Back for its 17th season, the popular Intelligencer/Bucks County Courier Times ‘Let’s Talk Football’ features football beat writer Drew Markol. To stay on top of the high school football news in the area, visit the Intelligencer (http://www.theintell.com/sports/high-school/) and Courier Times (http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports/high-school/) web sites
SuburbanOneSports.com: In one of last week’s marquee games, Central Bucks West rolled to a 36-7 win over Easton. Your comments.
Drew Markol: “One of the biggest wins last week was CB West just taking Easton apart. Last year, Easton lost to La Salle in the state quarterfinals. This Easton team only had three starters back from a year ago, so it’s hard to know because that’s an awful lot to replace, even for a program of the stature of Easton. But West had Nick Miletto averaging seven yards a carry and making a million plays on defense. Liam Laphen caught two touchdown passes and played great defense. Louie Cipollo had a couple of catches, and he’s a very good defensive player. West has a lot of good pieces, but I think they’ll temper that win a little bit just because Easton’s a little depleted. But still, it’s a good win over a big-time program.
“Now West plays a District 3 power in Wilson West Lawn this week. High school coaches – especially coaches of the teams that are historically good - know when their teams are going to be even a step better. I think West thinks that, and that’s why they’re playing a really tough schedule. They used to play Garnet Valley in week one. They don’t shy away from tough competition, and those are the games that you want to play because even if you lose them, you still get a ton of points at the end because they’re good teams they are losing to, and those good teams are winning games. But that’s a good win, that’s a very good win for West. It was a good way to kick off the season, and it opened a few eyes, for sure.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Plymouth Whitemarsh edged Coatesville 21-20. Your comments.
Drew Markol: “Everybody has their preseason opinions, and it’s like - Coatesville’s the team to beat or one of the Downingtowns or North Penn or whoever. But I heard the Coatesville name popping up all the time, and PW goes and beats them on opening night. We talked about this last week. In the SOL Continental, you have Souderton, Plymouth Whitemarsh and Council Rock South, and Quakertown and Upper Dublin, who are probably a little bit down this year. PW just helps the conference that much.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Pennridge also had a big win, shutting out Liberty 35-0. Your thoughts.
Drew Markol: “Holy smokes, that’s a Liberty team that beat Pennridge two years ago, and Pennridge beat them last year on the way to the district final, but that team that Pennridge had last year lost a ton to the graduation. Aiden Tetkowski, the new quarterback, threw three touchdown passes last week. He’s a junior. The junior linebacker, Blake Landherr, is a tackling machine. Sean Leuthe is a third-year starter in the secondary. There are pieces at Pennridge too. Now they have a Souderton team that lost to Spring-Ford, but that was a really good win.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Any other games that stood out to you?
Drew Markol: “Neshaminy beat Emmaus. Neshaminy has Brock Williams, who moved from receiver to running back, and he scored two touchdowns. He gives them a nice option in the backfield. Tom Schoepfer ran a touchdown back 90 yards.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Souderton lost to Spring-Ford last weekend. Did that surprise you?
Drew Markol: “A little bit. I think Spring-Ford is always pretty good. Souderton had beaten them the last couple times, but after playing them to a 14-14 halftime tie, the Indians were outscored 17-0 in the second half. I was over at Souderton this week, and their running back, Caleb Moyer, hurt his neck in that game, and (coach Ed) Gallagher said he was about to have surgery, but they found out he didn’t need it, but he’s in a neck brace for a while.
“Souderton didn’t have him, and Ed Gallagher said, ‘I think that messed with our psyche a little bit,’ which is understandable. I think Souderton is legit. Brett Pollack, the senior quarterback, took over for Ben Walsh. He ran for a score and threw for a score. I think it could take a little time. Souderton has a lot of pieces, and I think they’re going to be okay.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Souderton and Pennridge are reviving their rivalry this week. Your comments.
Drew Markol: “They haven’t played each other in three years, which is kind of a shame. You wish they would play every year. I think it will be a good one. I think it’s a good test for both teams, and that’s why they should play each other. It’s a good test, and I just think Souderton may have that senior experience. I could see the score being 24-21. It could actually go either way.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Biz Keeny is back on the sidelines at William Tennent, which got a win over Council Rock North last week. Your comments.
Drew Markol: “Biz Keeny is in the building at Tennent. He’s been a teacher there for a long time. He’s been around, and he knows the modern kid because he’s been around kids. A lot can depend on how good or bad Archbishop Wood is. Wood had a couple of down years after that long run of state titles, and if Wood’s good again – and they looked pretty good last week, they might get some of the Warminster kids. Tennent has to hang onto them, and that’s how you build. You take baby steps because you know that’s all you can do, but they won last week, and hopefully, they keep it going, but I think Biz is the right guy to right the ship. He’s had success at Tennent before, and I think it was a very smart move to bring him back.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Your thoughts about any other games last week.
Drew Markol: “CB South lost to Archbishop Wood last week. Gavin Graham, the South running back, is good. He runs hard, and he’s tough to bring down, but they’re breaking in a new quarterback in sophomore Trent Haviland. He’ll get there - he’s just not there yet. That Wood team is loaded. They’re big up front. I know they’re a Class 3A team, but that’s a pretty good team. Wood beat South last year too.
“Pennsbury shut out Trenton Central, and that was a good way to start the season. I’d be lying if I said I knew much about Trenton Central. I don’t know anything about them, but if you’re coming off a not-so-great season like Pennsbury is and have a new coach, the best thing that can happen is you get a win. I was at the South/Wood game, and the Wood coach was like, ‘You know, you get that first win of the season on opening night, and it shows our kids that – hey, you can believe in what we’re trying to do.’ Well, now you have a first-year coach (in John Greiner), and you get that first win in week one – it does wonders. It does give you a confidence boost that you can’t get anywhere else.
“You look at the SOL National – West got a win over Easton, North Penn dismantled Lower Dauphin, Neshaminy won, Pennsbury won, and South lost to a good Wood team. CB East lost to a Ridley team that’s historically pretty good. It’s all week one stuff.”
SuburbanOneSports.com: Looking ahead to this week – are there any games that jump out at you?
Drew Markol: “I think Central York at North Penn is going to be a really good game. Central York lost last week to State College - which is a very good program – in a game that came down to the wire. When you look at Central York – I saw in one poll they’re number nine in the state and North Penn is number 10. They have a running back that had a big game last week. That will be a good game, for sure.
“Wilson West Lawn, another District 3 power, comes down and plays CB West, and you have Souderton/Pennridge on Thursday. If you’re a fan, you can go see Souderton at Pennridge Thursday and Central York at North Penn Friday. There are a couple of good ones this week, but it doesn’t get really good until we get into the conference play.”
Drew’s Picks
(Winner in bold)
Norristown @ Abington
Upper Moreland @ Bensalem
Liberty @ Central Bucks East
Downingtown West @ Central Bucks South
Wilson @ Central Bucks West
Perk Valley @ Council Rock South
Council Rock North @ Harry S Truman
Hatboro-Horsham @ WC Henderson
Neshaminy @ Manheim Township
Central York @ North Penn
Souderton @ Pennridge
Pennsbury @ Easton
Plymouth Whitemarsh @ Kennett
Quakertown @ Owen J Roberts
Overbrook @ Springfield Twp
Upper Dublin vs. Penn Manor @ Millersville University
Methacton @ William Tennent
Upper Merion @ Wissahickon
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