2014
istrict 1, Suburban One-National
League-Conference mini review-preview
Pennridge 7-5; Like a number of teams, Pennridge had two distinct seasons last year. The first saw them get out the gate with a 5-1 record, losing to North Penn 47-22 then beating sub-par but still dangerous Neshaminy 21-14 and Abington 35-22. They allowed a lot of points but a W is a W and it was a strong start. The other 3 wins came against Hatboro, Central Bucks East and Central Bucks West by a combined score of 105 to 47. All totaled, the Rams allowed 130 points, or 26ppg!....yet got to 5-1. They finished the regular season going 2-2, losing to Central Bucks South 28-21 before edging Souderton 28-20. Talk about a bad draw….getting rival Quakertown in the postseason’s first round where they lost 14-10. The Panthers also took the traditional Thanksgiving Day game 8-7. All in all, the offense was there, at least enough of it was at 26ppg, especially with a back like Joe Unangst (2092ry) who allowed them to just ram it down opponents throats. Let’s hear it for what has to be called an unheralded line. Good job by the trenchmen! The D was their nemesis, allowing 21ppg, their highest yield since 2008’s 6-6 team that allowed 27ppg. I guess the big question is who will be the next featured back with the graduation of Joe Unangst? Before him came the great years of Mike Class, cranking out 1512, 2416 and 1779 yards rushing from his sophomore year in 2011 through his senior year, becoming their all-time leading rusher. Before that was Jesse Knepp with two unspectacular but solid years. So the Rams have had a nice run of backs coming through the school especially the last four years. One thing for sure, big Joe Hirsch (6-2, 240, sr) will be there to open things up behind at least three senior starters from last year’s line; center Luke Basquill (6-0, 215), guard Mark Funk (6-1, 255) and tight end Kurt Weist (6-1, 230). Devon Balmer (5-11, 190, sr) returns under center, having completed 36 of 65 passes for 388 yards with a decent 7/2 Td-Pick ratio. Many experienced backs return to run behind what should be another typical Ram line. The D looks strong at LB and in the secondary with a few holes to fill up front.
Central Bucks South 7-4; Central Bucks South and Pennridge shared a similar beginning last year with both starting the season hot with great running backs. Pennridge had Joe Unangst while the Titans had Josh Adams (1688ry, Norte Dame). Like the Rams, South had no trouble scoring points, averaging 36ppg during the 7-1 start. Also like the Rams, they shared the tendency to allow a lot of points, with an average yield of 22 through the first 8 games including 47 to Coatesville, 36 to Neshaminy and 27 to North Penn. Nothing easy playing in last year’s reconfigured National Conference! Trying Coatesville on for size in a non-conference affair didn’t work out well either losing 47-34 but mega kudos to the Titans for taking them on. Got some nicks and dents along the road defeating North Penn, Neshaminy, Abington and Pennridge on consecutive weekends that may have taken their toll the following week, losing to Pennsbury 55-7. That’s where it all unraveled, after the 7-1 start. Thereon they lost to Pennsbury, Souderton 14-10 (?) and had nothing verses Garnet Valley (saw that one), losing 35-14 in the first round. At 29ppg, the O rarely let them down and is typically a Titan hallmark. From 2010 through last year, they averaged 30, 41, 37, 24 and 29ppg. Having a back like Josh Adams (1618ry-Notre Dame) fueled the offense enough to open things up for quarterback Kevin Witchey to have a stellar year, throwing for 1586 yards while completing 60% of his passes. The problem in Warrington has historically been defense. Since the inception of the school in 2004, they have allowed under 20ppg (year ending average) once. Since the great 2007 team that went 11-1 featuring running back Eric Reynolds’s 2842 rush yard (lost to DT West 45-38, 1st rd.), they’ve allowed 25, 27, 34, 26, 16, 30 and 26ppg. As William said, “there’s the rub”. With so many back on defense, maybe this is the year they get it together with their top two tacklers returning in linebackers Nate Norris (6-1, 220, sr, 82 stops) and Luke Kohler (5-10, 195, sr, 81stops) along with five other starters for a total of 339 stops.
Bensalem 0-11; The Owls suffered their tenth consecutive losing season with last year’s winless outing that saw them fall off the charts in terms of production. Looking at points scored and points allowed alone, they averaged a historical low, scoring 7ppg, or 79 total points, with a defense to match that allowed an eye popping 46ppg or 501 points! How bad are things you ask? Archbishop Wood went 14-1 last year while the Owls took 6 years to get that many wins, going 14-48 from 2009 through last year. Getting back to the positive, very few graduated from last year’s team that was extremely young with at least 4 sophomores and 3 freshman getting time. They’ll at least have experience on their side coming into the season with senior QB Kenny O’Donnell back. He split time with graduated Devonte Porter last year. And the non-conference slate is not as daunting with Wissahickon, Central Bucks East and Penn Wood replacing Truman, Council Rock South and Ryan. They shouldn’t go winless this year.
Souderton 4-6; The Indians (can I say that?) showed some improvement last year winning two more games than the year before and improving the D by 5ppg, allowing 26 a game. The offense stayed at the previous year’s level scoring 17. Still, it was their second straight losing season following a run of four winning seasons and eight over the last nine years. So, they’re in something of a funk. A weird home loss to Central Bucks West (2-8, 2 forfeits) 34-19 in the second game of the year following the season opening 21-14 road win at Plymouth Whitemarsh prevented a 5-5 season. It’s high school football and all but beating the Colonials and losing to the Bucks doesn’t go on the same resume. If they can find some size along the lines and there is some big stuff coming up, they should show marked improvement with the return of significant numbers from last season. Despite some blow-outs there was no give up with this group, losing a tough one in their next to last game of the season at Pennridge 28-20, then beating Central Bucks South in the final, 14-10. Probably sounds too optimistic but with last year’s strong junior class and a good sophomore class moving up, Souderton could surprise, especially seeing how strong they finished against the Pennridge and Central Bucks South.
istrict 1, Suburban One-NationalLeague-Conference mini review-preview
Pennridge 7-5; Like a number of teams, Pennridge had two distinct seasons last year. The first saw them get out the gate with a 5-1 record, losing to North Penn 47-22 then beating sub-par but still dangerous Neshaminy 21-14 and Abington 35-22. They allowed a lot of points but a W is a W and it was a strong start. The other 3 wins came against Hatboro, Central Bucks East and Central Bucks West by a combined score of 105 to 47. All totaled, the Rams allowed 130 points, or 26ppg!....yet got to 5-1. They finished the regular season going 2-2, losing to Central Bucks South 28-21 before edging Souderton 28-20. Talk about a bad draw….getting rival Quakertown in the postseason’s first round where they lost 14-10. The Panthers also took the traditional Thanksgiving Day game 8-7. All in all, the offense was there, at least enough of it was at 26ppg, especially with a back like Joe Unangst (2092ry) who allowed them to just ram it down opponents throats. Let’s hear it for what has to be called an unheralded line. Good job by the trenchmen! The D was their nemesis, allowing 21ppg, their highest yield since 2008’s 6-6 team that allowed 27ppg. I guess the big question is who will be the next featured back with the graduation of Joe Unangst? Before him came the great years of Mike Class, cranking out 1512, 2416 and 1779 yards rushing from his sophomore year in 2011 through his senior year, becoming their all-time leading rusher. Before that was Jesse Knepp with two unspectacular but solid years. So the Rams have had a nice run of backs coming through the school especially the last four years. One thing for sure, big Joe Hirsch (6-2, 240, sr) will be there to open things up behind at least three senior starters from last year’s line; center Luke Basquill (6-0, 215), guard Mark Funk (6-1, 255) and tight end Kurt Weist (6-1, 230). Devon Balmer (5-11, 190, sr) returns under center, having completed 36 of 65 passes for 388 yards with a decent 7/2 Td-Pick ratio. Many experienced backs return to run behind what should be another typical Ram line. The D looks strong at LB and in the secondary with a few holes to fill up front.
Central Bucks South 7-4; Central Bucks South and Pennridge shared a similar beginning last year with both starting the season hot with great running backs. Pennridge had Joe Unangst while the Titans had Josh Adams (1688ry, Norte Dame). Like the Rams, South had no trouble scoring points, averaging 36ppg during the 7-1 start. Also like the Rams, they shared the tendency to allow a lot of points, with an average yield of 22 through the first 8 games including 47 to Coatesville, 36 to Neshaminy and 27 to North Penn. Nothing easy playing in last year’s reconfigured National Conference! Trying Coatesville on for size in a non-conference affair didn’t work out well either losing 47-34 but mega kudos to the Titans for taking them on. Got some nicks and dents along the road defeating North Penn, Neshaminy, Abington and Pennridge on consecutive weekends that may have taken their toll the following week, losing to Pennsbury 55-7. That’s where it all unraveled, after the 7-1 start. Thereon they lost to Pennsbury, Souderton 14-10 (?) and had nothing verses Garnet Valley (saw that one), losing 35-14 in the first round. At 29ppg, the O rarely let them down and is typically a Titan hallmark. From 2010 through last year, they averaged 30, 41, 37, 24 and 29ppg. Having a back like Josh Adams (1618ry-Notre Dame) fueled the offense enough to open things up for quarterback Kevin Witchey to have a stellar year, throwing for 1586 yards while completing 60% of his passes. The problem in Warrington has historically been defense. Since the inception of the school in 2004, they have allowed under 20ppg (year ending average) once. Since the great 2007 team that went 11-1 featuring running back Eric Reynolds’s 2842 rush yard (lost to DT West 45-38, 1st rd.), they’ve allowed 25, 27, 34, 26, 16, 30 and 26ppg. As William said, “there’s the rub”. With so many back on defense, maybe this is the year they get it together with their top two tacklers returning in linebackers Nate Norris (6-1, 220, sr, 82 stops) and Luke Kohler (5-10, 195, sr, 81stops) along with five other starters for a total of 339 stops.
Bensalem 0-11; The Owls suffered their tenth consecutive losing season with last year’s winless outing that saw them fall off the charts in terms of production. Looking at points scored and points allowed alone, they averaged a historical low, scoring 7ppg, or 79 total points, with a defense to match that allowed an eye popping 46ppg or 501 points! How bad are things you ask? Archbishop Wood went 14-1 last year while the Owls took 6 years to get that many wins, going 14-48 from 2009 through last year. Getting back to the positive, very few graduated from last year’s team that was extremely young with at least 4 sophomores and 3 freshman getting time. They’ll at least have experience on their side coming into the season with senior QB Kenny O’Donnell back. He split time with graduated Devonte Porter last year. And the non-conference slate is not as daunting with Wissahickon, Central Bucks East and Penn Wood replacing Truman, Council Rock South and Ryan. They shouldn’t go winless this year.
Souderton 4-6; The Indians (can I say that?) showed some improvement last year winning two more games than the year before and improving the D by 5ppg, allowing 26 a game. The offense stayed at the previous year’s level scoring 17. Still, it was their second straight losing season following a run of four winning seasons and eight over the last nine years. So, they’re in something of a funk. A weird home loss to Central Bucks West (2-8, 2 forfeits) 34-19 in the second game of the year following the season opening 21-14 road win at Plymouth Whitemarsh prevented a 5-5 season. It’s high school football and all but beating the Colonials and losing to the Bucks doesn’t go on the same resume. If they can find some size along the lines and there is some big stuff coming up, they should show marked improvement with the return of significant numbers from last season. Despite some blow-outs there was no give up with this group, losing a tough one in their next to last game of the season at Pennridge 28-20, then beating Central Bucks South in the final, 14-10. Probably sounds too optimistic but with last year’s strong junior class and a good sophomore class moving up, Souderton could surprise, especially seeing how strong they finished against the Pennridge and Central Bucks South.
