By Scott Huff
August.
The last week in August is when football geeks huddle together with salsa and chips to select their fantasy football teams for the upcoming National Football League season.
The last week in August also saw a couple of superlative efforts by a couple of Suburban One League football players. Both Pennridge quarterback Brad Herrmann and Upper Dublin running back Josh Mastromatto put up staggering numbers in thrilling opening game victories.
Imagine them on a scholastic fantasy team.
Herrmann – a 5’11 inch 160-pound senior – was spectacular in the Rams 43-42 triple overtime victory over Archbishop Wood.
The fans at Poppy Yoder Field in Perkasie could not leave until Herrmann scored the game’s final two points in the triple OT on a two-point conversion. However, the talented quarterback racked up incredible numbers during the course of the game.
Herrmann – who took most snaps from a shotgun formation – ran for three touchdowns and 105 yards. Herrmann also passed for two touchdowns and 155 yards. Herrmann also kicked three points after touchdowns. Herrmann also passed for a two-point conversion and also scored the game winner on a two-point conversion.
Let’s see – five touchdowns X six points = 30; three PAT’s X one point = 3; and a passing and rushing conversion X 2 = 4.
Thirty + three + four = 37.
“Brad’s our guy,” understated Pennridge head coach Randy Cuthbert. “He is in the middle of everything.
“We put him in the shotgun because he is such a great double threat of both running and passing,” added Cuthbert. “Back there he can see everything and can have a great read as to where to go on a certain play.”
Herrmann made his impact felt on the defensive side of the ball as well. The lean safety came up with no less than three interceptions to help secure the win.
“The kids really wanted to go for the two points after the touchdown in the third overtime,” said Cuthbert, who elected to go for the victory rather than create a fourth overtime. “The line did its job – and so did Brad.”
Was there really any question?
The dazzling performance of Herrmann was matched by the sparkling performance of Upper Dublin running back Josh Mastromatto.
Mastromatto scored six touchdowns in a spectacular 55-42 victory over Perkiomen Valley. The Flying Cardinal accounted for – six touchdowns X 6 points = 36 points.
The gifted senior ran for four touchdowns and rushed for 220 yards on 14 carries. The TD runs were on rushes of 29, 29, 81, and 9 yards.
Mastromatto also helped the UD passing attack as he caught a pair of touchdown passes. He caught two balls – one for a 39-yard TD aerial and another for a 45-yard scoring strike.
“This was the best game of any player in my 19 years of coaching football at Upper Dublin,” said Flying Cardinal coach Bret Stover. “He has both the speed to run by people, and also throws his body into piles to get extra yards.”
Stover and the Cardinals needed each and every yard in the win over Perk Valley. Upper Dublin trailed at the half (14-13) and yielded 28 points in the fourth period to cling to the win.
“I knew going into the game that they had some weapons,” said Stover. “Now it looks like we have a few of our own.”
Especially with that missile out of the backfield – Josh Mastromatto.
American Conference
The Suburban One League American Conference registered the most wins of any SOL Conference in the first week of the season.
The American Conference finished with a conference record of 6-1. And in addition to Upper Dublin’s 55-42 racehorse win over Perkiomen Valley, there were conference wins by Cheltenham, Norristown, Upper Merion, Upper Moreland, and Wissahickon.
Cheltenham blasted SOL National Conference opponent Harry S Truman by a 33-0 score. The win broke a seven game losing streak by the Panthers who received an output of 270 yards total offense and a score by Makhail Reed.
Norristown opened its season with a 20-11 victory over Philadelphia Public League opponent Northeast. Junior tailback Sheldon Mayer raced for 180 yards on 19 carries and caught a 20-yard TD pass. Senior quarterback James Ramsey fired three scores in all – two to Anthony Robey.
Upper Merion destroyed Neuman-Goretti of the Philadelphia Catholic League – 41-0. Running back Pete Panichi rushed for two scores and also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Alex Panthavong rushed for a pair of scores and threw a 65-yard TD pass to Dexter Bridge.
Upper Moreland opened its season with a 21-0 victory over PCL foe Conwell Egan. The Golden Bears rushed for a staggering 300 yards against the Eagles and featured a backfield of Tom Knox and Christian Kehoe.
Wissahickon cruised to a 40-14 win over SOL National Conference opponent William Tennent. The Trojans scored on their first five possessions and showcased the running talents of Brandon Gunn (154 yards and 3 TD’s) and Myron Ross (131 and 2 touchdowns).
The lone SOL American loss came when PCL power LaSalle bloodied Plymouth-Whitemarsh, 45-0. The young Colonials gave up 360 yards of total offense and mustered just 115 yards of their own.
Continental Conference
The SOL Continental Conference split its eight games the first week of the season. Winning openers were Pennridge, North Penn, Souderton and Quakertown. It was a tough week for Central Bucks as East, West, and
South all lost – as did Hatboro-Horsham.
North Penn put the PIAA on notice as one of the elite teams from District One as the Knights handled powerful Liberty, 23-15. NP put the strong kicking leg of Brandon McManus to good use as he drilled three field goals (26, 30, & 42 yards). Quarterback Justin Davey threw a 30-yard TD pass to Ronnie Akins.
Souderton also gave notice with a 14-13 win over SOL National power Neshaminy. Derek Brown led the team in rushing with 88 yards and two touchdowns and also excelled on defense. It was the first win ever by Souderton over an SOL National Conference team.
Quakertown opened its season with a win as the Panthers defeated host Methacton 13-6. Quarterback Ryan Ticknell completed 12 of 16 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score. The Panther backfield of Tyler Burke (86 yards) and Tony Latronica (65 yards) also helped.
Central Bucks South began the 2008 football season with a tough 34-27 overtime loss to SOL National Conference opponent Council Rock South. The Titans failed to hold a 27-20 lead and were held scoreless in the fourth period and the overtime. Featured was a 75-yard scoring pass from Tom Johns to Mike Doty and a 43-yard TD run by Jon Eiseman.
Central Bucks East began the 2008 football season with a tough 28-13 loss to SOL National Conference opponent Abington. The Patriot highlight was a 145-yard rushing effort by senior Devon Passman. Passman scored on an 80-yard kickoff return and an 18-yard run.
Central Bucks West began the 2008 football season with a tough 41-7 loss to Freedom. The Bucks gave up a touchdown on the opening kickoff and trailed 34-0 at the half. The lone highlight was a five-yard TD run by sophomore Rashaad Williams.
Hatboro-Horsham had its debut of head coach Tom Butts spoiled in a 14-7 loss to Frankford of the Philadelphia Public League. The Hatters led 7-6 late in the game thanks to a six-yard scoring pass from Matt Hollenbeck to Dan Schandein, but lost the lead and the game in the final period.
National Conference
The conference that took the most bumps and bruises in the first week of the season was the SOL National Conference. Pennsbury, Abington, and Council Rock South were winners, while Bensalem, Neshaminy, Council Rock North, Truman, and William Tennent all suffered setbacks.
Pennsbury scored on the game’s final play to defeat Archbishop Ryan of the PCL – 21-20. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Pepper scored on a 15-yard run in the final second – after the clock had been reset – to seal the win.
Abington had a brilliant performance by quarterback Sam Kind to notch a 28-13 win over CB East. Kind completed 11 of 14 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Anthony Hensley who caught three passes for 160 yards and a touchdown.
Council Rock South had to work overtime but managed to claim a 34-27 victory over Central Bucks South. B.J. Deola scored three rushing touchdowns including the game winner in overtime. The Hawks flew to 420 yards of total offense.
Bensalem rallied for 21 points in the fourth period but still lost to George Washington of the Philadelphia Public League – 28-21. The Owls – who had several key players missing due to team infractions – were led in rushing by Camryn LaSalle who ran for 120 yards and all three touchdowns.
Neshaminy was stunned by Souderton in its opening game – 14-13. The Redskins came back from a 14-0 deficit, but could not catch the host Indians. Neshaminy scores came on an 8-yard run by Quilan Arnold and a 45-yard scoring pass from Brian Titus to
Rick Brebner.
The good news was that Council Rock North scored 20 points in its opener – the bad news was that Father Judge of the PCL scored 35 in a 35-20 win. Junior quarterback Tyler Hamilton ran for two scores and threw an 18-yard TD strike to Ty Bostain.
Harry S Truman did not have the best of openings as the Tigers were caged by Cheltenham – 33-0. Truman turned the ball over nine times in the loss. The best of the stats came from Jeff Tiberi who rushed for a team-high 40-yards.
William Tennent also did not have the best of opening nights as the Panthers were caged by Wissahickon – 40-14. Tennent turned the ball over five times and trailed 40-0 at halftime. The Panther defense scored a TD late, while the offensive score came from quarterback Pat Traczykiewicz who scored on a 20-yard run.
Football Fever Forecast (* = home team)
Abington 34 *Plymouth-Whitemarsh 13
*Pennridge 28 Bensalem 21
*CB South 35 Rock North 27
Rock South 27 *CB East 14
Neshaminy 35 *Hatboro-Horsham 13
*Pennsbury 20 Frankford 7
Washington 21 *Truman 13
*William Tennent 14 CB West 13
North Penn 20 *Lansdale Catholic 7
*Quakertown 17 Upper Merion 14
Souderton 21 *Downingtown East 7
*Cheltenham 21 Bishop McDevitt 6
*Norristown 28 Spring-Ford 14
*Upper Dublin 27 Pottstown 24
*Bayard Rustin 28 Upper Moreland 21
*Wissahickon 34 Pottsgrove 20
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