Check out the recaps for SOL football teams in action Friday night. Hatboro-Horsham/Souderton photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Stats used in the wraps are provided courtesy of the Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier Times. For complete high school football coverage, visit the web sites: http://www.theintell.com/sportsand http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports.
On a night that saw six SOL football games postponed or suspended until Saturday and a seventh – Council Rock North – cancelled, five games featuring SOL teams were played.
On Saturday, Wissahickon will host Lansdale Catholic at 11 a.m., and Pennridge will play at Perkioman Valley at the same time. Pennsbury will travel to North Penn (1 p.m.), Plymouth Whitemarsh will travel to Norristown to play a scheduled game at 1pm, Springfield Township will host Valley Forge Military Academy (6 p.m.), and Harry S Truman will be on the road William Tennent (7 p.m.). Upper Moreland’s suspended game against visiting Upper Perkiomen will resume at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Neshaminy’s scheduled game at Downingtown West will also begin at 7 p.m.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 27, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 17
The Golden Hawks received contributions on both sides of the football and notched their second win in as many weeks. It’s been an impressive response by the Hawks after losing starting quarterback Andrew Vera in the opening game of the season – a shutout loss at the hands of Cheltenham.
“Overall, it was just a good team win,” Rock South assistant head coach Tony Checchia said.The game started out on a promising note for the Golden Hawks when Dawson Fresses turned a Noah Caldani screen pass into a 35-yard touchdown.
“Dawson’s a guy whose role has been expanding, and he’s been making some plays for us,” Checchia said. “It was nice catch-and-run, he broke a couple of tackles for the touchdown, and that got everybody real excited right off the bat.
“Obviously, our offense has had some struggles, so for us to come out the first drive of the game and get some points, that was great.”
The Golden Hawks’ 6-0 first quarter lead disappeared in the second when the Titans reeled off 10 straight points, going on top 7-6 after a Matt Tobey two-yard TD run. They added to that lead on Brian Maddon 25-yard field goal. The Golden Hawks responded to the Titans’ surge with the game’s biggest play – a long-distance touchdown pass from Caldani to Hayden Nunner that sent the Golden Hawks into halftime with a 13-10 lead.
“Noah was able to run around a little bit, scramble, and he hit Hayden Nunner on an 80-yard touchdown,” Chicchia said. “It was a really big play.
“Hayden’s a senior, and he’s another guy who up to this point has been a really good program player. Now as a senior, he’s been playing a lot more. He just was there at the right place at the right time and had a great play.”
The Titans received the opening kickoff of the second half, but the Golden Hawks came up with the big stop. A short touchdown run by Caldani in the quarter made it a 20-10 game heading into the final frame. The Titans made things interesting – pulling to within three – when Josh Consoletti found Connor DiLissio with a nine-yard TD pass, but Chase Patterson had an answer, taking it in from 55 yards out to seal the Titans’ fate.
“Chase Patterson has been a workhorse for us all year long, and he finally hit a big one,” Checchia said. “CB South was battling throughout – a credit to them.
“They kept it close within that one-score, two-score range the whole game, but when Chase was able to score, that last big touchdown helped to seal it off for us.”
The Golden Hawks’ defense forced three interceptions – one each by Chase Patterson, Matt Checchia and Bradley Kraut. Shamir Parker had a sack and delivered several big plays. Sammy Vaniver, according to Checchia, had some big hits.
“The defense continued to play well,” Checchia said. “Overall, we were able to get pretty good pressure on their quarterback. That was a big factor in a lot of the interceptions – pressure throughout the game, trying to keep CB South from being real comfortable.
“Obviously, the offense did their job, but also the defense was able to make some big plays. It really was a full team in terms of the offense and defense working together but also in the sense of the D-line to the secondary to the linebackers, all phases of the defense worked together and helped to lead to that success. Both sides of the ball had their moments, and when we faltered, we were able to pick each other up.”
Both Consoletti and Caldani threw for over 100 yards. Caldani finished with 148 yards and a pair of TDs to lead the Golden Hawks’ offense.
Council Rock South (2-1) will host Harry S Truman in next Friday’s SOL opener, and Central Bucks South (0-3) will be on the road at Central Bucks West.
Central Bucks South 0-10-0-7 17
Council Rock South 6-7-7-7 27
QUAKERTOWN 21, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 19
It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t pretty, but it was a win, and the Panthers will enter next week’s SOL play with a perfect 3-0 record.
“I’m a realist, 3-0 against CB East, Souderton and West – you’ve got to be happy with it,” Quakertown coach George Banas said. “We were happy with the win against East. We felt good even though we didn’t play our best.
“We were happy at Souderton because we played a really good second half. This one we’re happy we got the win, but we have to take it with a grain of salt.”
The Panthers led 7-0 after one quarter, thanks to Michael Terra’s one-yard touchdown in the closing minute of the frame. After recovering a fumble near midfield, the Panthers marched down the field with Terra once again taking it in again – this time from four yards out to make it a 14-0 game.
Late in the first half, the Bucks got on the scoreboard when quarterback Gavin Grondahl found tight end Luke Benson from 16 yards out, and it was a 14-7 game at the intermission.
“We went up 14-0, and I thought we were playing well,” Banas said. “We had momentum, and then defensively, we gave them 30 yards on penalties and just got back on our heels a little bit.
“We got it to fourth-and-goal, their quarterback scrambled, made a heaving throw and 87 (Benson) made a fantastic catch in the end zone that makes it 14-7. That sort of changes the momentum. Where I thought we could get a stop, get the ball back, go up 21-0 and then we’re in command – that swung things the other way.”
It was three-and-out for the Panthers on their opening possession of the second half. The Bucks pulled to within one (14-13) on a six-yard touchdown run by Jack Neri.
“The next possession we went three and out again,” Banas said.
Saving the day was the Panthers’ defense.
“Delbert Ross made a great hit, they coughed the ball up and Michael Terra is in the right spot at the right time again,” Banas said. “He scoops it up and scores on defense to put us up (21-13).
“We were behind most of the second half as far as field position. As far as actual play, I think they outplayed us in the second half.”
It was a 21-19 game in the fourth quarter when Grondahl found Owen Shields with a 41-yard touchdown connection. The two-point conversion failed.
“We still had to squeak it out at the end,” Banas said. “It was ugly, but an ugly win is better than an ugly loss.”
The Panthers’ coach credited the play of Nick Frasch on defense.
“I thought he had a really good game at D-tackle – he made a couple of really big hits,” Banas said. “He wasn’t feeling 100 percent, so for him to play the way he did – he stood out.”
Quakertown (3-0) will host Upper Moreland in next Friday’s SOL opener, and Central Bucks West (1-2) will host Central Bucks South on Friday.
Central Bucks West 0-7-6-6 19
Quakertown 7-7-7-0 21
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 41, BENSALEM 12
Jake Ventresca had himself a day.
The Patriots’ junior running back was unstoppable, finishing a stellar outing with 257 yards and four touchdowns.
“He had a big night and made some great runs, but there was some great downfield blocking and blocking at the point of attack,” coach John Donnelly said. “He ran really well.”
While Ventresca stole the spotlight, he wasn’t the only Patriot to come up big. Quarterback Evan O’Donnell surpassed the 100-yard mark on the ground and also had a touchdown. Pat Valco also ran it in for a touchdown on a night that saw the Patriots rack up more than 400 rushing yards.
That big offensive night doesn’t happen, according to Donnelly, without the standout performance of East’s offensive line comprised of Nick Diehl (left tackle), Danny Bodish (left guard), Griffin Trail (center), Kieran Kelly (right guard) and Connor Burns (right tackle).
“Our two tight ends – Drew Bethke and Jack Duffy – blocked really well tonight as well,” Donnelly said.
Bensalem brought a 2-0 record into Friday night’s contest.
“Ed (Cubbage) does a really good job with his assistants,” Donnelly said. “I know a bunch of those guys from coaching the all-star game. They did a great job over at Truman getting that program back to respectability, and they’re doing the same thing at Bensalem.
“We knew it was a tall order because of what they do offensively. If you’re not disciplined, they’re going to make you pay. Their quarterback (Tyler Barry) is young, and he’s really good. They have enough dangerous guys that if you don’t run to your assignments – you’ll be in trouble.
“I thought we did a really good job, and I thought we did an awesome job controlling the line of scrimmage and getting great push on offense. I don’t know how many times we threw it tonight, not very many, but we were effective when we did that. We were effective in the special teams area as well.”
Donnelly credited the efforts of his defensive staff for developing an effective game plan.
“They really had a great plan to go against the triple option,” Donnelly said. “We did a lot of research in the offseason because if you’re not sound, they’ll make you pay.
“Going back many, many months, the defense had this plan in mind and talked to a lot of people that know it. We implement it, but the kids have to execute it. It always comes down to what the players can do, and they did a great job tonight with the defensive game plan.”
Central Bucks East (2-1) will travel to Pennsbury next Friday for a non-league contest, and Bensalem (2-1) will host Abington in its SOL opener.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 8, SOUDERTON 7
Time was running out on the Hatters – who trailed the Indians 7-0 and needed a heroic late-game comeback to pick up their first win of the season. They got just that.
It was a long halfback pass from Ismael Colazzo to John Long that ignited the Hatters’ game-winning drive. And with 2:55 remaining in regulation, Jordan Colazzo capped the drive with a 16-yard touchdown run, and then – with the Hatters lined up for the kick to knot the score – the Indians jumped offsides. Coach Mike Kapusto opted to go for two, and Jordan Colazzo delivered.
The Hatters’ defense held, and the dramatic win was in the books.
“This is huge for our momentum going into league play,” Kapusto said. “The kids played hard for four quarters.”
The Indians broke a scoreless tie in the third quarter when – after Kyle Walker’s kickoff return to the Hatters’ 10-yard line – Nick Guthre took it in from two yards out, putting the Indians on top 7-0. That lead held until the closing minutes of the game.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-2) will be on the road at Upper Dublin next Friday for its SOL opener, and Souderton (0-3) will host William Tennent Friday.
Souderton 0-0-7-0 7
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-0-8 8
ABINGTON 27, CHELTENHAM 0
Nothing, it seems, was going to prevent Abington from completing its rivalry game against Cheltenham. Not even a 90-minute lightening delay that saw the two teams holed up in their hot locker rooms.
“I was like – we’re finishing this game. One way or another we’re sticking it out. We got Cheltenham kids pretzels, we got our kids pretzels – we’re sticking it out,” Abington coach Kevin Conlin said.
The referees apparently agreed with Conlin, and stick it out they did. Play was halted with 9:26 remaining in a scoreless second quarter. Play resumed at 9:04 and the game ended at 11:05 p.m.
“It was only supposed to be 30 minutes, so we just kind of laid low,” Conlin said. “Our locker rooms are kind of small for the 80-some kids right now, so it’s really hot.
“We said – take your pads off, get the music going, concentrate on the game. Our coaching staff was saying after the game how tired we were because we all were because we were amped up for the game. Then we had to bring it all the way back down during the break. Then we had to ramp it back up – the highs and lows of just going up and down.”
The Ghosts’ offense put 27 points on the board, but the real star on this night was the defense. A pair of third quarter turnovers – both recovered by Angelo Pearson – set the stage for 13 unanswered Abington points. He returned the first 65 yards for a score that made it a two-touchdown game, and the Ghosts led 20-0 when Tamir Berthau and Keith Hudoka hooked up for their second TD of the night.
“Anthony Pearson had that huge fumble recovery for a return touchdown, and on the next series – I want to say two plays later – had another fumble recovery,” said Conlin of his cornerback who also had an interception. “He’s a kid that doesn’t come off with his size and stature, but he’s always in the right spot. He’s a fantastic hard worker. He does whatever he can to put himself in a great position, and he does it every single time.”
For good measure, the Ghosts tacked on another touchdown in the fourth quarter with Berthau connecting for his fourth TD of the night – this one to Ky-le Drummond for the 27-0 final.
“It’s a rivalry, so you never know what’s going to happen,” Conlin said. “We told our kids – ‘Who’s going to handle the distractions? The heat in school, the heat in practice, and then all of a sudden like the Eagles – who’s going to handle the distraction of an hour-and-a-half rain delay?
“We came out really excited, really fired up and really did well. We fed off our defense – our defense did really well again. Our defense was a huge, huge factor in all of this.”
The Ghosts limited a dangerous Panther squad to less than 150 yards of total offense. Their dominance began with a defensive line comprised of Tom Lukens, TJ Allen, Maliq Strother and Chris Allen. Jahmir Twyman also rotated into the D-line and made important contributions.
“Cheltenham has a really good running game,” Conlin said. “Our kids really honed in this week and did really well with it.”
While the game was scoreless when the Ghosts went into the locker room for 90 minutes, it didn’t take them long for them to get on the board when they came out.
“We had the ball, we’d been playing well defensively, but we were still having trouble offensively moving the ball, keeping first downs rolling. When we came out, we made a nice throw from Tamir Berthau to Keith Hudoka.
“Those two had two touchdowns together. They did really well. We had a big play, and I’ll tell you what – the MVPs of the game should be the crowds. Both student sections for both teams stuck it out, and they were by the gate trying to get back into the game. As soon as they got the gates up, the kids rushed into the stands. It was a great atmosphere, all things considered.”
The long touchdown pass gave the Ghosts a 7-0 lead and sent them into the halftime locker room with that one-touchdown advantage. That first score, according to Conlin, was huge.
“We told our kids, ‘Whoever handles the distractions is going to win this game. This first series is going to mean a lot – it’s going to dictate a lot of what’s going to happen,’” Conlin said. “Just the enthusiasm that one play gave us really set the tone for us.”
Conlin also credited the play of inside linebacker Marc Macione.
“He just really did a fantastic job this week, really taking control of the inside linebacker spot that was left vacant with (the graduation of) Jackson Taylor last year,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “He really played his heart out.
“It was great because he’s a kid who played a lot of neighborhood ball for Abington/Glenside and all that kind of stuff. He knew all the kids for the other team. It was a great win for him to be part of that.”
Abington (2-1) will travel to Bensalem for Friday’s SOL opener, and Cheltenham (2-1) will host Springfield Township on Friday.
Cheltenham 0-0-0-0 0
Abington 0-7-13-7 27
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