11.Perkiomen Valley 10-2. Lost to Pennsbury 41-28 but what a year for them and the PAC-10. Gone are the days where the PAC was an automatic “W” for everyone. A peek at the demography of the area says this may be the tip of the iceberg. One of the bright lights in the program is junior quarterback Stephen Sturm who had a monster year, setting the PAC single season record throwing for 3088 yards and 31 touchdowns. Against Pennsbury, he completed 22 of 35 passes for 278 yards, showing he, his line and receivers can and did accomplish as much against quality comp, not just the also-rans so many assume when thinking PAC. His favorite receiver, Justin Jaworski also set a single season PAC record with 1195 yards in receptions, catching 7 for 146 yards against Pennsbury. Ronnie Arch had 9 carries for 72 yards. We’ll likely be seeing a lot of this year over the coming years.
12. Upper Darby 10-2. The Royals ran into a buzz saw called Upper Dublin who held star running back Isaiah Bruce to 114 rushing yards and the team to 218 as the Cardinals dominated, winning 45-14. The Royals entered the game averaging 33ppg, allowing 19 and winning their last eight games. Their forte this year was winning big games at home, beating Ridley 32-29, Conestoga 25-22 and Garnet Valley 41-34. But when they played teams that could match their athleticism and or size, they faltered, losing to State College (8-3) 28-0 who had both, and Upper Dublin who had more weapons, athletes and depth. Arch rival Haverford is next in a Thanksgiving Day game at Havertown that will decide the Central League title.
13. Liberty 8-4.Tailback Gunner Anglovich hammered Valley West for nearly 300 yards on the ground himself, scoring three touchdowns all to no avail in a 55-35 loss to Wyoming Valley West. For a team with a enough talent to beat Parkland, Bethlehem Catholic, Allentown Central Catholic, Stoudsburg and Emmaus, while jumping out to a 6-1 start, they could have unbelievable defensive lapses that in part defined their 2-3 finish where they allowed 193 points in four of their last five games. That’s a 48ppg average and that’s why they’re not still playing and have four losses.
14. Quakertown 9-3. Despite rushing for 183 yards and having the home field advantage, the Panthers lost in the quarterfinals to Neshaminy 31-17. They could never establish the balance they often found in the regular season with quarterback Tom Garlick pressed and bottled up, completing only 11 of 20 passes for a meager 122 yards. Four of his passes were momentum sapping interceptions with two leading to Redskin scores. Things have really gone south for them after a great start winning their first eight games before losing back to back home games and ultimately three of their last four. But they can turn that around Thursday in their annual Turkey Day game where they’ll tangle with red hot Pennridge who won their last four games.
15. Downingtown West 9-2. The Whippets garnered their most wins since 2009’s 10-2 team that beat Conestoga in the 1st round then lost in the 2nd to fellow Ches Mont-National member Avon Grove (11-2). Remember your Greek Mythology and Cerberus, the ferocious three headed dog who guarded the Gates of Hades? Me neither, but it’s probably one of the coolest Greek gods and stories. The Hound from Hell….Ha! Check him out. Anyway, the Red Devils had three running backs that tore through Chester county like few since, each with over 1000 yards rushing; Brendan McLaughlin with 1268 yards, Brandon Monk with 1154 and John Harris with 1018 yards. Avon Grove was the only team to beat them that year.
16. Coatesville 7-3. You know things are ok in a program where 7-3 is unacceptable and your worst record since the first year Coach Ortega took over in 2009 when the Red Raiders went 5-5. They’ll be back next year but you know they’ll sorely miss quarterback Jordan Young.
17. Pennridge 8-3. The Rams are gunning for their ninth win of the season Thanksgiving Day against their old rival Quakertown. Last year witnessed a strange ending when as the 13th seed they lost to 4th seeded Quakertown 14-10 in the opening round of the playoffs….and again two weeks later in the annual game, 8-7 after Quakertown lost to Downingtown East 21-0 in the playoffs. Bottom line, you know the Rams are looking forward to some pay back in this one and as luck would have it, they are well prepared for the occasion. Two weeks ago saw them travel to Ridley for a quickly put together game and win 17-14. Nice, tight game with some serious hitting going against Ridley’s D that played their hearts out. And then last week, they were off but likely helped added to the SRO crowd at Quakertown getting a good look at the Panthers vs Neshaminy so they’ll be ready. As things stand right now, an argument could be made that this Ram team is better than last year’s. They’re averaging more points per game, 26 to 28, and allowing less, dropping from 21 to 18ppg. If the Rams get their 9th win, it will only be the second time in eleven years they’ve won that many games.
18. Spring Ford 10-1. How well is Wilson’s former offensive coordinator Chad Brubaker doing at Spring Ford since taking over in 2010? How about 58-15 plus all those playoff appearances and wins against “name” teams, PAC titles and four double-digit win season since 2010. Coach has built a program that will likely be around as long as he is.
19. Freedom 9-2. Here’s another program moving in the right direction with back to back nine win seasons (9-3, 9-2) coming on the heels of a 4-6 season in 2012 and a 2-8 outing in 2013. This year saw the Patriots win their first football title (shared with Parkland) since the school’s inception in 1967.
20. Plymouth Whitemarsh 8-3. Oops! Maybe the SOL-American isn’t as down or weak as many have been saying seeing how Upper Dublin is advancing in AAAA along with Upper Moreland in the AAA semifinal and how this team put the fear of you know who in Downingtown East, taking them to the edge before losing 35-28 at Kottmeyer. A 40-13 won-loss the last five years isn’t bad either, in any conference. Pass some crow along with that turkey and congrats to the Colonials for proving a lot of us wrong.
12. Upper Darby 10-2. The Royals ran into a buzz saw called Upper Dublin who held star running back Isaiah Bruce to 114 rushing yards and the team to 218 as the Cardinals dominated, winning 45-14. The Royals entered the game averaging 33ppg, allowing 19 and winning their last eight games. Their forte this year was winning big games at home, beating Ridley 32-29, Conestoga 25-22 and Garnet Valley 41-34. But when they played teams that could match their athleticism and or size, they faltered, losing to State College (8-3) 28-0 who had both, and Upper Dublin who had more weapons, athletes and depth. Arch rival Haverford is next in a Thanksgiving Day game at Havertown that will decide the Central League title.
13. Liberty 8-4.Tailback Gunner Anglovich hammered Valley West for nearly 300 yards on the ground himself, scoring three touchdowns all to no avail in a 55-35 loss to Wyoming Valley West. For a team with a enough talent to beat Parkland, Bethlehem Catholic, Allentown Central Catholic, Stoudsburg and Emmaus, while jumping out to a 6-1 start, they could have unbelievable defensive lapses that in part defined their 2-3 finish where they allowed 193 points in four of their last five games. That’s a 48ppg average and that’s why they’re not still playing and have four losses.
14. Quakertown 9-3. Despite rushing for 183 yards and having the home field advantage, the Panthers lost in the quarterfinals to Neshaminy 31-17. They could never establish the balance they often found in the regular season with quarterback Tom Garlick pressed and bottled up, completing only 11 of 20 passes for a meager 122 yards. Four of his passes were momentum sapping interceptions with two leading to Redskin scores. Things have really gone south for them after a great start winning their first eight games before losing back to back home games and ultimately three of their last four. But they can turn that around Thursday in their annual Turkey Day game where they’ll tangle with red hot Pennridge who won their last four games.
15. Downingtown West 9-2. The Whippets garnered their most wins since 2009’s 10-2 team that beat Conestoga in the 1st round then lost in the 2nd to fellow Ches Mont-National member Avon Grove (11-2). Remember your Greek Mythology and Cerberus, the ferocious three headed dog who guarded the Gates of Hades? Me neither, but it’s probably one of the coolest Greek gods and stories. The Hound from Hell….Ha! Check him out. Anyway, the Red Devils had three running backs that tore through Chester county like few since, each with over 1000 yards rushing; Brendan McLaughlin with 1268 yards, Brandon Monk with 1154 and John Harris with 1018 yards. Avon Grove was the only team to beat them that year.
16. Coatesville 7-3. You know things are ok in a program where 7-3 is unacceptable and your worst record since the first year Coach Ortega took over in 2009 when the Red Raiders went 5-5. They’ll be back next year but you know they’ll sorely miss quarterback Jordan Young.
17. Pennridge 8-3. The Rams are gunning for their ninth win of the season Thanksgiving Day against their old rival Quakertown. Last year witnessed a strange ending when as the 13th seed they lost to 4th seeded Quakertown 14-10 in the opening round of the playoffs….and again two weeks later in the annual game, 8-7 after Quakertown lost to Downingtown East 21-0 in the playoffs. Bottom line, you know the Rams are looking forward to some pay back in this one and as luck would have it, they are well prepared for the occasion. Two weeks ago saw them travel to Ridley for a quickly put together game and win 17-14. Nice, tight game with some serious hitting going against Ridley’s D that played their hearts out. And then last week, they were off but likely helped added to the SRO crowd at Quakertown getting a good look at the Panthers vs Neshaminy so they’ll be ready. As things stand right now, an argument could be made that this Ram team is better than last year’s. They’re averaging more points per game, 26 to 28, and allowing less, dropping from 21 to 18ppg. If the Rams get their 9th win, it will only be the second time in eleven years they’ve won that many games.
18. Spring Ford 10-1. How well is Wilson’s former offensive coordinator Chad Brubaker doing at Spring Ford since taking over in 2010? How about 58-15 plus all those playoff appearances and wins against “name” teams, PAC titles and four double-digit win season since 2010. Coach has built a program that will likely be around as long as he is.
19. Freedom 9-2. Here’s another program moving in the right direction with back to back nine win seasons (9-3, 9-2) coming on the heels of a 4-6 season in 2012 and a 2-8 outing in 2013. This year saw the Patriots win their first football title (shared with Parkland) since the school’s inception in 1967.
20. Plymouth Whitemarsh 8-3. Oops! Maybe the SOL-American isn’t as down or weak as many have been saying seeing how Upper Dublin is advancing in AAAA along with Upper Moreland in the AAA semifinal and how this team put the fear of you know who in Downingtown East, taking them to the edge before losing 35-28 at Kottmeyer. A 40-13 won-loss the last five years isn’t bad either, in any conference. Pass some crow along with that turkey and congrats to the Colonials for proving a lot of us wrong.