Check out the recaps for SOL football teams in action Friday. Additional information will be added as it is received. Truman/CR South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson, and North Penn/CB West photos by Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for a gallery of both games…CLICK HERE to go directly to the FOOTBALL galleries.
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/high-school/fall/football/ and http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports/high-school/fall/football/
National Conference
BENSALEM 41, ABINGTON 18
The Ghosts might have felt comfortable heading into halftime with a 12-0 lead. They shouldn’t have. The visiting Owls, it turns out, saved their best for last, exploding for 41 second-half points en route to their fourth win without a loss.
Coach Ed Cubbage acknowledged his halftime message wasn’t necessarily inspirational.
“We have so much speed, and we do always feel we’re one play away,” the Owls coach said. “That’s what we said at halftime, ‘All we need is one play to get back in the game.’”
Keith Parrish gave the Owls that one play when he raced 84 yards for a touchdown on the Owls’ first possession of the second half.
“That sparked us,” Cubbage said. “Now all of a sudden we thought we could do it.
“We got a stop, Abington punted the ball, and then Jared (O’Connell) ripped off a 79-yard touchdown run, and we took the lead.”
The Owls led 14-12 after O’Connell’s TD, and although the Ghosts went on top 18-14 when Jackson Taylor punched it in from a yard out, that was just a minor interruption for an Owl squad that closed out the game with a 27-point fourth quarter.
Rob Harris scored from 20 yards out with 9:57 remaining to put the Owls on top 21-18, and they were just getting started. Jahliel Bussey recovered a fumble and took it in for the score. O’Connell and Harris each added touchdowns in the final 3:33 to close out the scoring.
For O’Connell, it was his first varsity start at quarterback for the Owls.
“He was nervous at first, and he just calmed down at halftime,” said Cubbage, noting the Owls simplified things after the intermission. “All of a sudden, he broke off a long run, and we were off and rolling.”
Parrish led the Owls with 111 yards and one touchdown on just six carries. O’Connell added 125 total yards – which included 71 yards on the ground and a pair of TDs. Harris had 65 yards and two touchdowns
“Rob Harris had a big night running the ball for us,” said Cubbage. “Vince Citrino on the offensive line and Dan Garcia on the offensive line were fabulous as well.”
Making the Owls’ 4-0 start even more remarkable is the fact that all of their wins have been on the road.
“Someone said today that 2004 – they think – was the last time Bensalem beat Abington, but I’m not sure,” Cubbage said. “We feel like we officially knocked off a big boy. That says a lot to a program, and we just couldn’t be happier at this point.”
Bensalem (4-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West in a non-league game next Saturday at 7 p.m., and Abington (2-2, 0-1) will be on the road at Council Rock South on Saturday for a noon contest.
Bensalem 0-0-14-27 41
Abington 6-6-6-0 18
HARRY S TRUMAN 42, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
“It’s a team thing.”
That’s how coach Mike LaPalombara explains his team’s torrid 4-0 start, crediting everyone from the scout team to the managers.
“It’s such a team effort and commitment,” the Tigers’ first-year coach said. “By saying team, I mean coaches. I even told the girls who are managers, ‘You realize you’re as big a part of this as the kids are. The help you give us is incredible.’ They never even had managers like that before. They don’t understand what they’re experiencing. It’s really nice to see, but it’s a team thing.”
“Defensively, the unit that’s on the field is so team oriented. The offense is the same way, and the coaching staff is the same way. Our scout players – the kids that go out there and work every single day and they’re not starting in the football game – they do such a great job for us.”
While there’s no mistaking the importance of team, there’s also no substitute for speed, and the Tigers have plenty of it.
Less than a minute into Friday’s game, Sayyid Saunders bolted 43 yards for a touchdown, marking the beginning of a dazzling offensive onslaught by the Tigers. Later in the quarter, Saunders scored from 17 yards out to spot the Tigers a 14-0 lead.
By halftime, that lead had grown to 35-0, and the mercy rule was in effect. David Akinwande had touchdown runs of 47 and 30 yards, and Enzo Poulson closed out the half with a 36-yard TD run. By halftime, the Tigers had piled up 254 yards on the ground and five touchdowns, a performance so dominant that even LaPalombara was left searching for words.
“Oh wow,” the Tigers’ coach said. “And no points – how do you put all that together? It was amazing.
“So far, it’s just been incredible. These kids have so much talent, and they’re so fast. They practice hard, they listen, they pick up things very quickly. It’s incredible what they’ve been able to do in such a short period of time.
“It’s a brand new offense, and when you watch it, it’s like they’ve been running it forever. It’s amazing. Defensively, they’re just so fast, and they’re so aware. Their reactions are good.”
Habeeb Baba took it in from 46 yards out in the third quarter to close out the scoring in a contest that saw the defense limit the Golden Hawks to 146 yards of total offense.
Akinwande led the Tigers with 107 yards and two touchdowns while Saunders had 92 yards and a pair of TDs.
“David Akinwande is doing his thing because all the other kids are doing their things,” LaPalombara said. “A kid that popped up on the charts for us is Tyrone Willis – he does absolutely everything we ask him to do. He’s a team player, and he’s done such a great job.
“There are so many kids on this team – it’s hard to recognize one kid over the other because without the collective unit, the one kid couldn’t be who he is. You have Javeer Peterson, Sayyid Saunders, David Akinwande, Enzo Poulson, and Habeeb Baba.
“Then you turn it around, and you have Gabe Gipli on the defensive side. Then we have a 150-pound tackle playing nose guard in James Koliyah. We have Chris Andreacchio and another kid, Mutah Walton, playing a little bit of tackle for us. Shakell Hall is playing really well. Danny Aquilone is playing linebacker for us, and he’s out there playing really big for us. Dylan Snelling, our quarterback, you have the linemen all the way down to the tight ends. It is a truly collective unit from coaches all the way down to managers, and that’s the coolest thing about it.”
The win was the first over Rock South in at least a decade.
“Our objective overall is to hopefully make the playoffs for the school and to take each opponent as they come – one opponent at a time no matter who they may be,” LaPalombara said. “We’re going to try not to have a bad practice and be ready to go and play football.
“The outcome will be whatever the outcome is, no matter who we play. It’s exciting. I’m so happy for them. I’ve been (a teacher at Truman) for 28 years, and it’s just nice to see them have the opportunity to do this.”
Harry S Truman (4-0, 1-0 SOL) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest. Council Rock South (1-3, 0-1) will host Abington on Saturday at noon.
Council Rock South 0-0-0-0 0
Harry S Truman 14-21-7-0 42
PENNSBURY 24, WILLIAM TENNENT 7
The Falcons closed out the game with 17 unanswered points after the Panthers rallied to knot the score 7-7 when Sean Bragen took it in from six yards out. Zach Demarchis found Andrew Hamacher with a four-yard touchdown pass to give the Falcons a lead they would not lose (14-7).
The Falcons scored their final 10 points on a pair of Christopher Knop field goals (35 and 40 yards) and two safeties.
The Panthers managed just 121 yards of total offense against a stingy Falcon defense.
For the Falcons, Demarchis threw for 131 yards and two touchdowns and also led his team on the ground with 84 yards. Nasan Robbins added 73 yards. Austin Palmer had a touchdown reception to account for the Falcons’ first score.
Pennsbury (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North next Saturday at 1 p.m., and William Tennent (0-4, 0-1) will host Central Bucks East on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Pennsbury 7-12-2-3 24
William Tennent 0-7-0-0 7
NESHAMINY 32, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Defense was the name of the game for the Redskins, who limited the Indians to less than 100 yards of total offense. Neshaminy’s offense was effective as well.
The Redskins led 7-0 after one quarter, thanks to Brody McAndrew’s 49-yard touchdown pass to Mike Garlick. In the second quarter, the Redskins scored 19 unanswered points.
In the quarter, Cory Joyce returned an interception for a touchdown, and Oleh Manzyk took it in from the one. A McAndrew to Joyce TD pass sent the ‘Skins into halftime with a 26-0 lead.
Savion Hebron’s 52-yard touchdown run accounted for the only points of the second half. Hebron finished with 100 rushing yards to lead the ‘Skins. McAndrew threw for 195 yards and two TDs.
Neshaminy (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman next Saturday at 1 p.m., and Council Rock North (1-3, 0-1) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Council Rock North 0-0-0-0 0
Neshaminy 7-19-6-0 32
Continental Conference
PENNRIDGE 34, SOUDERTON 3
It was a 7-3 game late in the second quarter when Josh Pinkney caught a Zak Kantor pass and fought off every would-be tackler in his path – and there were many – to take it in from 27 yards for a touchdown that cut the heart out of the Indians.
“I just caught the ball, I looked up – I knew my wide receiver, Tucker (Chaikin) was right in front of me, and I knew he was going to have to block,” Pinkney said. “I ran right into him.
“I bounced off him, I saw guys grabbing me, but I knew I had to keep my legs pumping and going. I ended up finding the end zone.”
“(Pinkney) was a good runner last year, but he’s just improved,” coach Jeff Hollenbach said. “I think it’s primarily being in the weight room.
“The play he made where two or three guys had a shot at him – last year he probably goes down, and this year, he’s running through that. He’s been doing that for the first four games. I’m really proud of him.”
The Rams went on to open up a 20-3 lead by halftime, and if there was a defining moment, it came on Pinkney’s TD.
“The team feeds off that,” said Pinkney. “If one person does well, everyone feeds off it, and they get more excited. They want to keep the momentum going. You can’t let down.“
Pinkney – who had three receptions for 56 yards – was on crutches after the game with a banged up right knee, but he was smiling.
“Don’t worry, I think I’m fine,” he said.
There was plenty to smile about for the Rams, who have crushed back-to-back opponents after a loss to Neshaminy in the second game of the season.
“The Neshaminy game we came in a little slow, and we didn’t finish the way we wanted, but we realized that – hey, we can’t lose anymore,” Pinkney said.
“We came out so nervous,” Hollenbach said of the Neshaminy loss. “We just played so nervous, and there was no reason to be nervous.
“We lost two tough games to Neshaminy last year. I’m very disappointed with the way we started that game. However, since that point, we’re playing with a lot of confidence.”
The Rams had plenty of confidence on Friday, and the result was a no-doubt-about it win.
For the Rams, Ryan Angelini had touchdown runs of four, one and seven yards. Kantor threw for 235 yards and a touchdown.
“The offensive line deserves a lot of credit – we came off the ball,” Hollenbach said. “Zach Kantor is making great decisions for really his second start as a varsity quarterback. He’s making terrific decisions.
“And maybe above all of that is the defense. We’ve gone (nine) quarters without giving up a touchdown, so defensively, we’ve done some great things. To win in this league, we have to continue to do that.”
Souderton quarterback Dean DiPisa, who was under constant pressure, threw for 106 yards, but the Indians could not move the ball on the ground. Hollenbach credited his defensive line.
“We have quickness, we have strength up there,” he said of a line anchored by Oliver Jervis, Ryan Rapp and Steve Dadio. “Coach (Pete) O’Connor does a great job of rotating people, so it’s a lot of fresh people – it’s not always the same guys.”
Pennridge (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will host North Penn in a key conference battle next Saturday at 7 p.m., and Souderton (1-3, 0-1) will travel to Central Bucks South for a noon contest on Saturday.
Pennridge 7-13-7-7 34
Souderton 0-3-0-0 3
NORTH PENN 28, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 14
After a scoreless first quarter, the visiting Knights erupted for 21 unanswered points in the second quarter.
The Knights got on the scoreboard when Justis Henley found AJ Catanzaro with a 24-yard touchdown pass. Catanzaro also hauled in a 15-yard TD pass from Henley to send the Knights into halftime with a 21-0 lead. In between, Shamar Edwards hauled in a 64-yard touchdown pass.
When Khan Jamal scored from a yard out in the third quarter, the Knights led 28-0. The Bucks broke up the Knights’ shutout bid when Chris Arzberger ran it in from 27 yards out. Jack Niero raced 80 yards for the score after recovering a fumble to close out the scoring.
Henley threw for 182 yards and ran for 70 more to lead the Knights. Jake Reichwein’s 73 rushing yards led the Bucks.
North Penn (2-2, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Pennridge next Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Central Bucks West (3-1, 0-1) will be on the road at Bensalem on Saturday for a 7 p.m. game.
North Penn 0-21-7-0 28
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-14 14
American Conference
QUAKERTOWN 32, WISSAHICKON 13
The Panthers bounced back from their loss at the hands of Central Bucks West with a strong performance in Friday’s conference opener.
The Panthers opened up a 32-0 lead before the Trojans got on the scoreboard with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.
A Michael Terra TD run gave the Panthers a 6-0 lead after one quarter, and by halftime, that lead had grown to 25-0. Christian Patrick’s touchdown run in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring for the Panthers.
Rasheed Wright ran back the ensuing kickoff 82 yards to put the Trojans on the scoreboard.
Quakertown (3-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin next Saturday for a 7 p.m. game, and Wissahickon (2-2, 0-1) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh Saturday at noon.
Wissahickon 0-0-0-13 13
Quakertown 6-19-0-7 32
UPPER MORELAND 41, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 7
Sterlan Barr broke a 7-7 tie with a 95-yard touchdown run to send the Golden Bears into halftime with a 14-7 lead. The second half belonged to the visiting Bears, who closed out the game with a 34-0 tear.
Upper Moreland (4-0, 1-0 SOL) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Saturday at 7 p.m., and Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-4, 0-1) will travel to Wissahickon next Saturday for a noon contest.
UPPER DUBLIN 49, CHELTENHAM 7
The Flying Cardinals raced out of the gate to a 28-7 halftime lead and extended that when Lucas Roselli took the opening kickoff of the second half in for a touchdown.
Upper Dublin (2-1, 1-0 SOL) will host Quakertown next Saturday at 7 p.m., and Cheltenham (0-4, 0-1) will travel to Germantown Academy Saturday for a non-league game at 1:30 p.m.
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