Scott Huff features Norristown and Souderton and highlights the SOL’s top performers.
By Scott Huff
The first week of the Suburban One League season is in the history books with few surprises.
In the SOL National Conference you have to give credit to both Neshaminy and North Penn for scheduling challenging contests. And both paid the price with decisive losses.
Neshaminy played nationally ranked Gonzaga College High School and lost 42-3, while North Penn played state power La Salle College High School and lost 29-7. Both the Skins and the Knights will rebound from those setbacks.
Pennsbury, Central Bucks South, Pennridge, Souderton, and Abington all collected non-league wins – while Bensalem suffered a loss. No surprises there either.
In the SOL Continental Conference Central Bucks East, Truman, Council Rock North, and Quakertown all captured opening night wins. The most noticeable victory came from Norristown, which ended an 18-game losing streak with a 27-6 win over Upper Merion.
Central Bucks West, Council Rock South both lost as expected – and William Tennent was upset in a 21-13 loss to Mastery Charter.
In the SOL American Conference UpperDublin ventured to Walt Disney World to play Coconut Creek Florida and returned home with an impressive 36-28 victory.
Upper Moreland, Springfield, and Wissahickon all collected victories – while Upper Merion, Cheltenham, Plymouth Whitemarsh, and Hatboro-Horsham all lost opening night games.
The second week of non-league games will be played this week – followed by a third week of non-league games next week. The SOL league season for all three conferences will begin September 19.
And the beat goes on…
Suburban One Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Norristown Eagles
It had been 18 long games since Norristown was able to win a football game – but that unwanted streak came to an abrupt halt last week as the Eagles soared to a 27-6 non-league victory over Upper Merion.
The win created an unbeaten Norristown first year head coach in Jason Powell, who is a perfect 1-0 as leader of the Eagles.
“The constant message that I am putting out to the kids is be consistent – and do the right things both on and off the field,” said Powell. “It is a message that has to be heard – every day – and the players have heard me loud and clear since I took over the program. In fact, I think they just want to shut me up.
“The confidence level is up with the win, but I told the players that it is much harder to have success once you get it,” added Powell. “We set small goals from week to week, and so far it has been successful.”
The key to the Norristown win over Upper Merion was the play of junior running back Corey Davenport who rushed for a game-high 194 yards which included an electrifying 65 touchdown burst.
“Corey has great vision and is very mature for a junior,” said Powell. “He also knows that his offensive linemen did a great job of blocking for him – and if they do that every game he is going to have a great year.”
Norristown is making the transition from the smaller enrollment SOL American Conference to the SOL Continental Conference.
“It is a new year with a new coach and a new league,” said Powell. “But it is still football – we are going to see good players and good teams. We just have to stay ready.”
Norristown will put its unbeaten record on the line this Friday when the Eagles play at Wissahickon.
“We had our first day of school today (Tuesday),” said Powell. “And it was a little easier for them to walk around the hallways.”
And it had been two long years since the seniors on the team could make that walk.
SOL Continental Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Brandon McIlwain of Council Rock North completed 22 passes for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns and also rushed for 168 yards and a score as the Indians edged Perkiomen Valley 29-27.
Mark Lopez-Shefczyk of Truman rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns while teammate Trysten Hunt added 111 yards and two scores as the Tigers clawed Bensalem 40-13.
Alex Gibson of Central Bucks East rushed for 120 yards on 23 carries as the Patriots marched to a 21-7 victory over Cheltenham.
Rob Burns of Quakertown rushed for two touchdowns as the Panthers opened the season with a 38-0 victory over Upper Perkiomen.
Corey Davenport and Khalif Sinclair of Norristown each scored long distance touchdowns as the Eagles defeated Upper Merion 27-6.
John Ryan and Nik Banks of William Tennent connected on a pair of touchdown passes as the Panthers were defeated by Mastery Charter 21-13.
Jake Reichwein and Mike Kovalic of Central Bucks West each scored late touchdowns as the Bucks were defeated by Central Bucks South 41-14.
The Council Rock South defense limited Pennsbury to 42 yards in the second half as the Golden Hawks were defeated by the Falcons 28-0.
This Week in the SOL Continental Conference
Norristown Eagles (1-0) @ Wissahickon Trojans (1-0)
Last Week: Wissahickon defeated Central 47-6 & Norristown defeated Upper Merion 27-6.
Quakertown Panthers (1-0) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (0-1)
Last Week: Quakertown defeated Upper Perkiomen 38-0 & Hatboro-Horsham lost to Pennridge 35-6.
Upper Dublin Cardinals (1-0) @ Truman Tigers (1-0)
Last Week: Upper Dublin defeated Coconut Creek (FLA) 36-28 & Truman defeated Bensalem 40-13.
Pennridge Rams (1-0) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (1-0)
Last Week: Pennridge defeated Hatboro-Horsham 35-6 & CB East defeated Cheltenham 21-7.
Central Bucks West Bucks (0-1) @ Souderton Indians (1-0)
Last Week: CB West lost to CB South 41-14 & Souderton defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh 21-14.
Bensalem Owls (0-1) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (0-1)
Last Week: Bensalem lost to Truman 40-13 & CR South lost to Pennsbury 28-0.
Fels (0-1) @ William Tennent Panthers (0-1)
Last Week: Fels lost to Penn Charter 54-26 & William Tennent lost to Mastery Charter 21-13.
Council Rock North (1-0) @ Simon Gratz (1-0)
Last Week: CR North defeated Perkiomen Valley 29-27 & Gratz defeated Lansdale Catholic 27-17.
SOL American Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Chris Stone of Springfield rushed for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns and also passed for two touchdowns as the Spartans marched to a 35-0 victory over Lower Moreland.
Tyler Whitmore of Upper Moreland rushed for 228 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Golden Bears clawed Penncrest 30-12.
Josh Smith of Wissahickon rushed for 103 yards and a score and also intercepted a pass as the Trojans marched to a 47-6 win over Central.
Isaiah Graham-Mobley of Upper Merion scored the lone touchdown as the Vikings were sunk by Norristown 27-6.
Noah Allanoff of Plymouth Whitemarsh rushed for a touchdown and threw a touchdown pass as the Colonials were defeated by Souderton 21-14.
Kingsley Nworu of Hatboro Horsham scored the lone touchdown as the Hatters were topped by Pennridge 35-6.
Greg Morris of Cheltenham scored the lone touchdown as the Panthers were defeated by Central Bucks East 21-7.
This Week in the SOL American Conference
Norristown Eagles (1-0) @ Wissahickon Trojans (1-0)
Last Week: Norristown defeated Upper Merion 27-6 & Wissahickon defeated Central 47-6.
Archbishop John Carroll (0-1) @ Upper Moreland Bears (1-0)
Last Week: Carroll lost to Bishop Egan 46-21 & Upper Moreland defeated Penncrest 30-12.
Abington Ghosts (1-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (0-1)
Last Week: Abington defeated Northeast 35-34 & PW lost to Souderton 21-14.
Octorara (0-1) @ Upper Merion Vikings (0-1)
Last Week: Octorara lost to Fleetwood 42-31 & Upper Merion lost to Norristown 27-6.
Quakertown Panthers (1-0) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (0-1)
Last Week: Quakertown defeated Upper Perkiomen 38-0 & Hatboro Horsham lost to Pennridge 35-6.
Bishop McDevitt (1-0) @ Cheltenham Panthers (0-1)
Last Week: Bishop McDevitt defeated Pope John Paul II 33-14 & Cheltenham lost to CB East 21-14.
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (1-0) @ Truman Tigers (1-0)
Last Week: Upper Dublin defeated Coconut Creek (FLA) 36-28 & Truman defeated Bensalem 40-13.
Lansdale Catholic Crusaders (0-1) @ Springfield Spartans (1-0)
Last Week: Lansdale Catholic lost to Simon Gratz 27-17 & Springfield defeated Lower Moreland.
SOL National Conference ‘Spotlight’
Souderton Indians
The talk around the Suburban One League is that Soudertonis still a year away, but Indian head coach Ed Gallagher and his seniors are not listening.
“Sure we have a strong junior class and an excellent sophomore class,” said Gallagher. “We will have a lot of players gaining varsity experience as underclassmen and we should be a good football team next year.
“But I expect us to be a good football team this year,” added Gallagher. “We have a group of seniors who realize that now is their time – and those players are all good football players.”
That senior core includes Evan Sweet, Matt Homewood, Nico Johnson, and Chris Ronkainen – all who start along the offensive line. Nate Landes is an anchor in the Big Red backfield.
“That group will provide the mental and physical maturity that a young team needs,” said Gallagher. “We are going to have to depend on them with our move to the National Conference.”
Souderton is the smallest of the teams in the realigned SOL National Conference. The male enrollment figure for SAHS is 882 – North Penn has the largest male enrollment with 1861 males.
“We have played North Penn every year for a long time - and really we have played most of the schools (Pennridge, Neshaminy, CB South, and Abington) recently except for Pennsbury and Bensalem,” said Gallagher. “It is going to be a grind – though – and we will have to wait and see how well we respond week in and week out.
“I was happy with the way that we played against Plymouth Whitemarsh,” added Gallagher in reference to the 21-14 Indian victory over the Colonials. “PW had a huge offensive line – and I thought we did a lot of good things. Offense, defense, and special teams all had good moments.”
And hopefully those good moments will continue for Souderton over the course of a brutal 2014 SOL National Conference season – and beyond.
SOL National Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Josh Adams of Central Bucks South rushed for 232 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Kevin Witchey passed for four touchdowns – three to Troy Robertson as the Titans crushed Central Bucks West 41-14.
Juanwine Sowell of Abington rushed for 250 yards and four touchdowns and established a school record 45 carries to lead the Ghosts to a 35-34 win over Northeast. David Kretscham threw a TD pass to Jordan Neely on the final play of the game to secure the win.
Blake Gular and Nate Landes of Souderton sparked the Indians 21-14 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh. Gular rushed for 120 yards and Landes scored 2 touchdowns for the Big Red.
Rob Daly of Pennsbury of Pennsbury rushed for 2 touchdowns while Charles Snorweah and Raheem Thompson each scored single touchdowns as the Falcons soared to a 28-0 win over Council Rock South.
Joe Unangst and Imeir Simmons of Pennridge led the Rams in a 35-6 win over Hatboro-Horsham. Unangst rushed for a team-high 117 yards and returned a punt for a score while Simmons scored 2 touchdowns.
Nick Isabella of North Penn scored the lone touchdown as the Knights were defeated by La Salle 29-7.
Dylan McDonald of Neshaminy kicked a field goal to account for the only points as the Redskins were defeated 42-3 by Gonzaga College.
Matt Hafner of Bensalem led the Owls in rushing and scored a TD in a 40-13 loss to Truman.
This Week in the SOL National Conference
Abington Ghosts (1-0) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (0-1)
Last Week: Abington defeated Northeast 35-34 & PW lost to Souderton 21-14.
Pennridge Rams (1-0) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (1-0)
Last Week: Pennridge defeated Hatboro-Horsham 35-6 & CB East defeated Cheltenham 21-7.
Central Bucks West Bucks (0-1) @ Souderton Indians (1-0)
Last Week: CB West lost to CB South 41-14 & Souderton defeated Plymouth Whitemarsh 21-14.
Bensalem Owls (0-1) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (0-1)
Last Week: Bensalem lost to Truman 40-13 & CR South lost to Pennsbury 28-0.
Frankford Pioneers (0-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (1-0)
Last Week: Frankford lost to Downingtown East 45-6 & Pennsbury defeated CR South 28-0.
Neshaminy Redskins (0-1) @ Downingtown West (1-0)
Last Week: Neshaminy lost to Gonzaga College 42-3 & Downingtown West defeated Haverford High 31-2.
West Catholic (1-0) @ North Penn Knights (0-1)
Last Week: West Catholic defeated Haverford School (Wildwood-NJ) 24-19 & North Penn lost to La Salle 29-7.
Coatesville Red Raiders (1-0) @ Central Bucks South Titans (1-0)
Last Week: Coatesville defeated Martin Luther King 45-19 & Central Bucks South defeated CB West 41-14.
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