Check out the results for SOL football teams in action Friday. To view photos of the Pennsbury/CR North game, please visit the Photo Gallery. Head to the bottom of this Wrap to view Macy Golder's highlights and sidleline interviews for SOS at the Pennsbury vs CR North game.
Stats used in the wraps below are provided courtesy of Calkins Media. For complete game stories about both of Saturday’s games, please visit the web site www.PhillyBurbs.com<http://www.PhillyBurbs.com>.
QUAKERTOWN 20, CHELTENHAM 7
George Banas wasn’t exactly thrilled with his team’s first-half performance, but the Quakertown coach – whose team trailed 7-6 - opted to keep things positive in the halftime locker room.
“The first half was atrocious,” he said. “At halftime, we went in and asked them who they were – as individuals and as a team.
“Who are they? Are they going to come out in the second half and prove who they are and take control of the game and show what our conditioning program is all about – that’s wearing teams down and trying to click a little bit too.”
The visiting Panthers had a definitive answer, stymying Cheltenham on defense and delivering some big plays on offense to take control of the game.
“Our coaching staff is great,” junior Rob Burns said. “They can tell us what we need to work on and what we need to do better in the second half.
“What I realized – it’s on us most of the time. We have to choose to either sit down and let them take the game or rise up and do something about it. We came together as a group, we just got in a groove. We made some big plays, and that’s what led us to the win tonight.”
No one made a bigger play than Burns – who took it in on a three-yard dive to cap a 30-yard drive after Quakertown recovered a botched punt and then added an insurance TD by returning a punt 55 yards for the score.
“That’s awesome because it means the other team is going to be mentally broken,” teammate Micah Jones said of his teammate’s big play. “Rob’s the man.”
“It’s a major jolt in the arm,” Banas added. “It’s huge because now momentum is totally swinging our way, and it takes all the wind out of their sails.”
For Burns, it was his first punt return for a touchdown as a varsity player.
“That was really exciting,” he said. “It was all blocking. I saw the seam open up. I just took it and trusted my blockers.
“I just took one cut at the end, and we got in. As a team, we just did a great job. That was good momentum.”
While Burns was igniting the offense, Jones, a defensive end, played a key role in a defense that never let the Panthers get untracked in the second half.
“Everyone started to get pumped, and we woke up,” he said. “We started laying the hits. Our linebackers started making the tackles in the backfield.”
Quakertown’s players and coaches pointed to conditioning as a key.
“We talked about it this week – in the third, fourth quarter and you’re hurting mentally, they’re hurting mentally,” Banas said. “We know that everything that we do in the program – that’s when we can put the pedal down and that’s when we can really push.”
Cheltenham’s only score came on the game’s opening drive. Greg Morris capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Quakertown quarterback Alec Vera answered with a clutch 27-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Baskin on third-and-long to make it a 7-6 game, a score that stood until the third quarter.
“I think we woke up,” Banas said. “I think we came out really flat and we weren’t prepared, unfortunately, and we have to correct that as a coaching staff.
“I was happy with the second half. I thought our defense was really physical. I thought our offensive line got physical and started driving, and our running backs started running hard in the second half.”
Burns led the Panthers with 95 yards on 24 carries.
While Cheltenham (1-2) will travel to Upper Dublin for its American Conference opener, Quakertown (3-0) will host William Tennent in its Continental Conference opener. It will mark the first game on the school’s recently installed turf field.
“I think that brings an air of confidence having the nice new field,” Jones said.
“It’s good to have that chip on your shoulder,” Burns added. “We just have to prove week by week what we can do. As long as we play to the top of our performance, we can do really good.”
Quakertown 6-0-14-0 20
Cheltenham 7-0-0-0 7
ABINGTON 27, UPPER DUBLIN 20
(To read Scott Huff’s complete game story, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/article/content/abington-edges-upper-dublin-classic-battle-0046610)
The Ghosts broke a 20-20 tie with a late scoring drive when junior quarterback David Kretschman found sophomore George Reid on a 37-yard scoring play with 1:25 left in the game. The winning drive was set up by a Jordan Neely interception - his second of the game. The Ghosts withstood a furious UD drive in the waning moments to escape with the win. For coach Tim Sorber, the win was number 100 of his career.
Senior running back Juawine Sowell had 221 yards on 34 carries to lead the Ghosts. He also had an 80-yard return for a TD on the opening kickoff that jumpstarted the Ghosts, who went on to take a 13-0 lead. Behind the strong arm of junior quarterback Ryan Stover, Upper Dublin rallied to take a 14-13 halftime lead. Stover finished the game with 221 yards on 19 attempts with two touchdowns.
Abington (3-0) will travel to Neshaminy for next Friday's National Conference opener while Upper Dublin (2-1) will host Cheltenham.
Upper Dublin 7-7-0-6 20
Abington 13-0-0-14 27
NESHAMINY 49, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 15
The Redskins came into Friday’s game against former National Conference rival Rock South carrying the burden of an uncharacteristic two-game losing streak to open the season. Those losses became little more than a distant memory as they opened up 35-7 halftime lead on their way to the first win of the Mike Frederick era at Neshaminy.
The ‘Skins turned a Boniface Stevens interception into a touchdown when – four plays later - D’Andre Pollard raced in from 12 yards out. The Redskins never looked back. They led 28-0 before Rock South’s Vince Alimenti scored on a 12-yard run late in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Matt Magdelinskas raced 68 yards for a touchdown.
Pollard finished with 56 yards on seven carries. Quarterback Mason Jones threw for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
The Redskins (1-2) will host Abington in their National Conference opener next Friday while Council Rock South will travel to Harry S Truman for its Continental Conference opener.
Neshaminy 14-21-7-7 49
Council Rock South 0-7-0-8 15
SOUDERTON 20, WISSAHICKON 14
With the outcome of Friday’s game hanging in the balance, Ed Gallagher resorted to a little trickery, calling for the hook-and-ladder play, and it worked to perfection as the Indians scored a touchdown to eke out the win as time expired.
Jamar White raced 27 yards for the game-winning TD after a lateral from Markeem Graham – who caught a short pass from quarterback Joey Curotto. The game-winning drive was set up after Souderton’s Koby Khan recovered a fumble.
The loss overshadowed several standout performances for the Trojans, who accumulated more than 300 yards of total offense to just 230 for the Indians. Josh Smith ran for 258 yards and a TD on 23 carries. He also completed a pass for a 45-yard touchdown, accounting for both of his team’s third quarter TDs after the Indians took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Colin Williams had a big game defensively for the Trojans, finishing with 10 tackles and half a sack. Josh Trunk hauled in Smith’s 45-yard touchdown pass and also had 10 tackles.
Blake Gular had 69 yards and one touchdown to lead the Indians, who improved to 2-1 and will host Pennsbury in their National Conference opener Friday. The Trojans (1-2) will host Springfield in their American Conference opener.
Souderton 0-7-7-6 20
Wissahickon 0-0-14-0 14
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 42, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 24
Josh Adams stole the spotlight in the Titans’ win over their neighboring rival, tying South’s single game record with six touchdowns – all on the ground. He finished the night with 146 yards on 23 carries.
South jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the opening minute of the second quarter before East got on the scoreboard, thanks to a five-yard run by senior David Gressgott. The Titans took a 28-7 lead into halftime, and that lead was never threatened.
South quarterback Kevin Witchey threw for 116 yards.
The Titans are 2-1 after three non-league games while the Patriots – who continue to play without standout running back Alex Gibson – fell to 1-2.
South will host Bensalem in its SOL National opener next Friday while the Patriots will travel to Council Rock North for their Continental Conference opener.
Central Bucks East 0-7-3-14 24
Central Bucks South 14-14-7-7 42
PENNSBURY 57, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 20
The Falcons established their dominance early in Friday’s showdown of undefeated SOL squads, turning a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff into an early touchdown. It marked the beginning of the end for the Indians, who found themselves staring at a 14-0 hole before Brandon McIlwain connected for a 16-yard TD pass to make it a 14-8 game after the successful two-point conversion.
The rest of the half belonged to the Falcons, who took a 36-14 lead into halftime. Pennsbury accumulated 460 yards on the ground with Charles Snorweah accounting for 240 of those on 16 carries. He had four touchdowns. Raheem Thompson and Victor Delgado combined for 179 yards, and for good measure, quarterback Mike Alley connected for a first-quarter TD.
McIlwain finished with 264 yards of total offense, but the Falcons had just too many weapons.
Pennsbury (3-0) will travel to Souderton for its National Conference opener while Council Rock North (2-1) will host Central Bucks East.
Pennsbury 14-22-14-7 57
Council Rock North 8-6-6-0 20
PENNRIDGE 35, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 23
A Luke Durkin 23-yard touchdown run on the heels of a Matt Kilkenny 72-yard fumble return gave CB West a 17-7 lead over the visiting Rams.
It was shortlived.
The Rams answered with a 58-yard touchdown run by Joe Unangst, and when quarterback Devon Balmer found Ian Mosser for a six-yard TD pass in the closing seconds of the half, the Rams led 21-17. They outscored the Bucks 14-6 in the third quarter to seize command of the game.
Unangst finished the game with 140 yards on 18 carries to lead the Rams.
Pennridge (3-0) will travel to North Penn for next Friday’s National Conference opener while the Bucks (1-2) will travel to Norristown for their Continental Conference opener.
Pennridge 7-14-14-0 35
Central Bucks West 0-17-6-0 23
HARRY S TRUMAN 37, CARDINAL O’HARA 14
The Tigers opened up a 23-7 halftime lead and never looked back, rolling to the decisive road win. Quarterback Mark Lopez-Shefcky had a huge game for the Tigers, throwing for 177 yards and rushing for 96 more. It was a touchdown run of 64 yards by Lopez-Shefcky that put the Tigers on the scoreboard, and after the Lions scored to go on top 7-6, the Tigers answered with a drive that culminated with a five-yard Corey McCloud TD run. Offensive highlights included a 49-yard touchdown run by Justin Fant and a 44-yard TD run by Trysten Hunt.
The Tigers (2-1), who had 452 yards of total offense, will host Council Rock South in next Friday’s Continental Conference opener.
Harry S Truman 6-17-7-7 37
Cardinal O’Hara 0-7-0-7 14
WILLIAM TENNENT 31, OXFORD 13
The Panthers scored early and often, matching their win total of the entire season last year in their third non-league contest. Tennent accumulated more than 500 yards of total offense.
In the first half alone, quarterback Nic Banks had 137 yards and three TDs on 15 carries. Sam Collazo ran for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Tennent opened up a 19-0 lead before Oxford got on the scoreboard.
The Panthers (2-1) will travel to Quakertown for their Continental Conference opener next Friday.
ARCHBISHOP WOOD 42, NORTH PENN 7
The Vikings looked every bit the part of the defending 3A state champions they are in Friday’s win, opening up a 28-0 halftime lead on their way to the big win.
While Jarrett McClenton led the Vikings with 181 yards and two touchdowns, senior Alex Arcangeli, a Bensalem transfer, had touchdown runs of 23, 12 and six yards.
North Penn’s only TD came on a two-yard run by Nyfease West.
The Knights (1-2) will host Pennridge in next Friday’s National Conference opener.
Archbishop Wood 14-14-7-7 42
North Penn 0-0-7-0 7
HAVERFORD 42, UPPER MERION 6
The Vikings scored their only points in the fourth quarter as they fell to 0-3 heading into next week’s American 
Conference opener at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday night.
Upper Merion0-0-0-6 6
Haverford 14-14-7-7 42
PENN CHARTER 23, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 20
The Spartans trailed by 13-7 at the intermission but watched the Quakers scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half to go on top 20-7. They battled back but fell short. The Spartans (2-1) will travel to Wissahickon for Friday’s American Conference opener.
ARCHBISHOP RYAN 53, BENSALEM 0
Ryan sprinted to a 33-0 halftime lead, and the Owls were shut out for the second time in as many weeks. Bensalem (0-3) will travel to Central Bucks South for next Friday’s National Conference opener.
Archbishop Ryan 13-20-14-6 53
Bensalem 0-0-0-0 0
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