Central Bucks West 19 - Pennridge 17

[bucksftball]

This was a bit of a throw back game with two wing-t teams pounding at each other for four quarters on a cold night at War Memorial. West controlled much of the clock and hit two big field goals, their first two of the year. It was tough sledding all night but Boehm / Mancini / Cherubini and Cooper all ran very hard against a terrific Rams defense. West ended up with 108 more yards of total offense, with 19 first downs to PR's 7. West defensively brought a lot of pressure, which the Rams exploited with a couple of quick hitting big runs. Kudos to both teams for a hard fought game. Lots of sore bodies today in Bucks County.

Notes:

1. As the clock wound down and the Bucks were kneeing it out, there were lots of handshakes and hugs between the players on the field. That was great to see. Tons of mutual respect after two games were decided by a total of 6 points. Both games could have gone either way.
2. In the SOL National, North Penn is obviously the class of the league, but the Bucks and the Rams are the two teams who will line up and for 48 minutes and punch and punch... then hug it out afterwards. Pennridge's 4 losses are to DTE by 7, North Penn by 7, and two to West by 4 and 2. Four losses by a total of 20 points. They posted four shutouts, gave up only 7 twice, were right on the cusp all year and their kids play very very hard nosed football. They're elite defensively. They should be, and I'm sure are, very proud of that group.
3. Eli Boehm and the rest of the Buck's backfield, along with their o-line, get so much done, pound for pound, probably more than anyone else in the league. That backfield goes maybe 175, 180, 170 and 160... but keep their feet moving and fight for every yard. They just eventually wear you out.
4. On the final 3rd and 1, when everyone knew it was going to be QB sneak and West needed to convert or risk giving the ball back to Pennridge, the right side of the West line got a tremendous surge and they picked up 3 to put it away.
5. Cooper hit McFadden on a couple of big throws again, one on a third and long fade for a huge first down, and a 7 yard TD on a slant into a very small throwing window.
6. West's 4th quarter TD drive was a classic, 12 plays, 11 runs, one incomplete pass for 75 yards. After pounding away at the stout Ram's D all game they finally were able to exert their will and that drive won them the game.

Bottom line... two fantastic games this year between two very good teams.

 

[705 Hood]

Thanks for the recap. Can CBW give GV a game next week?

 

[bucksftball]

Thanks for the recap. Can CBW give GV a game next week?

I honestly have no idea. Garnet Valley's offense is unique and so West has one week to prepare for something they never see... GV plays Strath Haven who runs the wing-t so can probably carry over much of that game plan. West will need to control a lot of the clock again and try to limit GV's possessions, plus probably need a break or two.

I like West to show up loose with nothing to lose, they've already far exceeded expectations, playing with house money now.

 

[Stalker]

I honestly have no idea. Garnet Valley's offense is unique and so West has one week to prepare for something they never see... GV plays Strath Haven who runs the wing-t so can probably carry over much of that game plan. West will need to control a lot of the clock again and try to limit GV's possessions, plus probably need a break or two.

I like West to show up loose with nothing to lose, they've already far exceeded expectations, playing with house money now.

Don't often talk Xs and Os but as a former D guy, you've got to make it ugly on the quarterback, especially the option. Not sure how much your staff can put in in a week (not a coach) but defending the option whatever type it is is defending the option!, 2 back sets, inside veer, spread whatever. I don't think it's changed from A/B gap guys on the dive, C = QB, Force guy (ss?) on pitch. If possible, the staff will likely show Qb different looks, change his reads and tempo. What base D do you guys run? Great improvements there this year!
Having said that, they're no longer a run only team....!!!!....,morphing into a passing teams the last 2 years; an extremely good one this year. They have a ton of seniors who evidently spent much of the covid off season in weight training. Veterans and depth everywhere and good, not great team speed, and they're a bear at home. The Qb is an athlete. I was going to do SE PA write ups this year then switched to D3 for some buds. Doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about but have done some D1 research to know G-Val is the real deal.
You're right, you've got to slow it down. Even explosive 1-loss teams like Ridley couldn't keep up at home, losing 65-37.

 

[bucksftball]

Don't often talk Xs and Os but as a former D guy, you've got to make it ugly on the quarterback, especially the option. Not sure how much your staff can put in in a week (not a coach) but defending the option whatever type it is is defending the option!, 2 back sets, inside veer, spread whatever. I don't think it's changed from A/B gap guys on the dive, C = QB, Force guy (ss?) on pitch. If possible, the staff will likely show Qb different looks, change his reads and tempo. What base D do you guys run? Great improvements there this year!
Having said that, they're no longer a run only team....!!!!....,morphing into a passing teams the last 2 years; an extremely good one this year. They have a ton of seniors who evidently spent much of the covid off season in weight training. Veterans and depth everywhere and good, not great team speed, and they're a bear at home. The Qb is an athlete. I was going to do SE PA write ups this year then switched to D3 for some buds. Doesn't mean I know what I'm talking about but have done some D1 research to know G-Val is the real deal.
You're right, you've got to slow it down. Even explosive 1-loss teams like Ridley couldn't keep up at home, losing 65-37.

West is a base 4-2-5, which against a run heavy team morphs into basically a 4-4 when the safeties roll down. They have played two option teams this year so far, back to back weeks, so some or many of those concepts will most likely carry over. It'll be a matter of adjusting to their nuance AND the fact that those two other teams couldn't really throw the ball. I've watch some GV on their Youtube channel and they do what they do very well. And you're right, option football is stop dive first, then play assignment football on the outside.

West needs to put together some 12 play drives (from what I watched online, West is much better offensively than Strath Haven) and battle them for every yard on D. West's wideout has been giving everyone trouble on the outside, so it will be interesting to see how GV adjusts to him. There hasn't been a player during the last month or so that could run with him.

 

[Stalker]

West is a base 4-2-5, which against a run heavy team morphs into basically a 4-4 when the safeties roll down. They have played two option teams this year so far, back to back weeks, so some or many of those concepts will most likely carry over. It'll be a matter of adjusting to their nuance AND the fact that those two other teams couldn't really throw the ball. I've watch some GV on their Youtube channel and they do what they do very well. And you're right, option football is stop dive first, then play assignment football on the outside.

West needs to put together some 12 play drives (from what I watched online, West is much better offensively than Strath Haven) and battle them for every yard on D. West's wideout has been giving everyone trouble on the outside, so it will be interesting to see how GV adjusts to him. There hasn't been a player during the last month or so that could run with him.

4-2-5 perfect. I imagine CBW is disciplined, certainly battle tested (Coats, Pridge, NPenn) with their record. You probably have decent team speed with yours. G-Val while not Coatesville, York, Harrisburg, etc is not led footed. You can't blow up teams the way they have and be slow unless you say the quality of opponents is poor. Ridley isn't "slow!"
The problem for CBW is G-Val is fundamentally sound, well coached, senior laden as in a heavy, heavy senior class, ie accustomed to playoff pressure and don't shoot themselves in the foot. So on top of everything else CB will likely have to play a perfect game and as you said, get a few breaks. Can't turnover and special teams is usually at least good with them with underappreciated speed there. G-Val is like a machine in their patience and discipline.

 

[wilson8500]

How big is GV?

 

[bucksftball]

How big is GV?

They have good size but nothing you don't see in the SOL most weeks.

 

[wilson8500]

They have good size but nothing you don't see in the SOL most weeks.

GO BUCKS!