Check out the results for SOL football teams in action Friday. To view photos of the CB East/Truman, CB South/Pennridge, Cheltenham/Wissahickon Upper Dublin/Upper Moreland and Upper Merion/Springfield games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Stats used in the wraps are provided courtesy of Calkins Media. For complete high school football coverage, visit the web site www.PhillyBurbs.com<http://www.PhillyBurbs.com>.
National Conference
NORTH PENN 24, PENNSBURY 21
The postgame handshakes had just been completed when coach Dick Beck – his team in tow – deviated from his usual pattern and dashed instead to the packed North Penn student section to acknowledge the fans whose support never waivered.
“They’re always behind us, no matter what,” senior captain Ryan Nowicki said. “Even at the games in the beginning of the season when we were getting blown out, they were still there. They’re always loud. It’s great.”
The emotional exchange between the fans and their team capped a magical night for the Knights, who stunned a Falcon squad not only predicted by most to win Friday’s game but also vie for a district title.
While a district title could still be in the Falcons’ future, this night belonged to the Knights, whose coach was hard-pressed to remember a bigger win.
“I’ve been here a long time – it’s got be a top fiver,” Beck said. “How many times did you see me run over to the student section?”
The veteran coach said he had done it just once before, and that was in 2004 when the Knights, thanks to a successful two-point conversion, upset an undefeated Neshaminy squad 31-30 in overtime. The Redskins went on to win a district title that year, advancing to the state championship game against Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Pennsbury will look to do the same.
“Pennsbury is a great team,” Beck said. “They have some great backs, and they do a great job. Defensively, they’re so physical and tough and tenacious, so it was really nice to do what we did tonight against a very good team.”
The win was anything but easy, and it looked like it could be a long, long night when – on their opening drive of the game – the Falcons took more than eight minutes off the clock and capped an 85-yard scoring drive with a 19-yard touchdown run by Charles Snorweah, who finished with a game-high 141 yards.
The Knights – sparked by a 67-yard run by Nick Isabella to the Falcons’ 10 – answered with a 25-yard Matt Ammendola field goal to make it a 7-3 game.
“Our kicker’s been great,” Beck said. “He was the difference tonight, making all his extra points and hitting that field goal. The kickoff is nonexistent for us. We just kick it out of the end zone, and they get the ball at the 20.
“You play against Pennsbury – they’re going to grind you out. They took 17 plays on the first drive.”
An eight-yard touchdown run by Daulton Hose put the Falcons on top 14-3, but the Knights answered with a TD drive of their own that was capped when Nyfease West took it in from 10 yards out to make it a 14-10 game.
The Knights opened the second half with an impressive 61-yard drive that culminated with West’s eight-yard run. They led 17-10 after an Ammendola extra point.
That lead ballooned to 24-14 after Justin Ostopowicz raced 48 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.
“Last year we ran a lot of traps up the middle, and I guess they were anticipating the trap up the middle,” said Nowicki, the Knights’ veteran center. “They were biting pretty hard on the fakes, so we decided to run to the outside, and it worked pretty well.”
The Falcons answered with an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that was capped by Victor Delgado’s 17-yard run around the right side with 10:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The game was far from over. With the Falcons driving, Ricky Johns came up with a huge interception on a third-and-nine play.
“That was a game changer,” Nowicki said. “That gave us possession of the ball, that pretty much sealed the deal. That turnover was huge.”
“It was literally what we practice,” Beck said of the interception. “We got somebody covering the flat, he’s looking for the drag, and he undercut the drag, and he picked it. That’s exactly the way we drew it up. I can’t say enough about Ricky Johns.”
Johns, who had several clutch catches, also delivered a big sack on a fourth-and-five play with just over three minutes remaining. The Falcons had one last gasp, taking over the ball on their own 15 with 1:34 remaining. They managed one first down, but the Knights delivered three sacks – two by Keith Earle – to seal the deal.
The loss was the first of the season for the Falcons (7-1, 5-1 SOL).
“We came in thinking if we played really well we had a chance to win,” Nowicki said. “If we made a bunch of mental mistakes, we weren’t going to be able to get it done.
“We came out played physical the whole time. We gave everything we had on every play. I have to hand it to the defense – they played a great game.
“In warm-ups, (coach Beck) was talking about if we played hard we could get it done and to keep our heads up, no mattered what happened. We just came out and played hard and got it done. It feels great. To beat them – a great team, it’s just awesome.”
The win kept alive the Knights’ 14-game winning streak over the Falcons dating back to 1996.
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Beck said at mention of the streak. “Look, Galen (Snyder) has done a great job. He has brought their program to where they haven’t been since the 80’s.
“I’ll tell you – this is the classiest, hardest working Pennsbury team I’ve ever seen. He should be very proud of these guys. Do you think we want to see them again? They’re going to go very far, I guarantee.”
Friday’s win not only put the Knights (5-3, 4-1) back in the playoff conversation but also put them back in the hunt for a conference crown. They trail CB South by one game.
“The league title is what we strive for,” Beck said. “If we win the league title, I’ve got to believe we’ll be in the playoffs, so let’s win the league title and then we’re in the playoffs, and then we’ll let that happen when it happens.”
The Knights will travel to Neshaminy next Friday while the Falcons will host CB South in a key conference showdown.
Pennsbury 7-7-0-7 21
North Penn 3-7-14-0 24
ABINGTON 28, SOUDERTON 0
Abington’s Anthony Culbreath turned a third quarter interception into a touchdown, turning the Ghosts’ 7-0 halftime lead into a 14-0 advantage. That play may have been the backbreaker for the Indians, who saw a pair of third quarter turnovers result in a pair of Abington touchdowns. The second, after the Ghosts recovered a Souderton fumble, led to another Juawine Sowell touchdown, this one from 13 yards.
The Ghosts led 7-0 at halftime, thanks to a 58-yard touchdown run by Sowell, who was the leading rusher with 98 yards on nine carries. The Ghosts’ final score – after a Cole Midwood interception – came when David Kretschman found Daron Boone for a nine-yard touchdown and the 28-0 final.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Ghosts (4-4, 1-4 SOL). Abington will travel to Bensalem next Friday while the Indians (3-5, 1-4) will travel to Pennridge.
Souderton 0-0-0-0 0
Abington 7-7-7-7 28
NESHAMINY 35, BENSALEM 0
The Redskins sprinted to a 27-0 halftime lead on their way to the big win. Their first touchdown was set up by a Jack Spingler interception, and D’Andre Pollard capped the 35-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run. It was the first of three touchdowns for Pollard, who led the Redskins with 171 yards.
Quarterback Mason Jones found wide receiver Denzel Hughes with a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it a 14-0 game at the end of one quarter.
A 47-yard touchdown run by Matt Magdelinskas put the ‘Skins on top 20-0. Pollard touchdown runs of nine and 70 yards – the second on the first play of the third quarter – closed out the scoring.
The Redskins (4-4, 3-2 SOL) will host North Penn next Friday while the Owls (0-8, 0-5) will host Abington.
Neshaminy 14-13-8-0 35
Bensalem 0-0-0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 28, PENNRIDGE 21
The Rams dominated play in a first half, opening up leads of 14-0 and 21-7. By halftime, Joe Unangst had 198 yards on 18 carries with touchdown runs of 39, 35 and 45 yards.
Still, the Titans trailed by just a touchdown (21-14), thanks to a 35-yard run by CB South Kevin Witchey late in the half. The Rams missed a 27-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
Josh Adams ran for a pair of touchdowns in the second half – on runs of one and 40 yards, and the Titans defense shut out the Rams, holding on for the hard fought win.
Adams, who had 86 yards in the first half, finished with 193 yards and three touchdowns.
With the win and Pennsbury’s loss to North Penn, the Titans (7-1, 5-0 SOL) find themselves in sole possession of first place. They will travel to Pennsbury next Friday for a contest that will go a long way toward determining a conference champion. Pennridge (5-3, 2-3) will host Bensalem next Friday.
Pennridge 14-7-0-0 21
Central Bucks South 7-7-7-7 28
Continental Conference
QUAKERTOWN 19, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 7
(To view Scott Huff’s complete game story and stats, please click on the following link)
http://www.suburbanonesports.com/article/content/quakertown-downs-cr-south-stay-perfect-0048044
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 39, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 14
It was an 8-0 game after one quarter, thanks to a Brian Choi TD run and Chris Welde’s two-point conversion. The Indians all but put the game out of reach with a 24-point second quarter that began with Brandon McIlwain finding Tyler Nowmos with a 61-yard scoring pass. By halftime, the Indians led 32-0 and that lead grew to 39-0 before the Bucks scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns.
Welde had another big night for the Indians, finishing with 195 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. McIlwain – with Penn State coach James Franklin watching from the sidelines – had 61 yards on 15 carries and passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
Rock North’s win sets up a showdown with undefeated Quakertown next Saturday. The Indians (6-2, 4-1 SOL) trail the Panthers by one game in the conference standings. The Bucks (2-6, 1-4) will host Central Bucks East next Friday.
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-14 14
Council Rock North 8-24-7-0 39
HARRY S TRUMAN 36, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 28
The Tigers have shown a flair for the dramatic this season, and they once again found themselves in a nail biter as the Patriots were just two yards from a touchdown and a chance for a potential tie with a two-point conversion when time expired.
Truman, which led 23-20 heading into the fourth quarter, appeared to blow the game wide open after Trysten Hunt took it in from the two and – just over a minute later – Maurice Jackson returned a Patriot fumble on a lateral 62 yards for the touchdown, putting the Tigers on top 36-20.
That lead was anything but secure as the Patriots came roaring back. It was a 36-28 game after quarterback Jack Lamb took it in from two yards out and then successfully ran it in on the two-point conversion attempt.
The Patriots – behind the strong arm of Lamb – marched 90 yards but came up just short of the end zone as the Tigers’ defense held.
Earlier, the two teams exchanged touchdowns in the first half and went into halftime deadlocked 14-14. East’s Dustin Buchanan returned a fumble 92 yards for a touchdown, and Lamb delivered a 23-yard touchdown pass to Alex Gibson. For the Tigers, quarterback Mark Lopez-Shefcyk took it in from four yards out and also found Justin Fant with a 53-yard touchdown pass.
East’s Tommy Strasburger opened the second half with an 82-yard kickoff return for the TD, and Fant had a 50-yard TD run for the Tigers in a contest that featured one big play after another.
The Tigers (5-3, 3-2 SOL) will travel to William Tennent while the Patriots (3-5, 2-3) will face Central Bucks West.
Harry S Truman 7-7-9-13 36
Central Bucks East 7-7-6-8 28
American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 37, HATBORO-HORSHAM 24
Nafeese Nasir rushed for 307 yards and two touchdowns on a night that saw the Colonials accumulate 420 yards on the ground. Nasir had a pair of touchdown runs in the third quarter – one of 64 yards and the other of 58 – to give the Colonials a lead they would not lose.
Earlier, Hatboro’s Joseph Lee returned to opening kickoff for a touchdown, and it was a 14-14 game at halftime after the Hatters drove 80 yards for the score with quarterback Casey Walsh finding John O’Malley for the touchdown as time expired.
O’Malley, in his first action of the season, had 12 catches for 167 yards to lead the Hatters.
PW (5-3, 4-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham next Friday, and the Hatters (2-6, 2-3 SOL) will host Upper Dublin next week.
UPPER DUBLIN 28, UPPER MORELAND 7
The Flying Cardinals took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter after a four-yard run by Kaleif Lee only to watch the Golden Bears knot the score when Tyler Whitmore raced 95 yards for a touchdown.
Ryan Stover found Michael Sowers with an eight-yard touchdown pass to send the Cardinals into halftime with a 14-7 lead. The second half belonged to the Cardinals, who received another touchdown run from Lee, this one for 15 yards. Stover found Gary Fields with a 24-yard touchdown pass to close out the scoring.
Upper Dublin (7-1, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham next Friday while Upper Moreland (5-3, 2-3) will host Springfield.
Upper Moreland 0-7-0-0 7
Upper Dublin 7-7-14-0 28
CHELTENHAM 14, WISSAHICKON 2
On a night that saw neither team generate all that much offense, the Panthers erased a 2-0 halftime deficit with a pair of Steve Han field goals to go on top 6-2. Later, Greg Morris tacked on a touchdown run and ensuing two-point conversion for the 14-2 final. The Trojans took a 2-0 lead with a safety late in the opening half.
Cheltenham (5-3, 4-1 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh next Friday while Wissahickon (2-6, 1-4 SOL) will travel to Upper Merion.
SPRINGFIELD (Montco) 40, UPPER MERION 20
The Spartans led 6-0 after one quarter and extended that lead to 20-6 by halftime. In the half, Martin Worgan had touchdown runs of 56 and 22 yards and had already surpassed the 100-yard mark by the intermission. The Spartans opened up a 33-6 lead before the Vikings scored a pair of late TDs.
Springfield (4-4, 2-3 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland next Friday while the Vikings (0-8, 0-5) will host Wissahickon.
Upper Merion 0-6-0-14 20
Springfield 6-14-6-14 40
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