(Cover photos courtesy Richard Owens, CR South photo courtesy of Darryl Rule, CB South courtesy of Shannon O'Sullivan, Springfield Twp courtesy of Michael Rice Photoraphy & Pennridge courtesy of Laura Rowe)
Football Forecast - Volume – 3
By Scott Huff
The Suburban One League Continental Conference was realigned in 2020 and since then there have been three schools that have won the conference championship.
Souderton, Quakertown, and Upper Dublin have dominated the conference – in fact - the Indians, Panthers, and Flying Cardinals shared the title in 2024 with 6-1 records.
In the five years of its current alignment - Souderton has won or shared 3 Continental Conference titles (2024, 2023, & 2020) – Upper Dublin has shared or won 2 Continental Conference championships (2024 & 2022) – and Quakertown has shared or won 2 Continental Conference titles. (2024 & 2021).
Souderton has a SOL Continental Conference record of 27-4 (87%) over that 5-year span – Upper Dublin has a mark of 25-5 (83%) - & Quakertown has a record of 24-6 (80%).
I wouldn’t bet the house on that total domination to continue in 2025 as another trio of teams from the SOL Continental Conference appear ready to challenge for a conference championship.
Council Rock South (2-1) pushed powerful and unbeaten North Penn (3-0) to the limit a couple of weeks ago in a 21-14 loss.
Bensalem (2-1) pushed unbeaten Pennridge (3-0) to the limit a couple of weeks ago in a 36-33 loss.
Cheltenham (1-2) stunned Neshaminy (2-1) last week 38-29 and pushed unbeaten Central Bucks East (3-0) to the limit a couple of weeks ago in a 17-14 loss.
Now going into Continental Conference play, Souderton is 2-1 overall but was shut out by CB West last week 13-0 – Quakertown is 1-2 and was routed by North Penn 42-7 last week – and Upper Dublin is 0-3 and was shut out by CB South last week, 21-0.
It could be a ‘new look’ SOL Continental Conference race for the championship this year – and it might have been a little overdue.
Stay tuned.
Can CB East be the Beast in 2025?
Central Bucks East has been the Central Bucks School District football step child the last 2 seasons in the SOL National Conference.
In the 2024 season, Central Bucks South was a terrific 12-1 overall and captured the SOL National Conference championship – and a District One playoff invitation - with a perfect conference record of 7-0.
The Titans in the district playoffs advanced to the semifinals before losing to North Penn, 21-19. CB South defeated Spring-Ford (48-7) and Plymouth Whitemarsh (35-0) before the loss to the Knights.
In the 2024 season, Central Bucks West was a terrific 10-3 overall and finished second in the conference - with a District One playoff invitation - and a 6-1 conference record.
The Bucks also advanced to the D-1 semifinals before losing to Downingtown West, 28-23. CB West defeated Pennsbury (17-10) and Downingtown East (35-21) before the loss to the Whippets.
In the 2024 season, Central Bucks East finished with an overall record of 4-6 – no playoff invite – and finished with a 2-5 conference mark.
In the 2023 season, it was Central Bucks West that was a perfect 7-0 in the conference – advanced to the playoffs – and was 12-1 overall.
The Bucks advanced to the D-1 semi-finals before a loss to CB South (42-14). CB West defeated both Cheltenham (27-12) & Garnet Valley (28-27) before the loss to the Titans.
In the 2023 season Central Bucks South finished 6-1 in the conference – advanced to the playoffs – and was 13-2 overall.
The Titans captured the 2023 D-1 championship. CB South defeated Coatesville (21-20), Spring-Ford (35-19), CB West (41-14) and went on to defeat Downingtown West (27-7) in the title game.
In the 2023 season, Central Bucks East finished 2-5 in the conference – no playoff invitation – and finished the season 4-6.
The 2024 and 2023 seasons are in the scholastic football history books, and now CB East is hoping to write some championship history of its own in 2025.
The Patriots are a perfect 3-0 this season with victories over Ridley (20-14), Cheltenham (17-14) and Council Rock North (50-7).
CB East is currently ranked 3rd in the District One rankings behind unbeaten North Penn and Pennridge.
CB West (2-1) is currently ranked 9th in District One, while CB South (1-2) is currently ranked 23rd in District One.
CB East has a huge conference showdown game this week as the Patriots travel to meet rival CB South.
Stay tuned.
Those were the days my friend…we thought they’d never end…
The Neshaminy & Pennsbury football programs have been known for their excellence in days gone by, but both the Redskins & the Falcons have lost some of that luster in recent times.
Neshaminy has captured 12 SOL National Conference championships since 1982 – to go along with 19 Lower Bucks County titles.
Pennsbury – under current head coach Galen Snyder – has captured SOL National championships in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2022.
Neshaminy, however, has had only one winning season in the SOL National Conference the last 5 seasons. The Redskins had losing conference records in 2024 (3-4), 2023 (3-4), 2022 (2-5), and 2021 (1-6). Neshaminy had its only conference winning record in 2020 going 4-1.
Pennsbury also had only one winning conference season in the last 5 seasons. The Falcons had losing conference records in 2024 (3-4), 2023 (3-4), 2021 (0-7), & 2020 (0-5). Ironically, Pennsbury was a perfect 7-0 in 2022 and won the SOL National Conference championship.
An eye-catching score from last week was Neshaminy’s surprising 38-29 loss to Cheltenham in a cross-over game with the SOL Continental Conference. It was the first victory of the season for the Panthers.
Pennsbury remained winless in the 2025 season in a 20-6 loss to Council Rock South. In the 6A classification there are 30 teams ranked in District One – and the Falcons are currently ranked 30th.
And this week both Neshaminy and Pennsbury open the 2025 SOL National Conference schedule against unbeaten opponents.
The Redskins will host the No. 1 ranked team in D-1 - the North Penn Knights, while the Falcons will host the No. 2 ranked team in D-1 - the Pennridge Rams.
Stay tuned.
And the beat goes on…
Suburban One League
Continental Conference
Friday * 7pm
Cheltenham Panthers (1-2) @ Council Rock South Hawks (2-1)
Last Year:
Council Rock South Hawks 29 * Cheltenham Panthers 20
Last Week:
Cheltenham captured its first win of the season with a shocking 38-29 victory over Neshaminy. James Smith stole the spotlight for the Panthers as he scored on offense, defense, and on special teams. Kendall Jackson fired 2 touchdown passes to Ahsaiah Upchurch, while Andrew St. John kicked 2 field goals for the winners.
Council Rock South captured an impressive win of its own with a 20-6 victory over Pennsbury. Shane Myers scored 2 touchdowns for the Golden Hawks – on a 32-yard run – and the other on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Marley Emerson. Chris Guinter scored on a 4-yard run for the winners.
Prediction:
Council Rock South Hawks 28 * Cheltenham Panthers 24
Quakertown Panthers (1-2) @ Bensalem Owls (2-1)
Last Year:
Quakertown Panthers 49 * Bensalem Owls 21
Last Week:
Quakertown suffered a painful 42-7 loss to North Penn. The only touchdown for the Panthers came on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Brady Martin to Jackson Connelly.
Bensalem won its second preseason game as the Owls soared to a 24-11 victory over Abington. Myles Annan fired a touchdown pass to Shane Varallo and scored on a 40-yard touchdown run. Adien Mayfield also found paydirt on a touchdown run.
Prediction:
Bensalem Owls 28 * Quakertown Panthers 24
Souderton Indians (2-1) @ Truman Tigers (0-3)
Last Year:
Souderton Indians 38 * Truman Tigers 0
Last Week:
Souderton fell from the ranks of the undefeated as the Indians were surprisingly shut out by Central Bucks West, 13-0.
Truman remained winless as the Tigers were routed by Pennridge, 41-12. It was the 12th straight loss for HST. The Tigers have been outscored 124-26 so far, this season.
Prediction:
Souderton Indians 49 * Harry S Truman Tigers 7
CR North Indians (0-3) @ Upper Dublin Cardinals (0-3)
Last Year:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 42 * CR North Indians 7
Last Week:
Council Rock North remained winless as the Indians were routed by Central Bucks East, 50-7. It was the 8th straight loss for CR North. The Indians have been outscored 112-13 so far this season.
Upper Dublin remained winless as the Flying Cardinals were shut out by Central Bucks South, 21-0. Upper Dublin managed only 97 yards of total offense in the loss. The good news was that UDHS trailed by just 6-0 at the half.
Prediction:
Upper Dublin Cardinals 35 * Council Rock North 13
SOL National Conference
Friday * 7 pm
CB East Patriots (3-0) @ CB South Titans (1-2)
Last Year:
Central Bucks South 34 * Central Bucks East 15
Last Week:
Central Bucks East remained unbeaten with a 50-7 rout of Council Rock North. Mike Price scored 2 rushing touchdowns to fuel the offense. Reuben Bell, Alex White, Asher Green, & Isaiah Bell also scored rushing touchdowns. Mike Bova fired a TD pass to Gavin Kraus.
Central Bucks South captured its first victory of the season as the Titans defeated Upper Dublin, 21-0. CB South recorded 6 sacks and had 2 explosive offensive touchdowns. Gavin Graham scored on an 86-yard run, while James Schaffer scored on a 76-yard pass from Cade Crim. Colin White added a touchdown run for the winners.
Prediction:
CB East Patriots 27 * CB South Titans 24
North Penn Knights (3-0) @ Neshaminy Redskins (2-1)
Last Year:
North Penn Knights 37 * Neshaminy 7
Last Week:
North Penn remained unbeaten with a resounding 42-7 victory over Quakertown. Cam Mainor fueled the offense with 2 touchdown runs. Rylei Gray, Ziyon Smith, and Matt Pownall each scored rushing touchdowns. Pownall also scored on a touchdown reception from quarterback Matt Bucksar.
Neshaminy was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten as the Skins were defeated by Cheltenham, 39-28. Michael Eckart tossed a pair of touchdown passes to Michael Sassano, while Eckart and Carter Clee scored rushing touchdowns for Neshaminy.
Prediction:
North Penn Knights 38 * Neshaminy 20
Pennridge Rams (3-0) @ Pennsbury Falcons (0-3)
Last Year:
Pennridge Rams 18 * Pennsbury Falcons 13
Last Week:
Pennridge remained unbeaten with a 41-12 rout of Harry S Truman. Quarterback Noah Keating threw 2 touchdown passes and rushed for 2 touchdowns. Both touchdown passes were caught by Jackson Gregoire. Ryan Rowe and Brody Blomgren added rushing touchdowns for the Rams.
Pennsbury remained winless as the Falcons were defeated by Council Rock South, 20-6. Pennsbury trailed 20-0 and averted a shutout with a fourth quarter touchdown.
Prediction:
Guest Forecaster: Amelia V. Moyer
Pennridge Rams 30 * Pennsbury Falcons 16
Abington Ghosts (1-2) @ Central Bucks West (2-1)
Last Year:
Central Bucks West Bucks 38 * Abington Ghosts 6
Last Week:
Abington trailed by just 14-3 at halftime but could not rally back in the second half and lost to Bensalem, 24-11.
Central Bucks West recorded double digit sacks and shut out host Souderton, 13-0. Louie Cipollo scored the lone touchdown of the game on a 28-yard run. Mason Darrow kicked 2 field goals in the 4th quarter.
Prediction:
Central Bucks West Bucks 31 * Abington Ghosts 13
SOL American Conference
Non-Conference Games
Wissahickon Trojans (3-0) @ Sun Valley Vanguards (0-3)
Last Year:
Wissahickon Trojans 42 * Sun Valley Vanguards 14
Last Week:
Wissahickon captured a non-conference victory over Archbishop Carroll, 38-14. Dom Harvey-Sheppard sparked the offense with 3 touchdown runs. Quarterback Evan Tolmie threw 2 touchdown passes to Quentin West, while Ben Hinchcliffe kicked a 25-yard field goal.
Sun Valley remained winless as the Vanguards were routed by Upper Perkiomen, 41-13.
Prediction:
Wissahickon Trojans 49 * Sun Valley Vanguards 13
Interboro Bucs (0-3) @ Upper Moreland Bears (2-1)
Last Year:
Upper Moreland Bears 41 * Interboro Bucs 14
Last Week:
Interboro remained winless as the Bucs lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh, 26-23.
Upper Moreland routed Lower Moreland in a non-conference game, 47-0. The defense was sparked by Travis Quirk with 2 interceptions, while Brody Hughes also had an interception for the Bears.
Prediction:
Upper Moreland Golden Bears 28 * Interboro Bucs 17
West Philadelphia HS (0-2) @ Hatboro Horsham (0-3)
Last Year:
Did Not Play
Last Week:
West Philadelphia remained winless as the Speedboys lost to Sussex Central, 40-6.
Hatboro Horsham lost a heartbreaker to Lansdale Catholic, 21-17. The Hatters led 17-14 with one minute left in the game but failed to secure the victory.
Prediction:
Hatboro Horsham Hatters 28 * West Philly 13
Lower Moreland Lions (2-1) @ Springfield Spartans (2-0)
Last Year;
Springfield Spartans 35 * Lower Moreland Lions 0
Last Week:
Lower Moreland was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten as the Lions were routed by Upper Moreland, 47-0.
Springfield remained unbeaten with a 54-8 rout of New Hope-Solebury. Zymir Small stole the spotlight as he raced for 244 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. The Spartans led 54-0 at the half.
Prediction:
Springfield Spartans 38 * Lower Moreland Lions 13
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-2) @ Manheim Township (2-1)
Last Year:
Manheim Township Blue Streaks 20 * PW Colonials 18
Last Week:
Plymouth Whitemarsh rallied form a 23-14 halftime deficit to defeat Interboro, 26-23.
Manheim Township defeated William Penn HS, 43-34.
Prediction:
Manheim Township Blue Streaks 34 * PW Colonials 21
William Tennent Panthers (0-3) @ Haverford Fords (1-2)
Last Year:
Haverford Fords 49 * William Tennent Panthers 6
Last Week:
William Tennent remained winless as the Panthers lost to Chichester, 48-14. William Tennent has been outscored 106-14 so far this season.
Haverford lost to Penncrest, 20-13 in non-conference game.
Prediction:
Haverford Fords 35 * William Tennent Panthers 14
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