Scott Huff features CB West, PW and Bensalem and also highlights the top offensive performances in each conference. To view photos of Monday’s CR North/Hatboro-Horsham game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League will open its conference schedule this weekend as Pennridge (Continental), Plymouth Whitemarsh (American), and Pennsbury (National) will defend conference championships.
Pennridge and Quakertown - who will meet on Thanksgiving Morning at Poppy Yoder Field in a SOL Continental Conference finale – will not open conference play. The Rams travel to Academy Park and the Panthers host Pocono Mountain East in a fourth successive non-conference game.
The Game of the Week should be the battle of the unbeaten teams as Abington (3-0) travels on Newtown on Friday night to meet Council Rock North (3-0) in the National Conference opener for both teams. The remaining unbeaten teams in the non-conference portion of the schedule were Neshaminy (3-0), Pennridge (3-0), Quakertown (3-0), Upper Dublin (3-0), and Springfield (2-0).
However, as the SOL regular season begins this weekend each and every team is 0-0, and all 24 teams have that fantastic dream of becoming a champion.
And the beat goes on ...
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Central Bucks West Bucks
Central Bucks West never led in its game with Wissahickon during the entire 48 minutes of playing time in regulation – but won the game.
CB West place kicker Mike Miller drilled a 37-yard field goal with no time left on the clock to present the Bucks with a breathtaking 31-28 victory over Wissahickon. Last year the CB West and the Trojans engaged in a 38-35 thrilling overtime win for Wissahickon.
“I told (Wissahickon head coach) Jeff Cappa that we could sell a lot of tickets if we play this type of game every year,” said Central Bucks West head coach Brian Hensel. “To win a game where you never actually take the lead until the final play of the game is a great combination of hard work and luck.
“We lost Marvin (Todd) early in the game, but John Fitz stepped up and did a tremendous job,” added Hensel of his senior quarterback. “We are very fortunate to have more than one weapon to use on offense.”
Next on the agenda for CB West is Souderton in the SOL Continental Conference opener for both teams on Friday night – at West.
“In the five years I have been the head coach at West, we have never beaten an Ed Gallagher team,” said Hensel in reference to the Souderton head coach. “This is my fifth year as head coach, and when I was an assistant I was never on a coaching staff that beat Souderton.
“We want to take the momentum we got in the Wissahickon win and have it carry over to the Souderton game,” added Hensel. “It is going to be a battle.”
SOL Continental Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Michael Class and Matt Pasquale of Pennridge each had superb games as the Rams routed Council Rock South 49-20. Class ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries, while Pasquale completed 8 of 9 passes for the Rams for 157 yards and a pair of scores.
John Fitz of Central Bucks West featured his running ability as the Bucks edged Wissahickon 31-28. Fitz – the West quarterback – ran the ball 19 times for 190 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Dion Clifton and Josh Adams of Central Bucks South were the featured running backs as the Titans rallied to defeat Notre Dame (NJ) 47-37. Clifton rushed for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Adams rushed for 106 yards and a TD before leaving the game with an ankle injury.
Matt Stoneback of Quakertown rushed for a game-high 119 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers clawed Cheltenham 28-14.
Zach Nelsen of Central Bucks East threw for 265 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots were defeated by Abington 28-7.
Manny Nieves of Souderton caught seven passes for 51 yards as the Indians were defeated by Neshaminy 28-0.
Austin Shearer of North Penn completed 12 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown as the Knights lost a 35-6 contest to St. Joe Prep.
SOL Continental Conference Schedule
Central Bucks East Patriots (1-2) @ North Penn Knights (0-3)
Last Week: Central Bucks East lost to Abington 28-7 & North Penn lost to St. Joe Prep 35-6.
Last Year: North Penn defeated Central Bucks East 42-7.
Central Bucks South Titans (2-1) @ Hatboro-Horsham Hatters (2-1)
Last Week: CB South defeated Notre Dame (NJ) 47-37 & Hatboro-Horsham lost to Council Rock North 56-26.
Last Year: Central Bucks South defeated Hatboro-Horsham 49-21.
Souderton Indians (0-3) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (2-1)
Last Week: Souderton lost to Neshaminy 28-0 & CB West defeated Wissahickon 31-28.
Last Year: Souderton defeated Central Bucks West 28-17.
***Non-Conference***
Pennridge Rams (3-0) @ Academy Park (3-0)
Last Week: Pennridge defeated Council Rock South 49-20 & Academy Park defeated Sun Valley 37-0
Last Year: Pennridge defeated Academy Park 37-15.
Pocono Mountain East Cardinals (2-1) @ Quakertown Panthers (3-0)
Last Week: Pocono Mountain East lost to Leighton 35-7 & Quakertown defeated Cheltenham 28-14.
Last Year: Pocono Mountain East defeated Quakertown 41-21.
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials
Plymouth Whitemarsh stunned the football prognosticators with a 36-34 victory over Downingtown West last week. The Colonials had staggered out of the gate with a 33-0 loss to Perkiomen Valley to open the season and followed with a 34-12 setback to Abington. Having been outscored 67-12 in its first two games, prospects for a win against a solid Whippet team did not seem to be a good bet.
“We picked up some momentum in the second half of the Abington game and carried it over,” said Plymouth Whitemarsh head coach Dan Chang. “We are starting to come together as an offensive line, and we have gained some experience in the backfield.
“We never lost confidence in ourselves, and we continue to grow as a team,” added Chang. “We are starting to feel good about ourselves.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh prepared the defense of its Suburban One League American Conference championship with a non-conference schedule that was extremely demanding.
“We played three very good programs, and we want to be able to challenge ourselves in the non-conference schedule,” said Chang. “Now we begin our conference schedule with Upper Moreland this week and we need to start taking care of business.”
SOL American Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Connor Hanlon of Plymouth Whitemarsh completed 9 passes for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Colonials marched to a 36-34 victory over Downingtown West.
JeQuan Mitchell of Upper Merion rushed for a staggering 299 yards and a touchdown as the Vikings sailed to a 32-20 victory over Olney.
Trey Jackson of Upper Dublin scored a pair of touchdowns as the Flying Cardinals soared to a 31-0 victory over Lincoln.
Marcus Heimann of Cheltenham completed 11 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers were defeated by Quakertown 28-14.
Dave Stellato of Wissahickon rushed 17 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns as the Trojans were beaten by Central Buck West 31-28.
Tyler Whitmore of Upper Moreland rushed for a game-high 81 yards and a touchdown as the Golden Bears were clawed by William Tennent 24-14.
SOL American Conference Schedule
Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (3-0) @ Wissahickon Trojans (1-2)
Last Week: Upper Dublin defeated Lincoln 31-0 & Wissahickon lost to Central Bucks West 31-28
Last Year: Wissahickon defeated Upper Dublin 41-21
Upper Moreland Golden Bears (1-2) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-2)
Last Week: Upper Moreland lost to William Tennent 24-14 & Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Downingtown West 36-34
Last Year: Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated Upper Moreland 21-7.
Springfield Spartans (2-0) @ Cheltenham Panthers (1-2)
Last Week: Springfield did not play & Cheltenham lost to Quakertown 28-14
Last Year: Cheltenham defeated Springfield 33-14.
Norristown Eagles (0-3) @ Upper Merion Vikings (2-1)
Last Week: Norristown lost to Bishop Shanahan 31-0 & Upper Merion defeated Olney 32-20
Last Year: Norristown defeated Upper Merion 27-20.
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
Bensalem Owls
Bensalem just may have scheduled the most challenging of all non-conference teams. And the Owls have not fared well with losses to Philadelphia Catholic League powers Archbishop Wood (38-7) and Archbishop Ryan (53-0); and SOL Continental Conference defending champion Pennridge (37-6).
“It has been a real struggle,” said Bensalem head coach Kevin Kelly. “We have played excellent teams the last three weeks, and we haven’t played very well. That is a bad combination.
“We have not been a fundamentally sound football team so far,” added Kelly. “We understand what we have to do to improve. Regardless of the opponents, we know it is on us to get better. We have to work hard and get better quarter to quarter, game to game, and week to week.”
The schedule takes a turn for the better for the Owls this week. Bensalem opens the Suburban One League National Conference with a game against Council Rock South this Saturday afternoon in Newtown. The Golden Hawks are also 0-3 with setbacks to Central Bucks South (31-21), Father Judge (31-0), and Pennridge (49-20).
“We get the extra day to prepare, and that is a good thing for us right now,” said Kelly. “We just want to continue to get better,”
SOL National Conference ‘Honor Roll’
Charles Snorweah of Pennsbury rushed for a game-high 105 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Falcons soared by Downingtown East 26-14.
Craig Reynolds of Abington rushed for a game-high 146 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Ghosts defeated Central Bucks East 28-7.
D’Andre Pollard of Neshaminy rushed for a game-high 165 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins defeated Souderton 28-0.
Brandon McIlwaian of Council Rock North threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for a third as the Indians routed Hatboro-Horsham 56-26.
Jake Zolna of Truman rushed for 3 touchdowns and passed for another as the Tigers clawed Fels 52-22.
Alex Perks of William Tennent scored a pair of touchdowns as the Panthers won their first game of the season in a 24-14 win over Upper Moreland.
Thomas McGovern of Council Rock South rushed for a team-high 65 yards and scored a TD as the Golden Hawks were beaten by Pennridge 49-20.
Alex Archangeli of Bensalem led the Owls in rushing with 60 yards in Bensalem’s 53-0 loss to Archbishop Ryan.
SOL National Conference Schedule
Abington Ghosts (3-0) @ Council Rock North Indians (3-0)
Last Week: Abington defeated Central Bucks East 28-7 & Council Rock North defeated Hatboro-Horsham 56-26
Last Year: Abington defeated Council Rock North 19-17.
William Tennent Panthers (1-2) @ Neshaminy Redskins (3-0)
Last Week: William Tennent defeated Upper Moreland 24-14 & Neshaminy defeated Souderton 28-7.
Last Year: William Tennent defeated Neshaminy 20-17.
Pennsbury Falcons (2-1) @ Truman Tigers (2-1)
Last Week: Pennsbury defeated Downington East 26-14 & Truman defeated Fels 52-22
Last Year: Pennsbury defeated Truman 51-2.
Bensalem Owls (0-3) @ Council Rock South Golden Hawks (0-3)
Last Week: Bensalem lost to Archbishop Ryan 53-0 & Council Rock South lost to Pennridge 49-20.
Last Year; Bensalem defeated Council Rock South 35-20.
Suburban One Sports.com
Super Seven
1. Neshaminy Redskins (3-0)
2. Pennridge Rams (3-0)
3. Pennsbury Falcons (2-1)
4. Abington Ghosts (3-0)
5. Council Rock North Indians (3-0)
6. Central Bucks South Titans (2-1)
7. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals (3-0)
7+. Quakertown Panthers (3-0)
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