8 Spring Ford 9-3: Graduation hit this team real hard, almost wiping out the defense but returning three key cogs in D1 talented quarterback TJ Pergine (6-1, 195, sr) who threw for 2285 yards in his first year under center. His completion percent was 59 with a 27/8 Td to Pick ratio, Never underestimate Head Coach Chad Brubaker’s ability to develop quarterbacks as evidenced by his years at Wilson (West Lawn) where he developed Chad Henne, Kerry Collins and others. Year two should see marked improvement. The other key cogs are OL/DL Noah Silva (6-2, 275, sr) and Center Matthew Lapore (6-2, 270, sr). A D1 left tackle and returning center will put a smile on any quarterback’s face. The offense is going to be fine. Been fine at 41, 41 and 43ppg the last 3 years with a D allowing 16, 11 and 13ppg last year. A home opener to Unionville plus a road game at Chester could get things off to a positive start before playing Wilson at home. The Bulldogs are absolutely loaded again this year but took 2 overtimes beating the Rams last year in West Lawn. Plus, they come in off their monster rivalry game with fellow Reading area foe Governor Mifflin from Shillington. Maybe the Rams catch them a little beat up as the Bulldogs and Mustangs typically go it against each other with no holds barred.
9 Neshaminy 11-1; The SOL-National champ Redskins had notable graduation losses with quality lineman on both sides including quarterback Mason Jones and running back Will Dogba. But you have to like any team returning 3 linebackers, almost the entire receiver corps/secondary and 2 linemen. The fact they’re going with a sophomore quarterback in Brody McAndrew (6-1,190) to replace Jones speaks volumes about the staff’s confidence in the 10th grader. Add to that a stable coaching staff and Neshaminy’s long history of success to see they are well positioned for the coming season. They are a D1 staple with a 98-30 record the last 10 years and a 46-17 slate the last 5. Last year’s team blew through the regular season schedule winning their first 10 before running into a red hot buzz saw from Garnet Valley who shocked them 42-14 in the 2nd round. At a glance, the schedule looks favorable with 3 home games to open the season until a closer look reveals those teams are prideful Roman Catholic, troublesome Pennridge who has been their nemesis of late and Downingtown West looking for pay back from last year’s 42-14 thrashing where the Skins shut em down, 484 total yards to 183.
10 Downingtown West 4-6: The Whippets return the world with 16 starters, added to a hefty dose of subs to have them well positioned to reverse last year’s losing season, their first since 2010. 4-6 is strange stuff at Downingtown but they haven’t fallen that far, with wins over Neshaminy at Langhorne and Coatesville two years ago plus narrow nail biters to Pennsbury in the postseason. It’s Downingtown, where despite a losing season they were still racking up points scoring 28 a game. The problem was defense where they allowed 29 a game, disallowing them winning the close ones, losing to Perkiomen Valley (12-1) 42-41, Wayne Valley-NJ (9-3) 34-31 and Henderson (9-4) 14-7. With their quarterback, most of their linemen, their skill people and most of their defense and almost all their linebackers returning, they should be in the Ches Mont-National hunt. And if they can survive the opening gauntlet of Perkiomen Valley, Wayne Valley and Neshaminy all on the road, you’ll know they’re ok. All 3 are rebuilding while breaking in a new quarterbacks. PV lost their great tandem of record setting quarterback Stephen Sturm and WO Justin Jaworski and others, Neshaimy lost QB Mason Jones and RB Will Dogba while Wayne Valley (NJ) lost standout QB Grant Ferrauilo (6-3, 210, 3360yds), RB Nick Gould’s +1100 yards and WR Joe Scancarella’s 1055 yards. All are depleted and arguably winnable games. Then they come home to Coatesville! The 10 spot was a toss-up between Garnet Valley and Downingtown East, leaning to a driven, proud team steeped in tradition bouncing back from a losing season. But just a lean!
Others:
Perkiomen Valley 12-1; Should be one of the better defensive fronts in the area.
Downingtown East 9-3; Return QB Bryce Lauletta’s 1678 yards, 58% completion rate and a 17/11 Td/Pick ratio that has to improve. Decent core!
Ridley 11-2; It’s a big rebuild but its Ridley, without a losing season since 1955 and finally some size along the lines the last few years.
Garnet Valley 11-3; Shocked everyone last year losing in the district final to North Penn and return at least 5 lineman and 3 backs from a deep backfield to put them in good shape for another spooky Veer Offense to again shake up the district.
Haverford 7-5; Two 7-pt losses denied a 9-3 record but look for good things with a returning junior quarterback and talented WR/LB Jordan Mosley (6-1, 205,sr).
Pennridge 6-6; They’re looking for another quarterback from Georgia but do have a few lineman and backs, experience at quarterback and big FB/MLB Nick Tarburton (6-3, 245,sr) with 96 tackles from last year and 19 TFL.
Central Bucks East 8-3; Will be strong along the lines and at LB with experience at QB.
Central Bucks South 8-3; Last year’s 15ppg yield on D was their best ever (1st year 2012) and that’s saying something with a non-supporting offense sputtering along at 21ppg. A lot of experience returns to the D with the O rebuilding the entire line, hoping for some help from oft injured quarterback Jack Johns (6-6, 215, sr) who had considerable playing time.
9 Neshaminy 11-1; The SOL-National champ Redskins had notable graduation losses with quality lineman on both sides including quarterback Mason Jones and running back Will Dogba. But you have to like any team returning 3 linebackers, almost the entire receiver corps/secondary and 2 linemen. The fact they’re going with a sophomore quarterback in Brody McAndrew (6-1,190) to replace Jones speaks volumes about the staff’s confidence in the 10th grader. Add to that a stable coaching staff and Neshaminy’s long history of success to see they are well positioned for the coming season. They are a D1 staple with a 98-30 record the last 10 years and a 46-17 slate the last 5. Last year’s team blew through the regular season schedule winning their first 10 before running into a red hot buzz saw from Garnet Valley who shocked them 42-14 in the 2nd round. At a glance, the schedule looks favorable with 3 home games to open the season until a closer look reveals those teams are prideful Roman Catholic, troublesome Pennridge who has been their nemesis of late and Downingtown West looking for pay back from last year’s 42-14 thrashing where the Skins shut em down, 484 total yards to 183.
10 Downingtown West 4-6: The Whippets return the world with 16 starters, added to a hefty dose of subs to have them well positioned to reverse last year’s losing season, their first since 2010. 4-6 is strange stuff at Downingtown but they haven’t fallen that far, with wins over Neshaminy at Langhorne and Coatesville two years ago plus narrow nail biters to Pennsbury in the postseason. It’s Downingtown, where despite a losing season they were still racking up points scoring 28 a game. The problem was defense where they allowed 29 a game, disallowing them winning the close ones, losing to Perkiomen Valley (12-1) 42-41, Wayne Valley-NJ (9-3) 34-31 and Henderson (9-4) 14-7. With their quarterback, most of their linemen, their skill people and most of their defense and almost all their linebackers returning, they should be in the Ches Mont-National hunt. And if they can survive the opening gauntlet of Perkiomen Valley, Wayne Valley and Neshaminy all on the road, you’ll know they’re ok. All 3 are rebuilding while breaking in a new quarterbacks. PV lost their great tandem of record setting quarterback Stephen Sturm and WO Justin Jaworski and others, Neshaimy lost QB Mason Jones and RB Will Dogba while Wayne Valley (NJ) lost standout QB Grant Ferrauilo (6-3, 210, 3360yds), RB Nick Gould’s +1100 yards and WR Joe Scancarella’s 1055 yards. All are depleted and arguably winnable games. Then they come home to Coatesville! The 10 spot was a toss-up between Garnet Valley and Downingtown East, leaning to a driven, proud team steeped in tradition bouncing back from a losing season. But just a lean!
Others:
Perkiomen Valley 12-1; Should be one of the better defensive fronts in the area.
Downingtown East 9-3; Return QB Bryce Lauletta’s 1678 yards, 58% completion rate and a 17/11 Td/Pick ratio that has to improve. Decent core!
Ridley 11-2; It’s a big rebuild but its Ridley, without a losing season since 1955 and finally some size along the lines the last few years.
Garnet Valley 11-3; Shocked everyone last year losing in the district final to North Penn and return at least 5 lineman and 3 backs from a deep backfield to put them in good shape for another spooky Veer Offense to again shake up the district.
Haverford 7-5; Two 7-pt losses denied a 9-3 record but look for good things with a returning junior quarterback and talented WR/LB Jordan Mosley (6-1, 205,sr).
Pennridge 6-6; They’re looking for another quarterback from Georgia but do have a few lineman and backs, experience at quarterback and big FB/MLB Nick Tarburton (6-3, 245,sr) with 96 tackles from last year and 19 TFL.
Central Bucks East 8-3; Will be strong along the lines and at LB with experience at QB.
Central Bucks South 8-3; Last year’s 15ppg yield on D was their best ever (1st year 2012) and that’s saying something with a non-supporting offense sputtering along at 21ppg. A lot of experience returns to the D with the O rebuilding the entire line, hoping for some help from oft injured quarterback Jack Johns (6-6, 215, sr) who had considerable playing time.
