Check out the recaps for SOL football teams in action Friday. Souderton/Pennridge photos courtesy of Tracy Valko. Wissahickon/Hatboro-Horsham photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko, CB West/Upper Dublin courtesy of Shannon O’Sullivan,and Abington/CR North pictures courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of all three games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f129542182
SOUDERTON 19, PENNRIDGE 14
(Game info courtesy of @ADRobinson3 X)
It’s always a war when these neighboring rivals meet on the gridiron, but last week’s scores – Pennridge fell to Downingtown East 43-0 while Souderton defeated Haverford 21-17 – might suggested that the Indians might be heavy favorites. Any thoughts that the Indians would cruise in this one were put to rest in a hurry.
Pennridge, which led 7-0 at halftime, upped that to 14-0 in the opening moments of the second half. To their credit, the Indians outscored the Rams 19-0 the rest of the way to earn a win that was anything but easy.
“(Pennridge’s) first game was against a really good team, and we knew they were going to give us a battle,” Souderton coach Ed Gallagher said. “We knew they were going to give it their best shot, and I credit Kyle Beller and their staff – they got those kids ready to play. They played hard, and they definitely came out with much more intention than we did.
“We had to respond in the second half, and I’m pretty proud of my kids. We really just executed our blocking better, we finished our runs better. We played much cleaner in the second half. We were just very tentative and not very physical and not very aggressive in the first half. We just needed to wake up and start playing.”
The Rams broke a scoreless tie with four minutes remaining in the first half when Sam Kuhns took it in from the three-yard line to send the Rams into halftime with a 7-0 lead.
“I had to yell, which I very rarely do,” Gallagher said. “We challenged them a little bit because we have a veteran offensive line that has experience, and they’re good, and they weren’t playing to their potential, so I called them out a little bit. They showed up in the second half and did what they needed to do.”
Before the Indians’ offense even took the field in the second half, they found themselves trailing 14-0, thanks to an electrifying 95-yard touchdown run by Kuhns.
“When Sammy ran that kick back, I was like – ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” Gallagher said. “We’re all inspired and ready to come out the second half and play physical football, physical defense, and we don’t have a chance to. He runs the kick back.
“I’ve known Sammy for several years now. He’s one of my cousin’s kid’s best friends, so I’ve been watching Sammy Kuhns wrestle and play football since Green Jackets and Pennridge Youth Wrestling. So, some of those kids I know, and it’s a rivalry. It’s just a neat experience. Those kids play against each other in all these sports, and they compete.”
The Indians got on the scoreboard with 8:05 remaining in the third quarter when Michael McCormick scored on a two-yard run to make it a 14-7 game. The TD was set up when sophomore quarterback Ben Walsh connected with Danny Dyches for a 45-yard completion.
The Indians made it a 14-13 game when Walsh found Chase Johnson with a five-yard TD just over a minute into the fourth quarter, and a one-yard touchdown by James McCoy gave the Indians their first lead of the game, 19-14, with 7:21 remaining. That score stood until the final horn.
“Honestly, we were just more physical in the second half,” Gallagher said. “We came out and pushed them a little bit more on the line of scrimmage. We executed our offensive scheme a lot better, and we were able to get our confidence back, which helped.”
Gallagher handed out some plaudits when it was over.
“Honestly, even at halftime, we had a bunch of veteran guys that were struggling up front, but we had a kid having his first varsity start – Austin Paturzo, and he was blocking really well in the first half,” the Indians’ coach said. “We were not executing a lot of things, but it wasn’t his fault. He was definitely blocking, so I called the other guys out, not by name but in general as a group – ‘You’re better than this. Step with the right foot, stop trying to position block and be physical.’ We have good kids, and they just weren’t playing as well as they needed to. We challenged them a little bit, and thankfully, they stepped up.”
Souderton’s defense allowed just one touchdown, and that one came after an Indians’ fumble gave the Rams a short field.
“Our defensive linemen made a lot of plays,” Gallagher said. “Aiden Elliott made a bunch of plays, and Joey Nase made some plays. We had several guys in their backfield all night.
“Once I watch the film, I’ll have a better idea, but just looking at it live – we’d give up a 10-yard play and then we’d stuff them twice. Then we’d give up a 10-yard play and we’d stuff them. We made a ton of really good defensive plays tonight. Our defense definitely stepped up.
“Our kids sometimes think they’re better than they are and don’t think they have to work, but once they settled in and started playing – they’re good. We have a good football team. We’ve got to be more consistent and just take care of business.”
Souderton (2-0) will host Central Bucks East on Friday, and Pennridge (0-2) will travel to Bensalem on Friday.
Souderton 0-0-7-12 19
Pennridge 0-7-7-0 14
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 28, NESHAMINY 7
(CR South stats will be added when they are received)
The Golden Hawks – behind a standout effort on both sides of the football and some inspired play by quarterback Chase Ennis – notched an impressive road win at Heartbreak Ridge. The win avenges last year’s 21-7 loss to the Redskins.
“For us, I think it’s the beginning of something,” Rock South coach CJ Szydlik said. “We have some really good young kids in the program, and we’re just going to keep pushing forward.”
The Golden Hawks – after a fumble recovery on the Redskins 39-yard line – scored a touchdown when quarterback Ennis, rolling to his left, found Caleb Christian for the 10-yard touchdown. Rock South took a 14-0 advantage four minutes into the second quarter when Ennis punched it in for a one-yard score on fourth down.
With 2:20 remaining in the half, the Hawks forced a turnover on downs and took over on their own 39. A 41-yard run by Ennis took the Hawks to Neshaminy’s 20, and on third-and-10, Ennis – once again on the move – found Chase Myers for a touchdown in the closing seconds to send the Hawks into halftime with a 21-0 lead.
If there was a defining stretch in the game, it came in the third quarter when – with the Golden Hawks leading 21-0 and driving – they were called for a chop block personal foul that effectively killed the drive.
A shanked punt on fourth down gave the Redskins possession on their own 43, and they marched 57 yards for a touchdown, trimming Rock South’s lead to 21-7 with 5:23 remaining in the third quarter after Carter Clee scored on a four-yard run.
“We were actually moving the ball and we got that penalty, and I’m like, ‘oh boy,’ but wildly enough, we put together enough defensive stops there at the end,” Szydlik said. “We have a quarterback that’s a special kid.”
That scoring drive, however, turned out to be the beginning and the end of Neshaminy’s offensive push, and Rock South added a touchdown on a seven-yard touchdown pass by Ennis for the 28-7 final.
“I’m most pleased with the fact of how resilient we are,” Szydlik said. “There were a couple of times when it started to bend in their favor, and we just kept pushing back.
“I would say that sometimes in the past, that would have been the time for them to pack it up, and we definitely didn’t do that.”
Ennis – committed to Penn State to play baseball – had a hand in all four touchdowns, throwing for three.
“He’s running around playing a different brand of football than everyone else,” Szydlik said. “If you’re there and you’re talking to him, he’s just a big kid just playing around. He’s laughing and teasing on the coaches. He’s just having fun. You’re talking a Division 1 baseball player that’s just having fun playing football.”
Chase Myers was a workhorse out of the backfield for the Hawks.
“Chase Myers is a legitimate running back that can run and catch,” Szydlik said. “He caught the big touchdown pass at the end of the half.
“Chase does everything that’s asked of him – he blocks, he covers guys man-to-man on defense, so he runs all night. He’s also special.”
The Golden Hawks’ coach also credited the play of his defense, acknowledging the efforts of several players.
“Jake Hemple, our safety, played really well,” Szydlik said. “I also think that Nick Haurin, our big outside linebacker, is an anchor for us. We put him in lot of tough situations, and he gets us out of it every time. He’s a tough kid.”
For the Redskins, Clee’s 81 rushing yards and a touchdown led the way. Travis Lavelah had 51 yards on the ground. Quarterback Colin Baker threw for 76 yards with Connor Frederick had 44 yards receiving.
Council Rock South (2-0) will host Pennsbury on Friday, and Neshaminy (1-1) will host Downingtown West Friday.
Council Rock South 7-14-0-7 28
Neshaminy 0-0-7-0 7
ABINGTON 44, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7
Terrence Tolbert has a saying: “Dominate the day, dominate the down, and dominate the dude in front of you.”
It’s safe to say the Ghosts heeded their first-year coach’s advice Friday, dominating play on both sides of the football on their way to a rout of the visiting Indians.
Quarterback Mike Moynihan picked apart the Indians’ defense, throwing for 245 yards and three touchdowns.
“I was most pleased with our quarterback being able to read the defenses and making good decisions, the same decisions we went over throughout the week,” Tolbert said. “There were a couple of things we need to improve on – some of the reads that he missed. Sometimes he went for the big play when we should go for a five- or six-yard pass that could turn into a big play.
“However, I thought he played very well. He tucked the ball and ran a few times which puts the defense on its heels when the quarterback can throw the ball and/or run the ball. Our offense is predicated off a lot of RPOs, so he has to make some split-second decisions, counting the box and things like that for us to have success.”
Ryan Smith set the tone for the Ghosts’ potent offense, hauling in Moynihan’s first two touchdown passes.
“Ryan dropped one, and I was like, ‘Come on man, what are you doing?’” Tolbert said. “He said, ‘Coach, go back to me,’ so I ran another play for him, and he caught the next one, which was a harder one to catch than the first one.”
While Moynihan and Smith stole the spotlight on offense, Tolbert credited the offensive line – Cain Kendra (left tackle), Nasir Brown (left guard), Soul Massey (center), David Forest (right guard) and Drew Preno (right tackle) – for setting the tone.
While the offense was busy putting points on the board to send Abington into halftime with a commanding 30-7 lead, the Ghosts’ defense stymied the Indians’ offense. Christian Broome led the defense with a brilliant three-interception effort that included a pick six. Defensive backs Christian Lundy, Ayden Turner and Dan Kelly each had one interception.
Defensive lineman Bobby Corapi had three sacks while fellow linemen Basil Walter and John Wright both had two sacks. Tolbert credited Saidr Winbush with multiple tackles. The first-year coach also lauded the play of wide receivers Smith, Antonio Ford, Michael Coonahan and Anthony Prescott.
“They all had great games,” Tolbert said.
Friday’s win came on the heels of last Friday’s suspended game against Cheltenham with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter when a Cheltenham student was discovered carrying a loaded gun.
“That was difficult,” Tolbert said. “I tell the kids all the time – control what you can control. You can control your emotions, you can control what you do on a specific play, and you can control what you do academically, but you can’t control other people.
“It was disheartening, it was disappointing. However, it was something that was beyond our control. We just had to act accordingly, take the appropriate steps to get better by studying the film – see what we did well and what we didn’t do so well. There’s always room for improvement. The eye in the sky doesn’t lie.”
Anthony Pronsati also saw action at QB for the Ghosts, throwing for 86 yards and two TDs.
Abington (1-0) will travel to Harry S Truman on Friday, and Council Rock North will host Central Bucks South on Thursday.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 37, UPPER DUBLIN 7
Logic suggested a letdown would be in order for a West team that had one week earlier handed defending District 1 6A Garnet Valley its first loss in district play in 35 games, but those thoughts were put to rest in a hurry.
The Bucks took a 23-0 lead after one quarter and by halftime led 37-0 on their way to the no-doubt-about-it victory that avenged a 35-7 loss to the Flying Cardinals in the same game a year ago.
“I’m just incredibly proud of the effort from our players and our staff getting these guys prepared,” West Rob Rowan said. “I loved the energy that our guys played with tonight.”
Once again quarterback Cooper Taylor jumpstarted the Bucks’ offense.
“Cooper Taylor had the first big run of the game – a 40-50-yard run to get us down in the red zone, and we were able to punch it in,” Rowan said.
Taylor capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run, and the Bucks led 7-0 less than two minutes into the contest. Conor McFadden’s 61-yard touchdown run made it a 14-0 game, and a Cooper to McFadden 10-yard touchdown pass after the Bucks’ defense came up with a stop on fourth down put the Bucks on top 21-0. Sean Blue’s blocked punt out of the end zone for a safety made it a 23-0 game after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Ryan Clemens scored from six yards out and later in the quarter added a seven-yard TD run to send West into halftime with an insurmountable 37-0 advantage.
UD’s lone score of the night came on a Shyne Roberts 80-yard TD run that closed out the scoring.
“They’re such a tremendous program,” Rowan said of the defending District 1 5A champion Cardinals. “Always extremely well coached and prepared. This was a collective effort across the board.
“Offensively, we had contributions from so many guys. The offensive line played well. Defensively, it was just an absolutely collective effort. It was just an incredible defensive effort.”
West’s dominance on both sides of the football was underscored in a first half that saw UD manage just one first down against the Bucks’ defense. Two others came via penalties.
The season is very young and many teams are 2-0, but the Bucks’ 2-0 is especially impressive.
“These are two very reputable, distinguished programs, and we certainly feel good about it, but we also know it’s a long season,” Rowan said. “Our goal is we just try to get better one day, one week at a home. We’ll get back to that on Monday. I think our guys know we’re going to have a very difficult matchup with Quakertown. They put on a very impressive performance last night. We’ll enjoy this one, and we’ll wake up Sunday, and it’s all about Quakertown.”
Central Bucks West (2-0) will be on the road at Quakertown on Friday, and Upper Dublin (1-1) will host North Penn Friday.
Upper Dublin 0-0-7-0 7
Central Bucks West 23-14-0-0 37
WISSAHICKON 41, HATBORO-HORSHAM 40
(Game info courtesy of Ed Morlock/The Reporter: https://www.thereporteronline.com/2023/09/02/wissahickon-edges-hatboro-horsham-in-high-scoring-matchup/ )
The fun started early in this one.
Before fans had settled in their seats, Wissahickon’s Jaden Randall raced 55 yards for a touchdown in the opening minute of the game. It was his first of three TDs on the night and gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead that stood until Hatboro-Horsham’s Luke Foley scored on a nine-yard run. A missed extra point by the Hatters allowed the Trojans to maintain a 7-6 lead.
Mason Bynum’s 22-yard touchdown run gave the Hatters – after a successful 2-point conversion – a 14-7 lead that lasted just over a minute before Trojan quarterback Nolan Pounds connected with Jaden McLean for a 53-yard TD reception and a 14-14 tie after one quarter.
That trend continued in the second quarter with Luke Foley hauling in a 38-yard TD reception from Chris Roughton that put the Hatters on top 20-14. McLean’s second touchdown reception from Pounds evened the score. Bynum (60 yards) and Randall (17 yards) exchanged touchdown runs, and the two teams were knotted 27-27 heading into halftime.
Bynum’s third touchdown run – this one from seven yards – gave the Hatters a 34-27 advantage, but true to form, the Trojans answered – this time with a pair of touchdowns to go into the final quarter with a 41-34 lead. Randall scored the first – his third TD of the night, and then it was Jason Verrier taking a fumble recovery 31 yards for the score.
A three-yard touchdown run by Kayden Collazo midway through the final quarter made it a one-point game after a missed PAT, and that’s as close as the Hatters would get.
The two teams combined for 81 points and over 800 yards of total offense with the Hatters accounting for more than 500 of those yards. Foley, Collazo and Bynum all surpassed the 100-yard mark for the Hatters while Randall also went over the century mark.
Wissahickon (2-0) will host Lower Merion on Friday, and Hatboro-Horsham (1-1) will host Springfield Township Friday.
Wissahickon 14-13-14-0 41
Hatboro-Horsham 14-13-7-6 40
PENNSBURY 45, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
What a difference a week makes.
Seven days after falling to highly regarded Coatesville 29-7, the Falcons put a beating on the visiting Panthers, dominating both sides of the football from the opening kickoff.
“We know Coatesville is a real good team,” Pennsbury coach Galen Snyder said. “It always takes us – especially on the offensive side – a little time to get going every year. We’re just trying to keep working and getting better. That’s what we’re doing.”
Nate Beighley found Aiden Parker with a 10-yard strike for a touchdown with 3:39 remaining in the first quarter. Noah Rice recovered the ensuing kickoff on the Falcons’ own 29, and Pennsbury was back in business.
“Our kicker, who’s a sophomore, does a real nice job with the pooches, and Noah goes down and covers it,” Snyder said. “We’ve done that before.
“That was big. They made us work to get that first score, and we were able to get the ball with the turnover and get another toucdown.”
Less than a minute after his team’s initial score, Beighley used his legs for the Falcons’ second TD of the night, taking it in from 23 yards out for a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
“Nate spent his time playing running back for us – last year he was a halfback,” Snyder said. “So he switched to quarterback. He’s a really good athlete, a really good football player, but this is a little bit new for him, but I thought he played a pretty good game against Coatesville relatively speaking, and he played a better game obviously this week. He also does a good job on defense playing corner.”
The Falcons added 10 points in the second quarter – seven points on Beighley’s 26-yard TD pass to CJ Wiser and a 20-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the half to go on top 24-0 at the intermission.
In the third quarter, DeRonn Adams burst through the defense for a 74-yard touchdown run, and the Falcons added a pair of fourth quarter touchdown runs, one each by Jordan Czerniak – who surpassed the 100-yard mark in the opening half – and Jacob Parada for the 45-0 final.
“I thought Jordan Czerniak also did a nice job running,” Snyder said. “He didn’t play football last year, so, he did a nice job. I thought it was a good team all-around win by everybody.”
Pennsbury (1-1) will travel to Council Rock South on Friday, and Williams Tennent (0-2) will host Upper Merion Friday.
William Tennent 0-0-0-0 0
Pennsbury 14-10-7-14 45
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 36, BENSALEM 0
For the second time in as many weeks, the Patriots’ defense posted a shutout while their offense racked up 389 yards of total offense.
“The offensive line had a big day again, paving the way,” East coach John Donnelly said of a line comprised of Christian Taormina, Mike Carroll, Jake Maggio, Joe Collins and Chris Poulson.
It took just 59 seconds for East to get on the scoreboard when Dean Blackwell took it into the end zone on a three-yard run. Then Dan Voglesong connected with Jack Donnelly for a 12-yard touchdown, and Jack Corrigan’s extra point gave the Patriots a 14-0 lead after one quarter.
Blackwell, who surpassed the century mark on the ground, scored on a 30-yard touchdown run with 8:37 remaining in the opening half, and five minutes later, Nicky Giordano hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass from Logan Simkiss that was anything but ordinary – the ball was tipped, caught, fumbled, caught and run in for the TD. Voglesong turned a bad snap into a two-point conversion with a heads-up run, and East took a 29-0 lead into halftime.
Freshman Mike Price scored the only touchdown of the second half on a one-yard run with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter. Corrigan’s extra point gave the Patriots their final margin of victory.
Blackwell had eight carries for 112 yards and a pair of TDs to lead the Patriots. A pair of quarterbacks – Voglesong and Simkiss – each threw for a touchdown.
Defensive lineman Jake Maggio had an interception.
“Now we’ve got to get ready for a big game with Souderton,” Donnelly said of Friday’s battle between a pair of 2-0 squads. “Things get real this week.”
Central Bucks East (2-0) will travel to Souderton on Friday, and Bensalem (0-2) will host Pennridge Friday.
Bensalem 0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks East 14-15-7-0 36
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 42, HARRY S TRUMAN 7
The Titans led 7-0 after one quarter and then erupted for 21 points in the second quarter to put the game out of reach.
Corey Moore’s one-yard touchdown with 5:52 remaining in the first quarter after a 31-yard punt return by Jack Mauz put the Titans on the board, and in the opening seconds of the second quarter, Owen Pinkerton found Matt Harmon with a 14-yard touchdown pass, and the Titans were off and running.
Anthony Leonardi scored on an eight-yard touchdown run with 5:22 remaining in the half, and Moore’s one-yard touchdown three minutes later sent the Titans into halftime with a 28-0 lead.
Dylan Garrido returned the second half kickoff to the Titans’ 47. Two carries by Anthony Leonardi – the first for 16 and the second for 11 yards – set the stage for a 26-yard Pinkerton pass to Mauz that put the Titans on top 35-0 just 26 seconds into the quarter.
Eddie Bowen recovered a Truman fumble at the Tigers’ 34-yard line, and the Titans were back in business. Moore’s 34-yard carry on the first play from scrimmage was followed by a Danny Gies QB keeper. Sebastian finished off the drive with a one-yard plunge for a 42-0 South advantage.
With 2:30 remaining in the third quarter, Truman put their first points on the board when Abraham Bataille scored on a 35-yard Rymeer Newkirk touchdown pass. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Leonardi’s 81 yards and a touchdown on eight carries led a balanced South running game, and Moore added 57 yards on nine carries.
South’s stingy defense limited the Tigers to just 83 net yards of offense. Adam Oscar and Jimmy Wade each had four tackles to lead the Titans. Both recorded a sack. Nick Micewski had a pair of sacks in a contest that saw the Titans collect seven quarterback takedowns and record 12 tackles for a loss. Danny Gies had an interception, and Bowen had a pair of fumble recoveries.
Central Bucks South (2-0) will travel to Council Rock North Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Harry S Truman (0-2) will host Abington on Friday.
Harry S Truman 0-0-7-0 7
Central Bucks South 7-21-14-0 42
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 26, HARRITON 6
CJ Johnson scored four touchdowns, and the Spartans’ defense didn’t allow a point in a convincing non-league road win that could have been even more one-sided.
“We felt like we didn’t finish the way we wanted to,” Spartans’ coach Chris Shelly said. “We started out slow. We came in there and we wanted to be in an attack mode kind of mentality. We went up-tempo, we went no huddle, but we didn’t click with some things. It took us a little while to settle in.
“We’re still learning – we’re still a young team. We have some great seniors that are playing, but we’re still a young ballclub and learning how to get everything clicking for all four quarters. Give credit to Harriton too. They have some pretty good linebackers, they’re really well coached, so they stayed in the game with us.”
Johnson’s four-yard touchdown run put the Spartans on the scoreboard in the first quarter, and he upped the Spartans’ lead to 12-0 on a two-yard TD run. The Spartans took that 12-0 lead into halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, and Johnson went to work in the fourth. His 5-yard touchdown run and the successful PAT made it a 19-0 game, and he put the finishing touches on a big night with a 25-yard touchdown run that gave the Spartans a 26-0 lead.
Harriton returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown for its only score of the night and the 26-6 final.
“We just felt we should have pulled away a little better, but the bottom is – it’s a win,” Shelly said. “I’m never going to complain about winning. We just didn’t finish as strong as we wanted to, but hopefully, we’ll keep taking steps forward.”
The Spartans’ defense, according to the Spartans’ coach, has been lights out.
“They only got a kick return for a touchdown,” Shelly said. “We held them in check the whole game. They didn’t get many first downs, if at all.
“Miles Goodwin has been lights out. He’s a college football player. He’s our outside linebacker – 6-3, 205, and he was tremendous. He got rushes off the edge all night. EJ Hendrzak is our other outside linebacker. Those guys have been crushing it. Both of those kids are playing out of their minds and really let us do a lot of things defensively.
“Richie Jones – a senior linebacker – also had a great game for us.”
Junior Bobby Hartman came up with an interception for the Spartans.
“He’s a do-it-all kid,” Shelly said. “We had some injuries, so we had to play him on offense and defense. He also punts, he does extra points. He doesn’t come off the field – he was terrific.
Shelly went on to credit his offense.
“Frankie Wilman has led the charge for our O-line,” the Spartans’ coach said. “We’re hoping that some guys can follow suit. Obviously, when you score four running touchdowns, you feel like you’re doing something good. We just feel like we can get a little better up front.
“We know what’s coming at us – it’s the Suburban One, and we’ve seen those scores. We’ve got to get better.”
Springfield Township (2-0) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Friday.
“We know how much they’ve built that program back up, so it’s going to be a good one at their place,” Shelly said.
Springfield Township 12-0-0-14 26
Harriton 0-0-0-6 6
BOYS LATIN 36, UPPER MORELAND 28
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