By Scott Huff
We Are The Champions … Of The World – Queen (1992)
There were six teams from the Suburban One League that either won outright or shared titles for the 2010 football season. And even if those champions came from Southeastern Pennsylvania and not the world, those six teams have entered their collective names into the record books.
The following is the SOL championship countdown.
Three
The total number of teams in the SOL National Conference that shared the 2010 title as Abington, Council Rock South, and Neshaminy all finished conference play with 6-1 records.
“The only thing we had missing on our resume in building our program was a conference championship,” said Abington head coach Tim Sorber. “The last time we won a championship was 1989 when I was a senior in high school (playing for the legendary Doug Moister), so it was been a long time.
“I think a championship means a little more to a coach that has played for the school he is now coaching,” added Sorber. “I can see the faces of all the players that I have played with and coached.”
Abington defeated CR South 45-35 this season, while the Ghosts lost to Neshaminy 28-10.
“I told the kids – in my 44 years of existence – I have been playing football since I was six years old, and this is my first championship ever,” said Council Rock South head coach Vince Bedesem. “I told the players this is the first time ever that I have been speechless.”
The championship was the first ever for the Council Rock South football program. Bedesem has been the coach of the Golden Hawks since the inception of the football program.
Rock South claimed its part of the championship with a 28-21 win over Neshaminy. The Hawks lost their lone conference game to Abington – 45-35.
“We struggled at the beginning of the season with some life issues, but we rallied around each other,” said Neshaminy head coach Mark Schmidt. “It feels good, though, to be league champions.”
Those life issues include the loss of senior Marco Dapkey for the season to leukemia, and the sudden loss of coach Joe Foster who died before the season.
Championships at Heartbreak Ridge under the coaching of Schmidt can be measured in a PIAA state title. The Redskins went 15-0 in 2001 and finished #7 in the final national poll of USA Today.
This season, the Skins handed Abington their only conference loss – 28-10. Neshaminy lost its only game of the season to Rock South – 28-21.
Two
The total number of teams that shared the SOL American Conference 2010 championship this season as both Cheltenham and Upper Dublin finished with 5-1 conference marks.
“If I had my way, we would win the championship and call it a day,” said Cheltenham head coach Joe Gro. “But we have the (district) playoffs in front of us, and if we don’t win this week against Abington, the championship won’t mean as much.
“It has been a long drought for both us and Abington,” added Gro. “But when we get on the field, nobody will really care.”
The title was the first for the Panthers in 34 years. This was the first championship for Gro in his 23 years as head coach at Cheltenham.
The lone loss of the season for the Panthers came against Upper Dublin – 27-20 – in double overtime.
“Winning a league title is always our first goal, and winning one never gets old,” said Upper Dublin head coach Bret Stover. “I was blown away when I heard that this was the first championship for Joe Gro at Cheltenham.
“We are absolutely honored to share the title with that team,” added Stover. “I have a lot of respect for both Joe and his program.”
Stover had coached the Flying Cardinals to three conference titles (2007, 2008, & 2010) during his tenure.
The lone conference loss of the season for Upper Dublin came in a 14-13 setback to Upper Moreland.
One
The total number of teams that has won the SOL Continental Conference this season as North Penn plowed through the season unbeaten in conference play.
The Knights are not very nice in sharing as they have won the last 21 conference games and have been sole conference champions the last three seasons.
“We are playing our best football right now,” said North Penn head coach Dick Beck. “I am very proud of how the players have improved during the course of the season.”
North Penn is hopeful of a successful District One playoff run. The Knights were PIAA state champions in 2003 under Beck.
The lone loss of the season for North Penn came in its opening game 27-14 loss to La Salle in a non-league game.
Blastoff – to the PIAA District One Playoffs
This is The Week that Was in The SOL
Suburban One League National Conference
Abington (8-2, 6-1) secured its share of the SOL National Conference championship with a 28-0 victory over William Tennent (4-6, 2-5).
Senior quarterback Julien Ireland scored three touchdowns – one an 82-yard run in the fourth quarter. Ray Schreiner also scored on a seven-yard run for the Ghosts.
Abington (8-2) earned the #5 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will host #12 seed Cheltenham (9-1).
William Tennent has now lost five straight games this season. The Panthers will have a shot at closing the season with a win as they host Pottstown (2-8) in a non-league game this Friday.
Council Rock South (9-1, 6-1) secured its share of the SOL National Conference championship with a 27-25 victory over rival Council Rock North (1-9, 1-6).
The Golden Hawks scored all four touchdowns on the ground against the Indians. Senior running back Mark Damirgian (10 carries/94 yards) and quarterback Bill Fleming (7/82) each found the end zone twice for Rock South.
Council Rock South (9-1) earned the #2 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will host the #15 seed – Souderton (7-3).
Council Rock North played its best game of the season in the loss to CR South. The season will come to a close for the Indians.
Rock North led Rock South 7-0 early in the game. The key scoring plays for the Indians were an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Brandon Cottom and a 9-yard TD pass from Brandon Knotts to Steve Sroba.
Neshaminy (9-1, 6-1) earned its share of the Suburban One National Conference championship with a 35-14 victory over rival Pennsbury (5-5, 3-4).
The Redskins featured powerful running by both Anthony Woodroffe and Sean Ulmer in registering the win. Woodroffe scored twice and rushed for a game-high 130 yards, while Ulmer also scored twice and rushed for an even 100 yards.
Neshaminy (9-1) earned the #4 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will host the #13 seed – Upper Dublin (8-2).
Pennsbury received a fine outing from the Pepper brothers – Brandon and Shawn – in the loss to Neshaminy. Both scored a touchdown for the Falcons – Brandon led the team with 123 rushing yards, while Shawn added 68 yards.
The season is now over for the defending National Conference champions.
Bensalem (3-7, 3-4) won its final conference game of the season with a 31-26 conference win over Harry S Truman (2-8, 1-6).
The Owls will finish the season with a home game against Hatboro-Horsham (2-8) this Friday.
Christian Fernandez posted some impressive offensive numbers for the Owls. Fernandez – who scored four touchdowns - rushed for 230 yards on 30 carries that included TD runs of 52 and 33 yards. He also scored on a 20-yard TD pass from Anthony Prisco.
The Truman numbers were also eye-catching as the Tigers generated 370 yards of total offense in the loss. Derron Thompson threw a 65-yard scoring pass to Ishmail Bullock and scored on TD runs of one and two yards. Lionel Chapman scored on a70-yard run for Truman.
The Tigers will conclude its season on Thanksgiving Day with a game against rival Conwell-Egan (0-9).
Suburban One League American Conference
Cheltenham (9-1, 5-1) won its first title in 34 years with a 35-7 win over Wissahickon (1-9, 1-5).
Quarterback Kenneth Cropper figured into the scoring with a pair of TD passes to Lekan Ajibade and Jonathan Tsipori. Aquil Reed rushed for a score for the winners and also returned an interception for a TD.
Cheltenham (9-1) earned the #12 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will travel to meet Abington (8-2) – the #5 seed.
Wissahickon actually led the Panthers 7-0 early in the game when J.T. Crits scored on a two-yard run. Greg McDonough added the extra point for the Trojans. The 2010 football season in now over for Wissahickon.
Upper Dublin (7-2, 5-1) was idle last week but still earned its share of the American Conference title with Cheltenham (9-1, 5-1).
Upper Dublin (7-2) earned the #13 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will be on the road to meet Neshaminy (9-1) – the #4 seed.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-5, 4-2) finished its season at .500 with a 28-21 victory over host Norristown (3-6, 2-4).
Wakeem Blythe scored three touchdowns for the Colonials including the winning score – and eight-yard pass from Russhon Phillips. PW scored on an impressive 19-play, 98-yard drive.
Norristown closed ancient Roosevelt Field which was built in 1909. The Eagles led 21-7 on the strength of two touchdowns by Brandon Shippen and a third by Shannon Mayer.
Norristown will close its season this Friday in a non-league game with Phoenixville (3-6).
Upper Moreland (8-2, 4-2) prepped for its journey into the PIAA Class AAA District One Playoffs with a 47-8 victory over Upper Merion (0-10, 0-6).
The Golden Bears led 41-0 at the half and featured the running of Jordan Spector who rushed for 155 yards and scored three touchdowns. Paul Scott scored on a 67-yard dash for Upper Moreland.
Upper Moreland (8-2) earned a #2 seed in the upcoming PIAA Class AAA District One Playoffs and will host Interboro (5-5) – the #7 seed.
The season will come to a close for winless Upper Merion. Naim Cheeseboro has been the team statistical leader all season, but was injured in the loss to Upper Moreland.
Suburban One Continental Conference
North Penn (9-1, 7-0) three-peated for the conference title with a resounding 41-8 victory over visiting Pennridge (5-5, 2-4).
Dominic Taggart scored three touchdowns for the Knights to spotlight the offense. Taggart scored on a run of 50 yards and caught a pair of TD passes from quarterback Corey Ernst. Ernst also threw a touchdown pass to Gerard Wendowski as NP rolled up 465 yards of total offense against the Rams.
North Penn (9-1) earned the #3 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will host Penn Wood (9-1) – the #14 seed.
The Rams will play Archbishop Ryan (2-7) this week at Poppy Yoder Field in place of the Cheltenham game. The Panthers have a playoff date this week.
Pennridge will conclude its season when the Rams host Quakertown (3-7) on Thanksgiving morning at 10:15 am at Poppy Yoder.
The Rams averted a shutout and scored with just two seconds left in the game against North Penn when Jesse Knepp scored on a two-yard run.
Souderton (7-3, 6-1) earned its invitation to the playoffs with a 31-14 victory over Quakertown (3-7, 2-4).
Javon White raced for 175 yards on 21 carries to spark the Big Red. He also scored on runs of 44 and two yards. Quarterback Tanner Allem completed nine passes for 100 yards.
Souderton (7-3) earned a #15 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will travel to meet Council Rock South (9-1) – the #2 seed.
Quakertown can still end its season on a winning note when the Panthers host Upper Perkiomen (5-5) this Friday and visit Pennridge (5-5) on Thanksgiving morning.
Quakertown quarterback Zac Gravelle threw a pair of long TD passes in the Panthers loss to Souderton. Gravelle fired a 69-yard scoring pass to Nick Barndt, and tossed a 70-yard scoring aerial to Mike Potynski.
Central Bucks West (8-2, 5-2) earned its invite to the District One playoff dance with a 40-22 victory over Hatboro-Horsham (2-8, 0-7).
Jake Poeske scored three times for the Bucks – twice on passes from Ward Udinski – and a third on a run. Rashaad Williams led CB West with 235 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Central Bucks West (8-2) earned a #10 seed in the upcoming PIAA Quad-A District One Playoffs and will travel to meet the Coatesville Red Raiders (9-2) – the #7 seed.
Hatboro-Horsham will travel to Bensalem (3-7) for a non-league game this Friday. The Hatters also have a scheduled game on Thanksgiving Day with Upper Moreland – pending the success of the Golden Bears in the Class AAA playoffs.
In the loss to CB West, Nick Dovidio was a force in the running game. Dovidio scored a pair of touchdowns for the Hatters and rushed for a team-high 120 yards.
Central Bucks South (4-6, 2-5) closed its season with a 38-27 conference win over rival Central Bucks East (4-6, 3-4).
It was the first year under new head coach Dave Rackovan for the Titans.
In the win over East, quarterback Matt Johns completed 17 passes for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ben Torres rushed for 150 yards and three scores for South.
It was the first year under new coach John Donnelly for the Patriots.
In the loss against South, Justyn White ran for 130 yards and a score. Highlighted in the setback was a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD by Sean Trymbiski.
Suburban One Sports.com Top Ten
1. North Penn Knights [9-1]
2. Council Rock South Golden Hawks [9-1]
3. Neshaminy Redskins [9-1]
4. Abington Galloping Ghosts [8-2]
5. Souderton Indians [7-3]
6. Central Bucks West Bucks [8-2]
7. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals [7-2]
8. Cheltenham Panthers [9-1]
9. Upper Moreland Golden Bears [8-2]
10. Pennsbury Falcons [5-5]
- Log in to post comments
0
