Check out the recaps for SOL football teams in action Friday. Pennsbury/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. CR South/CR North photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. PW/Quakertown photos courtesy of Kim Supko, AND NP/Abington photos courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for game action photos…CLICK HERE for a direct link to the FOOTBALL GALLERY.
Stats used in the wraps are provided courtesy of the Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier. For complete high school football coverage, visit the web sites http://www.theintell.com/sports and http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports
SOL National Conference
NESHAMINY 21, PENNSBURY 20
This was a game for the ages, living up to all the hype that preceded it and then some. In the end, it came down to an electrifying kickoff return and a trick play – both by the Redskins – that turned a 20-7 deficit into a 21-20 win.
“It was a terrific atmosphere and two great teams,” Neshaminy coach Steve Wilmot said.
It didn’t look as though the Redskins would be celebrating their second conference title in as many years when – early in the fourth quarter – Zach Demarchis found David Burke with a nine-yard touchdown pass that put the Falcons on top 20-7 and silenced the Redskin faithful.
But not for long.
Joel Stills saw to that, running the ensuing kickoff back 92 yards for a touchdown and turning the tide of Friday’s showdown.
“A kickoff return is something we work on a lot,” Wilmot said. “Teams keep kicking it to him, and he keeps returning it.
“I do the kickoff return team, and I have guys on there that might not be starters, but there are guys blocking on that team that I really believe in as players and as people. They just really got it done on that play. We talked about scoring on that play. I was really hoping they would kick it deep to him, and Joel’s speed was a factor. Most kids can’t do what he did there. He just turned on the jets and went.”
And nothing was ever the same for either team.
The Falcons returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 13-yard line, and it was a quick three-and-out with the Redskins taking over at their own 40. They methodically moved down the field, eating clock and coming up with all the big plays. On a crucial third down, quarterback Brody McAndrew found Zack Canimore for a first down.
Stills did his part on the drive as well. His seven-yard carry gave the Redskins a first-and-goal from the Falcon’s nine-yard line.
“We wanted to run Joel on a couple of plays because we were thinking about scoring, and we didn’t want to give them the ball back with too much time left because obviously their quarterback is very dangerous,” Wilmot said.
A costly sack set up a third-and-goal from the 17. McAndrew once again came up big, finding teammate Oleh Manzyk, who took it to the two-yard line.
“He made a couple of good throws,” Wilmot said of his sophomore quarterback. “Things weren’t going his way at all times, but you have to give Pennsbury a lot of credit. They have a really good team.
“Their defense was all seniors except for one D-back. They had Matt Russo at defensive end today, which was a little bit of a change and kind of affected our game plan a little bit, but our guys just kept fighting and fighting. Joel’s kick return was the catalyst and then we just ran our offense on the last drive and got it done.”
On fourth-and-goal, the Redskins pulled a trick play out of their playbook. Manzyk took the direct snap, handed the ball off to Cory Joyce, who passed to a wide open McAndrew for the touchdown. Matt Leonhauser’s extra point put the Redskins on top with 36 seconds remaining. A Neshaminy win was all but assured.
“The play that we scored on we’ve had in since last year,” Wilmot said. “We put it in last year for Mason Jones, never used it, never really had the opportunity to use it.
“We used it once in the Bucks versus Montgomery County All-Star Game. It worked pretty good there. We started practicing it again maybe four or five weeks ago and were able to use it tonight.”
Earlier, the two teams exchanged best shots. A four-yard slant from McAndrew to Canimore for a touchdown put the ‘Skins on the board first, but Nasan Robbins took it in from four yards out with 2:36 remaining. The missed extra point allowed the ‘Skins to maintain a 7-6 lead. Robbins second TD of the night in the second quarter – this one from six yards out – sent the Falcons into halftime with a 13-7 lead.
The Falcons had opportunities to add to their lead but turned the ball over twice – once on a Mike Garlick interception – inside the Redskins’ 30. It didn’t look as though it would matter when they went on top 20-7 in the fourth quarter, but things changed in a hurry down the stretch.
“Pennsbury is a good team,” Wilmot said. “Any stop we could get we would be happy with against that team. Mike’s interception was a really good interception. I’m really proud of our guys.”
With the win, Neshaminy (9-1, 6-0 SOL) won the conference title and all but assured itself of the number one seed in the District One 6A Tournament. Pennsbury (8-2, 5-1) also should be near the top of the 16-team field.
Neshaminy 7-0-0-14 21
Pennsbury 6-7-0-7 20
HARRY S TRUMAN 49, BENSALEM 21
The Tigers ran wild in Friday night’s regular season finale, accumulating more than 500 yards on the ground and, more importantly, earning a win that vaulted the team into the District One 6A Tournament for the first time.
The two teams were deadlocked at 14 after one quarter, and the Tigers led by just one score at halftime (21-14), but then came a third quarter that saw the Tigers put three unanswered touchdowns on the board to go on top 42-14 on their way to making history.
Junior Javeer Peterson is making the most of his recent move to running back, leading the Tigers with 253 yards and two touchdowns. Sayyid Saunders wasn’t far behind, finishing with 223 yards and three TDs.
Harry S Truman (7-3, 3-3 SOL) will await its seed in the District One 6A Tournament while Bensalem (5-5, 2-4) saw its season come to an end.
Harry S Truman 14-7-21-7 49
Bensalem 14-0-0-7 21
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 38, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 14
Forget the records, forget everything when the sister schools square off in their annual battle for the Unity Cup. In the most recent showdown, the Indians hung tough for a while, but this year’s game belongs to the Golden Hawks.
“This gave us a good sendoff – it’s a big win,” senior captain Christian Jabbar said. “It was a big crowd, everyone was pumped up – it was a good time. This is the game everyone looks forward to.
“The best moment is at the end of the game when the clock hit zero.”
Jabbar had a big night behind center for the Golden Hawks. After Michael Welde took it in from two yards out to give the Indians a 7-0 lead, the senior quarterback went to work, hooking up with his favorite target – Nick Gallo – for a 47-yard touchdown. An 18-yard touchdown run by Elias Mayo gave the Hawks their first lead, but Welde’s 88-yard touchdown run knotted the score. An Andrew Witten field goal sent the Hawks into halftime with a 17-14 lead.
The Golden Hawks seized control of the game in the second half, outscoring the Indians 21-0.
“In the second half, we came in and we made adjustments and we just really came together as a team,” senior captain Tyler Berghaier said. “We came out the second half fired up, and from there on was the turning point.”
According to both captains, the Hawks pulled together around after a crushing mid-season loss to Harry S Truman.
“We just came together a little bit more – we trusted each other, and our play showed it,” Jabbar said. “We put up more points offensively, and we got big stops.”
“We all came together and became a true team,” Berghaier said. “We all got really close and started believing in each other and in the coaching.”
Jabbar threw for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Gallo had six receptions, which included a pair of touchdowns, and finished the night with 142 receiving yards. Mayo ran for 92 yards.
“It was just awesome tonight,” Berghaier said. “Coming into the game, we were all super pumped. We had a great week of practice.
“Just coming into the game we were super prepared, and at the end, it was what we expected. We just prepared really well. Being a senior, this is the best way to go out. I couldn’t have picked it any other way. This is the most important game of the season. It was a great night.”
Coach Vince Bedesem was especially happy for his seniors.
“For this group that worked so hard for the last four years, this is tremendous,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “I’m so happy for them, and they gave us a positive platform going into next year.”
Making the night even more special for the Golden Hawks was the presence on the sidelines of Justin Pugh, who starred at Rock South and is now a mainstay on the offensive line of the New York Giants.
Welde ran for 162 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Indians.
Council Rock South closed out its season with a 4-6 record overall (3-3 SOL), and Council Rock North was 1-9 overall (0-6 SOL).
Council Rock North 7-7-0-0 14
Council Rock South 7-10-7-14 38
SOL Continental Conference
SOUDERTON 21, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 14
The Indians saved their best for last.
Winners of just two games heading into Friday night’s game at War Memorial, it would have been easy for the squad to mail it in against a six-win West squad. That didn’t happen as the Indians pulled off the stunner.
“Our kids just believed they could do it,” coach Ed Gallagher said.
The Indians were undeterred when the Bucks opened the game with a big play for a touchdown.
“We opened the game with a trick play, and it didn’t work, and they started the play with almost the same thing and scored a touchdown,” Gallagher said.
West’s trick play resulted in a 70-yard touchdown pass from Josh Crecca to Riccardo Washington for an early 7-0 lead. The Indians responded with a touchdown of their own when DeAndre Wakefield took it in from three yards out, knotting the score 7-7 after one quarter.
An 11-yard touchdown run by Ryan Moylan sent the Bucks into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
“We were competitive, and I think at halftime, we knew that we could compete,” Gallagher said. “We’ve been – in my opinion – competitive with all three Central Bucks schools this year.
“I kept saying to them, ‘You’re here. This is your last chance to make a statement and prove that you can play with these guys.’ They did a really nice job.”
In the third quarter, sophomore quarterback Andrew Vince found freshman Willie Goods with an eight-yard touchdown pass that knotted the score 14-14. Vince didn’t just get the job done on the offensive side of the football.
His second interception of the night set up the go-ahead touchdown
“Both interceptions set us up nice, but he returned his second interception to the three-yard line,” Gallagher said.
Junior Xarminto Lubuelo took it in for a TD that gave the Indians a 21-14 lead they would not lose.
For the young players who have stepped into key roles, the season-ending win was especially significant.
“It was huge,” Gallagher said. “We needed a springboard into the offseason. There’s been a lot of adversity throughout the season. We needed to feel some success, and we did down the stretch.
“We won two of our last four games and put some things together to close out the season. That little bit of success will hopefully carry us into some good workouts in the offseason and have the kids believe they can be competitive.”
In his final high school game, senior lineman Trevor Watts once again stood tall for the Indians.
“Trevor was great,” Gallagher said. “He’s the best lineman in the league, but you don’t hear about him every night. He played a great game on both sides of the ball.”
Crecca threw for 172 yards on a night that saw the Bucks limited to 109 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Souderton closed out its season with a 3-7 record (2-4 SOL). Central Bucks West (6-4, 2-4) awaits its final seed in the District One 6A Tournament.
Souderton 7-0-7-7 21
Central Bucks West 7-7-0-0 14
PENNRIDGE 28, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 12
The Rams took a tenuous 7-6 lead into halftime but took control in the second half, outscoring the visiting Patriots 21-6.
Ryan Rapp accounted for the Rams’ only touchdown of the first half, returning an interception 62 yards for a 7-0 lead. For the Patriots, freshman Anthony Giordano filled in for quarterback Evan O’Donnell, who was sidelined with an injury. He accounted for both of the Patriots’ TDs with his first coming on a two-yard plunge in the opening quarter.
Zak Kantor threw a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter – the first to Shane Hartzel from 18 yards and the second a 20-yard pass to Joe Devine. Ryan Garner’s six-yard TD run gave the Rams a 28-6 lead before Giordano scored from one yard.
Giordano threw for 303 yards. Jake Navorski and Chris Lochetta both had more than 100 receiving yards.
For the second time in as many weeks, the Rams had five interceptions, and for the second time in as many weeks, sophomore Cooper Chaikin had a pair.
Pennridge (8-2, 5-1 SOL) will be a top eight seed in the District One 6A Tournament with a home game next week while Central Bucks East (4-6, 2-4) sees its season come to an end.
Central Bucks East 6-0-0-6 12
Pennridge 7-0-14-7 28
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 37, WILLIAM TENNENT 17
The Titans closed out the regular season with a convincing win over the visiting Panthers, who had a short-lived 7-0 lead after Mitch Vierling connected with Jake Herbert for a 69-yard touchdown.
Ryan Shoch's TD pass to Jack Johns evened the score 7-7 after one quarter. The duo hooked up for two more touchdowns in the second quarter, sending the Titans into halftime with a 21-7 lead. A touchdown run by Connor Dilissio upped South’s lead to 28-7 at the end of three quarters. The two teams exchanged scores in the fourth quarter.
Shoch – who stepped behind center when Josh Consoletti was sidelined early in the game – celebrated Senior Night by throwing for 117 yards.
Central Bucks South (7-3, 4-2 SOL) will be in action in the District One 6A Tournament next week. William Tennent closed it season with an 0-10 record (0-6 SOL).
William Tennent 7-0-0-10 17
Central Bucks South 7-14-7-9 37
SOL American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 21, UPPER DUBLIN 20
In another championship battle that lived up to its billing, it took an interception by Cole Kitchen on the Cardinals’ two-point conversion attempt with 3.2 seconds remaining to preserve the win. It is the second time this season the Golden Bears have thwarted a two-point conversion for the win.
“As long as we’re coming out on the right side of them, we’re okay,” UM coach Adam Beach said.
The win capped a perfect regular season for the Golden Bears, who clinched sole possession of the SOL American Conference crown.
“I think it’s a credit to the kids,” Beach said. “It’s a senior-dominated group. They worked hard. They took the offseason seriously, they prepared themselves, and they stayed together. I think that helps them in the tough spots.
“When they make the plays in the tough spots, it only gives them more confidence moving forward that they’re going to be able to do it again in the big moments because the big games are still ahead of us. They’re going to get called upon to make these plays again, so the more success they have and the more confident they are, the better we’re going to be moving forward.”
This one was anything but easy as the Flying Cardinals rallied from a 21-0 deficit early in the second half to pull to within one when quarterback Julian Gimbel took it in from 14 yards out.
“We controlled the game in the first half – we had a 14-0 lead going into halftime,” Beach said. “We get the ball in the second half, and on the first play, touchdown. (Caleb) Mead gets loose, we score and we go up 21-0.
“The game kind of changed. Kids are kids, and I think the kids got a little lax maybe, but Upper Dublin, to their credit, kept playing, and they came back. We made enough plays at the end to win, and that’s what we’re going to remember. They came back, but we made the plays at the end and won the game.”
The Golden Bears led 14-0 at halftime, thanks to a pair of Sterlen Barr touchdown runs – the first from three yards and the second from nine. They appeared to be in complete command when Mead ran it 60 yards for a touchdown to open the second half, but the Cardinals had other ideas.
Lucas Roselli scored from 29 yards out to make it a 21-7 game after three quarters. Malik Bootman’s seven-yard touchdown run early in the fourth pulled the Cardinals to within seven, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
Barr led the Golden Bears with 107 rushing yards. He also had an interception. One of the game’s unsung heroes was senior lineman Ryan Caral, who lined up at offensive guard and defensive tackle.
“He controlled the middle,” Beach said. “They really couldn’t run the ball too much because Ryan Caral was just really doing a great job inside. They couldn’t handle him, and it forced them to get outside. Ryan played an outstanding game for us on both sides of the ball.”
Upper Moreland (9-0, 6-0 SOL) is projected to be the second seed in the upcoming District One 5A Tournament. Upper Dublin (6-3, 4-2) is also expected to get a top eight seed in the 16-team field.
Upper Dublin 0-0-7-7-6 20
Upper Moreland 7-7-7-0 21
QUAKERTOWN 42, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 23
The Panthers staged yet another heroic second-half comeback, turning a 20-0 halftime deficit into a 19-point win with a 42-point second half. It’s the third time this season the Panthers have rallied from double-digit deficits to win.
“Each game is a little bit different as far as how we did come back,” coach George Banas said. “Tonight I thought we played very selfish football in the first half, and we didn’t play assignment football.
“We weren’t playing like ourselves, like a Quakertown football team. We were playing very inconsistent, very selfish. Even mentally, we were losing it. We weren’t acting the way I expect our players to act.”
The Panthers’ coach didn’t peel the paint off the locker room wall with a fiery halftime speech. In fact, just the opposite was true.
“At halftime, they were mad at themselves,” Banas said. “I sort of stood outside the locker room, and they really talked to each other pretty harsh and pretty hard, but it was a positive thing because they motivated themselves.
“I just told them at halftime – it wasn’t one of those crazy speeches, that’s for sure, because I just didn’t think they needed it. I sat and talked to them and said, ‘At some point in your lives, you have to understand that you have to put the group ahead of the individual, and this is one of those times where you have that opportunity for a half to put the team ahead of yourself – play assignment football, do your job and don’t try to do anybody else’s job. Just do your job, and everything will work out.’”
A different Panther team emerged from the halftime locker room. Selfish no more, the Panthers put on a clinic, outscoring the Colonials 42-3 to win going away.
“Afterwards, coach (Jeff) Wolfinger said to me, and I stole it from him – that was a teachable moment,” Banas said. “I said, ‘You can do it your way and be individuals, and you get a 20-0 half. You can do it our way, the team way – disciplined, fundamentally sound, zip your lips, and it’s 42-3. Which outcome do you like better?’
“It was ridiculous how much of a dominant performance we played for 24 minutes. I think we racked up almost 300 rushing yards in the second half.”
Leading the charge for the Panthers on the ground were Michael Terra (146 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Christian Patrick (104 yards).
According to Banas, the second-half comeback was a team effort.
“I really do think it was a group effort between (Nick) Levinski and (Tim) Shevlin and a couple of other guys that say some things – they just feed off each other’s play,” Banas said. “Not a bunch of rah rah guys and not a bunch of guys really talking too much, but when the defense makes plays, the offense wants to make plays.
“Then when the offense scores, the defense wants to give them the ball back. They feed off each other big time.”
Dontae Wilson and Kirk Bell accounted for the Colonials’ three first-half touchdowns.
Quakertown (7-2, 5-1 SOL) will return to action next week in the District One 6A Tournament. Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its season with a 1-8 record (1-5 SOL).
Quakertown 0-0-21-21 42
Plymouth Whitemarsh 7-13-0-3 23
HATBORO-HORSHAM 45, CHELTENHAM 20
The Hatters – who exploded for 456 yards of total offense – seized control of a tight game with 21 second-quarter points.
In the opening quarter, the Hatters went on top 7-0 after Calvin Broaddus hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Chris Edwards. The Panthers came right back with a Joshua Hoachim TD run. Then came a second quarter the Hatters owned.
Anthony Kwiatanowski’s two-yard TD run was followed by another Edwards touchdown pass – this one to Ben Ejimonyeugwo for 26 yards. Cheltenham quarterback Adonis Hunter scored to make it a 21-13 game, but another Edwards to Broaddus connection sent the Hatters into halftime with a 28-13 lead.
Smith opened the second half with a 79-yard touchdown run to put the Hatters on top 35-13. The Panthers never threatened.
Smith had a huge night for the Hatters, finishing with 225 yards on the ground. Edwards threw for 115 yards and ran for 61 more.
Hatboro-Horsham (5-4, 3-3 SOL) is scheduled to travel to Upper Moreland on Thanksgiving for a 10 a.m. contest. Cheltenham closed out its season with a 2-8 record (2-4 SOL).
Cheltenham 7-6-0-7 20
Hatboro-Horsham 7-21-10-8 45
Non-league
NORTH PENN 46, ABINGTON 8
K.J. Cartwright scored four touchdowns to lead the Knights to a rout of the visiting Ghosts in a non-league contest.
The Knights’ senior running back scored the first three touchdowns of the game. Steve DePaul connected with Shamar Edwards for a touchdown, and Justis Henley took it in from 39 yards out to propel the Knights to a 33-0 halftime lead. Cartwright’s fourth touchdown early in the third quarter put the Knights on top 40-0 before Darryl Davis-McNeil scored from six yards out to break up the Knights’ shutout bid.
Cartwright led the Knights with 98 yards on the ground. McNeil’s string of 200-yard games was broken. He finished with 189 yards to lead all ground gainers.
North Penn (8-2, 6-0 SOL) will be one of the favorites entering next week’s District One 6A Tournament. Abington closed its season with a 4-6 records overall (2-4 SOL).
Abington 0-0-8-0 8
North Penn 14-19-7-6 46
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