By Scott Huff
Go figure…
The Suburban One League announced last week that both Lower Moreland High School and New Hope-Solebury High School would be joining the SOL next season. And with the addition of LM and NHS, the league has once again juggled the National, Continental, and American Conferences in football for the 2020 season.
Go figure…
The SOL has had power conferences based on enrollment and geographical conferences based on rivalries – this seems to be a hybrid of the two. The SOL states that the new alignment in football will promote competitive balance, traditional rivalries, and travel efficiency.
Go figure…
Enrollment doesn’t translate into championships – but it sure helps. Here are the high school enrollment figures for the ‘new and improved’ SOL Conferences for the sport of football.
National Conference
1. Pennsbury HS 3173 students
2. North Penn HS 3158 students
3. Neshaminy HS 2519 students
4. Pennridge HS 2326 students
5. Central Bucks South HS 1800 students
6. Abington HS 1748 students
7. Central Bucks East HS 1582 students
8. Central Bucks West HS 1439 students
Continental Conference
1. Souderton HS 2254 students
2. Council Rock South HS 2064 students
3. Bensalem HS 1789 students
4. Council Rock North HS 1699 students
5. Quakertown HS 1660 students
6. Hatboro-Horsham HS 1608 students
7. Harry S Truman HS 1572 students
8. Upper Dublin HS 1364 students
American Conference
1. William Tennent HS 1772 students
2. Plymouth Whitemarsh HS 1477 students
3. Cheltenham HS 1434 students
4. Wissahickon HS 1337 students
5. Upper Moreland HS 936 students
6. Lower Moreland HS 754 students
7. Springfield Montco HS 655 students
8. New Hope Solebury HS 534 students
There are some real head scratchers with this realignment.
The placement of Souderton in the Continental Conference, the placement of William Tennent in the American Conference, the placement of Upper Dublin in the Continental, and the placement of Abington and three Central Bucks schools in the National Conference?
Go figure…
And the beat goes on…
Football Forecast
Week 5
National Conference
Friday – 7 pm
HARRY S TRUMAN TIGERS (2-2, 1-0) @ NESHAMINY REDSKINS (2-2, 1-0)
Last Week:
Truman came back after a tough loss to Academy Park to rout Council Rock South 46-7. DaJuan Harris rushed for a game-high 130 yards and 4 touchdowns, while TJ Rogers rushed for 125 yards and a TD.
Neshaminy rebounded from a 48-6 loss to Downingtown West to outscore Council Rock North 48-31. Quarterback Brody McAndrew threw for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns. Ian Sheehan caught passes for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Prediction:
Neshaminy 38 – Truman 28
ABINGTON GHOSTS (3-1, 1-0) @ COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH HAWKS (0-4, 0-1)
Last Week:
Abington won for the third straight week as the Ghosts opened conference play with a 49-15 victory over Bensalem. Tamir Berthau had another spectacular outing passing for 218 yards – firing 2 touchdown passes – and rushing for 2 more scores.
Council Rock South continued its tough season. The Golden Hawks were defeated by Truman by a 46-7 score. Over the course of the season, Rock South has been outscored by a 146-27 margin.
Prediction:
Abington 49 – Council Rock South 7
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH INDIANS (1-3, 0-1) @ PENNSBURY FALCONS (1-3, 0-0)
Last Week:
Council Rock North put a lot of points on the board, but it wasn’t enough as the Indians lost to Neshaminy 48-31. Quarterback Jack Owens threw a pair of TD passes – one to Evan Mancinelli and the other to Kristian Valeriano.
Pennsbury won its first game of the season with a 21-14 non-league victory over previously unbeaten Central Bucks East. Old quarterback – now new running back - Drew Hensor rushed for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns in the second half for the Falcons, while new starting quarterback CJ Kohler passed for 147 yards and a score.
Prediction:
Pennsbury 38 – CR North 13
Continental Conference
Saturday – 11 am
NORTH PENN KNIGHTS (3-1, 1-0) @ CENTRAL BUCKS EAST PATRIOTS (3-1, 0-0)
Last Week:
North Penn broke open a tight game early to rout Pennridge 37-14. Khalani Eaton rushed for a game-high 224 yards and 4 touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Ryan Zeltt completed 8 passes for 175 yards.
Central Bucks East lost its first game of the season in a 21-14 non-league loss to Pennsbury. Anthony Giordano fired 2 touchdown passes for the Patriots, while Will Silverman caught 7 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction:
North Penn 35 – Central Bucks East 17
Friday – 7 pm
PENNRIDGE RAMS (1-3, 0-1) @ SOUDERTON INDIANS (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week:
Pennridge lost its third straight game in a 37-14 conference loss to North Penn. Taj Utsey and Brayden Landherr each scored rushing touchdowns for the Rams.
Souderton opened conference play with a 17-7 victory over William Tennent. DeAndre Wakefield scored a rushing TD for the Big Red, while Andrew Vince tossed a touchdown pass to Nick Guthre. Will Leyland added a field goal for the winners.
Prediction: (Upset Special)
Pennridge 13 – Souderton 10.
WILLIAM TENNENT (2-2, 0-1) @ CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week:
William Tennent was impressive defensively in a 17-7 loss to unbeaten Souderton. The lone score for the Panthers came on a 1-yard TD run by Tommy Santiago.
Central Bucks West remained unbeaten with a 42-28 victory over district rival Central Bucks South. Jack Fallon sparked the offense with 252 yards rushing and 4 TD, while Nick Tumolo and Jack Neri also scored touchdowns for the winners.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West 38 – William Tennent 20
American Conference
Friday – 7 pm
QUAKERTOWN PANTHERS (1-3, 1-0) @ CHELTENHAM PANTHERS (3-1, 0-0)
Last Week:
Quakertown scored on offense, defense, and special teams to end a 3-game losing streak in a 31-6 victory over previously unbeaten Upper Moreland. Tyler Merwarth sparked the defense with 3 interceptions.
Cheltenham rebounded from its 19-7 loss to Abington with a 48-14 victory over winless Norristown.
Prediction:
Quakertown 24 – Cheltenham 21
UPPER MORELAND BEARS (3-1, 0-1) @ PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH COLONIALS (4-0, 1-0)
Last Week:
Upper Moreland lost its first game of the season in a 31-6 loss to Quakertown.
Plymouth Whitemarsh remained unbeaten with a 57-7 victory over winless Wissahickon. Christian Pierce, Brian Dreslin, and Larry McLaughlin each scored 2 touchdowns for the Colonials.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 35 – Upper Moreland 14
HATBORO HORSHAM HATTERS (0-4, 0-1) @ WISSAHICKON TROJANS (0-4, 0-1)
Last Week:
Hatboro-Horsham led 7-0 early but could not hold the lead as the Hatters were topped 40-13 by Upper Dublin. Pat Chapman and Omar Ali scored rushing touchdowns for Hatboro-Horsham.
Wissahickon remained winless as the Trojans were defeated by unbeaten Plymouth Whitemarsh 57-7.
Prediction:
Hatboro-Horsham 34 – Wissahickon 7
Non-League Games
Friday – 7 pm
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH TITANS (2-2) @ BENSALEM OWLS (2-2)
Last Week:
Central Bucks South lost to district rival Central Bucks West 42-28. The Titans trailed by just 21-20 at the half. Quarterback Carter Hallgren completed 21 passes for 207 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Bensalem lost for the second straight week as the Owls were clipped by Abington 49-15. Richard Bardone and JoJo Davis scored touchdowns for the Blue & White.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South 38 – Bensalem 28
PENN CHARTER QUAKERS (3-0) @ UPPER DUBLIN CARDINALS (3-0)
Last Week:
Penn Charter remained unbeaten with a 44-8 victory over Central. The Quakers have averaged 43 points a game this season and also has wins over Conwell-Egan (44-21) and Lansdale Catholic (41-20).
Upper Dublin remained unbeaten with a 40-13 conference win over Hatboro-Horsham. Mike Slivka passed for 201 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Logan Helm scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the winners.
Prediction: (Upset Special II)
Upper Dublin 27 – Penn Charter 20
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