Blog Post

SuburbanOneSports.com: North Penn travels to Central Bucks West on Friday. Talk about the implications of that game.

Kevin Cooney: "It's obviously for the league title unless one of them slips up in the final week, but realistically, whoever wins this game is going to be the league champion. We talk a lot about North Penn going into this game, and they're still on the playoff bubble. West seems like they're pretty solidified.

"Let's flip it around for West. Even with all their wins, West has kind of been scoffed at in some circles - let's see how they handle North Penn. This is a statement game for them. It really is. Brian Hensel has done a great job under different circumstances than have existed at West over the years. West is still a smaller school than North Penn. You have the split that fractured everything in the district, and he's found a way to keep them above water. Now he has this group that he's really comfortable with.

SuburbanOneSports: Who is Marcus Heimann?

Scott Huff: "Marcus Heimnan is the quarterback of Cheltenham. Heimann had a fabulous day in a losing effort last week as the Panthers were caged by Wissahickon in a shootout - 41-33.

"Wissahickon throttled the Cheltenham defense early in the game to take a seemingly insurmountable 27-0 lead, but Heimann led a terrific Panther rally to close to within 27-25. Heimann scored on a 10-yard run; an 18-yard run; a 36-yard run; and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to pull CHS to within the 2-points. However, the Trojans regained their offensive firepower - and despite a fourth rushing score by Heimann in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run - Cheltenham could not complete the huge comeback.

"The numbers for Heimann on the day were an astounding 180 yards rushing on 20 carries and the four scores. He also completed 7 passes for an even 100 yards and a touchdown. Those impressive numbers, however, did not produce a Cheltenham victory.�

SuburbanOneSports.com: You've talked about the pending realignment. Share your thoughts about this year's matchups as the season heads into week seven.

Dan Dunkin: "Next year can't come soon enough. It will be more fun to do football in that new big conference, because with North Penn involved and Souderton and Pennridge, you'll have at least five good teams in the conference every year, including Neshaminy and Pennsbury. So there won't be nearly as many bad games.

"What's pointed out this year - the last year of the conferences as we know them - legitimizes even more the realignment because there just aren't many good, competitive games in the National Conference, bottom line.

SuburbanOneSports.com: Central Bucks West pulled off the upset of the week with its come-from-behind win over Pennridge. Your comments on that game.

Kevin Cooney: "What I think we've seen here is that in the Continental Conference, you can just throw it up and take North Penn, Central Bucks West, Pennridge and CB South, and how they'll come out in this league, we don't know. Obviously, for West, that was a huge program win. It's as good as they've had since four years ago when they made the playoffs and went to Coatesville and won that game. For them to come back from down 13-0 on the road against a good football team says a lot. I think what it shows is that we're at the point now that you can't look past them. They have put themselves in this position.

SuburbanOneSports.com: After watching from the sidelines for several weeks, what are your thoughts about the Continental Conference?

Kevin Cooney: "It's funny because I think you look overall at the depth of the conference, and it's just not there. You look at Pennridge, and you'd think it's a team that when you get to November will be a factor. Central Bucks South is a playoff team probably. Maybe not a serious contender, but they're definitely on the radar and not just for the 16-team field but maybe to get to the second round. And then you've got a lot of question marks.

"You look at CB West that has had these good starts before. Brian Hensel said last week on the (WNPV 1440 AM) radio show that they've gone through these stretches in the past and then have had bottom fall out. I think when you look at it that way and you look at Quakertown - it's tremendous that they're off to a 3-1 start,

SuburbanOneSports.com: Heading into the Continental Conference season which team or teams would you consider the favorites? Why?

Scott Huff: "Pennridge is the defending conference champion, and the Rams have gone through the non-conference schedule unbeaten. However, the quality of opponents was not the greatest as PHS defeated Emmaus (1-2), Bensalem (0-3), and Council Rock South (0-3). But the Rams have one of the elite running backs not only in the conference, but the SOL and the entire state in Michael Class. Quarterback Matt Pasquale has given Pennridge a passing threat to balance the offense. A question mark for the Rams might be defense where the Green and White return just two starters from last year's championship team.

"Central Bucks South showcases an explosive offense with running back Josh Adams also one of the premier running backs in the conference - SOL - and state.

Pennsbury had an impressive showing against a strong Frankford team. Talk about the Falcons.

Dan Dunkin: "That was a necessary game they had to have coming off that tough loss at Easton where they played with a very strong team for more than a half and then they kind of faded down the stretch. They went into Frankford, which is not a very easy road test. They're a very athletic Public League team and beat them 43-12. "Chuck Snorweah really looks good at running back. He got better in the offseason. He's stronger. He's not a big kid, but he's compact and he's got really good speed, breaks a lot of tackles. Like Neshaminy, they've got good depth at running back.

Bensalem has beaten Pennridge two years in a row, and the two teams will meet again on Friday night. What are your thoughts about that game?

Dan Dunkin: "Bensalem has to feel good - they beat them two years in a row, and that was such a quality win last year because look what Pennridge did after that. They went 12-2. I don't think Pennridge is going to be as powerful as they were although they still have a very good offensive line, and they have one of the two or three best running backs in Pennsylvania in Mike Class, so right there, that's a handful.

"For Bensalem, this is a game where they're really going to have to see if they can establish their offensive line and their two really good running backs - Ian Pischaruk and Alex Archangeli - and run between the tackles. If they can do that and keep it a close game, it will be very interesting.

SuburbanOneSports.com: What are your thoughts about the National Conference heading into the 2013 season?

Dan Dunkin: "I see it being like it's often been since the last realignment, and I think it's Neshaminy and Pennsbury. I think Neshaminy has a chance to be really good. Pennsbury is relatively young but good. They had a good preseason, and I think they're going to mature rapidly. Neshaminy has a great amount of depth, a lot of really good seniors who played a lot and played well as juniors. I would have to favor Neshaminy to win that conference. I think there are some unknowns about the other squads. Abington will have a good amount of team speed. The one team that I would watch as a possible surprise is Bensalem.

SuburbanOneSports.com: You picked Neshaminy to beat Central Bucks South, and you were right. Your comments after watching that game last Friday.

Dan Dunkin: "Told you so! All you CB South people who were talking trash - have a nice winter. Have a nice winter. The tougher, better prepared, more physical football team won a huge game. I'm happy for Neshaminy. All the crap they've been through - their coach, their staff, their kids. Good for them. Great performance, tremendous defensive performance, great game by Nate Hall and the O-line, great game by all their kids to gut that one out. That is a classic example of mental toughness, preparation, them against the world, and there they go. Nice job, Neshaminy. That's all I've got to say about that.

"Coatesville is going to be a tall order. I think they're better than CB South. From what I've been reading, they're very athletic, and they may be one of the two or three hottest teams