Photo courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
Football Forecast
Volume -2
By Scott Huff
Suburban One League conference football championships are surely not won or lost in the first three weeks of non-conference games.
But for a trio of defending SOL conference champions, the outset of the 2025 season may not damage their collective defenses of conferences titles but could damage chances for reaching the PIAA District One playoffs.
Defending SOL National Conference champion Central Bucks Southis 0-2 after its 19-7 loss to Souderton last week. The Titans opened the 2025 season with a 39-28 loss to Archbishop Wood.
CB South won 10 straight 2024 regular season games and defeated both Spring-Ford (49-7) and Plymouth Whitemarsh (35-0) in the first two rounds of districts. The Titans finished the season 12-1 with a district final loss to North Penn, 21-19.
Defending SOL American Conference champion Plymouth Whitemarsh is 0-2 after its 27-7 loss to Wilson West Lawn last week. The Colonials opened the 2025 season with a 40-35 loss to West Chester Henderson.
Plymouth Whitemarsh was an impressive 8-2 during the regular 2024 season and defeated Souderton (33-14) in the first round of the District One playoffs. The Colonials finished the season 9-3 with a loss in the second round of the playoffs to CB South, 35-0.
Defending SOL Continental Conference tri-champion Upper Dublin is 0-2 this season after its 24-7 loss to Central Bucks West last week. The Flying Cardinals opened the 2025 season with a 23-16 loss to Wissahickon.
Upper Dublin (5A) was 7-3 during the 2024 regular season and defeated Unionville (31-21) & Phoenixville (35-28) in the district playoffs. The Cardinals finished the season with a loss to West Chester Rustin in the third round of the district playoffs, 35-14.
Souderton & Quakertown are also the defending 2024 SOL Continental Conference tri-champions and both the Indians, and the Panthers have not stumbled out of the 2025 gate.
The Indians are 2-0 with impressive wins over both Spring-Ford (31-7) and Central Bucks South (19-7), while Quakertown (1-1) rebounded from a (35-14) loss to Southern Lehigh with a hard-fought 14-7 victory over Pennsbury.
But for now – everyone in the Suburban One League is 0-0 in conference play – at least until September 9th for teams in the National & Continental Conferences – and at least until September 26th in the American Conference.
Stay tuned.
“Not so fast my friend” - Lee Corso of College Game Day Fame
There have been things written (cough) about how the SOL Continental Conference had been dominated last season in its crossover games with the SOL National Conference.
The numbers told the facts that the SOL National won 14 of the 16 games in 2024 and that most games were far from competitive. The SOL National outscored the SOL Continental by a staggering 449-134 over those 16 games.
A repeat by some (cough) was expected again last week.
Last week proved to be far different as the SOL Continental went 2-6 – not a great won-lost record – but the conference was considerably more competitive against its SOL National counterpart.
In addition to the victories by Souderton over CB South (19-7) & the win by Quakertown over Pennsbury (14-7), there were 3 one-score wins by the SOL-N over the SOL-C.
Council Rock South was more than competitive as the Golden Hawks had a shot at victory in a 21-14 loss to North Penn.
Bensalem was more than competitive as the Owls had a shot at victory in a 36-33 loss to Pennridge.
And Cheltenham was more than competitive as the Panthers had a shot at victory in a 17-14 loss to Central Bucks East.
Central Bucks West defeated Upper Dublin 24-7, while the only SOL National Conference blowout wins were Abington’s 42-7 rout of Harry S Truman & Neshaminy’s 41-0 rout of Council Rock North.
There is one more week of SOL crossover games and the hope is for the same competitiveness.
Stay tuned.
And oh, by the way…Who said the Hawks will never die?...
St. Joe Prep (0-2) is the 3-time defending PIAA 6A champion and the Philadelphia Catholic League powerhouse known in the area for winning by large margins - especially in state matchups with District One teams in the state playoffs - has choked on its own medicine last week, losing to DeMatha (Md), 45-17.
The Hawks – who lost their season opener to American Heritage (31-28) - led 10-3 at the half against DeMatha. However, the second half was a sad performance as SJP was outscored 42-7.
The PIAA created a 6A classification in 2016 – and over that nine-year period SJP has won the state title 7 of those 9 years.
Don’t feel too bad for St. Joe Prep – the Hawks are still the #1 ranked 6A school in the state of Pennsylvania according to Max Preps.com with that 0-2 record.
And finally, How about those Ghosts?
Abington may have caught the eye of some fans in the Suburban One League.
Last season the Ghosts finished 1-9 with their only victory coming over Harry S Truman, 7-6.
Abington was outscored 362-27 during the 2024 season, yielding 36.2 points per game and scoring just 2.7 points per game.
This 2025 season the Ghosts had a shot at victory in their season opener against Conrad Weiser. Abington had the final possession of the game in a 28-22 non-conference loss.
And last week the Ghosts routed Harry S Truman 42-7 to even its season record @ 1-1 – Abington has outscored opponents 64-35 thus far.
The task becomes far more difficult for the Ghosts in upcoming weeks.
Abington’s next non-conference game comes against a very good Bensalem team – and then the Ghosts have to compete in the SOL National Conference.
Last season Abington was a dreadful 0-7 in the conference – and was outscored 334-13. The Ghosts were shut out in 5 of those 7 games.
But so far … so good.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes one…
Suburban One League
Crossover Games
Friday
North Penn Knights (2-0) @ Quakertown Panthers (1-1)
Last Year:
North Penn 35 – Quakertown 12
Last Week:
North Penn remained unbeaten with a harder-than-expected 21-14 victory over Council Rock South. Matt Pownall scored the first 2 touchdown for the Knights – the first on a 50-yard run – and the second on a touchdown pass from Matt Bucksar. Rylei Gray scored the game winner in the fourth period on a 14-yard run.
Quakertown quarterback Brady Martin fired a pair of touchdown passes to spark the 14-7 victory over Pennsbury. Martin tossed an 8-yard scoring pass to Carter Tucholski & also threw a touchdown pass to James Wehrheim. The Panther defense was excellent and did not permit the Falcons to score an offensive touchdown.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 28 – Quakertown Panthers 17
Pennsbury Falcons (0-2) @ CR South Golden Hawks (1-1)
Last Year:
Pennsbury 21 – Council Rock South 15
Last Week:
Pennsbury remained winless as the Falcons lost to Quakertown, 14-7. The Pennsbury offense failed to score a touchdown against the Panther defense. The only points were scored on special teams as the Falcons blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone.
Council Rock South lost a heartbreaker to powerful North Penn, 21-14. The Golden Hawks led 6-0 early in the game and were tied with Knights 14-14 after 3 quarters. CR South fell behind 21-14 in the 4th quarter and had a shot at a ‘Hail Mary’ on the final play that could have knotted the score.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Golden Hawks 21 – Pennsbury Falcons 17
Central Bucks West Bucks (1-1) @ Souderton Indians (2-0)
Last Year:
Souderton Indians 20 – CB West Bucks 13
Last Week:
Central Bucks West captured its first win of the season as the Bucks defeated Upper Dublin, 24-7. Louie Cipollo sparked the offense with a pair of touchdown runs and a touchdown pass. Joey Craig booted a 42-yard field goal for the winners.
Souderton remained unbeaten with a 19-7 victory over Central Bucks South. Quarterback Ben Walsh threw for close to 200 yards and fired 3 touchdown passes. Chase Hart caught 2 of those TD passes, while Timmy Meehan caught the third TD strike.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 24 – Central Bucks West Bucks 21
Central Bucks South Titans (0-2) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (0-2)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South Titans 33 – Upper Dublin Cardinals 7
Last Week:
Central Bucks South is still in search of its first win as the Titans were defeated by Souderton, 19-7. The lone score of the game for CB South came on a first half 56-yard rushing touchdown by Cade Crim.
Upper Dublin is still in search of its first win as the Flying Cardinals were defeated by Central Bucks West, 24-7. The lone score of the game for Upper Dublin came on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Lawson Tyler to Anthony Paone.
Prediction:
Central Bucks South Titans 31 – Upper Dublin Cardinals 14
Cheltenham Panthers (0-2) @ Neshaminy Redskins (2-0)
Last Year:
Neshaminy Redskins 21 – Cheltenham Panthers 14
Last Week:
Neshaminy continued its preseason dominance as the Skins routed Council Rock North, 41-0. Brock Williams scored 3 touchdowns for the winners with 2 rushing touchdown passes and on a 21-yard TD pass from Michael Eckart. Eckart completed 11 passes for 233 yards and also fired 2 touchdown passes to Nick Sassano. Carter Clee scored on a 5-yard run.
Cheltenham had a shot at gaining its first win of the season in a 17-14 non-conference loss to Central Bucks East. The Panthers tied the game late – fell behind by a field goal – and had a near completion of a ‘Hail Mary’ pass @ the end of the game.
Prediction:
Neshaminy Redskins 35 – Cheltenham Panthers 13
Harry S Truman Tigers (0-2) @ Pennridge Rams (2-0)
Last Year:
Pennridge Rams 19 – Harry S Truman 0
Last Week:
Pennridge remained unbeaten as the Rams won a wild 36-33 contest against Bensalem. Will Dougherty carried 23 times for 173 yards and scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the winners. Quarterback Noah Keating rushed for a touchdown and threw for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns. Sean Leuthe and Dougherty were on the receiving end of Keating’s touchdown passes.
Truman scored its only points in the second half in a 42-7 non-conference loss to Abington. The Tigers have now lost 11 straight games and have not won a game since August 22, 2024, when HST defeated Kensington, 42-0, in the season opener.
Prediction:
*Guest forecaster * Amelia V. Moyer
Pennridge Rams 40 – Truman Tigers 7
Bensalem Owls (1-1) @ Abington Ghosts (1-1)
Last Year:
Bensalem 28 – Abington Ghosts 20
Last Week:
Bensalem lost a 36-33 shootout to host Pennridge. Aidan Mayfield scored on runs of 40 and 19 yards. Brennan Farnsworth scored on a 40-yard run, while Thomas Bailey scored on a 20-yard run. Quarterback Myles Annan tossed a 37-yard scoring strike to Farnsworth.
Abington captured its first victory of the season as the Ghosts routed Harry S Truman, 42-7. Abington led 27-0 @ halftime. Sophomore quarterback Miles Yockus fired 4 touchdown passes to fuel the victory. Ayden Turner caught 3 of those scoring strikes, while Antonio Ford caught the other. The defensive highlight was a pick-6 by Camryn Powell.
Prediction:
Bensalem Owls 35 – Abington Ghosts 27
Council Rock North Indians (0-2) @ Central Bucks East Patriots (2-0)
Last Year:
Central Bucks East Patriots 38 – CR North Indians 13
Last Week:
Council Rock North lost its 7th straight game dating back into last season as the Indians were routed 41-0 by powerful Neshaminy.
Central Bucks East remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 17-14 non-conference victory over Cheltenham. Cole Wojnicki kicked what proved to be the game-winning field goal with 19 seconds left in the game. ‘2’s’ were wild for Patriot running back Mike Price as he scored 2 touchdowns and also scored on a 2-point conversion.
Prediction
Central Bucks East Patriots 45 – CR North Indians 14
Suburban One League
American Conference
Non-Conference Games
Archbishop Carroll Patriots (2-0) @ Wissahickon Trojans (2-0)
Last Year:
Wissahickon 56 – Archbishop Carroll 21
Last Week:
Archbishop Carroll remained unbeaten with a 54-8 rout of Delaware County Christian.
Wissahickon remained unbeaten as the Trojan offense exploded for 52 points in their 52-28 victory over Upper Merion. Quentin West found his way into the endzone 3 times – 2 times on TD passes from Evan Tolmie – and another a 16-yard scoring run. Dom Harvey-Sheppard scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the Trojans, while Quasir Sampson also scored 2 rushing touchdowns for the winners.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 35 – Archbishop Carroll 31
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials (0-2) @ Interboro Bucs (0-2)
Last Year:
Plymouth Whitemarsh 51 – Interboro 6
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh is still in search of their first victory of the season as the Colonials lost to Wilson West Lawn, 27-7.
Interboro suffered a 35-7 loss to West Chester Rustin.
Prediction:
Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 42 – Interboro Bucs 14
New Hope Solebury Lions (1-0) @ Springfield Spartans (1-0)
Last Year:
Springfield Spartans 54 – New Hope Solebury 0
Last Week:
New Hope Solebury captured its first win of the season with a 27-14 victory over Kensington.
Springfield opened its 2025 season with a 27-6 victory over visiting Overbrook. The paydirt finders for the Spartans were Logan White (punt return for TD, Langston Jenkins (16-yard TD run), Zymir Small (1-yard run), and a 15-yard TD pass from Nathan Torrealba to White.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 42 – New Hope Lions 14
William Tennent Panthers (0-2) @ Chichester Eagles (2-0)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
William Tennent remained winless as the Panthers were defeated by Methacton, 30-0. The struggling Panthers have been outscored 58-0 thus far this season.
Chichester remained unbeaten with a 36-16 victory over Audenried.
Prediction:
Chichester Eagles 28 – William Tennent Panthers 13
SATURDAY
Hatboro Horsham Hatters (0-2) vs. LC Crusaders (1-1) @ North Penn High School (1pm)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Hatboro Horsham remained winless as the Hatters were defeated by West Chester Henderson, 27-7.
Lansdale Catholic lost for the first time this season as the Crusaders were defeated by Father Judge, 30-27.
Prediction:
Lansdale Catholic Crusaders 38 – H-H Hatters 20
Upper Moreland Bears (1-1) @ Lower Moreland Lions (2-0)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
Upper Moreland lost for the first time this season as the Golden Bears fell to West Chester East, 27-7.
Lower Moreland remained unbeaten for the season with a 49-0 victory over Samuel Fels.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 28 - Lower Moreland Lions 14
-30-
- Log in to post comments
