By Scott Huff, Suburban One Sports.com Senior Writer
‘You Play To Win The Game!’ – Herman Edwards – New York Jets Head Coach
Winning is the desired result in competition, and that most wanted outcome is a weekly goal for every team that battles in the gridiron wars of the Suburban One League.
And for two winless SOL American Conference football programs – Wissahickon and Upper Merion – this week presents itself with the best chance to put a coveted victory on its 2010 record.
“Both of our teams are matched up well,” said Wissahickon head coach John DeSimone as his Trojans (0-7) travel to Upper Merion to meet the host Vikings (0-7). “It is very important to us, and I’m sure it is just as important to Upper Merion, to win the game.
“Our younger players are used to winning, and our seniors are really looking forward to winning a football game,” added DeSimone. “We knew at the beginning of the season that this could be a difficult year for us. But the players have remained positive, and we still play the game with a lot of enthusiasm.”
Winning is something that unbeaten SOL National Conference leader Council Rock South (7-0) head coach Vince Bedesem has running through his veins.
Bedesem is the son of the legendary head coach Dick Bedesem. Dad earned his celebrated status as head coach at Bishop Egan High School, Villanova University, and Neshaminy High School.
It must have been a bittersweet moment when Vince earned his most prominent victory of his nine-year career at CR South last Friday when the Golden Hawks rallied for a 28-21 win over previously unbeaten Neshaminy – at Neshaminy.
“I can almost see my dad over there,” said Bedesem looking toward the opposing sideline at Heartbreak Ridge. “This is a great moment for our football program.”
Winning is something that is expected at SOL Continental Conference power North Penn (6-1). The recognized Knight program has reached that elite position in the state, and for North Penn it is not if you win the game – but how do you look when you win?
“If we don’t correct the mistakes we are making, it is going to be a short season,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck in reference to the Knights play in a 35-20 win over Quakertown. “We just didn’t play smart – we made a lot of bad mental mistakes.
“We can’t continue to win playing football that way,” added Beck. “There are no guarantees any Friday night.”
“If winning isn’t everything – why do they keep score?” – Vince Lombardi – Green Bay Packer head coach.
This Was The Week That Was in the SOL
Suburban One American Conference
Upper Dublin (6-1, 4-0) took a huge step toward a conference title with a 14-10 victory over defending conference champion Norristown (3-4, 2-2).
Junior quarterback Andrew Derr completed eight passes for an even 100 yards that included the game winning 12-yard TD pass to Jeff Buchanan. Anthony Williams led the Flying Cardinals in rushing with 120 yards on 26 carries.
Upper Moreland (6-1, 2-1) had little difficulty in defeating winless Wissahickon, 37-6.
Sean Haley led the offensive explosion for the Golden Bears with 125 yards rushing and three touchdowns. The Upper Moreland offense generated 20 first downs.
Next: Upper Moreland (6-1, 2-1) @ Upper Dublin (6-1, 4-0)
Last Year: Upper Dublin 20 – Upper Moreland 13
Prediction: Upper Dublin 24 – Upper Moreland 17
Cheltenham (6-1, 2-1) continues to fly under the radar as the Panthers won their sixth game in seven starts with a 25-23 win over Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-4, 2-2).
Cheltenham quarterback Ken Cropper threw a pair of touchdown passes to tight end John Tsipori. Acquil Reed scored on special teams TD on a blocked punt and also scored a rushing touchdown.
Norristown (3-4, 2-2) lost a hard fought game to conference leader Upper Dublin (6-1, 4-0), 14-10.
The Eagles led 10-0 early in the game as Anthony DiNolfi scored on a 36-yard scoring pass from Shanon Mayer and Gerard Fox kicked a 27-yard field goal. Brandon Shippen rushed for a team-high 90 yards.
Next: Norristown (3-4, 2-2) @ Cheltenham (6-1, 2-1)
Last Year: Norristown 28 – Cheltenham 0
Prediction: Norristown 27 – Cheltenham 21
Wissahickon (0-7, 0-3) ran into a buzz saw last week and lost a 37-6 contest to Upper Moreland (6-1, 2-1).
Anthony Delegall scored the lone Trojan touchdown on a 10-yard run. Wissahickon held a 6-0 lead in the first quarter but could not hold the lead.
Upper Merion (0-7) lost a non league game as the Vikings fell to Radnor, 26-12.
Quarterback Jake Kecszyk threw for 125 yards that included a six-yard TD pass to Naim Cheeseboro. Kecszyk also scored on a six-yard run.
Next: Wissahickon (0-7, 0-3) @ Upper Merion (0-7, 0-3)
Last Year: Upper Merion 34 – Wissahickon 19
Prediction: Wissahickon 21 – Upper Merion 20
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-4, 2-2) lost a heartbreaker to Cheltenham (6-1, 2-1) last week, 25-23.
Wakeem Blythe scored on a pair of three-yard TD runs – the last one coming with 38 seconds left in the game. The Colonials failed on the tying two-point conversion and suffered the loss. Xavier Ellington also scored for PW on a 25-yard run.
Next: Salesianum (5-1) at Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-4)
Last Year: Did Not Play
Prediction: Salesianum 20 – Plymouth Whitemarsh 14
Suburban One National Conference
Council Rock South (7-0, 4-0) won the biggest game of its nine-year history with a 28-21 victory over host Neshaminy (6-1, 3-1).
The Golden Hawks had a spectacular outing turned in by senior quarterback Billy Fleming who scored three touchdowns and rushed for a game-high 143 yards. Mark Damirgian scored what proved to be the winning TD on a 36-yard dash in the fourth period.
William Tennent (4-3, 2-2) led 12-0 at intermission but failed to maintain the lead in a disappointing 13-12 loss to Bensalem (2-5, 2-2).
Connor Geiger scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half for the Panthers – both on one-yard dives. WT failed on both extra point conversions.
Next: Council Rock South (7-0, 4-0) @ William Tennent (4-3, 2-2)
Last Year: Council Rock South 33 – William Tennent 6
Prediction: Council Rock South 35 – William Tennent 7
Neshaminy (6-1, 3-1) fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 28-21 loss to visiting Council Rock South (7-0, 4-0).
The Redskins led 21-14 at the end of the third period but could not secure the lead. Charlie Marterella completed 14 passes for 206 yards – one a 57-yard scoring aerial to Dwight Williams.
Harry S Truman (2-5, 1-3) captured its first conference win with a convincing 27-8 victory over Council Rock North (0-7, 0-4).
Larry Winton rambled for 205 yards on 18 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns for the Tigers. Derron Thompson added 85 yards and also scored a TD for the winners.
Next: Neshaminy (6-1, 3-1) @ Harry S Truman (2-5, 1-3)
Last Year: Neshaminy 28 – Truman 8
Prediction: Neshaminy 31 – Truman 14
Abington (5-2, 3-1) kept its conference title hopes alive with a 14-13 conference victory over Pennsbury (3-4, 1-3).
Ray Shreiner scored on runs of 13 and eight yards for the Ghosts and finished with a team-high 85 yards. An Ian McMillian placement was the scoring difference in the game.
Bensalem (2-5, 2-2) evened its conference record with a 13-12 win over William Tennent.
Christian Fernandez continues to put up impressive numbers as he rushed for 203 yards on 36 carries for the Owls. Anthony Prisco threw a 28-yard TD pass to Davonte Newkirk.
Next: Bensalem (2-5, 2-2) @ Abington (5-2, 3-1)
Last Year: Abington 33 – Bensalem 7
Prediction: Abington 17 – Bensalem 14
Pennsbury (3-4, 1-3) continues its roller coaster ride with a 14-13 conference loss to Abington.
Senior quarterback Brandon Pepper led the Falcons with a 150-yard rushing effort on 21carries. Pepper scored on runs of eight and 30 yards.
Council Rock North (0-7, 0-4) is still in search of its first win of the season after the Indians lost to Truman (2-5, 1-3) – 27-8.
Rock North led the game briefly – 8-0 – when Brandon Cottom scored on a two-yard run. Cottom rushed for a team-high 96 yards on 16 carries.
Next: Pennsbury (3-4, 1-3) @ Council Rock North (0-7, 0-4)
Last Year: Pennsbury 26 – Council Rock North 6
Prediction: Pennsbury 42 – Council Rock North 7
Suburban One Continental Conference
North Penn (6-1, 4-0) remained unbeaten in conference play with a 35-20 victory over visiting Quakertown (3-4, 2-1).
The Knights scored five rushing touchdowns in the win. Craig Needhammer scored a pair for the winners, while Dominic Taggart, Dave Jackson, and Brandon Mercer each scored once.
Souderton (5-2, 4-0) remained unbeaten in conference play with a 45-35 win over Central Bucks South (2-5, 0-4).
The Indians rolled to 312 yards of rushing offense behind a trio of runners. Tyler Scholl scored a pair of touchdowns and rushed for a game-high 174 yards, while Javon White and Joe McNamara also had solid games.
Next: North Penn (6-1, 4-0) @ Souderton (5-2, 4-0)
Last Year: North Penn 27 – Souderton 6
Prediction: North Penn 31 – Souderton 14
Central Bucks West (5-2, 2-2) continued its march toward a district playoff berth with a critical 13-12 victory over Central Bucks East (3-4, 2-2).
Quarterback Ward Udinski scored both Buck touchdowns on runs of one and 11 yards. Rashaad Williams rushed for a game-high 150 yards on 26 carries.
Pennridge (4-3, 1-2) found its offensive mo-jo in a 35-8 conference win over visiting Hatboro-Horsham (2-5, 0-4).
The Rams led 21-0 at intermission and featured both Jesse Knepp and Brandon Cope in its running game. Knepp finished with a game-high 150 yards and scored two touchdowns. Cope scored three times and added 90 yards on the ground.
Next: Pennridge (4-3, 1-2) @ Central Bucks West (5-2, 2-2)
Last Year: Pennridge 23 – CB West 14
Prediction: Central Bucks West 24 – Pennridge 21
Quakertown (3-4, 2-1) lost its first conference game when the Panthers were defeated by host North Penn (6-1, 4-0) – 35-20.
Zac Gravelle had superlative outing for Q-town by firing a pair of touchdown passes and scoring on a run. Gravelle’s TD aerials were to Nick Barndt and John Keller. Gravelle accounted for 246 yards of total offense.
Central Bucks East (3-4, 2-2) took a 12-7 lead into the fourth quarter but dropped a tough 13-12 setback to rival Central Bucks West.
Josh Bernard scored on a 25-yard run for the Patriots, while Justyn White raced for an even 100 yards and scored on a one-yard run.
Next: Quakertown (3-4, 2-1) @ Central Bucks East (3-4, 2-2)
Last Year: Quakertown 34 – Central Bucks East 14
Prediction: Quakertown 21 – Central Bucks East 20
Central Bucks South (2-5, 0-4) passed for a staggering 335 yards but lost to host Souderton (5-2, 4-0) – 45-35.
Matt Johns threw for four touchdowns for the Titans. Dan Bechta had 150 receiving yards and a pair of scores, while Chris Veal caught a 74-yard TD pass.
Hatboro-Horsham is still in search of its first conference win after the Hatters were beaten by host Pennridge (4-3, 1-2) – 35-8.
Travis Young was the offensive highlight for the Hatters with 70 rushing yards on 16 carries. Young scored the lone H-H touchdown on a 15-yard run in the fourth period.
Next: Hatboro-Horsham (2-5, 0-4) @ Central Bucks South (2-5, 0-4)
Last Year: CB South 36 – Hatboro-Horsham 22
Prediction: Central Bucks South 49 – Hatboro-Horsham 28
Suburban One Sports.com Super Seven
1. Council Rock South Golden Hawks (7-0, 4-0)
2. North Penn Knights (6-1, 4-0)
3. Neshaminy Redskins (6-1, 3-1)
4. Abington Ghosts (5-2, 3-1)
5. Souderton Indians (5-2, 4-0)
6. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (6-1, 4-0)
7. Central Bucks West Bucks (5-2, 2-2)
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