11. Coatesville 4-2. Big time plummet going on here with Coatesville beginning the season ranked 3rd and now in the tailspin of a two game losing streak. 3rd was obviously too high, predicated on the skills of their outstanding quarterback Jordan Young and Coach Matt Ortega despite huge grad losses. One thing for certain with Downingtown East coming in Friday, Coatesville has seen their share of passing attacks the last two games, losing to Downingtown West and West Chester East. And there’s the rub. Coach Ortega has not lost three in a row since the heady days at York High in 2006 where the Bearcats went 5-6 before back-to-back 10-2 seasons. On paper, East is the better team, but that’s not where they play this game. Don’t be surprised to see a fiercely competitive and aggressive game (track meet?) as Coatesville fights desperately to stay relevant in the Ches Mont National and postseason picture.
12. Quakertown 6-0. The Panthers stayed in the hunt for the SOL-Continental title and another high seed in the postseason trouncing Truman 42-0 for their second shutout of the season. They’re going for their second straight conference title (good having North Penn and Pennridge out of the way!) with an explosive veteran offense led by quarterback Tom Garlick (6-4, 185, sr) and senior running backs Rob Burns (5-10, 185, 964ry) and Nick Bonomo ((5-11, 175, 215ry). The receivers are good targets with wide out Tom Baskin at 6-4, 215 (19/382) and TE Aaron Besch at 6-2, 210. Fast reminder on QB Garlick who backed up Alec Vera last year after transferring in from Archbishop Wood. There he helped lead Wood to a AAA title in 2013 (13-2), defeating Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt (14-2) 22-10. He took over as the starting quarterback the year before as a frosh in the third week stepping in for Chris Rahill. That group went to the final as well, losing to a super Cathedral Prep (15-0) team 24-14 so we are talking about one playoff experienced quarterback that should pay dividends in the postseason. 2-4 CB West is next on the road.
13. Freedom 6-0. Bethlehem Freedom has been the pick all along to give Parkland a run for the money with Easton graduating the world and Whitehall looking the same. But few expected them to come out the gate this strong, especially with the loss to injury of running back Roberto Diaz and an offensive line needing replaced. But here they are with a skillful quarterback in Joe Young, fine receivers and an underrated coaching staff. And the new line is obviously getting it done. They got off to a hot start last year at 7-0 but lost quarterback Young to injury, finishing 2-3. But it was still a notable turnaround from the depths of a 2-8 season in 2013 to 9-3 last year. After beating Dieruff last week 39-0, they’re home to Whitehall (2-4) who should be feeling the effects of Liberty, Parkland and Easton on consecutive weekends while being outscored 129-35.
14. Perkiomen Valley 6-0. The Vikings turned things around the last three years rolling out 8-3, 10-3 and 9-2 records (17-16 the previous three) while becoming relevant not only in the PAC but also in the district postseason. Here they advanced to the semifinals against North Penn in 2013, losing 40-19 after beating Rustin 26-6 and CB West 60-20. Then last season saw them lose at Downingtown East in the first round, 27-24 on a 25-yd field goal as time expired. No one is calling this the SOL-National or Northern-8 but weak it’s not. The tandem of Perk Val and Spring Ford are legitimate teams as some have learned the hard way while Pottsgrove’s history is well documented. The Vikings battered outmanned Triple-A Pope John Paul II (0-6) 56-8 last week and will likely do the same to a disappointing Boyertown group (3-4) that has lost to all the quality teams on their schedule, Exeter (6-0) 45-7, AAA-Pottstown (5-1) 28-14 and Spring Ford (7-0) 39-6.
15, Spring Ford 6-0. Like Perkiomen Valley above, the Rams hail from the PAC-10 where they too have proven themselves with wins against Whitehall (2011, regular season), Ridley (12), Pennridge (12) and Downingtown West (13)….since Coach Chad Brubaker’s arrival in 2010. This year began with a 28-25 win against State College (3-3). So again, woe to anyone taking these two PAC-10 titans lightly. After setting numerous records last year scoring 41ppg, this year’s group is averaging 47 with a new quarterback. Senior Rick Venuto (6-0, 190, son Villanova O/C) is lighting things up, completing 63 of 92 passes for 1058 yards. That’s a 68% completion rate with 18 touchdowns and no interceptions. The offense returned all their running backs plus experienced receivers. The defense that returned eight starters is holding teams to a 10ppg average. They were wicked against Pottgrove last week holding them to 144 yards rushing in a 22-13 win. Owen J. Roberts (3-3) is next at Pottstown.
16. Council Rock South 4-2. Guess who’s tied atop the SOL-Continental with Quakertown at 3-0? That’s also the number of wins they cranked out since losing at home to Neshaminy four weeks ago. Last week saw them reach the half century mark for the second time beating CB West 50-15. Two weeks earlier they beat Truman by the same score. Looks like last year’s young bunch grew up! They only had ten seniors on the roster last year allowing them to return big numbers including senior quarterback Sean Stackhouse and their talented halfback Brendan Patterson, also a senior. Almost all the line returned plus Tight End Todd Murray allowing their option offense to roll at 34ppg. The defense is improved significantly over last year’s season ending 27ppg to this year’s 18! With 3-3 Tennett coming up this week in Warminster, we’re a week closer to the showdown October 23rd on the Hawk’s home turf to Quakertown.
17. Wyoming Valley West 6-0. Valley West is having one of those season’s where they’re just making everyone look silly. They are kicking ass and taking names, winning by an average score of 46-10. The catch to this is the opposition was all AAA teams except one, with a combined won-loss of 16-22. Flipping that, they really….really, pass the eye test, in every way with an outstanding quarterback in Aaron Austin (66/94, 70%! 984yds, 14/3 Td-Pick), excellent veteran running backs and a talented receiver corps. The line is big, make that huge making this appear like a team that could finally take the next step in the postseason by advancing beyond the 1st round. They beat 2-4, AAA-Dallas last week 56-0 and are at 2-4, AAA-Crestwood this week with nothing on the schedule that looks like a threat thereon.
18. Pennridge 4-2. Pennridge kept themselves in the SOL-National picture at 2-1 by defeating Abington last week 38-15, remaining a game behind Pennbury and North Penn who are 3-0. Nice bounce back by the Rams winning their last two games on the road after losing to North Penn three weeks ago. The win positions them to better control their destiny with Pennsbury in Friday. Because the Rams are predictable with a strong running game, they are playing into Pennsbury’s defensive strength, its front seven. But if the Falcons can’t establish the passing game, it will be a slugfest and low scoring affair. Last year’s 41-14 embarrassment to the Falcon adds a little extra to this one.
19. Central Bucks East 4-2. The Patriots are one of the toughest outs in the Continental with five and six point losses to CR North and CR South respectively and the road win in overtime at Pennridge. They are significantly improved over last year’s 5-5 team that was the closest they’ve been to a winning season since 2007! Last year’s team had a pedestrian offense averaging 21ppg with a defense that allowed 24. This year’s offense averages 31ppg with a defense allowing 19. If they can prevent a defensive lapse like the one against CR North three weeks ago at home, losing 26-21, they can potentially go 7-3 by winning their next three games. Coming off a 28-3 win against Tennett, they’re looking good with Norristown, Truman and CB West on the schedule followed by the regular season finale at Quakertown.
20. Neshaminy 4-2. Plymouth Whitemarsh and Nazareth couldn’t hang, suffering 21-pt losses last week so look whose back! With two losses, the Skins are hanging on to their playoff hopes by a threat but weirder things have happened. The schedule shows Souderton and Bensalem up next at home followed by road games against North Penn and Pennsbury to make that prospect seem remote. Buy hey, few expected last year’s 4-6 team to hang with North Penn losing 17-13 or to hold Pennsbury’s wildly talented team to a 3-3 tie at the half and 10-7 deficit at the end of 3 before losing 17-3, without D’Andre Pollard. Wins against Souderton and Bensalem will give them good momentum entering the stretch especially after a confidence building 21-14 road win at Central Bucks South so who knows?
Honorable Mention
Plymouth Whitemarsh 5-1. Home to Upper Dublin
Stroudsburg 4-1, at Allen
Nazareth 4-2, Home to East Stroudsburg North
Unionville 4-2, at Great Valley
Garnet Valley 4-2, at Harriton
Upper Darby 5-1, Home to Radnor
Haverford 5-1, Home to Penncrest
Ridley 4-2, Home to Strath Haven
Father Judge 4-2, Home to Roman
Northeast 6-0, at Lincoln
Franklin 5-1, Home to GW
12. Quakertown 6-0. The Panthers stayed in the hunt for the SOL-Continental title and another high seed in the postseason trouncing Truman 42-0 for their second shutout of the season. They’re going for their second straight conference title (good having North Penn and Pennridge out of the way!) with an explosive veteran offense led by quarterback Tom Garlick (6-4, 185, sr) and senior running backs Rob Burns (5-10, 185, 964ry) and Nick Bonomo ((5-11, 175, 215ry). The receivers are good targets with wide out Tom Baskin at 6-4, 215 (19/382) and TE Aaron Besch at 6-2, 210. Fast reminder on QB Garlick who backed up Alec Vera last year after transferring in from Archbishop Wood. There he helped lead Wood to a AAA title in 2013 (13-2), defeating Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt (14-2) 22-10. He took over as the starting quarterback the year before as a frosh in the third week stepping in for Chris Rahill. That group went to the final as well, losing to a super Cathedral Prep (15-0) team 24-14 so we are talking about one playoff experienced quarterback that should pay dividends in the postseason. 2-4 CB West is next on the road.
13. Freedom 6-0. Bethlehem Freedom has been the pick all along to give Parkland a run for the money with Easton graduating the world and Whitehall looking the same. But few expected them to come out the gate this strong, especially with the loss to injury of running back Roberto Diaz and an offensive line needing replaced. But here they are with a skillful quarterback in Joe Young, fine receivers and an underrated coaching staff. And the new line is obviously getting it done. They got off to a hot start last year at 7-0 but lost quarterback Young to injury, finishing 2-3. But it was still a notable turnaround from the depths of a 2-8 season in 2013 to 9-3 last year. After beating Dieruff last week 39-0, they’re home to Whitehall (2-4) who should be feeling the effects of Liberty, Parkland and Easton on consecutive weekends while being outscored 129-35.
14. Perkiomen Valley 6-0. The Vikings turned things around the last three years rolling out 8-3, 10-3 and 9-2 records (17-16 the previous three) while becoming relevant not only in the PAC but also in the district postseason. Here they advanced to the semifinals against North Penn in 2013, losing 40-19 after beating Rustin 26-6 and CB West 60-20. Then last season saw them lose at Downingtown East in the first round, 27-24 on a 25-yd field goal as time expired. No one is calling this the SOL-National or Northern-8 but weak it’s not. The tandem of Perk Val and Spring Ford are legitimate teams as some have learned the hard way while Pottsgrove’s history is well documented. The Vikings battered outmanned Triple-A Pope John Paul II (0-6) 56-8 last week and will likely do the same to a disappointing Boyertown group (3-4) that has lost to all the quality teams on their schedule, Exeter (6-0) 45-7, AAA-Pottstown (5-1) 28-14 and Spring Ford (7-0) 39-6.
15, Spring Ford 6-0. Like Perkiomen Valley above, the Rams hail from the PAC-10 where they too have proven themselves with wins against Whitehall (2011, regular season), Ridley (12), Pennridge (12) and Downingtown West (13)….since Coach Chad Brubaker’s arrival in 2010. This year began with a 28-25 win against State College (3-3). So again, woe to anyone taking these two PAC-10 titans lightly. After setting numerous records last year scoring 41ppg, this year’s group is averaging 47 with a new quarterback. Senior Rick Venuto (6-0, 190, son Villanova O/C) is lighting things up, completing 63 of 92 passes for 1058 yards. That’s a 68% completion rate with 18 touchdowns and no interceptions. The offense returned all their running backs plus experienced receivers. The defense that returned eight starters is holding teams to a 10ppg average. They were wicked against Pottgrove last week holding them to 144 yards rushing in a 22-13 win. Owen J. Roberts (3-3) is next at Pottstown.
16. Council Rock South 4-2. Guess who’s tied atop the SOL-Continental with Quakertown at 3-0? That’s also the number of wins they cranked out since losing at home to Neshaminy four weeks ago. Last week saw them reach the half century mark for the second time beating CB West 50-15. Two weeks earlier they beat Truman by the same score. Looks like last year’s young bunch grew up! They only had ten seniors on the roster last year allowing them to return big numbers including senior quarterback Sean Stackhouse and their talented halfback Brendan Patterson, also a senior. Almost all the line returned plus Tight End Todd Murray allowing their option offense to roll at 34ppg. The defense is improved significantly over last year’s season ending 27ppg to this year’s 18! With 3-3 Tennett coming up this week in Warminster, we’re a week closer to the showdown October 23rd on the Hawk’s home turf to Quakertown.
17. Wyoming Valley West 6-0. Valley West is having one of those season’s where they’re just making everyone look silly. They are kicking ass and taking names, winning by an average score of 46-10. The catch to this is the opposition was all AAA teams except one, with a combined won-loss of 16-22. Flipping that, they really….really, pass the eye test, in every way with an outstanding quarterback in Aaron Austin (66/94, 70%! 984yds, 14/3 Td-Pick), excellent veteran running backs and a talented receiver corps. The line is big, make that huge making this appear like a team that could finally take the next step in the postseason by advancing beyond the 1st round. They beat 2-4, AAA-Dallas last week 56-0 and are at 2-4, AAA-Crestwood this week with nothing on the schedule that looks like a threat thereon.
18. Pennridge 4-2. Pennridge kept themselves in the SOL-National picture at 2-1 by defeating Abington last week 38-15, remaining a game behind Pennbury and North Penn who are 3-0. Nice bounce back by the Rams winning their last two games on the road after losing to North Penn three weeks ago. The win positions them to better control their destiny with Pennsbury in Friday. Because the Rams are predictable with a strong running game, they are playing into Pennsbury’s defensive strength, its front seven. But if the Falcons can’t establish the passing game, it will be a slugfest and low scoring affair. Last year’s 41-14 embarrassment to the Falcon adds a little extra to this one.
19. Central Bucks East 4-2. The Patriots are one of the toughest outs in the Continental with five and six point losses to CR North and CR South respectively and the road win in overtime at Pennridge. They are significantly improved over last year’s 5-5 team that was the closest they’ve been to a winning season since 2007! Last year’s team had a pedestrian offense averaging 21ppg with a defense that allowed 24. This year’s offense averages 31ppg with a defense allowing 19. If they can prevent a defensive lapse like the one against CR North three weeks ago at home, losing 26-21, they can potentially go 7-3 by winning their next three games. Coming off a 28-3 win against Tennett, they’re looking good with Norristown, Truman and CB West on the schedule followed by the regular season finale at Quakertown.
20. Neshaminy 4-2. Plymouth Whitemarsh and Nazareth couldn’t hang, suffering 21-pt losses last week so look whose back! With two losses, the Skins are hanging on to their playoff hopes by a threat but weirder things have happened. The schedule shows Souderton and Bensalem up next at home followed by road games against North Penn and Pennsbury to make that prospect seem remote. Buy hey, few expected last year’s 4-6 team to hang with North Penn losing 17-13 or to hold Pennsbury’s wildly talented team to a 3-3 tie at the half and 10-7 deficit at the end of 3 before losing 17-3, without D’Andre Pollard. Wins against Souderton and Bensalem will give them good momentum entering the stretch especially after a confidence building 21-14 road win at Central Bucks South so who knows?
Honorable Mention
Plymouth Whitemarsh 5-1. Home to Upper Dublin
Stroudsburg 4-1, at Allen
Nazareth 4-2, Home to East Stroudsburg North
Unionville 4-2, at Great Valley
Garnet Valley 4-2, at Harriton
Upper Darby 5-1, Home to Radnor
Haverford 5-1, Home to Penncrest
Ridley 4-2, Home to Strath Haven
Father Judge 4-2, Home to Roman
Northeast 6-0, at Lincoln
Franklin 5-1, Home to GW
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