratulations to the SOL Continental Conference champion Indians – and good luck in the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs.
‘Notable Numbers’ Last Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North carried the ball 30 times for 140 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns as the Indians defeated Council Rock South 35-14. McIlwain also completed 18 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown for the winners.
Eddie Shields of Central Bucks West completed 10 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns as the Bucks captured a 32-6 victory over William Tennent. Kyle Taylor caught four passes for 108 yards and two scores for the winners.
Jack Lamb of Central Bucks East rushed for a game-high 152 yards and two touchdowns as the Patriots marched to a 24-23 victory over Quakertown.
Quinten Mulbah of Truman scored what proved to be the winning touchdown as the Tigers captured a 28-25 win over Norristown.
Brendan Patterson of Council Rock South rushed for a game-high 168 yards and scored a touchdown as the Golden Hawks were defeated by Council Rock North 35-14.
Desmond Gorski of Norristown passed for 163 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles were defeated by Truman 28-25.
Dan Costello of William Tennent carried 33 times for 90 yards and scored a touchdown as the Panthers were defeated by Central Bucks West 32-6.
Rob Burns of Quakertown rushed for a team-high 121 yards and scored a touchdown, while Tom Garlick scored two rushing touchdowns as the Panthers were defeated 24-23 by Central Bucks East.
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Champion – Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals
The Upper Dublin senior class defended its conference title with its second straight unbeaten conference season.
“Our goal every year is to play one game at a time – and try to win the conference championship,” said Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover. “To be able to do what we did this year was a huge accomplishment – and our team did a great job of not looking ahead and staying focused on the team we were playing that week.
“I am very happy for our seniors – nothing was promised to them this year – they had to go out and earn it,” added Stover. “The media makes a lot of the playoffs – but we didn’t lose sight of winning that championship.”
The journey to the conference championship began with a perfect 3-0 non-league record. The Cardinals soared to wins over Delaware Valley (42-7) – over Truman (38-7) – and over Abington (63-14).
The Upper Dublin conference season began with a 42-6 victory over Cheltenham (Ryan Stover two touchdown passes and Stacey Gardner two touchdown runs); followed with a 62-0 win over Springfield (Gardner and Kalief Lee three touchdowns each); followed with a 49-0 victory over Wissahickon (Lee four touchdowns); followed with a 42-0 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh (Stover five touchdown passes); followed with a 35-7 win over Upper Moreland (Stover three touchdown passes); followed with a 31-10 victory over Hatboro-Horsham (Stover 2 TD passes – Lee two TD runs); and followed with a 56-13 win over Upper Merion (Stover two touchdown passes and a TD run).
Congratulations to the SOL American Conference champion Cardinals – and good luck in the PIAA Quad-A District One playoffs.
‘Notable Numbers’ Last Week in the SOL American Conference
Nafeese Nasir of Plymouth Whitemarsh rushed for 246 yards and scored six touchdowns – all in the first half – as the Colonials marched to a 56-0 victory over Springfield.
Casey Walsh of Hatboro-Horsham completed 14 passes for 263 yards and five touchdowns as the Hatters topped Cheltenham 42-28. Jordan Mason rushed for a team-high 82 yards and also caught two touchdown passes for the winners.
Rodney Morgan of Upper Moreland carried 17 times for 200 yards and scored four touchdowns as the Golden Bears captured a 35-16 victory over Wissahickon.
Ryan Stover of Upper Dublin threw two touchdowns passes and ran for another, while Kaleif Lee rushed for two touchdowns as the Cardinals soared to a 56-13 victory over Upper Merion.
Yasin Abdul-Haqq and Branden Mack of Cheltenham put up some impressive numbers as the Panthers were defeated by Hatboro-Horsham 42-28. Abdul-Haqq rushed for a game-high 161 yards, while Mack rushed for 137 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Michael Schoenleber of Wissahickon completed 15 passes for 249 yards and a touchdown as the Trojans were defeated by Upper Moreland 35-16.
Isaiah Graham-Mobley of Upper Merion caught two touchdown passes as the Vikings were sunk by Upper Dublin 56-13.
SuburbanOneSports.com
Top Ten
1. Upper Dublin Cardinals (10-0)
2. North Penn Knights (8-2)
3. Central Bucks East Patriots (8-2)
4. Quakertown Panthers (8-2)
5. Neshaminy Redskins (7-3)
6. Pennsbury Falcons (7-3)
7. Council Rock North Indians (7-3)
8. Pennridge Rams (7-3)
9. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (8-2)
10. Upper Moreland Bears (8-2)
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