Football Forecast – 11
By. Scott Huff
‘SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!!!’
You could almost hear Gomer Pyle (google him) talking about the outcomes of the PIAA District One Class 6A first round playoff games last week.
The top of the 16-team bracket survived extremely competitive tests from the bottom of the bracket. However, all top 8 seeds will move on to the quarterfinal round this week.
No. 1 Central Bucks West (11-0)was tied 0-0 with No. 16 seed Cheltenham (5-6)@ halftime – and the underdog Panthers took a 6-0 lead in the third period. In the second half, though, the Bucks pulled away to record a 27-12 victory.
No.3 Souderton (11-0)trailed No. 14 seed Pennsbury (5-6)14-7 in the fourth period. In that fourth period, though, the Indians scored two touchdowns late in the game to secure a 21-14 victory.
No. 4 Spring-Ford (9-2) led No. 13 North Penn (6-5)21-0 in the first half – surrendered the lead - and trailed the Knights 28-21 in the fourth quarter. In that fourth quarter, though, the Rams rallied to claim a 42-35 victory.
No. 5 Central Bucks South (10-1)rode a dangerous roller coaster ride with No. 12 Coatesville (7-4) and led the Red Raiders 21-14 late in the game. Coatesville, though, scored late in the fourth period to close to within 21-20 – the Red Raiders went for the win with a 2-point conversion. The attempt came up just short – and CB South held on for a 21-20 victory.
No. 6 Downingtown West (9-2) led No. 11 Council Rock South(7-4) by a slim 7-0 at the end of the third quarter. The Whippets, though, scored 10 fourth-quarter points to earn a 17-0 hard fought victory over the Golden Hawks.
No. 7 Perkiomen Valley (9-2) trailed No. 10 Quakertown (6-4)26-15 in the second half. The Vikings, though, scored 21 unanswered points to claim a 36-26 victory over the Panthers.
No. 8 Garnet Valley (9-2) could not separate itself from No.9 Owen J Roberts (8-3) in a closely contested contest. The defending district champion Jaguars, though, held off the upstart Wildcats to win a one-score game, 28-21.
*The outlier game in the first round of the 6A playoffs was the game between No. 2 Downingtown East (10-0) and No. 15 Wissahickon (6-5). The outcome was surely not a surprise, but the dominating 56-0 Cougar victory might have come as a surprise to some. *
The District One 6A playoffs will resume this week with some tasty quarterfinal offerings.
The playoff menu features No. 8 Garnet Valley (9-2) @ No. 1 Central Bucks West (11-0)* No. 5 Central Bucks South (10-1) @ No. 4 Spring-Ford (9-2) * No. 7 Perkiomen Valley (9-2) @ No. 2 Downingtown East (10-0) * & No. 6 Downingtown West (9-2) @ No. 3 Souderton (11-0).
Stay tuned.
‘Houston (District One), we have a problem!!’
You could almost hear Apollo 13 astronaut Jack Swigert (google him)talking about the outcomes of the PIAA District One Class 5A first round playoff games last week.
Unlike the District One 6A bracket – the District One 5A bracket was littered with awfully non-competitive games. The top 7 seeds completely dismantled the bottom half of the bracket, and all top 8 seeds will comfortably advance to the quarterfinal round.
Is this really playoff football?
The No. 1 Chester Clippers (10-1) shellacked the No. 16 Upper Moreland Golden Bears (4-7) – 44-0.
The No. 2 Strath Haven Panthers (10-1) crushed the No. 15 Great Valley Patriots (4-7) – 42-7.
The No. 3 Springfield-Delco Cougars (10-1) vanquished the No. 14 West Chester Henderson Warriors (3-8) – 48-14.
The No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (9-1)trounced the No. 13 Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (5-6) – 42-7.
The No. 5 West Chester Rustin Golden Knights (9-1) drubbed the No. 12 Chichester Eagles (5-6) – 56-25.
The No. 6 Marple-Newtown Tigers (9-2) clobbered the No. 11 Penncrest Lions (5-6) – 48-13.
The No. 7 Upper Dublin Cardinals (7-4)overwhelmed the No.10 Methacton Warriors (6-5) – 40-20.
*The outlier game in the 5A. bracket was the competitive game between the No. 8 Phoenixville Phantoms (7-3) and the No. 9 West Chester East Vikings (6-5). Phoenixville edged WC East, 21-14, in that lone competitive 5A playoff game. *
The District One 5A playoffs will also resume this week with what should be much tastier quarterfinal offerings.
The playoff menu features No. 8 Phoenixville (7-3) @ No. 1 Chester (10-1) * No. 5 West Chester Rustin (9-1) @No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-1)* No. 7 Upper Dublin (7-4)@ No. 2 Strath Haven (10-1) * & No. 6 Marple-Newtown (9-2) @ No. 3 Springfield-Delco (10-1).
Stay tuned.
‘There’s No Place Like Home!’
You could almost hear Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz(google her) talking about the incredible home winning streak of the Souderton Indians.
Soudertonhas won19 consecutive home games– let me repeat –19 consecutive gameson the turf at Indian Field. No kidding – 19 consecutive home games.
Souderton last lost a home game on October 25, 2019 when the Indians lost the Suburban One League National Conference finale to Central Bucks South, 24-14.
And that, my friend, was an astounding 1,478 calendar days ago!
The ‘Who’s Who’ list of the 19 Indian Field victims include Quakertown (2 losses), Upper Dublin (2), Bensalem (2), Council Rock North (2), Council Rock South (2), Central Bucks East (1), Hatboro-Horsham (1), Pennridge (1), Abington (1), Haverford (1), Harry S Truman (1), Central Bucks South (1), Pennsbury (1) & Warwick (1).
And prior to the loss to CB South in 2019, Souderton was 5-0 at home with victories over Pottsgrove, Hatboro-Horsham, Pennridge, Central Bucks East & Central Bucks West – 24 out of 25 for a winning percentage at Indian Field of 96 percent since 2019.
The 2023 Souderton Indians already have had a historical season. The 2023 team is the first team in the history of the SAHS football program to win 11 games in a season. The 2023 SOL Continental Conference champions are not only unbeaten at home – but unbeaten period.
The 19-game home win streak – the unbeaten season – and hopes for a District One 6A championship are squarely on the line as No. 3 ranked Souderton hosts No. 6 ranked Downingtown West in a quarterfinal contest under the friendly Friday Night Lights @ Indian Field.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
PIAA District One 6A Quarterfinal Playoffs
No. 8 Garnet Valley Jaguars (9-2) @ No. 1 Central Bucks West Bucks (11-0)
Playoff Resume:
Garnet Valleyopened the 6A playoffs with a competitive 28-21 victory over No. 9 Owen J Roberts. The defending District One 6A champion had an outstanding performance turned in by quarterback Tyler Lassik. Lassik completed 7 passes for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns and added a 10-yard rushing touchdown. Ronnie Leraris scored on a 20-yard run.
Central Bucks Westopened the 6A playoffs with a harder-than-expected 27-12 victory over No. 16 Cheltenham. After senior standout Conor McFadden suffered a season-ending knee injury on the opening kickoff, Ryan Clemens scored on touchdown runs of 6 & 41 yards and also kicked a 26-yard field goal. Cooper Taylor fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Devin McGowan.
Season Resume:
Garnet Valley finished the 2023 regular season as tri-champion of the Central League.
The Jaguars captured wins over Ridley (42-28), Penncrest (35-14), Haverford (14-13), Haverford School (28-23), Lower Merion (10-8), Conestoga (27-14), Marple-Newtown (26-21) & Upper Darby (35-8).
Garnet Valley lost games to Central Bucks West (17-13) in the season opener and lost to Strath Haven (28-19).
The Jaguars scored an average of 25.2 points per game and has allowed an average of 17.7 points per game. A winning margin of 7.5 points per game.
Central Bucks West finished the regular season as the unbeaten champions of the Suburban One League National Conference.
The Bucks captured wins over Garnet Valley (17-13), Upper Dublin (37-7), Quakertown (40-20), Pennsbury (20-3), North Penn (28-0), Abington (49-14), Neshaminy (31-7), Pennridge (28-0), CB South (40-29) & CB East (24-7).
Central Bucks West has scored an average of 31.0 points per game and has allowed an average of 9.1 points per game. A winning margin of 21.9 points per game.
The Winner Gets…
The winner of the Garnet Valley-Central Bucks Westgame will play the winner of the game between No. 4 Spring-Ford & No. 5 Central Bucks South.
Prediction:
*Central Bucks West Bucks 24 * Garnet Valley Jaguars 14*
No. 5 Central Bucks South Titans (10-1) @ No. 4 Spring-Ford Rams (9-2)
Playoff Resume:
Central Bucks South opened the 6A playoffs with a thrilling 21-20 victory over No. 12 Coatesville. Anthony Leonardi scored a pair of long-distance touchdowns for the Titans – one on a 60-yard run – and the other on a 55-yard touchdown pass from Owen Pinkerton. Corey Moore scored what proved to be the game winner on a 30-yard touchdown run in the fourth period. The South defense turned away a 2-point conversion late in the game to secure the win.
Spring-Ford opened the 6A playoffs with a come-from-behind 42-35 victory over North Penn. Quarterback Matt Zollers completed 14 passes for 261 yards and fired 4 touchdown passes for the winners. Mason Scott caught 7 passes for 204 yards and scored on TD passes of 18, 54 & 72 yards. The Rams scored 21 points in the final quarter to secure the victory.
Season Resume:
Central Bucks South finished the regular season as the second-place finisher in the Suburban One League National Conference.
The Titans have captured victories over Father Judge (13-10), Harry S Truman (42-7), Council Rock North (47-0), Central Bucks East (13-6), Pennsbury (24-13), North Penn (50-28), Abington (42-0), Neshaminy (42-0) & Pennridge (42-14).
CB South has lost to CB West, 40-29.
The Titans have scored an average of 33.2 points per game and has allowed an average of 12.5 points per game. A winning margin of 20.7 points per game.
Spring-Ford has finished the regular season as the champion of the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division.
The Rams have captured victories over Father Judge (38-27), Cumberland Valley (63-17), Boyertown (48-9), Owen J Roberts (37-0), Perkiomen Valley (28-7), Methacton (30-7) & Norristown (35-6).
Spring-Ford has lost games to Manheim Township (63-28) & Pope John Paul II (28-27).
The Rams have scored an average of 34.2 points per game and has allowed an average of 18.1 points per game. A winning margin of 16.1 points per game.
The Winner Gets…
The winner of the Central Bucks South-Spring-Ford game will play the winner of the game between No. 8 Garnet Valley & No. 1 Central Bucks West.
Prediction:
*Central Bucks South Titans 28 * Spring-Ford Rams 27*
No. 6 Downingtown West Whippets (9-2) @ No. 3 Souderton Indians (11-0)
Playoff Resume:
Downingtown West opened the 6A playoffs with a 17-0 victory over No. 11 Council Rock South. Quarterback Quinn Heckle scored on a 10-yard run and fired a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dean Hangey. Ben Mehan booted a 33-yard field goal for the winners. The Whippet defense held Rock South to just 18 rushing yards and 116 yards of total offense.
Souderton opened the 6A playoffs with a come-from-behind 21-14 victory over No. 14 Pennsbury. Running back Ryan Sadowski scored the game winning touchdown late in the game for the Indians. Sadowski opened the scoring with a touchdown, while Houston Marshall also scored a rushing touchdown for the winners.
Season Resume:
Downingtown West finished the season as the second-place finisher in the Ches-Mont National Conference.
The Whippets have captured regular season wins over Lincoln (32-27), Perkiomen Valley (35-14), Neshaminy (42-17), Avon Grove (44-6), West Chester Henderson (42-7), West Chester East (28-0), Coatesville (21-14) & Bishop Shanahan (43-7).
Downingtown West has lost games to Chester (28-19) & Downingtown East (35-7).
The Whippets have scored an average of 30.0 points per game and has allowed an average of 14.1 points per game. A winning margin of 15.9 points per game.
Souderton finished the season as the undefeated champion of the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
The Indians have captured regular season wins over Haverford (21-17), Pennridge (19-14), Central Bucks East (23-21), Council Rock North (42-0), Truman (49-21), Quakertown (35-14), Warwick (41-14), Council Rock South (7-0), Upper Dublin (31-6) & Bensalem (49-14).
Souderton has scored an average of 30.7 points per game and has allowed an average of 12.3 points per game. A winning margin of 18.4 points per game.
The Winner Gets…
The winner of the Downingtown West-Soudertongame will play the winner of the game between No. 7 Perkiomen Valley & No. 2 Downingtown East.
Prediction:
*Souderton Indians 24 * Downingtown Whippets 21*
PIAA District One 5A Quarterfinal Playoffs
No. 5 West Chester Rustin Knights (9-1) @ No. 4 Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (9-1)
Playoff Resume:
West Chester Rustin featured a dominating Wing-T offense in its 56-25 victory over No. 12 Chichester in the opening round of the playoffs. The Golden Knights had defeated the Eagles 49-9 earlier in the Ches-Mont American Division regular season.
Plymouth Whitemarsh opened the playoffs with a 42-7 rout of No. 13 Hatboro-Horsham. The Colonials led 35-0 at the half. Quarterback Caiden Leszczynski was outstanding as he fired a pair of touchdown passes – one to Marcus Laffredo of 18 yards – and the other to Nazye Boggs of 10 yards. Leszczynski also scored on a 3-yard run, while Boggs scored on a 23-yard run. Luke Winterbottom scored on a 4-yard run, while Luke Laviola scored on a 13-yard run.
Season Resume:
West Chester Rustin finished the regular season as the champion of the Ches-Mont American Division.
The Golden Knights have captured victories over West Chester Henderson (49-35), West Chester East (32-15), Kennett (38-0), Chichester (49-9), Oxford (42-19), Sun Valley (43-8), Great Valley (41-10) & Unionville (44-14).
West Chester Rustin’s only loss came against Coatesville, 28-0.
The Golden Knights have scored an average of 39.4 points per game and has allowed an average of 16.3 points per game. A winning margin of 23.1 points per game.
Plymouth Whitemarsh finished the regular season as the champion of the Suburban One League American Conference.
The Colonials have captured wins over Upper Merion (21-19), Methacton (35-0), JP McCaskey (48-14), Cheltenham (42-13), William Tennent (49-7), Springfield-Montco (35-0), Wissahickon (50-34) & Upper Moreland (35-7).
Plymouth Whitemarsh’s only loss came against Quakertown, 21-0.
The Colonials have scored an average of 35.7 points per game and has allowed an average of 12.2 points per game. A winning margin of 23.5 points per game.
The Winner Gets…
The winner of the West Chester Rustin-Plymouth Whitemarshgame will play the winner of the game between No. 1 Chester & No. 8 Phoenixville.
Prediction:
*Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 31 * West Chester Rustin Knights 28*
No. 7 Upper Dublin Cardinals (7-4) @ Strath Haven Panthers (10-1)
Playoff Resume:
Upper Dublin opened the 5A playoffs with a 40-20 victory over No. 10 Methacton. The Cardinals did all their damage on the ground as three players accounted for all the touchdowns. Shyne Roberts, Martin Campbell, and Chris Kohlbrenner all reached paydirt for the winners. Roberts rushed for over 200 yards in the win.
Strath Haven opened the 5A playoffs with a 42-7 victory over No. 15 Great Valley. The Panthers also did all its damage on the ground as three players accounted for 6 touchdowns. Shane Green scored on runs of 59 & 3 yards – James Fisher scored on runs of 11 & 9 yards – and Marco Kaufman scored on runs of 4 & 2 yards.
Season Resume:
Upper Dublin finished the regular season as the second-place finisher in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.
The Cardinals have captured regular season wins over Kennett (21-0), Bensalem (31-7), Wissahickon (53-42), Council Rock North (17-0), Council Rock South (17-10) & Truman (47-19).
Upper Dublin has lost games to Central Bucks West (37-7), North Penn (42-7), Souderton (31-6) & Quakertown (21-17).
The Cardinals have scored an average of 26.3 points per game and has allowed 22.9 points per game. A winning margin of 3.4 points per game.
Strath Haven finished the regular season as the tri-champion of the Central League.
The Panthers have captured regular season wins over Interboro (28-7), Springfield-Delco (19-15), Ridley (21-20), Penncrest (20-13), Upper Darby (28-14), Radnor (54-7), Garnet Valley (28-19), Haverford (36-6) & Harry S Truman (42-7).
Strath Haven’s lone loss of the season came against Marple-Newtown, 23-20.
The Panthers have scored an average of 30.7 points per game and has allowed 12.5 points per game. A winning margin of 18.2 points per game.
The Winner Gets…
The winner of the Upper Dublin-Strath Haven game will play the winner of the game between No. 3 Springfield-Delco & no. 6 Marple-Newtown.
Prediction:
*Strath Haven Panthers 20 * Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 17*
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