11. North Penn 1-1. The Knights moved up a notch with a 40-24 win against always tough West Catholic. Wouldn’t we enjoy seeing more teams take on the PCL and other tough non-conference foes the way the Knights have since 2004. In varying years they’ve played St. Joe’s (07 thru 13), Wood (12, 13), LaSalle (10-15), West Catholic (14-15), Bethlehem Catholic in 2004, Liberty in 2008 and 2009 and more. Relative to the discussion on the board recently, aren’t these better games than scheduling Bergen and Paramus Catholic, Don Bosco et al? Guess not if you’re building a “National” program but otherwise they’re great. Cudos to the Knights for playing a lights out schedule. It continues Friday night playing undefeated Downingtown East at Kottmeyer Stadium. Wow!
12. Quakertown 2-0. The Panthers fell a rung in the rankings not so much for their performance winning against Hatboro Horsham, as for North Penn’s performance who managed a higher quality win against a tougher opponent. Hatboro may be able to score some points, 48 to date but their defense is porous, allowing 93 through two games. That was just the recipe for Quakertown’s veteran and diverse offense that rolled up big numbers on the way to a 38-19 win. They’re at Cheltenham (1-1) next, a team they beat last year 20-7. With a back-loaded schedule playing CR South, CR North and CB East from 10/23 through 11/6, they need to build all the momentum they can to get through the fireworks those games will likely provide.
13. Perkiomen Valley 2-0. Perkiomen Valley shredded Methacton’s defense, scoring at will in a 60-0 rout to open conference action in defense of their PAC-10 title. They entered the year needing to rebuild their lines while well stocked with skill players. Evidently the lines have been rebuilt on both sides, beating CR North in the opener 56-36 then defeating Methacton last week while holding them to 96 total yards of offense. Junior quarterback Stephen Sturm completed 10 of 15 passes for 116 yards and 4 Tds. Their first real challenge is this week in a key conference game at Pottsgrove (1-1) where they’ll tangle with the Falcons in their home opener; always a dangerous proposition. Perk Val won big last year 49-21 and returns most of the skill that did that damage.
14. Freedom 2-0. Freedom earned a hard fought win against Nazareth pulling out a tough road win. The Eagles limited Freedom’s passing attack (QB Joe Young fine) but running back Robert Diaz gouged them for 170 yards as the Pats held them off, winning 31-27. Nothing like an early season road win to bolster the confidence. Emmaus (1-1) is next, limping in off a 49-7 disaster at home to Easton.
15. Liberty 2-0. Liberty breezed to an easy win against William Allen, rolling out a substantial attack with quarterback Doug Erney still doing his thing, throwing for 96 yards on a 6 for 8 outing. The ground assault got 207 yards while holding Allen to128. They’re at Nazareth who showed they are competitive with some good skill people making this a serious challenge as it was for Freedom last week. With a good corps of receivers and a defense answering some preseason concerns, Liberty is rounding into a legitimate threat, capable of hanging with quality teams of the EPC-South. Parkland and Easton?
16. Ridley 2-0. Central League play (?) got off to a real strong start for the Green Raiders winning on the road against defending Central League champ Springfield 25-20 in a game that doesn’t count in the standings. Ok!? The Springfield attack was not the most sophisticated the Raiders will face this year but a road win is a road win, especially against neighboring Springfield. Up next is another tough opponent in Garnet Valley (1-1) who should be pumped following their initial win of the season at home against Bonner 40-22. Same for the Raiders trying to avenge last year’s 21-7 loss. G-Val is G-Val, big lines with big backs. Ridley counters with size as well plus good speed although much of the defense is being rebuilt. The offense returns big numbers while developing a quarterback, Cade Stratton or Jon Buckmaster. This should be a terrific game with Ridley’s home field edge, speed and special teams play eking out a win.
17. Spring Ford 2-0. The Rams had no trouble with Phoenixville last week winning 58-7. And they’ll have no trouble this week at home against Upper Perkiomen (2-0). And they’re off to a great start, winning the opener against State College. State’s quarterback is a work in progress but the win indicated they can go with big, physical teams. Like Perk Val, Spring Ford is overhauling their lines while replacing quarterback Brandon Leacraft and their lead receivers. All their running backs return and they’ve obviously rebuilt their lines which is good news for last year’s back-up quarterback Stone Scarcelle (6-2, 180).
18 Council Rock South 1-1. After opening the season with a narrow loss to Pennsbury, the Hawks followed with a attention getting 43-13 win against Bensalem. Remember last year’s team was young, with only ten seniors on the roster. But two thirds of their backfield returns with quarterback Sean Stackhouse back for his senior season supported by a talented halfback in senior Brendan Patterson. Also, most of the line returns including seniors Joe Carter (6-2, 260, John Anderson (6-4, 290) and Zach Blickley (6-2, 225). Given that both Neshaminy and South return much of last year’s teams and that it was one of Neshaminy’s best games and South’s worst last year, don’t be surprised by a tight game with the real possibility of an upset. South has some horses this year.
19. Central Bucks East 2-0. East returns a large number of starters as mentioned in the preseason write ups that are showing great dividends now, winning the home opener against Cheltenham 54-14 then going on the road last week to beat Pennridge 16-10 in overtime. Putting that in perspective, East lost at home to Pennridge last year 35-18. That’s quite a start considering last year’s 5-5 record. This week’s opponent, Central Bucks South (1-1) also crushed them last year, 42-24 but this time it’s at East.
20. Pennridge 1-1. The Rams plummetted in the rankings dropping from 13th to 20th this week after their 16-10 overtime home loss to Central Bucks East. At some point in the year they may look back at this one, musing about the one that got away. But you can’t compete for the postseason losing home games and having nine penalties. Still, it was statistically an even game with East edging the Rams 252 - 242 in total yards. The Rams should recover this week at home against Central Bucks West (0-2), a team they beat last year 35-23. Then it gets nasty playing North Penn and Neshaminy on consecutive weekends.
12. Quakertown 2-0. The Panthers fell a rung in the rankings not so much for their performance winning against Hatboro Horsham, as for North Penn’s performance who managed a higher quality win against a tougher opponent. Hatboro may be able to score some points, 48 to date but their defense is porous, allowing 93 through two games. That was just the recipe for Quakertown’s veteran and diverse offense that rolled up big numbers on the way to a 38-19 win. They’re at Cheltenham (1-1) next, a team they beat last year 20-7. With a back-loaded schedule playing CR South, CR North and CB East from 10/23 through 11/6, they need to build all the momentum they can to get through the fireworks those games will likely provide.
13. Perkiomen Valley 2-0. Perkiomen Valley shredded Methacton’s defense, scoring at will in a 60-0 rout to open conference action in defense of their PAC-10 title. They entered the year needing to rebuild their lines while well stocked with skill players. Evidently the lines have been rebuilt on both sides, beating CR North in the opener 56-36 then defeating Methacton last week while holding them to 96 total yards of offense. Junior quarterback Stephen Sturm completed 10 of 15 passes for 116 yards and 4 Tds. Their first real challenge is this week in a key conference game at Pottsgrove (1-1) where they’ll tangle with the Falcons in their home opener; always a dangerous proposition. Perk Val won big last year 49-21 and returns most of the skill that did that damage.
14. Freedom 2-0. Freedom earned a hard fought win against Nazareth pulling out a tough road win. The Eagles limited Freedom’s passing attack (QB Joe Young fine) but running back Robert Diaz gouged them for 170 yards as the Pats held them off, winning 31-27. Nothing like an early season road win to bolster the confidence. Emmaus (1-1) is next, limping in off a 49-7 disaster at home to Easton.
15. Liberty 2-0. Liberty breezed to an easy win against William Allen, rolling out a substantial attack with quarterback Doug Erney still doing his thing, throwing for 96 yards on a 6 for 8 outing. The ground assault got 207 yards while holding Allen to128. They’re at Nazareth who showed they are competitive with some good skill people making this a serious challenge as it was for Freedom last week. With a good corps of receivers and a defense answering some preseason concerns, Liberty is rounding into a legitimate threat, capable of hanging with quality teams of the EPC-South. Parkland and Easton?
16. Ridley 2-0. Central League play (?) got off to a real strong start for the Green Raiders winning on the road against defending Central League champ Springfield 25-20 in a game that doesn’t count in the standings. Ok!? The Springfield attack was not the most sophisticated the Raiders will face this year but a road win is a road win, especially against neighboring Springfield. Up next is another tough opponent in Garnet Valley (1-1) who should be pumped following their initial win of the season at home against Bonner 40-22. Same for the Raiders trying to avenge last year’s 21-7 loss. G-Val is G-Val, big lines with big backs. Ridley counters with size as well plus good speed although much of the defense is being rebuilt. The offense returns big numbers while developing a quarterback, Cade Stratton or Jon Buckmaster. This should be a terrific game with Ridley’s home field edge, speed and special teams play eking out a win.
17. Spring Ford 2-0. The Rams had no trouble with Phoenixville last week winning 58-7. And they’ll have no trouble this week at home against Upper Perkiomen (2-0). And they’re off to a great start, winning the opener against State College. State’s quarterback is a work in progress but the win indicated they can go with big, physical teams. Like Perk Val, Spring Ford is overhauling their lines while replacing quarterback Brandon Leacraft and their lead receivers. All their running backs return and they’ve obviously rebuilt their lines which is good news for last year’s back-up quarterback Stone Scarcelle (6-2, 180).
18 Council Rock South 1-1. After opening the season with a narrow loss to Pennsbury, the Hawks followed with a attention getting 43-13 win against Bensalem. Remember last year’s team was young, with only ten seniors on the roster. But two thirds of their backfield returns with quarterback Sean Stackhouse back for his senior season supported by a talented halfback in senior Brendan Patterson. Also, most of the line returns including seniors Joe Carter (6-2, 260, John Anderson (6-4, 290) and Zach Blickley (6-2, 225). Given that both Neshaminy and South return much of last year’s teams and that it was one of Neshaminy’s best games and South’s worst last year, don’t be surprised by a tight game with the real possibility of an upset. South has some horses this year.
19. Central Bucks East 2-0. East returns a large number of starters as mentioned in the preseason write ups that are showing great dividends now, winning the home opener against Cheltenham 54-14 then going on the road last week to beat Pennridge 16-10 in overtime. Putting that in perspective, East lost at home to Pennridge last year 35-18. That’s quite a start considering last year’s 5-5 record. This week’s opponent, Central Bucks South (1-1) also crushed them last year, 42-24 but this time it’s at East.
20. Pennridge 1-1. The Rams plummetted in the rankings dropping from 13th to 20th this week after their 16-10 overtime home loss to Central Bucks East. At some point in the year they may look back at this one, musing about the one that got away. But you can’t compete for the postseason losing home games and having nine penalties. Still, it was statistically an even game with East edging the Rams 252 - 242 in total yards. The Rams should recover this week at home against Central Bucks West (0-2), a team they beat last year 35-23. Then it gets nasty playing North Penn and Neshaminy on consecutive weekends.
