(Pennridge photo provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
Football Forecast – Volume 4
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League National & Continental Conferences opened their respective conference schedules and the defending champions all came up with conference opener victories.
Central Bucks South (2-2 overall) opened the defense of its SOL National Conference championship with a 21-14 victory over district rival Central Bucks East.
The Titans have a severe test this week as South travels to iconic War Memorial Field in Doylestown in play district rival Central Bucks West (3-1).
Souderton (3-1), Quakertown (2-2), & Upper Dublin (1-3) opened their SOL Continental Conference tri-championship title defenses with opening conference wins.
Souderton had no problem defeating winless Harry S Truman (0-4) in a 48-7 win – Quakertown had little problem in a 21-7 victory over Bensalem (2-2) - & Upper Dublin won for the first time this season with a 25-14 victory over winless Council Rock North (0-4).
Quakertown & Souderton will clash this week in Souderton in a critical conference game. Last year the Panthers & Indians provided an instant classic as Quakertown defeated Souderton, 35-34.
Upper Dublin will travel to Council Rock South (3-1) to play the much-improved Golden Hawks. Most prognosticators will have Upper Dublin as an underdog in this one.
Stay tuned.
We are…Number 1…Pennridge football ?…
Really?
Pennridge football?
Check it out – the unbeaten Rams are 4-0 this season and are ranked No. 1 in all of District One. Pennridge is one of three unbeaten 6A teams in the district along with No. 2 ranked Coatesville and No. 3 ranked Owen J Roberts.
The last 3 years have been extremely difficult for the Rams. PHS was just 5-16 in the SOL National Conference over that time span and a less than impressive 9-24 overall.
This 2025 season Pennridge opened with a stunning 31-21 victory over Liberty (3-1). Those Hurricanes have since captured 2025 victories over Allentown Central Catholic (38-14), Stroudsburg (49-17) & Northampton (41-34).
The Rams have also defeated Bensalem (2-2), 36-33 – Harry S Truman (0-4), 41-12 - & Pennsbury (0-4), 14-0.
Pennridge will host North Penn (3-1) this week – and history has shown that the Rams have not fared well against NPHS in over a decade.
Pennridge has lost 11 straight games against the Knights dating back to October 19, 2012 when Randy Cuthbert was the head coach of the Rams and PHS defeated North Penn, 28-21.
The Rams have lost just 2 one-score games against North Penn in that losing streak - losing 17-16 in 2023 and 21-14 in 2021. The teams did not play in 2020.
The Knights have outscored PHS by a decisive 410-203 beginning in 2012.
It has been 4,717 days (if I did the math right) since Pennridge last defeated North Penn in football.
Stay tuned.
It isn’t called ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ for nothing…
North Penn traveled to Neshaminy’s legendary ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ last week unbeaten – ranked No. 1 in District One – and coming off a 42-7 rout of Quakertown.
Neshaminy hosted the Knights last week coming off a very disappointing 38-29 loss to one-win Cheltenham.
And you guessed it – North Penn left ‘Heartbreak Ridge’ with its heart broken as Neshaminy shocked the Knights, 18-14.
Both North Penn (3-1, 0-1) and Neshaminy (3-1, 1-0) are on the road this week as the Knights visit unbeaten Pennridge (4-0,1-0) and the Redskins visit Abington (1-3, 0-1).
Stay tuned.
You play the game to have fun…but it’s no fun losing…
Council Rock North (0-4, 0-1) will host Harry S Truman (0-4, 0-1) in a SOL Continental Conference game this week that features a pair of teams that have had very limited success the last 2 seasons.
Both teams finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 1-9 – and both teams are winless this season.
The last win for CR North came last September when the Indians defeated Truman, 16-13. The last win for the Tigers came in the opening game of the 2024 season when HST defeated Kensington, 42-0.
This season CR North has lost games to Upper Moreland (21-6), Neshaminy (41-0), Central Bucks East (50-7), and Upper Dublin (25-14).
This season Truman has lost games to Haverford (41-7), Abington (42-7), Pennridge (41-12), and Souderton (48-7).
The players and coaches for both CR North and Truman put in just as much time and effort into their respective programs as the elite teams in the Suburban One League.
And finally for either the Indians or the Tigers that blood sweat and tears will result in a victory this week.
Thankfully, there are no ties in the SOL.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
Suburban One League
National Conference
North Penn Knights (3-1, 0-1) @ Pennridge Rams (4-0, 1-0)
Last Year:
North Penn Knights 31 * Pennridge Rams 0
Last Week:
North Penn was knocked from the unbeaten ranks by Neshaminy, 21-14. The Knights led 14-12 at halftime but were shut out in the second half. Matt Pownall scored on a 1-yard run, while Matt Bucksar fired a 10-yard touchdown pass to Sal Colella.
Pennridge remained unbeaten with a 14-0 shutout victory over Pennsbury. The Rams failed to capitalize on 2 drives inside the red zone, but PHS did score on touchdown runs by Ryan Rowe & Michael Ferguson.
Prediction:
Guest Forecaster * Amelia V. Moyer
*Upset Special*
Pennridge Rams 27 * North Penn Knights 20
Central Bucks South Titans (2-2, 1-0) @ Central Bucks West Bucks (3-1, 1-0)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South 22 * CB West Bucks 17
Last Week:
Central Bucks South knocked Central Bucks East from the unbeaten ranks with a 21-14 victory over the Patriots. Gavin Graham rushed for 106 yards and scored 2 rushing touchdowns, while Cade Crim scored the game winner on an 86-yard touchdown scamper.
Central Bucks West scored early and often in a 43-15 victory over Abington. The Bucks led 36-7 at the close of the first half.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 28 * Central Bucks South Titans 24
Central Bucks East Patriots (3-1, 0-1) @ Pennsbury Falcons (0-4, 0-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury Falcons 17 * CB East Patriots 14
Last Week:
Central Bucks East was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 21-14 loss to Central Bucks South. Elite running back Mike Price was injured in the first quarter after racking up 87 yards and scoring a touchdown that gave the Patriots a 7-6 lead. The game was tied 14-14 going into the 4th quarter.
Pennsbury remained winless for the season as the Falcons were shutout by visiting Pennridge, 14-0. Pennsbury has had a steady decline in points scored – 14, 7, 6, & 0 in the first four weeks of the season.
Prediction:
Central Bucks East Patriots 20 * Pennsbury Falcons 7
Neshaminy Redskins (3-1) @ Abington Ghosts (1-3)
Last Year:
Neshaminy Redskins 37 * Abington Ghosts 0
Last Week:
Neshaminy stunned unbeaten North Penn, 18-14. Michael Eckart has himself a day completing 11 passes for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns. Carter Clee and Nick Sassano were on the receiving ends of those TD aerials. Eckart also carried 17 times for 109 yards and scored a rushing touchdown.
Abington was competitive in the first quarter against Central Bucks West trailing 14-7, but the Ghosts were outscored 29-8 for the remainder of the game in a 43-15 loss.
Prediction:
Neshaminy Redskins 45 * Abington Ghosts 13
Suburban One League
Continental Conference
Quakertown Panthers (2-2, 1-0) @ Souderton Indians (3-1, 1-0)
Last Year:
Quakertown Panthers 35 * Souderton Indians 34
Last Week:
Quakertown rebounded from its 42-7 loss to North Penn to defeat Bensalem, 21-7. Jackson Connelly scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the Panthers, while Brady Martin fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to James Wehrheim.
Souderton rebounded from its 13-0 loss the Central Bucks West to defeat winless Harry S Truman, 48-7. The Indians scored of offense, defense, and special teams to secure the win. Caleb Moyer and JoJo Sudi each scored rushing touchdowns, while Ben Wash fired touchdown passes to Chase Hart and Hunter Smeltz. Nate Rusike scored on an 80-yard interception return, while Alex Whitcomb returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 24 * Quakertown Panthers 17
Bensalem Owls (2-2, 0-1) @ Cheltenham Panthers (1-3, 0-1)
Last Year:
Bensalem Owls 31 * Cheltenham Panthers 14
Last Week:
Bensalem opened conference play with a 21-7 loss to Quakertown. The lone scoring play for the Owls came on a kickoff return for a touchdown by Myles Annan.
Cheltenham opened conference play with a 28-20 loss to Council Rock South. The Panthers led 14-0 early – expanded the lead to 20-7 – but was outscored 21-0 the remainder of the game.
Prediction:
Cheltenham Panthers 28 * Bensalem Owls 24
Upper Dublin Cardinals (1-3, 1-0) @ CR South Golden Hawks (3-1, 1-0)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 24 * Rock South Hawks 7
Last Week:
Upper Dublin captured its first victory of the season with a 25-14 victory over Council Rock North. The Cardinals featured a punishing ground game as Ron Sheppard rushed for 214 yards and scored 3 touchdowns.
Council Rock South opened its conference season with a 28-20 win over Cheltenham. The Golden Hawks rallied back from a 14-point deficit to capture the win. Shane Myers and Nate Szydlik each scored rushing touchdowns, while Marley Emerson tossed 2 touchdown passes to Joey Madara.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Hawks 27 * Upper Dublin Cardinals 17
Harry S Truman Tigers (0-4, 0-1) @ CR North Indians (0-4, 0-1)
Last Year:
Council Rock North Indians 16 * Truman Tigers 13
Last Week:
Harry S Truman opened conference play with a 48-7 loss to Souderton. The Tigers have been outscored 172-33 so far this season.
Council Rock North opened the conference season with a 25-14 loss to Upper Dublin. The Indians trailed by 12-7 at the half. Owen Thompson caught 5 passes for 132 yards that included a 72-yard touchdown pass from Will Cabo.
Prediction:
Council Rock North Indians 24 * Truman Tigers 14
Suburban One League
American Conference
Non-Conference Games
Wissahickon Trojans (4-0) @ Interboro Bucs (2-2)
Last Year:
Wissahickon Trojans 52 * Interboro Bucs 20
Last Week:
Wissahickon remained unbeaten with a 27-14 victory over Sun Valley. The Trojans led 20-0 at the end of the first period and coasted to the victory.
Interboro evened its overall record with a 35-24 victory over Upper Moreland.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 35 * Interboro Bucs 20
Penn Wood Patriots (1-3) @ Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (1-3)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 42 * Penn Wood 15
Last Week:
Penn Wood lost to Academy Park, 29-7.
Plymouth Whitemarsh lost to Manheim Township, 37-31.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 35 * Penn Wood 14
West Chester Henderson (4-0) @ Upper Moreland Bears (2-2)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland Bears 48 * WC Henderson Warriors 7
Last Week:
West Chester Henderson remained unbeaten with a 28-6 victory over Upper Merion.
Upper Moreland suffered a 35-24 non-conference loss to Interboro.
Prediction:
West Chester Henderson 21 * Upper Moreland Bears 20
JP McCaskey Red Tornado (0-4) @ William Tennent Panthers (0-4)
Last Year:
William Tennent Panthers 14 * JP McCaskey 7
Last Week:
JP McCaskey lost to Hempfield, 56-6. The Red Tornado have been outscored 146-18 this season.
William Tennent lost to Haverford, 61-0. The Panthers have been outscored 166-14 this season.
Prediction:
William Tennent Panthers 14 * JP McCaskey 7
Academy Park Knights (2-2) @ Hatboro Horsham Hatters (0-4)
Last Year:
Academy Park 38 * Hatboro Horsham Hatters 27
Last Week:
Academy Park defeated Penn Wood, 29-7.
Hatboro Horsham lost to West Philadelphia, 30-22.
Prediction:
Academy Park Knights 24 * Hatboro Horsham Hatters 20
Father Judge Crusaders (2-2) @ Springfield Spartans (3-0)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Father Judge defeated Archbishop Wood, 27-26.
Springfield defeated Lower Moreland, 42-14. Nathan Torrealba fired 6 touchdown passes to fuel the offense. Zymir Small, Logan Curcio, and Jacob Soto each scored 2 receiving touchdowns for the Spartans.
Prediction:
Father Judge Crusaders 31 * Springfield Spartans 14
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