Sterling Limousine and Transportation Services is proud to recognize the Players of the Game for the SOL teams that were winners in Friday night’s opening round of the District One Class AAAA playoffs.
Abington vs. Cheltenham
Sterling Limousine Offensive Player of the Game - Julien Ireland , AbingtonThe senior quarterback completed 4-of-5 passes for 137 yards against Cheltenham. All four of Ireland’s completions were for touchdowns. He also had 14 carries for 124 yards.
Coach Tim Sorber says: “He’s gotten better every week. He’s playing really good football right now. He has a great grasp of the offense, and for a kid who has never played quarterback before, he has the little things down – the technique type of things. Obviously, when you’re able to complete four out of five balls for 137 yards and then rush for 124 - that shows he’s doing a tremendous job of being an all-around QB. He’s a kid that never panics. If he has a bad play, he moves on to the next one, and he plays with tremendous poise and maturity. I think that’s one of the reasons why he’s been so successful, and that rubs off to the rest of the kids.”
Sterling Limousine Defensive Player of the Game – John Konway, AbingtonThe senior defensive tackle had two sacks and five tackles in the Ghosts’ big win over Cheltenham, and he has anchored the line all season.
Coach Tim Sorber says: “Konway has been solid for us the entire year. He’s a kid that is a little bit undersized for a D-tackle, but he makes up for it with his strength and his speed. He’s someone other teams have to account for – sometimes double team in blocking schemes, and when that happens, that helps free our linebackers, especially Myles Grasty. You’re kind of damned if you do and damned if you don’t, but if you don’t double team him, he’s going to get penetration and make plays. If you do double team him, that’s going to free up Grasty.”
Central Bucks West vs. Coatesville
Sterling Limousine Offensive Player of the Game – Rashaad Williams, Central Bucks WestThe Bucks’ gifted senior running back had a career night against the Red Raiders, accumulating 427 yards on 27 carries. He also had five touchdowns.
Coach Brian Hensel says: “There’s no comment needed. His performance speaks for itself. I was so wrapped up in the game, and at one point in the fourth quarter, I turned to my running backs coach and said, ‘He must be close to 300 yards.’ He said, ‘He’s over 400.’ I was pretty excited. We have weapons this year that we didn’t have in the past that have helped us a great deal to get to where we want to be, but he has been the straw that stirs the drink.”
Sterling Limousine Defensive Player of the Game – Seth Ehlo, Central Bucks WestThe junior defensive back came through with a pair of interceptions late in the game to preserve West’s opening round win over Coatesville.
Coach Brian Hensel says: “Seth has been a force in the secondary for us all year long. He had his fifth and sixth interceptions of the season on Friday night, and they couldn’t have come at a better time for us. It was like a tennis match with the touchdowns being traded off, and we were just looking for some stops. We had one stop defensively shutting down the run, but they were driving the ball, and Seth picked the ball off in their territory and helped us big time from preventing a score. With the game on the line and a two-score difference, they’re driving to make it a close game, and he gets the second pick and that pretty much closed up the game for us.”
Council Rock South vs. Souderton
Sterling Limousine Offensive Player of the Game – Billy Fleming , Council Rock SouthThe senior quarterback led the Golden Hawks on the ground with 75 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 34 yards in the air, but it was his ability to ball fake that kept the Indians off stride. So adept is the senior QB that for the second week in a row the officials fell for his fake and blew the play dead while Fleming ran for a first down, forcing the Golden Hawks to replay the down.
Coach Vince Bedesem says: “We’re running into a problem with him being exceptionally proficient with his ball fakes because we’re getting stoppages of play. As heated as I might get when it does happen, I do understand – people make mistakes, but it actually killed our drive. It took a little momentum from us, but again, the kids came back in the second half. Once again, Billy took the game over and did a superb job.”
Sterling Limousine Defensive Player of the Game – Tony Checchia, Council Rock SouthThe senior linebacker had a team-high 14 tackles to lead the defense. He also had a key fumble recovery in the game’s final moments to seal the win over Souderton.
Coach Vince Bedesem says: “We’re in uncharted territory here, but at this time of year, kids can get worn down. We don’t spend a whole lot of time any more on the field beating our bodies up. We’re getting our work done, and we’ll be out there as long as we need to be, but I am very conscious of making sure the kids are not getting themselves totally worn down. Tony seems like he just keeps getting stronger. He has just been tremendous over the last seven or eight weeks.
“Tony did a great job earlier in the year, but he’s just so much better at this point in time. He’s splitting time at fullback and playing linebacker fulltime, and not to embarrass him, but he is like the Energizer Bunny. He keeps going and going. He was making plays, and he was all over the place on Friday night.”
Neshaminy vs. Upper Dublin
Sterling Limousine Offensive Player of the Game – Charlie Marterella, NeshaminyThe Redskins’ senior quarterback did it all offensively, connecting on 9-of-15 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown
Coach Mark Schmidt says: “Charlie looks forward to Friday night. He’s a fun guy, and he really goes out there and takes charge. He’s one of our captains, and he’s one of those guys that gets out there and just has fun playing football. He has made some really nice plays, and when he doesn’t make such a nice play, he has a really short memory, so he doesn’t dwell on it and mope. He just goes out there and does better. He’s run our offense as well or better than any quarterback we have ever had here. He’s doing a great job here.”
Sterling Limousine Defensive Player of the Game – Kiser Terry, NeshaminyThe junior defensive end had six tackles – three for a loss – and two sacks in the Redskins’ big win over Upper Dublin.
Coach Mark Schmidt says: “He’s a real treat. He’s only a junior, and every week he’s just getting more and more confident. His abilities are coming out. Jon Craig, our defensive line coach, is doing a great job of getting him ready. He has speed and athleticism, and he’s hard to get around. He’s such a good athlete, and combining that with getting stronger in the weight room – he’s really becoming a heck of a force for us.”
North Penn vs. Penn Wood
Sterling Limousine Offensive Player of the Game – Craig Needhammer, North PennThe Knights’ senior running back turned in a huge performance, rushing for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. He also had two receptions for 49 yards.
Coach Dick Beck says: “Needhammer had his biggest game of the season. He had 187 yards and scored all three touchdowns and played the whole game on defense. He also blocked well. Throughout the year, we’re sharing carries and trying to spread the wealth. He didn’t get as many touches as he did last year. Friday’s game with the way it was going, we were giving him the ball, and he got off a little bit, which is good.”
Sterling Limousine Defensive Player of the Game – Chuck Knower, North PennKnower dislocated his shoulder in the Hatboro game and re-injured it on Friday night, but not before the senior defensive lineman delivered the play of the game when on fourth-and-goal and North Penn leading by eight, he threw the Penn Wood runner for a one-yard loss.
Coach Dick Beck says: “Chuck has been our steadiest defender. He finished the game with six tackles – two for a loss – and a sack, plus he’s the contain guy on their speed sweeps. They threw a flag on the guy that was blocking him three times. He has been the guy that has been our rock all year.”
- Log in to post comments
0
